Fidelity

Francesca Battistelli

This is the moment
It’s on the line
Which way you gonna fall?
In the middle between
Wrong and right
But you know after all


It’s your life
What you gonna do?
The world is watching you
Every day the choices you make
Say what you are and who
Your heart beats for
It’s an open door
It’s your life

Are you who you always said you would be?
With a sinking feeling in your chest
Always waiting for someone else to fix you
Tell me when did you forget


To live the way that you believe
This is your opportunity
To let your life be one that lights the way

The fall

In the beginning…

God created Adam, then Eve. Men were made to reflect everything that is of leadership, boldness, to take initiative. Women were made to reflect that of submission, partnership, to be a helper.

Then something happened…

Roles were reversed. Eve took leadership upon herself, the boldness of her actions- taking of the forbidden fruit, then telling Adam to do so as well. Adam took it upon himself to be submissive, quiet, and led. He did as Eve said, and ate of the forbidden fruit. This is when the knowledge of evil and action of sin entered the world.

Since the fall of man, the roles continue to be reversed, not as God intended. There are women in control, taking leadership upon themselves, crossing over into a man’s intended position. There are men standing behind and living lives of passivity. I want you to see what I’m seeing here… I’m not just talking about the workplace, politics, etc. etc. I am speaking more from a spiritual, Biblical perspective. Women were created to be led by a man. God first created Adam then gave him a helper. Through the entrance of sin into the world, this has been forgotten. All around me in ministry, in “godly” relationships, marriages, or lack there of, I am seeing a multitude of women stepping up and taking initiative to take the gospel to the lost, leading Bible Studies, leading ministry, asking the ‘what are we’ questions. Don’t get me wrong, this is a good thing that women are stepping up in ministry, but there are hardly any men. I see only a few. There needs to be an awakening of the Lord’s initial plan. Where are all the men? There needs to be more men stepping up to take the gospel as far as it can go, lead women, and be the example of Christ to the church.

It is so discouraging to see so many men living lives of passivity and lukewarmness. Men are supposed to be the pursuers, the leaders. I know there are also women out there doing the same thing, and we all need to be reminded of the original intent of our Father’s creation. The reality is that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

Women were created to be led, men were created to lead. But I don’t see the men leading. Where are you? Wake up and live the lives you were created to live, everyone. It is then when you will find rest, satisfaction, and abundant life.

Jesus speaking, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:39

Praise God for He heals, He provides.

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. -Romans 7:15-20.

There’s this battle going on in all of us. Because we are human, we have a sinful nature. But as followers of Christ, we desire to do what is good- what brings glory to Him. Having this passage as a constant reminder will keep us humble and focus our eyes on truth. What I also love about this passage is where it says, “It is no longer I who do it, but it is the sin living in me..” I like this because it creates this image of us also being seperate from our sin, the sin takes over. This inner conflict is a reminder that nothing about us as humans is good. It is Christ in us that implores us to strive for His likeness. I am humbled by this. My pride gets in the way a lot and when that happens, God does a pretty good job of pointing out my ugliness- while at the same time loving me anyway, using me anyway, redeeming and sanctifying my life still. All glory be to Him. For I alone am nothing.

Those who have abandoned their faith, or left it…

Did you even have it to begin with?

2 Peter 2:21- It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.

Revelation 3:15-16- I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm— neither hot nor cold— I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

patience

I feel numb to patience, because it’s been so long, but it seems as if my patience is running out. God continues to point me toward His word for comfort and hope. What an amazing gift He has left us. Where would I be without His Word? nowhere. Psalm 37 is loud to me right now.

Peter was wise:

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7

” Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Psalm 37

Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret- it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for He knows their day is coming. The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty. But the wicked will perish; The Lord’s enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish- vanish like smoke. The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; those the Lord blesses will inherit the land but those He curses will be cut off. If the Lord delights in man’s way. He makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand. I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed. Turn from evil and do good;then you will dwell in the land forever. For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake His faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off; the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just. The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip. The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives; but the Lord will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned when brought to trial. Wait for the Lord and keep His way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it. I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil, but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found. Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace. But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off. The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; He is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him.

Amen.