What Does It Mean to Be Faithful?Faithfulness is the quality of being loyal, trustworthy and true to our promises. During a phone call this week that definition was illustrated to me by a recently returned citizen named Joe who spent 15 years attending Yokefellowship groups while incarcerated at SCI Fayette. Our conversation was about our Saturday evening YPM meetings. Joe interrupted, ”You have no idea, brother, what it means that you all make that trip each week. You have no idea what it means when the weather turns ugly, but we know that if at all possible, you’ll be there! You just don’t know.” Joe wasn’t someone who just wanted out of his cell, he participated, asked questions and showed genuine appreciation for our time together. He got me thinking of the days when I don’t feel like going to the SCI. I am tired. It’s an hour plus each way. I won’t get home until almost 10 in the evening! And while those reasons may sound like “legitimate” excuses, I think of Joe and the many others inside who attend our YPM groups faithfully each week across the state. They’re expecting us to be there. Many of these men and women have been promised many things and been let down by people their whole lives. I have felt like staying at home at times, and I may find myself feeling that way again, sooner rather than later. But my faithfulness, your faithfulness, means that we go. In spite of our feelings, in spite of the rough week we’ve had, in spite of the snow or heavy rain, in spite of us having just finished a wonderful meal with our loved ones…we go. We go where the Lord has asked us to go, not for accolades or for high fives or to feel good about ourselves. We go because Jesus has asked us to. Faithfulness isn’t just a definition. Faithfulness is action. Faithfulness is hard. Faithfulness is work. When we are faithful we bring glory to God. Yokefellows, if we make faithfulness to God our main motivation, we will be happy with the results.
|
