DEVOTION – DAY 571

Proverbs 3:3-4 “Love And Faithfulness”

Proverbs 3:3-4 “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then, you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”

God is known for His unfailing love and faithfulness. As His children, Christians are also called to cultivate the same characteristics of love and faithfulness. It is to be a second nature – as if we wear it like a necklace (bound around our neck), or written in our hearts as a matter of speech. When we share these same qualities of love and faithfulness that influences our daily conduct with others, God will be pleased. We will gain His favor and that of our fellow Christians.

It is easy to love people who are loving, and responsive to our expressions of love. It is not easy to love people who may be unwelcoming and unresponsive. There was a Syrian Christian missionary called Alopen. He had heard of a great nation in the East from caravan traders who traveled the Silk Road. He wanted to follow these caravan traders and take with him the message of the gospel to this distant nation. To travel from Syria to Chang-an, China – the ancient name for Xian, China, involves months of dangerous and hard travel through Persia, deserts of Xinjiang, crossing the KunLun mountains passes and so on. Yet, Alopen persevered because he loved people. He wanted the Chinese to have an opportunity to hear the gospel. He was also faithful to his calling by the Lord to share the gospel. 

In AD635, Alopen finally arrived in Chang-an and he was presented to the Tang Emperor Taizong, who welcomed him. Emperor Taizong asked that Alopen’s holy books and writings be translated for the Imperial Library. The arrival of Alopen and his introduction into the Emperor Taizong’s court was recorded in the Xian Stele. The Emperor found the translated writings good and allowed its teachings to be spread throughout his empire. The early Church in China grew from the work of Alopen because of his love and faithfulness. The church flourished until the end of the Tang dynasty, resurfaced in the Mongol dynasty only to disappear in history until the 17th century when archeologists discovered the Xian Stele that recorded Alopen’s work. Only then, did the historians realized that the Christian faith had its origins almost a thousand years earlier in China – the result of the love and faithfulness of men like Alopen. Thus, his name is remembered to this day in history, just as these verses above promised.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for your love and faithfulness. Please help us to show the love others just as you have loved us, regardless of their status, race or inclination. Help us also to be faithful to your Word and your call for us. We humbly pray in the wonderful name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. How can you show love to others this week? Share.
  2. What steps can you take to work at having love for others and being faithful to God and His Word becoming second nature to you? Share and Discuss.
  3. Why is it important for Christians to show love to others and be faithful to God’s Word? Discuss.