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Genuine Faith Endures

Writer's picture: Jeff RossJeff Ross

(The following is the January 31 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Matthew 24​ and pay close attention to verses 9-13.)


Do you know people who seemed committed to Christ earlier in life but turned away from the faith? What does Scripture say about such people? Was their faith genuine?


When Jesus instructed his disciples about the end of the age, he discussed the impact of persecution and trials on professing believers. He mentioned believers being killed and hated for following him and the love of many growing cold. He warned about so-called believers falling away, betraying, and hating each other. Then he offered this assurance, “But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (v. 13). This statement encourages us to endure in the faith and not let this world’s trials discourage us from being faithful. A better day is coming for all of God’s children.


How do we know our faith is genuine? We endure to the end. We refuse to cast aside the truth of God’s Word. We bear the consequences that may come from society and those who hate Christ, his Word, and his church. We never stop proclaiming the gospel. We rejoice that our heavenly Father holds us firmly and that no one can snatch us out of his hand (John 10:28-29).


How do we respond to those who once proclaimed the faith but walked away? We love them, pray for them, and plead with them to surrender their lives to Christ while there is time. We remember that we’re not responsible for their decisions – they are. We are accountable for faithfully trying to bring them into the fold through the Holy Spirit’s direction and the truth of his Word.


Next Step:

Examine your faithfulness to Christ. How well are you enduring? If you aren’t, focus on getting your relationship with Christ on solid ground through repentance, trusting in him, and obeying his Word. If your faith is strong and growing, ask God to lead you to someone who appears to have fallen away so he can use you to rescue them.

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