Chew on this...

The word God gave me today is Loyalty. It came up in the Daniel study and again in my very first 5th grade Sunday School lesson. 5th graders will learn about being a loyal friend like Jonathan was to David. In the Daniel study it was about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego's loyalty to God. The definition of loyalty is not only firm, steadfast, faithful, reliable, but also to be ready and be prepared. "Loyalty means that when a sudden temptation poses a character question, if we have true conviction in that area, we do not have to consider how we'll answer it. Loyalty means the question has already been answered. We simply act upon it." How can we have true conviction and loyalty to God if we don't know Him. If we have not prepared for those hard questions of our faith. Preparation is through prayer and study in order for us to have the kind of loyalty  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had to God that day when they were questioned. Even when being faced with the furnace, they stood firm in their faith. Is your loyalty to God firm, steadfast, faithful, reliable? Are you ready and prepared to be tested on your loyalty to Christ? Have you already answered the question in your own heart and mind about whether anything could make you turn away from Him? Pray and Prepare this week. ~ Frances