Little Teddy stood in the driveway, tears streaming down his face.
Teddy’s dad had left at the first of the year but promised to take him fishing in the spring. His dad had called on a Monday and told him to be ready to go Saturday at seven in the morning. Now it was 6:55, but no sign of his dad. Had his dad lied, or was something wrong? Teddy couldn't sleep during the night because he was so excited. Just as he was about to go back inside, he heard the familiar rumble of his dad’s truck pulling into the driveway. His dad had kept his word after all.
The importance of being honest cannot be overstated. An old saying says, "A man is only as good as his word." As Joshua neared death, he reminded Israel that God had kept all His promises to them. In spite of the conflicts and their forty years in the wilderness, they were at last in the land of Canaan, which God had promised to them.
God delivers on all of His promises, but some we must wait for and pray about. There are times when situations look impossible and problems insurmountable. God proves He is trustworthy and dependable. Even in those times when we may have grown weak in our faith and discouraged, He keeps His promises.
Others should be able to count on our word. We earn a good name by being trustworthy and dependable. As in our story, it may seem a little thing not to keep our promises, but not doing so may cause hurt that can never be repaired. As godly and faithful Christians, we must be to others what God is to us.
Be as good as your word.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
Andy is a published multi-award-winning author with devotions appearing on the Christian Devotions website as well as the CBN website. He is a contributing author in the Starr Ayers/Stephanie Pavlantos book Room at the Table. Currently, he is working on his first novel and is assembling a book of inspirational Scripture-based short stories along with moral, personal, family, and comical stories. Andy is the founder and director of H.O.P.E. Ministries in Candler, NC. While operating primarily as a food ministry, they also provide backpacks, Easter baskets, and Christmas shoebox gifts to crisis pregnancy centers, domestic violence shelters, schools, government agencies, and other ministries. They also provide disaster relief and aid for unwed mothers and their children.