Faith is faithful

Definition of faithful:
1  steadfast in affection or allegiance :  loyal
2:  firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty :
    conscientious
3:  given with strong assurance :  
 binding <a faithful promise>
4:  true to the facts, to a standard, or to an original
     <a faithful copy>
1Samuel 2:35 I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will 
firmly establish his house, and he will minister before my
anointed one always.

Nehemiah 7:2.....because he is a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do.
 
Nehemiah 9:8 You found his (Abraham's) heart faithful to
You and You made a covenant with him.....
 
Luke 12:42 Then the Lord answered, "Who then is the
faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants............
 
1Corinthians 4:2 Now it is required that those who have been
given a trust must prove faithful.
 
1Timothy  1:12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has
given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service.
 
Revelations 2:13 ....Yet you remain true to My name.  You did not renounce your faith in Me,..........

When I began researching the background for this, I thought that the title was redundant but I felt the Lord lead me to
continue.  I found that faith and remaining faithful are not interchangeable.  Being faithful to the Lord a midst trials and difficult times can be done even when our faith is wavering.  The Lord is asking us to be unswerving in serving Him even when our faith needs bolstering.  Continuing in the face of failure, rejection and not knowing where we are being led helps to build our faith. 
     
Being faithful and steadfast is a stepping stone to the
maturing of our faith.  Just as a seed needs to be given time to sink roots and seek a source of nourishment, so we need to remain faithful to the service or mission that our Lord has assigned to us.  As we persevere, our faith also grows and matures.  The old phrase of 'bloom where you are planted' helps to put into perspective that we are to honor God's wisdom and offer our best efforts even when where we
are planted is not our first choice.
    
He, the Lord, will offer to us the greatest honor that can be
given to His chosen ones.  We who endure to the finish will hear Him say, "Well done good and faithful servant."

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