You Can Count On It - January 28

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:24

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

Reflect

How has God proven faithful in Your life?

We hear empty promises all the time. Politicians promise to fix all the problems in the government. Our kids promise to clean their rooms. Our boss promises he’ll re-evaluate that potential promotion next quarter which is the same thing he said last quarter and the quarter before that. We find ourselves thinking things like, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” But when God promises something, we can believe it right now! He has proven to be faithful in the past and He’ll be faithful again!

In today’s verses, Paul is in the process of concluding his first letter to the believers in Thessalonica. He had just prayed that God would sanctify them completely (v. 23). Now, we read Paul’s reminder to them of God’s faithfulness. Because God is faithful, He will surely complete His sanctifying work in their lives. He will finish what He started in them until it is perfect (Philippians 1:6).

In 1 Thessalonians 1:4, Paul expressed his confidence that the Thessalonians were loved and chosen by God. He had full confidence that their conversion was genuine because they received the word of God from them and he saw the evidence of it working in their lives (1 Thessalonians 2:13). He was confident that God had called them to be His and God doesn’t call anyone to impurity. He always calls His people to holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:7). Therefore, Paul knew it was God’s will that they would be made perfectly holy. Sanctification is always God’s will for believers (1 Thessalonians 4:3). And what God wills will be done. We can count on it.

Faithfulness is God’s nature. It’s who He is! He does not make empty promises.

“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (Numbers 23:19).

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-24).

“If we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself” (2 Timothy 2:13).

God is faithful. He has called us to salvation and sanctification. He won’t call us to something and then fail to bring it to completion. When I’m struggling, it helps me to rehearse all of the promises that God has kept so far. He’s been faithful before and He’ll be faithful again! We can count on His promises because we can count on Him.

Respond

Lord, I praise You for Your faithfulness. I know that what You’ve promised, You will surely do. I look forward to the day when I am made perfect and complete forever with You. Great is Your faithfulness to me! Amen.

Reveal

Do you know someone who needs a reminder of the Lord’s faithfulness? Send them a quick reminder to encourage them today.