Horton or Mayzie?featured

Faithfulness is part of God’s character.  Psalm 33:4 says, “For the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all he does.” The dictionary definition of faithful is “1. strict or thorough in the performance of duty; 2. true to one’s work, promises, vows, etc.; 3. steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant.”  I think they could have just put in a one-word definition: God!

As Christians, we rely on God’s promises and His faithfulness.  Lamentation 3:23 says, “…for I have always been mindful of Your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on Your faithfulness.”

Over the past months as I have been writing weekly devotionals, I have relied on His faithfulness in spades! I never know what He wants me to write from week to week. He wants me to trust in His faithfulness, His provision, and His inspiration on what to write.  He has proved reliable and I have experienced His faithfulness in fresh and profound ways.  Along the way I’ve learned a few lessons about faithfulness. 

I’ve learned that He wants me to be as faithful to Him as He is faithful to me. As Christians we are to reflect God’s character in our lives.  When people observe how I live they should see a glimmer of His faithfulness reflected in me.

What does being faithful to God look like?  God’s faithfulness comes out of His love for us. So perhaps for you and me, it is as simple as living out what Jesus said in Matthew 22:37, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

Although the Bible is chock full of examples of faithfulness (Hebrews 11 is like the Faithful Hall of Fame!), I thought about Dr. Seuss’ book, “Horton Hatches the Egg.”  In this book, Mayzie, a fickle and flighty bird, convinces Horton, an elephant, to sit on her egg while she goes on a long vacation.  Despite many trials, Horton is faithful to his commitment to Mayzie, often saying, “I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. An elephant’s faithful, one hundred percent!”

I am afraid that I often behave a bit more like Mayzie than like Horton.  My nature is to be more fickle than faithful.  I’m good at giving lip service to loving God with all my heart, soul and mind.  Actually doing that, however, is not my forte.  I am easily distracted and sometimes my love and devotion are very fleeting and flighty.  I end up loving God with a portion of my heart instead of all of it.

I don’t know the secret of Horton’s faithfulness, but I have learned that the only way for me to be faithful to God is to stay connected to Him.  I have found that unless I spend time in Bible study and prayer, I cannot hear that whisper of inspiration.  He is always there faithfully waiting for me with exactly what is needed.   He is waiting for me to love Him enough to seek him.

Galatians 5: 22-23 tells me, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.“  I can’t bear this fruit through my own will power.  But with the help of the Holy Spirit that I can begin to overcome my Mayzie-like tendencies.  

At the end of our days, don’t we all want to hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”?  I’m praying for the Holy Spirit’s help in being more Horton-like in my devotion to God – faithful, one hundred percent!  How about you? [jetpack_subscription_form]