Faithfulness

A Devotion by Joe G

May 1, 2024

“Faithfulness.”

Hebrews 11:1

I was a young kid back in the 1950s. My favorite day of the week was Saturday, which was the day all my favorite television shows were on.

The Adventures of Superman, Mighty Mouse, Sky King, and Howdy Doody are just a few. But my favorite show was The Lone Ranger.

Here’s how the show opened each week:

• Narrator: The Lone Ranger!
• [gunshots are fired]
• The Lone Ranger: Hi-Yo, Silver!
• Narrator: A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty “Hi-Yo Silver” – the Lone Ranger!
• The Lone Ranger: Hi-Yo, Silver, away!
• Narrator: “With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the daring and resourceful masked rider of the plains, led the fight for law and order in the early West. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. The Lone Ranger rides again!”

The Lone Ranger and Tonto are fictional characters. The Lone Ranger was a former Texas Ranger who, along with other rangers, was ambushed by The Cavendish Gang. Tonto found one ranger half dead. He cared for him, and together, they fought for justice in the old West.

My favorite line from the intro above is, “With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto.” Fought for law and order.

Faithful is not a word we use very often anymore. More often, we hear the word unfaithful used. Unfaithful is used to refer to married couples as well as those dating. Politicians are sometimes found to be unfaithful to their constituents, and often, a person we consider to be a friend is unfaithful to us in many ways.

**************The Point*************

The word “Emet” is used quite often in the Hebrew Bible.

“Emet is a word meaning “faithfulness” or “truth,” and it’s used throughout the Bible to describe God.”

(Bible Project.com) 

Faithfulness goes both ways. God is faithful to us, but He also expects us to be faithful to Him and others.

“Faithfulness comes from a place of trust and loyalty. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is a confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” As a Christian, it is important to be faithful to God. It is one thing to simply believe in Him, but another to be faithful to Him.”

(Grand Canyon University.com)

The Bible repeatedly talks about God’s faithfulness to His creation (us).

“O LORD, you are my God;
I will exalt you; I will praise your name,
for you have done wonderful things,
plans formed of old, faithful, and sure.”

Isaiah 25:1

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

(Hebrews 10:23)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

1John 1:9

Not once in the 66 books of the Bible is God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit ever referred to as unfaithful.

God is always faithful to us. He loves and encourages us and is always there for us in good and bad times.

The Lone Ranger was originally a radio show. Even in those old radio shows, Tonto was depicted as faithful to the Lone Ranger.

As good as the Lone Ranger radio and television series are, they are a product of someone’s imagination.

God is not an imaginary person. He is the creator of all things and sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins.

God is faithful. He made a promise to send a redeemer, and He did. Great is His faithfulness.