A 40 Day Journey to Becoming Like the One We Follow
Day 9: Faithfulness (John 6:38-39)
I think we have a problem with loyalty in our current society. Maybe not a problem, per se, but it does seem like we value loyalty as a virtue less today than in times past. We're less loyal to our families, our jobs, our towns or states, our churches, brands, civic organizations, etc. Friendships seem harder to keep going strong these days.
We have a faithfulness crisis.
I see a lot of people "deconstructing" their faith. We've seen the breakdown in institutional trust over the last few decades, and with that also goes trust in religion and trust in God. It's heartbreaking, but I understand. Believe me, I've had every reason to walk away from it all, too.
Here's why I haven't left. Because it's not just about being faithful TO God. Scripture often speaks about the faithfulness OF God, too. God is faithful to us even if/when we aren't faithful to him! God never walks away, never gives up, never turns his back.
Jesus spoke often about how faithful he was being to God and his mission. Jesus went where God sent him, did what God told him, and spoke the words God gave him. There was a oneness between the Son and the Father. But it didn't stop there. Jesus' faithfulness extended to his followers, too. He was committed to his disciples, not wanting to lose any of them to the schemes of the enemy.
We speak often of the disciples' inability to remain faithful to Jesus when the threat of death was on the line. But Jesus never ceased being faithful to his disciples, even when they deserted him.
"If we are faithless, he remains faithful..." (2 Timothy 2:13)
Thank God for never giving up on you. Devote yourself to being faithful to God AND to showing faithfulness to others in all your relationships.