God is...Faithful! (Conversation with Alfredo Ruiz de Chavez)

God's faithfulness never wavers — and in this episode, we're diving into it. We're joined by our friend Alfredo Ruiz de Chavez as we continue our series on the attributes of God, unpacking what it truly means that He is faithful.

Listen to the previous episode: God is...Unchanging!

Listen to the episode with Avery and Brooklyn: Open Hands!

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Transcript

Episode Intro

SPEAKER_02 0:13

Hello everyone! Welcome back to Tethered, Being Connected to Jesus, where we help followers of Jesus be deeply intentionally connected to him every single day. It's so good to have you watching on video or listening on audio. We really appreciate it. So we are continuing season four of the podcast, which we're looking at the attributes of God. It has been a great season so far. We've been able to hear about God's unchanging nature from our friend Caleb Fain. And then in our last episode, we actually discussed the eternality of God with our friend Skylar Switch. So please go back and listen to that episode or watch that episode. I'm gonna go ahead and include the link right up here if you're watching, and then it'll be in the video description or audio description if you're listening. And so yeah, we would love to share that with you. It's such an encouraging conversation. We went really deep on that, and so thank you so much for tuning in. So now we're gonna introduce the third attribute of God that we're gonna be looking at in this season, which is God is faithful. So for this conversation, I invited my friend Alfredo Ruiz de Chavez to come onto the podcast. He's actually been on this podcast before, he actually came on about four years ago to do an episode called Just Abide 1.0, where we just talked about the simplicity of what it means to abide in Jesus. So it was such an encouraging conversation. And so we're glad to have Alfredo back on the podcast. And so it has been a joy to you know talk to him about God's faithfulness. And so, with that, without further ado, let's go ahead and get into that conversation. Alfredito,

Welcome back Alfredo Ruiz de Chavez!

SPEAKER_02 1:49

my brother, welcome back to Tethered. It's so good to have you back. It's been like what almost four years since you know the first interview that we did here on Tethered.

SPEAKER_00 1:59

Yeah, yeah, exactly. It'll be about four years this uh October.

SPEAKER_02 2:03

Yeah, it's so, so good to have you back. So welcome back to the podcast to be able to speak on you know God is faithful. And so we're excited to hear what you have to share about that.

SPEAKER_00 2:13

Absolutely, man. I'm excited to be here.

SPEAKER_02 2:15

Okay, so with that, yeah, go ahead and just share with the viewer, the listener, like what's what's been life like for the last four years since you've come onto the podcast.

SPEAKER_00 2:24

Yeah, life's been great. Um, so one of the things that uh has recently happened is uh took a job uh over at uh a company uh called 10x. I think my previous uh tethered uh pod was me working at Shamrock. Anyways, moved companies to this new company. Uh I'm a sock manager. Um, it has been awesome. Was just telling Joey before this uh shoot, just how I've been learning to work as if I'm working for the Lord and not for uh a person. And so that's been really helpful uh recently that you know I've kind of been learning. Um yeah, over the past uh let me think, three, I think I just had you as a roomie at the time. Um we added two more roomies during our stay, uh Connor Cotton and Andy Um. And then right after that, uh, you know, we added a fifth one, uh Clay Newberry. And then uh that just ended probably like seven, eight months ago, and then now we have uh two more coming in. Uh so Keaton props is another good roomie I got, and another guy's uh that's coming in. Um, but no, life's been well. Um, sister got married, that's wild.

SPEAKER_02 3:40

Wow, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:41

And yeah, still at the same house. Um and trying to think, yeah, just taking things one day at a time.

SPEAKER_02 3:47

Amen, brother. Well, thank you for updating you know all of us on just how you've been. Um I actually don't no longer live at this house anymore, and it's been a joy living here when I did, and I just miss living with you, but I'm really thankful for the time that I did live with you. But bro, right here in this spot right here is where I actually interviewed Avery in Brooklyn back in 2023, and this is where the idea essentially for Gemstone Studios was actually formed in this house, and so because this house is located in an area of the city where there's just a lot of different street names after Gemstones, and so that's where the idea came from. And so I'm glad that we get to you know come back full circle. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:30

Agate is the name of this uh street, and that's a rock. So I didn't know that until like years ago when I was like, oh wait, all these are like rocks.

SPEAKER_02 4:40

Yeah. Well, thank you for updating us, and yeah, thank you again for coming back on the tether. It's so exciting to have you.

SPEAKER_00 4:46

Absolutely, man. Happy to be here.

SPEAKER_02 4:47

Alrighty,

What is the meaning of faithfulness?

SPEAKER_02 4:48

so what does the word faithfulness mean? How would you describe that word?

SPEAKER_00 4:53

Yeah, so the word faithfulness, how I would describe it, is uh just something that no matter what uh happens, uh it's it's just like strong through the storm. So I almost can think of like an anchor. Um you can, you know, what what's what is a ship, like what does a cruise ship do? What does a a big ship do? They they throw an anchor uh into the ocean or into the you know the Bed Sea, and then they uh ensure that they're not able to be moved uh from uh essentially the location that they're parked at. Um so I think of something that like is really strong and really uh grounding.

SPEAKER_02 5:35

Yeah. So would you say like faithfulness is just something that you can like trust in, that's you know, trust like it's solid, it will never like falter, things like that.

SPEAKER_00 5:48

Yeah, and I'll even add a little bit more to that. I I think faithfulness uh can only be used when you describe Jesus. Um, I don't think that you can use faithfulness when you talk about a person. I'm sure in my life I've used that that term for a person, but that's not accurate. Um, everyone will let you down. Um, but you know, uh you have Jesus Christ that's truly faithful. Like it says when we're faithless, he remains faithful. And um another piece of that is just like yeah, like how how important it is to be reminded of of like what is faithfulness even look like, and I don't know if like people can embody that perfectly or well, um, maybe at times, uh, but definitely not not anything like Jesus Christ.

SPEAKER_02 6:37

Yeah, absolutely. I would agree with you on that because I just think about this passage from Hebrews chapter 6, verses 19 and 20, where it talks about this, you know, Jesus Christ being our high priest, and then in this high priest, he functions as a hope. He functions as an anchor, and this is what it says. It says, This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus having become high priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek. I just think about that when you mention that because how easy it is for us to place our faith in someone else when, like you said, people will fail us. And so I just think about Jesus himself. I mean, you have all of these Old Testament prophets that are essentially prophesying that he's gonna come, and he did come, and he fulfilled each and every one of those prophecies, and not only that, he was a forerunner in order to reconcile us before God, and so I just find that really profound that you mentioned that.

SPEAKER_00 7:47

Yeah, absolutely. Great reference on that verse.

SPEAKER_02 7:50

Yeah, absolutely. So let's go ahead and ask

Why God's faithfulness is important to understand

SPEAKER_02 7:53

you this next question because I think it's important for the listener and the viewer now, of course, to understand this. But why is this attribute of God important for someone to understand?

SPEAKER_00 8:04

Yeah, so I think it's important. Um, so I as I was kind of sharing earlier, like, all right, only Jesus can be uh the picture of faithfulness. No one like when you feel like you've been let down, when you feel like you've been um maybe just uh yeah, just like someone hasn't been faithful for whatever reason, right? Um, like Jesus like specifically had to be betrayed by everyone. And in order for like him to be the Messiah, for him to uh you know, really show this faithfulness, like everyone just turned their back on him in in the worst of worst. I'll I'll I'll quote the story I just read earlier this week. Um, but it's a story of uh it's in Mark, but it is that Jesus goes to this town and uh he is uh you know walking along and there's this guy that's just out of his mind, is specifically what it says, that he's out of his mind. And as he's out of his mind, uh, you know, no one wanted to go by him. And they they said that like chains he would always rip the chains open. Like this guy was just a crazy violent man. And Jesus uh walked to him, and uh the demons came uh you know from that that were in this man, because it says that that his name was Legion, for they were many. Uh, he like dropped to his knees, and there's like Jesus, like, have mercy on me. And so Jesus was like, Yeah, I'll have mercy on you, um, you know, and I'll I'll do this. I'll send you to the pigs, and you and then the pigs are gonna go down into you know the the bay and they'll die essentially. Anyways, and so he did this, so he cast out the demons, pigs went down into the bay, and then uh after that, like the man that was once a violent, that was possessed, literally said that he was in his right mind. And so from that, as he was in his right mind, uh, you know, everyone in the town came and they were like, What happened? Like, what was going on? And uh they found and they and they were scared, is what it said. It didn't say that they were like excited, it didn't say that they were thankful or happy, it said they were scared and frightened, and so they told Jesus to leave. And so they're like, uh leave, like we don't want you here. And so Jesus left. Um, and then the man who uh was in his right mind, it said it he begged Jesus to come with him. And so he begged Jesus to come with him, and as he as he was like, Jesus, like, can I come with you? Jesus says, No, stay here and preach the gospel. And I just thought, like, that's not at all what I would do. I would say, um, okay, cool. Like, um, you guys don't deserve this. I'm deucin, I'm peaceing out, and uh, I'll take my you know, and and and this man who's in his right mind that I saved, he gets it, he can come with me. But like that just shows that, like, again, that's just faithfulness, like that Jesus told him, No, you stay to the people that just rejected me and you preach the gospel. Yeah, it's just insane. So, anyways, that's like a story I think of, of course, many of faithfulness. And uh, I just think it's out of this world of of of you know, the even like our our human thinking of what faithfulness really is.

SPEAKER_02 11:31

Hmm. Absolutely. Wow, thanks for sharing that story. So I just think about the story of Abraham in the scriptures where you know Abraham is told by the Lord that the Lord that he's gonna promise him a son, and that a son will come from his you know his own body. And Isaac was that promised son, and the Lord kept that promise by reminding Abraham that he will do what he says. And I'm sure Abraham in those moments was doubting the Lord, and I mean he even like took steps for you know to make that happen for himself by sleeping with Hagar and you know, produced Ishmael, and what did that cause? A lot of family tension to the point where Ishmael and Isaac literally like you know in battle with one another, and look, and that's you know, the consequences of that are still happening today, but the Lord still kept his promises to Abraham and you know continue on from there. And so I just think about you know that, and that even in Christ alone, he is faithful to keep his promises that he made to his disciples, and so it's good. Yeah, I appreciate you sharing that.

Other Scripture references to show that God is faithful

SPEAKER_02 12:43

So you've you've mentioned the story in Mark. Um, I know you said you have also also some other you know scripture references to show that God is faithful. So what are some of those scripture references that show that God is faithful?

SPEAKER_00 12:56

Maybe in Isaiah, uh it says that he was bruised for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities. It says that he was bruised, he was crushed. Um, it says, All us like sheep have gone astray. And then it says, On him was lays was laid the chastisement of us all. Um, you know, uh there's another one that says that um, you know, when we are faithless, he remains faithful. Um there's another verse that says, He is the good shepherd, and he's like, all these things were written. He was like telling the disciples, like all this was written that that the Son of Man has to be crucified, has to be, and they were like, No, like far be it from me. Um yet, like he knew they were all gonna betray him. And then even yet, like just from like a I mean, there again, probably every every chapter in the Bible, we probably could see it. Um But you know, there's also like think about that he let Judas be with him and his twelve disciples, knowing the entire time he's gonna kill him. Again, like you know, I I know that you know that those are stories that like you've heard in church, right? Like, oh don't be Judas or whatever, but but Jesus allowed Judas to be with him, and yeah, it's kind of a reminder, I guess, for me, even like um if I ever feel like I wanna cut people off in my life, um, Jesus didn't cut off Judas, he just trusted the Lord and his plan. And so I just wonder, you know, if if we were to see the Lord as faithful like that, how how much less would we take matters into our own hands and and try to be the faithful one in in every situation?

SPEAKER_02 14:39

I love that. That's encouraging, brother. Thanks for sharing that.

SPEAKER_00 14:42

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 14:43

Yeah, because I mean, I just think about over and over and again in the Bible, like, I will never leave you or forsake you, is something that God says all the time. And even I just think about what Jesus says in the Gospels frequently, actually, that He will always be with us, especially at the end of Matthew, where he says, you know, he gives the great commission to the disciples to go make disciples of all nations, baptizing him in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And lo and behold, I will be with you till the very end of the age. That is faithfulness language. It showcases that he is trustworthy, that you can trust that he will be present with you till the very end of the age. And that is just a comforting thing to to reflect on.

SPEAKER_00 15:33

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 15:33

Yeah, thank you for you know sharing that and even just taking time to explain that. Yeah. So

How God's faithfulness helps one abide in Jesus

SPEAKER_02 15:39

let me ask you this next question, Alfredo, because this is something that for me, as I'm just thinking about God's faithfulness, I'm just thinking about the listener or someone who's watching right now, who's maybe struggling with this aspect of God's faithfulness because sometimes we can get this temptation to try to work our way towards God, to try to earn his favor, to feel like we have to do things to show that he is faithful, but that's not the case with our God. Since this podcast is called Tethered, how does the faithfulness of God help us understand how he abides in us and us in him?

SPEAKER_00 17:05

Yeah. Um I think I think uh so I had a conversation um with actually it was I'll I'll name drop him. It was Connor Cotton. And we were in this uh room, uh, but we were talking about how there was like things that we were kind of uh wrestling with, with like uh a like something like in our walk with the Lord that we were just wrestling with and we were just relating with that to each other. And then uh in that uh he asked, or you know, the the point was made, it's it's a it's a grace that you're even wrestling with that. And so um I told him that, and uh we just both like came to this conclusion, like, yeah, like you're right, like this is pretty, this is pretty like abnormal, you know, that what we're talking about is is this and what we're saying that we're wrestling with is this. Again, it has nothing to do with our own efforts, it has everything to do with like the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us, that convicts us, that is with us, the paraclete, the helper. And so that is like a grace, even and of itself. And so sometimes we're like, oh, you know, I think Pastor Phil, by the way, Pastor Phil has some fire quotes. Um, but one of them is I don't worry about Christians that that struggle. He's like necessarily, he's like, I worry about Christians that don't struggle, and that's just such a great point because if you are not struggling, like I would worry that the Holy Spirit isn't like touching you.

SPEAKER_01 18:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:49

So your question was alluding to like how do I know that God is faithful in my life, you know, or what does that look like essentially in my life? Yeah. And I just would say two words, uh, which is a name, which is the Holy Spirit. I think that is how we know. Um, that's how we know that God lives in us, uh, and so that's how we know that God is with us.

SPEAKER_02 19:13

No, that's good because I just think about just the listener who might be struggling to believe that, like that is so essential. Like the Lord resides in us if we declare to be his, if we declare to be in Christ, like he is rooted in us, and so that should enable us to then therefore believe and understand that when he says that he will be faithful to keep us, like I just think about the end of Jude, that uh if we believe that he will keep us from stumbling, that he will present us holy and blameless and above reproach, we have nothing to fear. We just have to believe his word, what he said he will do. I I've shared us before on the podcast, actually on the first episode of season four. John six thirty-seven, it says this all that the Father has given to me will come to me. And uh all who come to me I will never cast out. And so just think about that. It's like he makes that promise us that that should cause us to want to hold on to him because he's already made the effort to hold on to us if we declare to be his children, because we are in fact are his children. When you s when you struggle with sin or struggle even just the the fallen nature of the world, I think that does enable us to draw closer to God because he's already drawing closer to us. And so love that you shared that quote from Pastor Phil. Pastor Phil is the lead pastor the lead pastor at a Bundle Life Church here in the King City area, in case you didn't know that.

SPEAKER_00 20:59

Yeah, there's another story. Um it's in first or second Kings. But it is whenever Elijah is uh, you know, he just he just commanded fire from heaven and he threw fire down, and like it was like a showdown between him and this other god, essentially, or Elijah's God, which is our God, uh, and then this idol god that the prophets of Baal is what the name are of the people that are worshiping him, uh, were were kind of doing. And so the challenge was okay, if I command fire down, we win. If you command fire down, you win. And so here they are, you know. Uh first day, prophets of Baal, they're trying to do it, nothing. Second day, Elijah's like, oh Lord, you know, would you do this? And and and he did. And so the Lord commanded fire down and like this basin of water, uh, I believe it was a basin of water, like lit up in fire. And then Elijah goes off. And uh, oh no, no, well, and then Elijah's like, hey, I'm gonna kill all these prophets of Baal because you know, clearly they're they're not legit, you know, and like we just had a showdown and you know, Old Testament times, a little bit more gruesome. Um, actually, but when you think about it, it's probably really not that more gruesome than what things happen today. Regardless, um, gruesome, killed them all. Uh the like kind of queen of those prophets found out about that and she was not happy. And so she's like, I'm now gonna kill Elijah. And Elijah just went into depression mode, and Elijah's like, I'm done. She's gonna kill me. What have I done? Um and he like goes off and he like goes and sleeps in this like cave and he's like, I don't want to do anything. Let me just sit here and die. Sounds very familiar, doesn't it? And so then um familiar to like our Christian walk sometimes. Um and so as and so anyway, so then what happens is is is that the uh God comes down, or I believe is an angel came to him. Uh sometimes people say that like when angels come in the old testament, that's a picture of Christ actually coming. It's like Christophany, I think is what they say. Regardless, God spoke to him through an angel, through uh through words, and said, Hey, like I have 7,000 people back in this city over here that haven't even bowed down to Baal, a remnant that I've saved. And Elijah's like, Oh, really? And like it just shows how God is just in control, like God has a remnant. Like, I think this is a word for like also just like na nowadays the culture that we're in. I mean, we're always in a culture, right? But like the the the season that this world is in, in this time in in in in the timeline of lot of of like the world's history. Um, but like everyone's like, oh, like people are like the news, you know, people are are leaving the faith, people are coming to the faith, you know. Uh, you know, there's very like you know, liberal agendas are coming in and they're gonna take over, or what conservative agendas are whatever it is, you know, like it's just or even just like this this country's at war with this country, and like first off, God told us in Matthew to not to not worry when we hear wars and rumors of wars, for this must happen before the end. So he already says that. Now, the next thing I'll tell you about uh with this, it just shows how like God has a remnant, God saves a people, and God is more sovereign than we think he is, and that is faithfulness. And again, that's my point. Like in Elijah's context, he was faithful, right? That's why he was so depressed. But in God's context, God was faithful. So God had to show that in that story right there. Like that's why he was depressed and lay down. Again, doesn't that sound familiar to I know at least it sounds familiar to me in my walk, but that's who God is, and uh that's the story he writes.

SPEAKER_02 25:20

Yeah, that is so good, Alfred. I love how you put that because how easy it is for to think, and it's just a good reminder too. Like, we can be so faithful to for doing things for God and wanting to sit at his feet, but at the same time, we find ourselves like, Lord, I'm doing these things for you, but I'm not getting what I want per se. But he still shows up and is still willing to come alongside us and to show, like, I am God, I am in control, I know that you've been faithful, and I'm making this promise that I will be with you because you get me in the end. 100%. And so love that you shared us. So thank you for sharing that um amazing scripture. So here's the last question I'm gonna ask you. Um, just because essentially, like, I'm just thinking about the listener who's maybe still wrestling with this, because yeah, the faithfulness of God is something that is just so like if you have if you really think about it, like let me put it this way. Like, right now I'm sitting on this chair. We're both sitting on this chair that's holding us up right now. Why am I not worried about falling over? Because I have faith in the person that built this chair. Like, I believe that the craftsmanship was done well, and so I'm not gonna fall off. We'd actually, you know, have faith, but we just don't realize it. Like, we're in this house that's well built, it's not gonna topple over us because we have faith in. Yeah, hopefully not, because there's faith that, you know, the engineers that built the house built it right. It's the same thing with the Lord. How do we know that he's faithful? Because he's given us his word that we can trust in. And so I did want to ask you, Alfred, like Alfredo, about what are some practical ways for a person to grow in their understanding of the faithfulness of God, particularly

Practical ways to grow in understanding God's faithfulness

SPEAKER_02 27:23

for those who maybe are struggling to believe that.

SPEAKER_00 27:25

I fundamentally believe that uh the the only way for us to grow is through hard times.

SPEAKER_01 27:34

Hmm.

SPEAKER_00 27:35

I don't I don't I don't know if you ever will grow in easy times. Um you know, I mean, think about life, you know, like you we can let's say switch me out with a s with an NFL athlete. He'd say the same thing in a different vernacular, I think, but more or less the same theme. He's like, yeah, I uh I had to put myself through some training. I had to put myself through some situations that made me grow. Um and so that's the only way, you know, let faith have its full effect, you know. Um there's also I think it's Romans five, potentially, and it says like uh let you know uh let try let like faith continue, then hope continue, and steadfast love continu like and all these things, and he says, and then let and then I think he ends in hope, and he's like, and hope will never be put to shame. And so I I just think there's no there's no shortcuts, and uh, and so we want him, right? I get it, and I want him, but it's just not how the world works. Um that's just how we grow. So, with that being said, uh, what could we do? It uh Paul says, I've learned the secret to contentment. He he had to learn it. He says, in a lot and then in a little. So he had to learn it in both. He probably had a lot, I'm guessing. This is Alfredo's speculation when he was a Pharisee, when he was probably well funded, right? He was probably well esteemed, probably had all the money that he could have had. Regardless, like he learned, you know, what it was like. Mind you, it was at the end of his fharisical journey that he came to Christ. But he still like had to learn in that in the season in a lot, and he also had to learn a season and a little. Right? And so, two things from that. First, we find out that we can be discontent in a lot. I can't confirm, that's true. Yeah. Um he also came to the conclusion that he could be discontent in a little. I also can confirm you can be discontent in a little. Probably everyone would would be like, duh. Now, in the middle is where Christ is, and that's where Christ is is looking for us to stay in. Now, then he says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. That's that verse in verse 13 that he says that. So, for the listener, for me, for Joey, what we can do, I'm probably listeners, is we can not we we we can't miss this uh time of trials and tribulations, and we have to take a hold of it and and and and and meet the Lord in that uh to to to to grow with him in that. And I I think those are just opportunities of meeting the Lord and meeting the Lord and meeting the Lord and growing in that. And as you meet the Lord, you grow. Um and then the next thing I would say too, like, we need to remember that Christ is sitting on the throne right now, as we speak, whether you are uh hurting and you know, whatever, going through a divorce, going through a breakup, going through whatever it is, that doesn't change for Christ where he's at. And uh same thing if you are if you won the lottery, if you just got a third house, second house, you know, Christ is still sitting sitting on the throne. And so uh I think that's the battle. I think that's the tension. Um but yeah, I I I feel like, you know, with with respect, I don't think you should maybe go looking out for trials and tribulations, but like they're gonna come anyways. Um so um yeah, build your house on the rock. And this is I'm stealing a quote but someone said from the story in Matthew about a house was built on a rock, and then there was a house that was built on sand. Uh regardless of wherever you build your house, the storm still comes. It doesn't matter. You're not gonna you're not gonna dupe anyone. And so the question is, are you gonna build your house on the rock or are you gonna build your house on the sand? Now, you can choose, right? You can choose what you want to do. That's the beautiful thing about about the Lord. But um it's you know, you're also not fooling anyone.

SPEAKER_02 32:16

I love that. Thank you for sharing those, you know, practical ways to grow. I mean, something we don't think about a whole lot. Um I was actually speaking to a friend about this the other day, but as uh followers of Jesus, suffering is what produces in us the ability to cling on to Christ. Again, like you said, like Christ is our foundation. I just go back to this Hebrews passage. This hope being Jesus, we have as an anchor, which is language for you know, an anchor is what you know prevents a ship from floating away. He is an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. We can lean on him in those times, because those times will come. And those times will challenge us, will cause us to question and doubt, to drift away. But if we pay close attention to what we have heard, like it says in Hebrews 2.1, we can understand that he is good. That he's really that good, and he is faithful, like we can trust that he will keep his promise to be with us in those seasons. Yeah. And so I appreciate you sharing that, brother. Um, thank you again for just willing to share your thoughts on that. So, with that, that pretty much wraps up the episode for today. So, is there any final thoughts that you want to share about God's faithfulness?

SPEAKER_00 33:50

You know, I think the biggest thing, man, with faithfulness is

Final thoughts

SPEAKER_00 33:53

just how important it is to again just remember that Christ is faithful. That no one's faithful but Christ. You know, I d you know, I I guess the more I think the older I get, the more I'm just kind of like okay with being radical and like saying radical things, or like even even if it doesn't sound good, you know, to public persona, it's just true. Like everyone is gonna let you down, and Christ will never let you down. And um I don't know. I just think that you know, I I love when you think about the Lord, like his character traits, like my sister told me this a while ago, but like we have taste buds. Like God made us with taste buds to enjoy food. How thoughtful is that? How how how like how like what a God to do that? No one thinks about that. Also, if we eat too much, we get a little, you know, on the other side. We eat too little, we eat, you know, like just how God is perfect in that and to ensure that we don't make it an idol. And he has placed these things in in this world in our in our lives, uh to just protect us, right? Because he knows what we would do. Imagine if we could eat whatever he wanted and maintain a six-pack all day, every day. What would that do, right? He knew, right? We get full. No matter no matter what, everyone has a stopping point. And so, anyways, I I just say that to say, like, think of God's character, think of that, right? And uh we haven't even begun to scratch the surface of who he is. Oh, yeah. And so I just would, you know, encourage you guys to more than anything read the word. I think that's the number one thing. Um, you know, I I I maybe don't read it out of duty either, but just like, I want to know the Lord, you know? And then also remember, too, like, you only have so much in your cup to fill. So if something has to be pulled out, um, try and pull it out. Um, I'm not perfect in this. I'm really not. Uh, but again, God is faithful. Sometimes even just a prayer of Lord, I need your help, I need help to spend time with you. Like, that is that is you saying, God, you're faithful. So um uttering prayers like that, in fact, even says when we don't even have words to say, when we don't even know what to pray for, he prays for us. Like that's what he says. Yeah, it says that groans, it's in Romans 8, I think. Yeah, it says groans that are too too deep that we don't even like if we just groan because if we're just going through something, we should remember to pray. He prays for us. Like, we should think about that. We should remember that. And uh, yeah, Satan's a liar. He's a father of lies. And so, um, think about what you're thinking about and ask yourself, is this what Christ would say about me?

SPEAKER_02 36:58

Yeah, yeah, that's it. Amen, brother. Thank you for sharing that. It's easy to forget, like, the Lord will never fail us, and we have to be reminded of that. And the way we remind ourselves of that is to read his word, to treasure it in our hearts, but also to express it in worship and praise by just praying with praying, talking to him and engaging with him in that way. So thank you, brother, for those final thoughts, and yeah, thank you again for coming on to Tether.

SPEAKER_00 37:28

Absolutely thanks for having me, Joey.

SPEAKER_02 37:30

Well, that wraps up the episode. So thank you so much for tuning in. In the next episode, we are gonna be looking at our fourth attribute of God, which is goddess Sovereign.

Episode Conclusion

SPEAKER_02 37:41

And so for this episode, I invited a friend of mine who I've known for almost five years, and he has a heart for discipleship and has a big god theology. And so please stay tuned for that episode. And so, if you enjoyed Tethered, please subscribe to the podcast. We would really appreciate that. Please like this episode if you enjoyed it. Please share it with your friends and family. And so, you can watch Tether here on video on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. You can also listen to Tether on your favorite podcasting app like Amazon Music, Podcast, and more. And so, thank you so much for watching or listening to Tether. Have a great day, and God bless.