Practical Faithfulness
SCRIPTURE: “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” (Galatians 4.6-7)
MAIN POINT: As God’s adopted children, we can live faithfully in hostile environments by expecting opposition, remaining gentle, finding community, and fixing our eyes on Christ.
Because you are a son or daughter of God, you have access to practical wisdom for living in this tension. First, expect opposition. Stop being surprised when faithfulness costs something. Joseph knew the journey would be hard, yet he obeyed. When you choose Christ, choose also the cross that comes with Him.
Second, remain gentle and kind even in opposition. The world’s hatred doesn’t justify harshness. Speak truth, but speak it in love. Stand firm, but without arrogance. Your witness is not just what you say but how you say it.
Third, find your community. Joseph had Mary. The early Christians had one another. You need fellow believers who understand the cost of discipleship. Gather each Sunday not out of obligation but out of necessity. You need each other for the journey.
Fourth, keep your eyes on Christ. The God who directed Joseph through every danger walks with you. “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8.38-39).
You are not a slave to fear or to the opinions of others. You are a child of God. You are an heir of His promises. Live like it.
REFLECTION: Practical faithfulness flows from our identity as God’s beloved children, not from our own strength or strategy. Which of these four practices do you most need to develop in your own life? Who in your community can you intentionally connect with this week for mutual encouragement?
PRAYER: Abba, Father, help me live out my identity as Your child today—expecting opposition with courage, responding with gentleness, seeking community, and fixing my eyes on Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Responses