Steadfast

Steadfast

July 17, 1998

Dear Friends,

When I was a little girl, I had a dog named Frisky. Frisky was a beautiful dog with a deep dark brown overcoat and a rich golden brown undercoat. For reasons only she knew, Frisky would climb on top of her dog house . . . Yes! Just like Snoopy! . . . and from there she would idly watch the world go by. Even when the birds came to eat her food, she never moved to chase them away . . . that is . . . as long as no one was watching her. What I noticed was that if I came to the window to look out or opened the door, Frisky would spring into ferocious action. Barking wildly, she would scatter the birds - fiercely guarding her food . . . that is . . . until the coast was clear.

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (I Corinthians 15:58 KJV)

As Christians - true Christians - we strive to be Christ-like at all times. Our Christianity is not a garment that we wear on special occasions, it is an attitude of love and devotion which permeates all that we do. We "walk in the Spirit (cf. Galatians 5:16 KJV)." We "pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV)" for ourselves and for others. We forgive "seventy times seven (cf Matthew 19:21,22 KJV)." We demonstrate the "fruits of the Spirit" in our daily lives - love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith , meekness, and temperance (cf Galatians 5:22 KJV). And, we understand that ". . . faith, if it hath not works, is dead . . . (James 2:17 KJV)." All this we do because we are the redeemed of the Lord . . . never just because others are watching.

As soon as Frisky was sure no one was watching her, she would return to her lofty post. Idly, she would watch as the birds came once again to eat. People are like that sometimes. Always ready to display their Christian fervor . . . only as long as they are being watched. Ask yourself,

What kind of Christian are you?

In the Masters’ Love,

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The Preacher,

Rev. BWilliamsWaters

Copyright, Brenda Williams Waters Rivers of Living Waters Publishing