Thursday’s Devotion: Through Thick and Through Thin

Psalm 12:1  A psalm of David. Help, LORD, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.

Much of David’s life seemed to revolve around battles and intrigues and betrayal.  We can sense his frustration in this Psalm.  I wonder sometime if the characteristic of loyalty hasn’t gone the way of chivalry.  You don’t see much of either anymore.  Some couples choose to live together but not get married because they see marriage as a commitment of loyalty through better and worse and don’t want to make that commitment.  Others get married but take the issue of loyalty lightly and end up having serial marriages.  Marketers work hard to promote brand loyalty. The strongest sense of loyalty I see is in sports – especially college teams. Churches struggle in this day and time with the issue of lack of loyalty among those who attend.  When the longer term members who come from a generation that respected loyalty start to die or become too old to serve effectively the church must replace them with newer members.  Small membership churches have a difficult time doing that when their newcomers are prone to wander off to what they perceive is the next greener pasture. Being church nomads is not an effective way to build the kingdom.  Joe and I have attended Clemson games through winning and through losing seasons.  We have stayed at churches through good times and pastors and not so good times and/or pastors.  Let’s pray for our churches that as long as their teachings and practices are theologically sound and they are intent on serving God by making disciples and mission work, that they will be blessed with loyal congregations who will joyfully take up the responsibility of the work of the kingdom.

Heavenly Father, you are faithful to us, offering grace even when we are prone to wander.  Help us to inspire others to be loyal to you through your church which is the body of Christ. Empower us all to serve faithfully through our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service and our witness. Amen.