FoTS - Faithfulness

Here's a true saying: As faithful as a dog is to his master, so a Christian should be to God.

Faithfulness has an eternal quality to it. A devotion. It is something that accompanies love. And there is a certain amount of sacrifice in there as well. Today's Fruit of the Spirit is #7 of 9 on our Fruit of The Spirit journey.

The first example of faithfulness that pops into my head in the Bible is that of Job. He did a lot of whining and complaining throughout the book but, even though trial after excruciating trial, he never gave up on God.

"In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil." - Job 1:1

In a single day, Satan took away his camels, donkeys, and sheep, killed all his servants, and killed all of his children as well. Yet, this is how Job reacted:

"At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship ²¹ and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,

    and naked I will depart.

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;

    may the name of the Lord be praised."

²² In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” - Job 1:20-22

Wow! Now that's faithfulness!

Another biblical example of faithfulness is Ruth. She stuck by Naomi when the going got tough. Even after Naomi told her to go back home.

"And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” ¹⁶But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God." - Ruth 1:15-16

Questions:

1. Who, in your life, exhibits Ruth's faithfulness?
2. What does faithfulness require from us?
3. Jesus praised the "good and faithful servant." Are you worthy of such praise?
4. What could you do today as an example of faithfulness?
5. What does being faithful to God look like in today's world?

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

I guess this story started at my friend John's funeral June 25th. The service was at our church and John had selected some songs for us to listen to. The second selection was Great Is Thy Faithfulness by Chris Rice. I love Chris's version of that old hymn.

A few days after his funeral I contacted my friend Kortney. I've written about her before. Heart transplant and double lung transplant at age 30. I known her since she was in 8th grade. Youth group kid.

Anyway, we set up a coffee date for July 9th. That morning, shortly before leaving for our favorite meeting place, I opened up YouTube to kill some time. That's when I noticed a video by Chris Rice. Yep, the same guy who sang Great Is Thy Faithfulness. What was he doing in a hospital bed, I wondered. So I clicked on the video.

Chris was thanking everyone for prayers as he was about to be taken in for surgery - a heart transplant.😳 Just like Kortney had 6 months ago.

Okay. I'm now on high alert. I had an uneasy feeling as I drove to meet Kortney. I arrived at the agreed to time and location. Kortney was not there. Maybe she forgot (not likely) Now, I'm sitting here writing this story. No reply to two texts. She is now half an hour overdue. 

Well . . .

My friend had simply slept through her alarm. Understandable considering that she was up until 3am. This demonstrated something to me. About me. About all of us.

Did you check my reaction when something that was SUPPOSED TO happen, DIDN'T? My brain began coming up different scenarios all by itself. And, of course, I fixated on the worst possible one - my friend was in the hospital. So, I began to pray.

I think we're ALL kind of wired that way. We want answers. We want everything to be okay. So, why do we navigate to the worse possible scenario in our brains? Is it us? Is it Satan working on us to create this uncertainty?

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7

"Do not afraid of bad news; have a strong heart, and trust in the Lord. ⁸Have a stready heart; and do not be afraid." - Psalm 112:7-8 (Bob version)

Maybe I should have just started singing that old hymn.

Great is thy faithfulness, O God, my Father;

There is no shadow of turning with thee.

Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;

As thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.

Great is thy faithfulness,

Great is thy faithfulness,

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed thy hand hast provided;

Great is thy faithfulness,

Lord unto me.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness - Chris Rice

The Parable of the Pup

Everybody loves puppies, right? They're cute and cuddly. They give us unconditional love. They can grow to become a trusted companion, protect us when we are in danger, and even guide us if we are blind.

But if you had to sum puppies up in one word, would that word not be 'lovable?'

They're so lovable and cute!

But things can change over time. Even the cutest of pups can turn nasty and mean if they are mistreated and abused.

Are human babies any different? All human babies are cute yet for some reason we as a society feel it should be legal to kill them. But harm one hair on the head of a puppy and you're going to jail! 

And think about Jesus for a moment. He has many of the same characteristics as puppies do - lovable, faithful, trustworthy, loyal, and obedient. Yet many ignore Him. Why? Good question.

"God is faithful." - 1 Corinthians 1:9

"God is love." - 1 John 4:7

"He learned obedience through the tbings He suffered." - Hebrews 5:8

Are WE the same? Isn't Jesus supposed to he OUR exanple to follow?

"He is your example, and you must follow in his steps." - 1 Peter 2:21

Be a puppy to someone today!

John Wick's Puppy

Go Freely

I saw some advice from Martin Luther this past week. Written in 1527 as the world faced a deadly outbreak of bubonic plague, it seemed like pretty sound advice to me so I shall repeat it here and follow it later as I volunteer at the Ruby's Pantry food distribution later this morning.

"I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence.

If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me, and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.” - Martin Luther

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns." - Matthew 24:45-46

It is wise to use precautions while this virus surrounds us but we are also Christians. We are not to have a spirit of fear. Therefore, when there is a need, we should act, if it can be done in Jesus' name. Otherwise, what good is our faith?

Be safe out there. And serve The Lord.