Recently I was with a star athlete. This pro’s past season started off miserably.

His team lost their first five games. Then his brother got buried in a path of suicidal depression that wrecked his family too. No front looked promising.

But by season’s end his team won 13 straight games, made the grand finals, and his brother recovered beautifully. This star athlete stood firm through it all … and is glad for a lifetime.

Think about the benefits that a commitment to faithfulness, a “standing firm to the end,” brings.

• The personal qualities of self discipline, forbearance, patience and loyalty grow with it.
• Our talents mature in the presence of faithfulness.
• “Tanking” ceases, and legendary stories are birthed.
• Trust develops between people, good community forms, relationships last and even heal.
• Teams stick to game plans.
• Marriages and families hold together.
• Churches have more stable congregations.
• Organizations have less transfers and transients.
• Giving up on about anything or anyone becomes a less attractive option.
• Praise and reward by God is reserved for those who stand firm.
• We actually imitate God. Our faithfulness mirrors His.

Indeed, a life marked by faithfulness carries rich reward: Great blessings await you along with salvation from all sorts of heartache. Standing firm to the end is so worth it.

Reflect: Are you expressing thankfulness for God’s faithfulness to you?

How well are you standing firm in your faithfulness to the truth, to applying grace and forgiveness to self and others, to practicing prayer and Bible reading, and living in spiritual community with others?

A prayer to consider: LORD, in Your faithfulness You call me, and You will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24). I bask in Your pursuit and pledge to me and await more of Your great salvation.

I stand firm to the end with You and for You. What great honor and joy! Amen.