The Israelites' faith often depended on who was their king, prophet, or judge. As long as the king, prophet, or judge lived, the people worshipped and obeyed the Lord. Yet after the leader died, they followed "other gods in service and worship, relinquishing none of their evil practices or stubborn conduct" (Jgs 2:19).
Do you have people upon whom you depend so much that their deaths would weaken your faith in the Lord? What if the Christian you most respect committed adultery, left the priesthood, or was caught stealing? Would it just make you sad, or would it shake your faith? We thank the Lord for those He has brought into our lives to help us grow in His love, though we are not dependent on them but on God.
If everyone we know is unfaithful to God, the Lord is still faithful. "God must be proved true even though every man be proved a liar" (Rm 3:4). "Your faith rests not on the wisdom of men but on the power of God" (1 Cor 2:5). "The gospel I proclaimed to you is no mere human invention. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I schooled in it. It came by revelation from Jesus Christ" (Gal 1:11-12). If two or three key Christians in your life died, what would you do? Would you "love the Lord" all the more? (Lk 10:27)
| PRAYER: | Father, pull anything out of my life that I'm leaning on instead of You. |
| PROMISE: | "Go, sell your possessions, and give to the poor. You will then have treasure in heaven. Afterward, come back and follow Me." –Mt 19:21 |
| PRAISE: | When his wife died John's friends and family expected him to drink again, but his faith in God kept him sober. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College