“Pursue … steadfastness” (1 Timothy 6:11)
A mature Christian should be steadfast. He should know the truth about the Gospel and stand firm in it, not be “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14). After all, it is vitally important to know who God is, and that you can be saved through faith in Jesus Christ, to name a few key doctrines of Christianity.
The church in Galatia was not mature in the faith. They had heard the Gospel from Paul and his colleagues and had come to faith, but then false teachers told them that salvation was not a free gift, but should be earned by obeying the law and doing good works. They were led astray because they were not “stable and steadfast”. That is dangerous.
Other people turned away from the faith when persecution came. The Bible warns against this as well. If we cling to the Lord, He will not let us be tempted beyond our ability (1 Corinthians 10:13). He will prove his faithfulness by providing a way of escape, and this experience will strengthen our faith. That way, trials will even produce steadfastness!
Do you stand firm in the faith?