Loyalty: January 7, 2010

January 7: TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY JANUARY 7

LOYALTY

DEFINITION:

The state of being loyal, faithful, and constant in devotion.

SCRIPTURE:

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one or love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

The former President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt said in 1919: “There can be no divided allegiance here. We have room for one God --- one flag --- one language --- and for one sole loyalty --- and that is to the American people.

In life today we have many distractions that influence our lives. This is why it is so essential that we are loyal followers of God so He can show us an alternative to the distractions that come our way. We often comment that we see very little loyalty among people today. It seems that loyalty to a job is now very unique. Loyalty to churches is waning. Even loyalty to families and family values is less every year.

Dan Crawford was a person that loved to go into new areas of our world and explore. He tells of a native guide that was leading him along a long and new trail. Being uncertain of his direction, he asked the guide just where they were going. “You want to know the way? I am the way!” smiled the native guide, pointing to his head where the knowledge was stored.

Dan Crawford, being a Christian who believed in Jesus, later was able to share with his guide about the One who is the true and living way. What a wonderful example to remind us of the true and only way, being our Lord Jesus Christ. If we do not have loyalty to our Lord, how can we expect to find our way through this life?

We taught our children the importance to have and practice daily loyalty in all that they did. First we emphasized the importance to have loyalty to our Lord. We reminded our children that every day there were circumstances or situations that would arise that could tempt you to lose your loyalty to the Lord. In life today each one of us everyday have these moments when it would maybe be easier not to show your loyalty to your Lord. Never be tempted to lose that loyalty. God will honor you for your loyalty, even more so in difficult situations.

We also taught our children to be loyal to their parents, siblings, family and friends. So often we would hear stories of friendships lost because of a small disagreement. Your friendships need to be based on loyalty and not on situations that could go bad. When a crisis arises between loyal friends, the loyalty to one another will take you through that situation.

And finally as the scripture above says, we need to choose whom we will serve, God or mammon? If you choose our Lord, He wants your loyalty day after day and He will then lead you through every situation that you face.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is:

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is.” Romans 12:2

PRAYER:

Help me this day to learn a new sense of loyalty for my family, friends and neighbors. Give us this day, dear Lord the courage to fully trust You who made us. Give me strength to walk down the path that You lead me down today. Lead me every moment in my journey through life.