Josh McDowell's Youth DevotionsSample

TRUE TO THE ORIGINAL. A commercial appeared on television some years ago featuring a famous singer. She started singing an impressive operatic style song and then let loose with a piercing high note. Suddenly, the focus of the camera shifted, and the singer's form was in the background while the camera focused on a fine crystal wine glass. As the singer hit the high note, the glass shattered. Immediately, however, the camera angle widened to reveal a tape machine running, and an announcer's voice posed the question, "Is it live or is it Memorex?" The point of the commercial, of course, was that a Memorex cassette tape could duplicate a sound so accurately that even the recorded version might conceivably shatter glass. In other words, the recorded version was so true to the original that it was difficult to tell the difference. That's a pretty fair description of what faithfulness means: to be true to the original. God has shown us what faithfulness looks like. The Bible says that "he is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and constantly loves those who love him and obey his commands" (Deuteronomy 7:9). He keeps his word-even for a thousand generations! He never stops loving those who love him. He never disappoints those who count on him. He never deserts those who need him. We Christians are faithful when we are true to the original, to the example that God has given us. Faithfulness means keeping our word, never giving up on those we love, never withdrawing our love from those who love us, never consciously trying to disappoint those who count on us, never deserting those who need us. That's faithfulness being true to the original, our faithful God. And being true to God has benefits: "A faithful man [or woman] will be richly blessed" (Proverbs 28:20, NIV). REFLECT: Faithfulness means being true to the original obeying God's commands and being like him in our relationships with others. How true are you to the original? How good are you at keeping your word? How good are you at not giving up on those you love? at not withdrawing love from those who love you? at not disappointing those who count on you? at not deserting those who need you? If you need help, don't try to do it yourself; rely on God to do it in you through his Holy Spirit. ACT: Look up the dictionary definition of faithful. Copy it onto an index card or slip of paper and place it in one of your schoolbooks or in a prominent place where you'll be likely to see it often in the next few days. PRAY: "I want to be true to you today, God. Help me to be faithful, especially when I..."