Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 28: FAITHFULNESS”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
Proverbs 3:3-4 “ Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Happy Mother’s Day…a day late! Yesterday we had a chance to celebrate the gift that moms are in our lives. Sure, not every experience as a mother or with a mother is great or perfect. Some of you are missing your mom’s because they are no longer with you. For the most part, moms are special people.
Moms are selfless. They give time energy and effort to raise their children the best they can. Moms sacrifice their time, their resources, their priorities to make sure their children have what they need.
How would you describe your mom?
This week’s passage combines two terms which I believe are great descriptors of my mom and honestly for many moms: love and faithfulness.
These two terms are often used in the Bible right next to each other. So closely related they are that you can’t have one with out the other. You can’t have love without faithfulness and faithfulness without love.
Love is not just an emotional high, it is a commitment to sacrificial service. It is a willingness to give all on behalf of another (great word for moms, right?)
Faithfulness is a word that has at its root, “truth” and “dependability.” Perhaps one might think of it in these areas.
Faithfulness is being true to one’s relationships. Faithfulness is commitment to stay with a person through life’s up and downs. Husbands and wives promise faithfulness to each other on their wedding day. No other person is to get between them.
Faithfulness is being true to one’s word. Faithfulness is doing what you say you will do and always speaking with honesty and integrity. Faithfulness exhibits as our words are true, even if the message is tough to share.
Faithfulness is being true to one’s tasks. Faithfulness is doing as you committed to do. Faithfulness completes the job you indicated you would do.
Faithfulness is also being true to one’s Savior. As we will see in this week’s devotions, that love and faithfulness originates in the Lord himself. He said to Moses to share with the people, “And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,…” (Exodus 34:6). Love and faithfulness are characteristics of God. Only his love and faithfulness to us enable us to exhibit love and faithfulness in our lives.
It fits, right?
Only God has perfectly been true to his relationships. He made a promise to Old Testament Israel to be their God as they walked with him…he never deserted them. He was true to his word…always speaking truth, never lying. He was true to his tasks…if he promised, he acted.
Love and faithfulness do go together. To carry them out will need the power and gifting of God’s Spirit to produce faithfulness more fully in us. I pray the reflections this week on God’s faithfulness encourage and guide us to grow in the area of faithfulness ourselves!
Apply: What category of faithfulness is your strongest? Which is your weakest? (Relationships, Words, or Tasks)
Prayer: Lord, thank you for being perfectly loving and faithful to me. I ask that you forgive me for my unfaithfulness to you and others. Cover me in the love and faithfulness of Jesus and empower me by your Spirit to grow to be more faithful in every area of my life…especially in my relationship to you. AMEN.