“But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.” (Psalm 4:3, NRSV)
God takes notice of those who are faithful and sets them apart for God’s purpose. This is humbling and truly Good News for those who trust in God.
Some may have a troubled conscious and say, “I am not part of the ‘set apart’ for I have committed this or that sin.” Or some think that their sporadic doubts may keep them from being one counted among the faithful.
If these worries plague you, then know that it’s not your lack of sinning that makes you right with God. Trusting in Jesus through the gift of faith, which was implanted in you when you heard the Good News, is the only way to be in a right relationship with God.
Others believe that it’s by their works of faith or works of righteousness that set them apart. But this is not faithfullness to God, it a faithfullness in one’s self and one’sability to appease God through earned reward.
Faithfulness is often seen as walking without sin, as though those words are opposites of each other. But true faithfulness begins with realizing that every part of our being is so infused with Sin that it can’t be completely left behind in this life. This is coupled with realizing that we can do nothing more than hold on for dear life to the edge of Christ’s robe and trust that we will be healed. The more we come to understand our relationship to Christ, the more we will understand that He is the one who is holding tightly to us. So even when we think we have let go, He has not. And He never will.
We often fight against God preferring the feeling of drowning to the fresh air that is offered in faith. But we have Christ who keeps our heads out of the water.
Holy God, I am weak in trust, but you are strong. Hear me in my weakness and increase my faith that I might serve you. Amen