Monday, November 2, 2015

Devotion 11.3.15

We often speak of "loyalty" as a trait that is admirable in an individual.  He's loyal to the cause, the team, the friend.  One writer noted some time ago that "loyalty" is an emotion, and as such, one that has blind spots.  The example he used to stress the point was the manager of a World Series' team who had a reliever that was the best in MLB that year.  His stats proved it, so when the time came to close the game, the manager went to the reliever, who was hammered.  Yet, the manager was loyal to the pitcher and did the same thing in the next three games and lost four of seven quickly.  His loyalty to the pitcher caused him to not see the apparent weakness that the pitcher exhibited in the series.

It is probably more proper that we should insert the word "faithful" when thinking of a trait of a person.  He is faithful to the cause.  "Steadfast in allegiance." "Firm in adherence to promises."  The psalms speak often of God's faithfulness to us, such as Psalm 52:8, "But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God.  I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever."  In Psalm 136, we read, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his steadfast love endures forever."

Faithfulness is one aspect of our calling as men.  Faithful to Christ and our call as disciples in Christ.  Faithful to our wives, honoring the vows we exchanged.  Faithful as fathers and friends.  We see an excellent example of faithfulness played out in Ruth.  Ruth's mother-in-law, Naomi, is now left with just her two daughters-in-law.  Her husband has died as have her two sons.  In accordance to Jewish law, there is nothing binding the daughters-in-law to her.  She bids them goodbye, but Ruth states, with faithfulness, "For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge.  Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.  Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried.  May the Lord do so to me and more if anything but death parts me from you."  (Ruth 1:16 - 18)

Ruth's faithfulness speaks volumes to us.  We learn from her faithfulness to someone for whom she owes nothing.  Naomi has become a part of her life.  Her son was Ruth's husband.  Ruth remains faithful to her.  Christ is faithful to us as well, for whom he owes nothing.  We have nothing to offer Christ in exchange for his love and faithfulness to us, and yet he does just that.

Pray that we are faithful to those in our lives.  Those we've made vows of faithfulness with, and those we call children, friends, family, disciples, and even those we don't know.

Hope Men's Ministry

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