Imagine this scene:
You’re walking along enjoying the sunshine when you see this woman. She’s running full tilt straight into a wall where she smacks hard enough to bounce off. The woman stands up, dusts herself off, backs up several feet and runs straight into the wall again.
You stand there stunned for a moment. Then you begin to smirk and think what a fool!
You’re fascinated by this scene until you realize that person is you. You begin to realize this is what you do when you make the same foolish choice again and again. So how do you break the cycle?
I Timothy 3:11b says we are to be faithful in ALL things. Hmmm. What does this faithful mean? I looked it up in Webster’s 1828 dictionary online and here are the definitions that seemed to fit:
FA’ITHFUL, a.
1. Firm in adherence to the truth and to the duties of religion.
2. Firmly adhering to duty; of true fidelity; loyal; true to allegiance; as a faithful subject.
3. constant in the performance of duties or services; exact in attending to commands; as a faithful servant.
4b. true to one’s word.
6. True to the marriage covenant; as a faithful wife or husband.,
8. Constant; not fickle; as a faithful lover or friend.
I can honestly say that I’m not very faithful in anything. Except maybe being unfaithful. I love the Lord, but if I’m honest with myself, I haven’t loved him more than myself. I haven’t loved anyone more than myself. I’ve not been faithful in my relationship with Jesus or with the things he’s put in my life. I’ve squandered time and energy on foolish things. I’ve run into that wall over and over.
He stands off to the side waiting for me to get a clue and stay on my, no, HIS course FAITHFULLY. I do well for a time, but it’s the faithful part, which means constant not fickle, as we see in the definition. How do I do this? How do I stop going back to the wall (which by the way HURTS when you smack into it)? 🙂
By spending time with the Lord.
I am faithful to my husband in our marriage (although not so faithful in serving him or loving him more than myself, but that’s another topic). Now I need to be faithful and loyal; constant and true to my first love: Jesus Christ. He will bring about the faithfulness in all areas if I simply focus on the One who matters most.
I’m sorry, Lord, for my lack of faithfulness in loving you. I kneel before you know with a humble heart as your servant.
You know where they all bow before the king in Lord of the Rings? It’s beautiful, but far more beautiful and worthy to bow before the KING of kings. And I know him personally. How can I forget the splendor?
A foolish heart. I definitely need to spend more time on my face before the throne.
Heather says
Mom, I agree with what you said about running into the wall. I seem to do it all the time.
Audra Marie says
But the good news is that you know the One who can help you stop doing that. 🙂