Dave's Diary

Daily Reading: Romans 12:9-21

Romans 12’s Spirit-inspired instructions to the believers give us a clear indication that faithfulness is a value to which we have to cling with great determination when we experience evil (v.9), affliction (v.12), persecution, being cursed (v.14), and harmed (v.17-21). When times are good and everything is rosy, our faithfulness and steadfastness are not challenged or tested. But when the tough times come, when temptation rises strongly, when we are threatened by conflict or attacks, and when life together is messy and uncomfortable and even unpleasant, our faithfulness to the Lord and His Family are tested (sometimes to what feels like the limit).

In those trying times, the value of faithfulness in relation to the Lord and our fellow believers helps us to keep ourselves on track in loving one another, being good to each other, being devoted to each other’s highest best and honouring one another. Faithfulness to one another inspires us to stand together to support each other in times of joy and times of sorrow. Faithfulness moves us to go the extra mile and to humble ourselves to work for peace and harmony in God’s Family. Without a commitment to faithfulness we would head for the hills when the going gets tough.

It’s also important to notice that dedicating ourselves to prayer and keeping our spiritual fervour for the Lord alive (I believe this is through both personal and corporate worship) are the spiritual disciplines we’re called to apply if we are to be spiritually strong enough to remain faithful to the Lord and each other in the face of great difficulty.

Heavenly Father, please fill me with the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, please inspire me to worship and pray with a fervent and steadfast heart so that I may encounter Jesus in a real and living way. Lord Jesus, strengthened by my love for You and filled with Your supernatural love for others, may I remain firmly and faithfully committed to living out Your way of love towards my spiritual Family. In Your mighty name I pray. Amen.