He Will Do It

READ

"He will do it." Four simple words that carry the weight of absolute certainty. Paul isn't offering a motivational pep talk or expressing hopeful optimism. He's making a declaration based on the unshakeable character of God: if God calls you to something, His faithfulness guarantees He will bring it to completion.

Let’s take a moment to read 1 Thessalonians 5:24:

“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it."

REFLECT

Today’s passage comes at the end of Paul's instructions about living a holy life. He's just finished giving the Thessalonians a challenging list of spiritual goals: rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in everything, don't quench the Spirit. It's an overwhelming calling that would be impossible if we had to achieve it through willpower alone.

But Paul doesn't end with "now go try harder." Instead, he grounds everything in God's faithfulness. The same God who calls us to these high standards is the God who will enable us to live them out. His calling comes with His empowerment.

This principle extends far beyond spiritual disciplines. When God calls you into a relationship, He provides the grace to love well. When He calls you to a task, He supplies the resources to complete it. When He calls you to forgiveness, He gives the strength to release bitterness. When He calls you to trust Him in difficult circumstances, He provides the faith to keep believing.

The phrase "he will do it" uses a verb that emphasizes completed action. God doesn't just start what He calls us to; He finishes it. This isn't about our ability to maintain faithfulness, but about God's commitment to bring His purposes to completion in our lives.

Consider the areas where you feel called but inadequate. Maybe it's parenting with wisdom you don't possess, serving in ways that stretch your abilities, or walking through circumstances that seem beyond your strength. God's faithfulness means your inadequacy isn't the limiting factor – His unlimited resources are available to fulfill what He's called you to.

This doesn't mean we remain passive. God's faithfulness doesn't eliminate our responsibility to participate in what He's doing. But it does mean we can stop trying to accomplish God-sized tasks with human-sized strength. We can rest in the assurance that the One who calls us is completely capable of completing what He starts.

Faithfulness, as we're learning, isn't about our ability to remain perfectly consistent. It's about living in the freedom that God's faithfulness provides. When we know that God will do what He promises, we can take steps of obedience without requiring guarantees about how everything will work out.

This changes how we approach challenges. Instead of asking "How can I possibly do this?" we ask "How is God going to do this through me?" Instead of measuring our adequacy for the calling, we rest in His adequacy. Instead of fearing failure, we trust His faithfulness.

The Greek word for "faithful" here means reliable, trustworthy, deserving of trust. It's not just that God keeps His promises – it's that He's the kind of God who can be completely trusted to keep them. His track record is perfect. His character is unchanging. His resources are unlimited.

Think about the most reliable person you know. Even they sometimes disappoint, forget, or lack the ability to follow through. God's faithfulness operates on a completely different level. He never forgets His promises, never lacks resources to fulfill them, and never changes His mind about His commitment to you.

When anxiety whispers "What if God doesn't come through?" we can respond with Paul's confident declaration: "The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it." When doubt questions whether God's promises really apply to our situation, we can rest in the absolute reliability of His character.

RESPOND

Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.

• What has God called you to that seems beyond your current abilities, and how does His faithfulness change your perspective on that calling?

• Where in your life do you need to shift from trying to accomplish God's purposes in your own strength to trusting His faithfulness to complete what He's started?

• How does believing that "He will do it" affect the way you approach daily obedience and long-term spiritual growth?

REST

Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:

Lord, thank You that Your calling comes with Your enabling. Help me to trust that what You've begun in my life, You will complete. When I feel inadequate for what You've called me to, remind me that Your faithfulness is more than sufficient. Give me the courage to step forward in obedience, knowing that You will provide everything needed to fulfill Your purposes through me. Amen.