LOYAL
BREAD
1 After
David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David,
and he loved him as himself. 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let
him return to his father's house. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he
loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan
took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic,
and even his sword, his bow and his belt. 1 Samuel 18:1-4 (NIV)
15 “Look,”
said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go
back with her.” 16 But
Ruth replied, “Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you
go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and
your God my God. 17 Where
you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but
death separates you and me." 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go
with her, she stopped urging her.” Ruth
1:15-18 (NIV)
When
the Lord was about to take Elijah
up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay
here; the Lord has sent me to
Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord
lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 The company of the prophets at
Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from
you today?” “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “but do not speak of it.” 4 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay
here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me
to Jericho.” And he replied, “As surely as the Lord
lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. 2 Kings 2:1-4 (NIV)
24 A man
of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer
than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)
18 O Lord, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac
and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep
their hearts loyal to you. 1 Chronicles
29:18 (NIV)
1 When
the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. 2 “I am about to go the way of
all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, show yourself a man, 3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in his
ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written
in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go,
4 and
that the Lord may keep his promise
to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully
before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on
the throne of Israel.’” 1 Kings 2:1-4
(NIV)
6 Be
strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will
never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy
31:6 (NIV)
6 So we
say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man
do to me?” Hebrews 13:6 (NIV)
BUTTER
“He was the most
balanced and perhaps the most beloved being ever to enter the society of
men. Though born amid most disgusting
surroundings, the member of a modest working family, He bore Himself always
with great dignity and assurance. Though
He enjoyed no special advantages as a child, either in education or employment,
His entire philosophy and outlook on life were the highest standards of human
conduct ever set before mankind. Though
He had no vast economic assets, political power or military might, no other
person ever made such an enormous impact on the world’s history. Because of Him……..people have come into a
life of decency and honor and noble conduct………He came to set men free from
their own sins, their own selves, their own fears. Those so liberated loved Him with fierce
loyalty. It is this One who insists that
He was the Good Shepherd, the understanding Shepherd, the concerned Shepherd
who cares enough to seek out and save and restore lost men and women.” Phillip
Keller
“Want of
trust is at the root of almost all our sins and all our weaknesses, and how
shall we escape it but by looking to Him and observing His faithfulness. The man who holds God’s faithfulness will not
be foolhardy or reckless, but will be ready for every emergency.” Hudson Taylor
“Hast
thou, O my soul, felt the weight of thy own guilt and misery, and been enabled,
in reality and truth, to lay hold by faith of the blood of Christ for thy
redemption, and faithfully to devote thyself to him in heart and life? Then hast thou a sure foundation to go upon: let it be thy constant care firmly to depend
upon these and such like blessed declarations; for every blessing thou standest
in need of. Has Christ brought life and
immortality to light? Then look unto him
and live. Is there redemption through
his blood, even the forgiveness of sins?
Then throw all thy guilt upon his atonement. Has he blotted out the hand-writing of
ordinances that was against thee? Then
shake off self-righteous dependences, and legal fears also. Did he die for thy sins? Then let his goodness and love lead thee to
unfeigned repentance; let the sense of thy sins break thine heart, but
encourage thy hope in the gospel.”
K.H. Von Bogatzky
“Wherever
you are, be all there. Live to the full
in every situation that you believe to be the will of God.” Jim Elliot
“But there’s a decision that I find God is asking us to make: whether
we are going to choose to interpret our circumstances based on what we hold to
be true about God, or whether we’re going to judge what we hold to be true
about God based on our circumstances. People ask how we’re doing, and I like to
say: ‘We have a faithful God.’ Every promise he’s kept, every need he’s met.” Laura
Story
“Faithfulness rarely
feels heroic; it feels much more like showing up and hanging in. It is a matter
of going to our cell, whatever form that might take, and letting it teach us
what it will. Availing himself (Brother Lawrence) to consistent faithfulness
yielded the blessing of both proficiency and presence—the presence of God—right
there in midst of the monotony of dirty pots and pans.” Margaret Guenther
HEART SAVOR
·
Loyalty is unearthly in its ultimate joy.
·
God desires my faithful, loyal love.
·
Loyal love is wholehearted.
