Written by Beliza Kocev, Brazil Coordinator for Iron Rose Sister Ministries
All you need to say is simply “Yes” or “No”; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
(Mt 5:37 NIV)
I was baptized in my late teens and was the only Christian in the family. I have a brother who is 12 years younger than me and I would take him to church on Sundays. At one worship service when my brother was four years old, he was having difficulty staying silent during the Lord’s supper and the offering... So I said, “If you don't stay quiet, we're going home!”
A dear brother, who helped me a lot in my Christian journey, turned to me and said quietly so my brother wouldn't hear, “Are you really going to go home if he doesn't keep quiet?” I replied no. He guided me on the importance of keeping my word, if I say I'm going to do something, I need to do what I committed to.
See, my intention wasn't bad; I was an inexperienced 16-year-old trying to get my brother to be respectful during the service. But I knew I wasn't going to do what I said.
One of the most amazing things about God is that He does what He says! “See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you” (Is 42:9). Prophecies give us confidence that just as He fulfilled what He promised the people of Israel, He will also fulfill what He promised us. Imagine experiencing the difficulties of being a Christian and striving to do God's will, denying yourself, without being sure that we can trust what He promised us!
God has integrity. Integrity is a moral principle. Having integrity means all your actions and decisions are consistent and honest. We can trust what He says, “For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does” (Ps 33:4).
Some characteristics of God that show us that His words are honest:
- God is True.
God is true; He is truth itself. God is absolutely trustworthy and true in everything He does.
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Nu 23:19)
We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 Jn 5:20)
- God is Faithful.
God is absolutely trustworthy. His words don't fail. He shows His faithfulness by keeping His promises. He never breaks a contract between Himself and His creation.
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. (Dt 7:9)
For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD. (Ps 117:2)
- God is Unchanging.
God's attributes are unchangeable— He does not change— He is not uncertain or inconsistent. He is perfect. His consistency makes His promises firm, bringing us security and hope.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (Jas 1:17)
I the LORD do not change. (Mal 3:6a)
- God is Infallible.
Infallible means that He does not fail— does not make mistakes. As God is perfect, He does not fail!
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. (Eph 3:20)
I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. (Job 42:2)
My desire is that you dedicate yourself to studying the Bible more and more to discover the wonderful words of God—words of love, guidance, encouragement, comfort, and blessings— but mainly the words that bring salvation, those that introduce Jesus, our Lord and Savior, and the only way to eternal life.