Faithful in Christ

Published 6:00 am Friday, May 1, 2020

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Recently a phrase jumped out at me from the scriptural page, “Faithful in Christ.”

Paul addressed warm greetings to the saints in Ephesus who were “faithful in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 1:1).

Testifying of the latter-day restoration of the Gospel, witnesses proclaimed that if they were “faithful in Christ” they knew they would one day “dwell with him eternally in the heavens.”

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What does it mean to be “faithful in Christ?”

Christ is at the center of all we do. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, taught, “We love Him and honor Him. Because of His profound and eternal love, Jesus Christ suffered and died for you and me. He broke open the gates of death, shattered the barriers that separate friends and loved ones, and brought hope to the hopeless, healing to the sick, and deliverance to the captive. To Him we dedicate our hearts, our lives, our daily devotion.”

As we each walk the covenant path, it is up to us to learn through personal revelation what the Lord expects of us, to “work out our own salvation.” (Philippians 2:12).

But there are some guideposts on the path of faith in Christ.

Pressing pause on worldly concerns and pouring out our hearts in prayer can provide perspective. The answers to prayers that come in the form of a “still, small voice” (1 Kings 19:11-13) build a bedrock of steadiness in our lives in spite of all the trials and tribulations that whirl around us.

The scriptures, which have been called “the pre-recorded voice of the Lord,” can also be a calming influence and strengthen faith in Christ. If our hearts are open, through the words of the prophets we can find “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).

As John wrote near the end of his Gospel, “These [things] are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:31).

Exploring how our ancestors faced trials in their day may also inspire us to be faithful in Christ. By “the heart of the children turning to their fathers,” (Malachi 4:6) we can learn from our forefathers’ mistakes and be inspired by their triumphs. Discover yourself by finding your family at http://www.FamilySearch.org.

We can also demonstrate discipleship by sharing our faith with others, “standing as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places.”

As the ancient prophet declared, “We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ… that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.”

If you have found yourself stirred in these troubled times to rekindle the flames of faith in your own life, visit http://www.ComeUntoChrist.org.

REV. BRENT ROBERTS is the Elders Quorum President in the Sandy River Branch, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and also Dean of Greenwood Library at Longwood University. He can be reached at brentsroberts@ hotmail.com.