God is faithful to fulfill His promise

Fear gripped a lot of people as 2009 sipped in with the reality of economic meltdown creeping through the New Year. The United States government was quick to pump in trillions of dollars to save the fledgling economy, hoping that it would arrest the sliding trend sooner. Other governments followed suit.

The church employed measures to keep liquidity of church funds at normal levels despite the crunch. The first quarter of 2009 is about to end and the governments and church institutions are optimistic that the financial threats would not plunge their operations to abnormal bottoms.

Within the region of the southern Asia-Pacific, thus far the church is glad to find insignificant dents caused by the recession. Church members prove that faithful returning of the tenth of whatever increase in wealth—financial or material—the good Lord keeps His promises to open the “windows of heaven” where no room can contain them. Indeed, what a sight to see church people providing liberally for the Lord’s work all over the world.

Faithfulness is at work in any situations, and church members cling to God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promises as His children partner with Him in their endeavors.

“Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the doors will be opened…” (Luke 11: 9-10), is never an idle talk. It is not conditional. It is God’s character at work! But you will ask, “Why did the petitioner in the story need to ‘pester’ her neighbor, leaving him no choice but give what she asked for?” Would God similarly need prodding before He grants our requests?

To me, the transition between asking and receiving was a period of self-examination whether or not we trust in a Provider-God; a moment of proving the faith that knows no doubt that God answers our prayer. In other words, we confirm our belief that He provides our needs. It was to our faith-building advantage that such space existed.

One theologian said, “God is always at work but that work is not always visible.” Yes, it is in the invisible that our faith is confirmed and established, erasing any doubt!