The F.A.I in F.A.I.T.H: What It Means to Follow Jesus
What comes to mind when you hear the word disciple?
For many, it’s someone in the Bible, Peter walking on water, Paul preaching to the nations, or John writing letters from exile. But being a disciple of Jesus isn’t just a title for the early church. It’s a calling for every believer today, including you and me.
This week, in Part One of our new series, Marks of a Disciple, Pastor Wes introduced us to the F.A.I.T.H. framework, a simple acronym packed with truths about what it really means to follow Jesus. He taught about the first three marks: Faithfulness, Availability, and Intentionality. For him, these aren’t just concepts to understand; they're traits that shape the way we live, love, serve, and grow. They challenge us to reflect the character of Christ in a world that often pulls us in the opposite direction.
We are called to be disciples. Discipleship doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a daily, intentional response to the love and call of Jesus. Now, let’s explore how faithfulness, availability, and intentionality mark us as true followers of Christ.
Faithfulness: A Cornerstone of Discipleship
Faithfulness is a fundamental trait that God desires in His people. It's about keeping our word, being trustworthy, and following through on our commitments. But why is faithfulness so important? Because God Himself is faithful.
Deuteronomy 7:9 reminds us, "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations."
Throughout Scripture, we see examples of faithful individuals who walked closely with God. Enoch, who "walked faithfully with God," Noah, who obeyed God's command to build the ark, and Joseph, who remained faithful even in the face of adversity. These examples challenge us to cultivate faithfulness in our own lives.
Proverbs 28:20 promises, "A faithful person will abound with blessings." As we strive to be faithful in the small things, God entrusts us with greater responsibilities. Ultimately, our goal should be to hear those coveted words from our Heavenly Father: "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Availability: Making Room for God's Work
While faithfulness is crucial, it must be paired with availability. A disciple who is faithful but unavailable due to a cluttered life may struggle to fully engage in God's work. Availability means having the time, capacity, and energy to respond to God's call.
We serve a God who is always available to us. Psalm 145:18 assures us, "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." If our Creator makes Himself available to us, shouldn't we strive to do the same?
Look at Samuel's story in 1 Samuel 3 and how he responded to God's call with, "Here I am." Or Isaiah in Isaiah 6:8, when he eagerly volunteered, "Here am I. Send me!" These individuals made themselves available for God's purposes, and He used them mightily.
In our busy lives, we make thousands of decisions daily. How many of those decisions prioritize availability for God's work? Are we creating margin in our schedules to respond to His promptings? As disciples, we must be willing to say "yes" to God's call, even if it means saying "no" to other things.
Intentionality: Taking Initiative in Our Faith
The final trait he explored was intentionality. This goes beyond mere availability, it's about actively seeking opportunities to grow and serve. An intentional disciple doesn't wait for chances to come their way; they pursue them with purpose.
The Apostle Paul exemplifies this trait beautifully. In Philippians 3:13-14, he writes, "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Paul lived with a clear intention to pursue Christ and the advancement of the Gospel with unwavering focus. He didn't simply wait for opportunities; he created them, always looking for ways to share the Good News and disciple others.
Living intentionally means reframing our daily activities. Instead of going to the grocery store just to buy food, we can view it as an opportunity to meet people and potentially share God's love. Rather than seeing our workplace solely as a means to earn a living, we can approach it as a mission field where our light can shine the brightest.
As we reflect on these three traits, faithfulness, availability, and intentionality, take time to examine your life. Are you being a faithful steward of what God has entrusted to you? Are you making yourself available for His work? Are you living with intentionality, actively seeking ways to grow and serve?
Have you met an Oakland Raiders fan? Just as they have distinct characteristics that set them apart, we as disciples should have traits that distinguish us from the world around us. Our faithfulness should be evident in how we keep our commitments. Our availability should be seen in our willingness to serve and respond to God's call. Our intentionality should be clear in how we approach every aspect of life with kingdom purpose.
Remember the illustration of visiting different countries? Just as Italians and Spaniards have unique cultural traits, we as citizens of heaven should have distinguishing marks that reflect our spiritual citizenship. These traits should be as natural to us as pasta is to Italians or siestas are to Spaniards.
For many, it’s someone in the Bible, Peter walking on water, Paul preaching to the nations, or John writing letters from exile. But being a disciple of Jesus isn’t just a title for the early church. It’s a calling for every believer today, including you and me.
This week, in Part One of our new series, Marks of a Disciple, Pastor Wes introduced us to the F.A.I.T.H. framework, a simple acronym packed with truths about what it really means to follow Jesus. He taught about the first three marks: Faithfulness, Availability, and Intentionality. For him, these aren’t just concepts to understand; they're traits that shape the way we live, love, serve, and grow. They challenge us to reflect the character of Christ in a world that often pulls us in the opposite direction.
We are called to be disciples. Discipleship doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a daily, intentional response to the love and call of Jesus. Now, let’s explore how faithfulness, availability, and intentionality mark us as true followers of Christ.
Faithfulness: A Cornerstone of Discipleship
Faithfulness is a fundamental trait that God desires in His people. It's about keeping our word, being trustworthy, and following through on our commitments. But why is faithfulness so important? Because God Himself is faithful.
Deuteronomy 7:9 reminds us, "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations."
Throughout Scripture, we see examples of faithful individuals who walked closely with God. Enoch, who "walked faithfully with God," Noah, who obeyed God's command to build the ark, and Joseph, who remained faithful even in the face of adversity. These examples challenge us to cultivate faithfulness in our own lives.
Proverbs 28:20 promises, "A faithful person will abound with blessings." As we strive to be faithful in the small things, God entrusts us with greater responsibilities. Ultimately, our goal should be to hear those coveted words from our Heavenly Father: "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Availability: Making Room for God's Work
While faithfulness is crucial, it must be paired with availability. A disciple who is faithful but unavailable due to a cluttered life may struggle to fully engage in God's work. Availability means having the time, capacity, and energy to respond to God's call.
We serve a God who is always available to us. Psalm 145:18 assures us, "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." If our Creator makes Himself available to us, shouldn't we strive to do the same?
Look at Samuel's story in 1 Samuel 3 and how he responded to God's call with, "Here I am." Or Isaiah in Isaiah 6:8, when he eagerly volunteered, "Here am I. Send me!" These individuals made themselves available for God's purposes, and He used them mightily.
In our busy lives, we make thousands of decisions daily. How many of those decisions prioritize availability for God's work? Are we creating margin in our schedules to respond to His promptings? As disciples, we must be willing to say "yes" to God's call, even if it means saying "no" to other things.
Intentionality: Taking Initiative in Our Faith
The final trait he explored was intentionality. This goes beyond mere availability, it's about actively seeking opportunities to grow and serve. An intentional disciple doesn't wait for chances to come their way; they pursue them with purpose.
The Apostle Paul exemplifies this trait beautifully. In Philippians 3:13-14, he writes, "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Paul lived with a clear intention to pursue Christ and the advancement of the Gospel with unwavering focus. He didn't simply wait for opportunities; he created them, always looking for ways to share the Good News and disciple others.
Living intentionally means reframing our daily activities. Instead of going to the grocery store just to buy food, we can view it as an opportunity to meet people and potentially share God's love. Rather than seeing our workplace solely as a means to earn a living, we can approach it as a mission field where our light can shine the brightest.
As we reflect on these three traits, faithfulness, availability, and intentionality, take time to examine your life. Are you being a faithful steward of what God has entrusted to you? Are you making yourself available for His work? Are you living with intentionality, actively seeking ways to grow and serve?
Have you met an Oakland Raiders fan? Just as they have distinct characteristics that set them apart, we as disciples should have traits that distinguish us from the world around us. Our faithfulness should be evident in how we keep our commitments. Our availability should be seen in our willingness to serve and respond to God's call. Our intentionality should be clear in how we approach every aspect of life with kingdom purpose.
Remember the illustration of visiting different countries? Just as Italians and Spaniards have unique cultural traits, we as citizens of heaven should have distinguishing marks that reflect our spiritual citizenship. These traits should be as natural to us as pasta is to Italians or siestas are to Spaniards.
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