If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown himself.
2 Timothy 2:13
God is faithful. Even in the context of our unfaithfulness, He remains faithful. He will not in the least disown Himself. He is faithful indeed.
To young Timothy, Paul offered the highest form of encouragement to be spoken: “God is faithful” (2 Timothy 2:13). This is the anthem of truth that has sounded through the ages from the beginning of time. OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL! “Great is Thy faithfulness,” so wrote Jeremiah in Lamentations 3:23. Thomas Chisholm echoed these inspired words in the great hymn that bears the declaration as the title:
“Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.”
God is indeed faithful. His faithfulness has never changed, for this is His nature, and is the foundational truth of all His acts from eternity to eternity.
As Timothy most certainly needed such encouragement from his trusted mentor, Paul (whose death is dated close to the date of this letter), so we stand in great need of this truth at this very moment. Notice from 2 Timothy 2:13 that God’s faithfulness is described from within His own nature, and from within the context of man’s own frailty. First, from within His nature we discover His faithfulness: He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. He is and remains faithful, for this is His unchanging nature. And, He will not disown Himself, indicating that He will not forsake His own words – both those particular words Paul had just shared, as well as all words, truths, precepts, and messages that have ever preceded forth from God. His entire Word, the Holy Scriptures, testify to His faithfulness. God has never and will never act with discord to His Word or His nature. HE WILL NOT disown Himself. As I am sure was obvious to Timothy, Paul went to great lengths to substantiate that God is indeed faithful in the highest way, and even in the most personal and practical way for His children. Timothy needed this reassurance, as he would soon not have the physical presence nor encouragement of his mentor, but would forever live under the mighty wing of God’s unending faithfulness. From within God’s nature, we discover His faithfulness. But second, from within the context of man’s frailty, we discover God’s faithfulness. Paul wrote, “if we are faithless, He remains faithful.” The idea behind the term “faithless” seems to indicate unbelief. Paul’s plural reference, “if we are faithless” seems to reference the tendency of any person to grow weak or frail in their faithful service. Paul’s writings often reflected his awareness of the human tendency to become discouraged from the missional purpose of living for Jesus when negatively affected by surrounding circumstances. Therefore, Paul reinforced Timothy for those moments when the church Timothy would lead might grow discouraged and act as if they no longer believe, or even when Timothy feels this tendency himself. God’s faithfulness is demonstrated even in the context of man’s frailty – just ask David, Moses, Abraham, and so on. He is faithful indeed.
So, today, right where you are situated in life, God is indeed faithful to you. His faithfulness is sure. You may feel at times that you are faithless, as if you no longer believe as you once did because of so many discouragements that have affected you. But God remains faithful. Perhaps past failures keep you from fully receiving the forgiveness Jesus provided through His cross of suffering. Perhaps you cannot even forgive yourself. God is faithful. He loves you and offers forgiveness for all things forever. Wherever you are in life, He is faithful. He meets you right where you are. Allow His faithfulness to demonstrate His nature to you. Allow his faithfulness to invade your frailties. He is faithful and will never, ever change. You can trust Him. You can rest in Him.
“Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
And all I have needed Thy hand hath provided,
Great is Thy faithfulness
Lord unto me.”
Blessings.
READ
Read Lamentations 3:21-25 and rest today in the faithfulness of God.
