“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. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:3-6).

Lord, how shall we live? What has happened to acting dignified in the public square? Is shamelessness here to stay? Vulgar and deceitful people ascend to the heights of power and flaunt their lack of decency. Are we learning to tolerate their schemes just so we won’t be left out when it’s pie-slicing time? Is this the new normal? It can’t be. You say we should wear love and faithfulness like medallions around our necks because those values are etched so deeply in our hearts. Our love for you and faithfulness to you should be out front for all to see. They are the cornerstones of a good reputation. May we never sacrifice them on the puny altars of expediency. Anything we might gain today is not worth losing our good name over. We can’t have it both ways. The straight path is not a journey for half-hearted pilgrims. Lord, we want to trust you wholeheartedly. Help us follow your ways of doing things without any reservations so others can have complete confidence in us. Amen.