Text: Joshua 14:6-15
Memory verse:
““For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.””
‭‭II Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We have seen from the last three editions that Ruth’s loyalty wasn’t about choosing the easiest path or about taking the least painful or least costly option but about following God’s leading and honouring Him. Since her decision honoured Him, God rewarded her. She was supernaturally connected to Boaz, who eventually married her, as her kinsman redeemer. King David and our Lord Jesus descended from her family line. Her loyalty brought this amazing blessing to the world and her name and story have been engraved in the eternal book! What better reward can anyone receive!
Our text today also describes the loyalty of Caleb. He wasn’t afraid to stand apart from his colleagues to please God. He wasn’t seeking acceptance or honour from the people, like most believers do today. He was devoted to God so much that he didn’t mind standing against the popular opinion or what sounded as very logical! (Num 13:30). Unlike, the others, Caleb cared less about the strength of the inhabitants of the land. Rather, his concern was obeying the instructions of his God (Num 14:5-9). Like a Yoruba proverb says, “You should only be afraid of the person who sent you with a message and not the one whom the message is meant for”. This captures the idea of loyalty. It doesn’t bother about the odds but rather obeying the commands of its master to the letter.
God will never miss your acts of loyalty done directly to Him or to man in His name. Thus, He declared, “But my servant Caleb has a different attitude than the others have. He has remained loyal to me, so I will bring him into the land he explored. His descendants will possess their full share of that land” (Num 14:24 NLT). No matter how long, loyal people will always eat the fruit of their loyalty, with an enviable ending but the disloyal will stumble and end with shame. The Lord strengthened Caleb, so much that, after forty five years, he was still spiritually, physically and mentally strong enough to demand for his promised inheritance (Josh 14:6-12). Loyalty gives you confidence before God and makes you fruitful at old age. Thus, Joshua gave Caleb the land of Hebron, as his reward (Josh 14:13).
Friends, don’t lose your patience in the process; or yield to the pressure of being halfhearted in your loyalty; or be tempted to envy disloyal people. Loyalty will never miss its reward and the reward is always worth the sacrifice. Be loyal to God, to His word, to your family, to your employer and employees, to your leaders and followers and to your friends. Let the honour of God be the basis of your loyalty. May you be loyal to the end in Jesus name.

Prayer points
1. Father, please, let me never lose my patience or yield to the pressure of being halfhearted in my loyalty in Jesus name.
2. Father, please, strengthen me by Your grace, lest I be won over by the pressure of disloyal voices in Jesus name.

Today’s declarations
1. I am concerned about not being disloyal and displeasing to God in my service, and not to man.
2. I know that loyalty will never lose its reward but patience is a key factor.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng