Text: Daniel 3:13-18
Memory verse:
“And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God.”
Psalms 78:8 NKJV
Loyalty is simply faithfulness to commitments, obligations and promises. Loyalty can be measured in our relationship with God, family, friends, employers or organizations. It can also be by your commitment to a cause. Loyalty appears to be a virtue that is fast losing its appeal in this generation, even among brethren and in leadership. Rather than steadfastness, people esteem disloyalty or halfhearted loyalty.
“Everyone talks about how loyal and faithful he is, but just try to find someone who really is!” (Prov 20:6 GNT).
Loyalty was a common virtue in the ancient days. Men and women were steadfast at all costs, even to the cost of death. There were loyal followers of men or a cause, called disciples, like the disciples of Moses, Elisha, John, Paul, Apollos and so on. They were actually differentiated from others by their loyalty.
Ray Boltz captured the loyalty of the early disciples of Christ in his song.
“I pledge allegiance to the lamb
With all my strength
With all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
I have heard how christians long ago
Were brought before a tyrants throne
And they were told that he would spare their lives
If they would renounce the name of Christ
But one by one they chose to die
The Son of God they would not deny
Like a great angelic choir sings
I can almost hear their voices ring”.
Hebrews chapter 12 is a catalog of men and women who were loyal to God till death. For example, Abraham, who remained devoted to God in spite of his childlessness; Joseph who never at once considered giving up on God in spite of his travail; Job, who refused to curse God and call it a quit in spite of his affliction and pressure from all quarters; and the three Hebrew men, who stayed true to God, even with the option of being disloyal and escaping the burning furnace!
Friends, do you have faith? Your faith is first measured in your loyalty. How can you measure your loyalty to God? Whether, in your relationships, to your organization or to a cause, your loyalty must always seek to honour God.
Prayer points
1. Father, please, help me to be loyal and to seek to honour You in my loyalty in Jesus name.
2. Father, please, make me an example of true loyalty in this generation in Jesus name.
Today’s declarations
1. My faith is seen in my loyalty to God, to my allegiance and to my cause.
2. My loyalty is true when I seek to honour God in all that I do.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng