The faithfulness of God

At the end of 2024, Ed and Kathy Burrows were commissioned by MAF in the UK to serve in Liberia.

It proved to be a very special time as we prayed for the whole family and felt their tangible excitement at embarking on the mission God has for their lives.

An interesting chat with them later revealed that they’d first visited our Folkestone office more than seven years ago to discuss serving with MAF.

Ed, who at the time was a helicopter pilot in the RAF, had many challenges to overcome before he could become an MAF pilot.

But God proved so faithful in orchestrating every detail of Ed and Kathy’s life, be it work, housing, growing a family, obtaining church support or passing every part of Ed’s flying certification process.

On wings like eagles

Ed and Kathy shared that their life Scripture up to this point has been Isaiah 40:28-31: ‘Have you not heard? …those who hope in the Lord… will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary’ (NIV).

It has been God’s faithfulness that has kept them through the past seven years, and the Burrows family knows it will continue to keep them as they head for Liberia.

Faithfulness, trust and truth

I was recently asked by a child in a local primary school what ‘faithfulness’ was? The little girl had never come across this word before.

I tried to give examples of faithfulness, but I soon realised that trying to describe faithfulness without referring to God is practically impossible. It can only be fully understood when we are in a relationship with a loving God.

A biblical word study reveals that different words are used for faithfulness in Scripture, words such as ‘emuna’ (‘faith’ or ‘trust’) or ‘emet’.

Each brings a slightly different insight to what the faithfulness of God really means.

The Hebrew word ‘emet’ speaks of the relationship God has with His people. It’s a relationship that’s one of truth — one where God is true to His Word and true to His people.

It has to do with a sense of stability, with God being like an immoveable rock.

Loving kindness

Another word that appears throughout the Bible is ‘amen’, whose literal translation means ‘that’s truth’. God is faithful because He is truth! The Hebrew word ‘hesed’ speaks of God’s faithfulness as shown in His loving kindness to His people.

2 Timothy 2:13 reminds us that, ‘If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is’ (NLT).

Thank God that His faithfulness — or ‘emet’ — isn’t reliant on our own attempts at being faithful to Him. God doesn’t respond in kind but has to be true to Himself.

A faithful servant

God’s faithfulness is most keenly demonstrated in the giving of His son Jesus.

Romans 15:8 tells us, ‘Remember that Jesus Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true [‘emet’] to the promises He made to their ancestors’ (NLT).

Jesus shows us that God has always been true to His Word.

At the beginning of this New Year, we can rest in the faithfulness of God, knowing that He is faithful, that He’s always been faithful, and that He will continue to be faithful.

‘For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth’ (Psalm 103:11, NLT).

God is the One who sustains the sun and the moon in the sky, keeping them in perfect balance. The immenseness of the universe reminds us of God’s eternal promises and His power.

Response

• Today, as we thank God for His faithfulness in sending Jesus, let’s commit our way to Him afresh this year.
• Thank God that His faithfulness isn’t dependent upon your own faithfulness. Receive His grace today.
• For an inspiring story about the faithfulness of God, why not listen to Ryan Koher’s story? Ryan, who works for our programme in Mozambique, was released from prison last year and finally had all the wrongful charges against him dismissed. May episode 10 of our Flying For Life Podcast bless you richly — www.maf-uk.org/fflpodcast