Post by solitarysoul on Mar 8, 2007 20:47:46 GMT -5
"Loyalty" - Devotion for March 8th, 2007
Today's Scripture
"He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour. " - Proverbs 21:21
Today's Word
There are many very unloyal people in the world today. Many people will be a great friend when everything is going good, but then as soon as you do something they don't like, they stab you in the back. Or maybe when everyone seems to like you, they are a great friend, but then if you do something that isn't so popular, and they see someone else more pleasing than you, they ditch you for them.
A loyal person is someone who will stick by you through the good times and the bad. Even if you have done something horrible, they still recognize that no one is perfect, and we all make these mistakes. It is in those bad times that you need a friend like that the most.
In sports games when someone makes a great play, they have thousands of people cheering for them. If someone makes the winning play in the last few seconds of the game, half the crowd pretty much thinks that person is the best in the world. But then if they have a few bad games, they're talked down about, as if everyone just wants that person to quit and get lost. But it is in times like that when you need a friend the most to pull you up. Even those who make terrible decisions need loyalty. Say you're the president of a country and you just made the worst decision in history for your country. People are going to hate you. Some will hate you so much they'll be trying to get you out of office, or even worse. But even someone who messes up that bad needs encouragement.
The Bible says that those who follow righteousness and mercy will be given life and honor. Be loyal to those who do wrong and show mercy for others. There are many people in relationships today who are totally loyal and honest with their partner. But guess what happens as soon as their partner does something they don't like. Instead of sticking by their side, forgiving them, showing mercy and bringing them up like a true friend would, they just beat them down further, and leave. That is a great indicator that that person is just out for themselves. If you can't stick by those who mean the most to you, supporting them even when it is you that they have wronged, then they deserve better. Everyone wrongs other people in their life. No one is innocent of that. So if someone wrongs you, and you leave instead of sticking by their side and showing mercy, you are the one who is at greater fault.
We see people all the time who will spread rumors even about friends and family. Someone comes up to you and starts bad mouthing someone, joking to you about them and gossiping. The majority of people will laugh with them and talk about that person as well, because they want to be accepted and admired. Pride and reputation are valued way too high in western society these days. A loyal person will stick up for others, even when they know the person they are sticking up for has done wrong. Pull them aside and talk to them about it privately, but don't talk down about them. It is in those times that we need a friend the most. We all sin after all. If you are not innocent of ever doing something wrong, then don't throw any stones.
In the Bible when the woman who was caught in the act of adultry was brought to Jesus, He said that if anyone is without sin, throw the first stone. But if you notice, the fact that Jesus showed mercy for her literally empowered her to turn away from her sin and do good. So think about that. If you are angry at someone for something they have done, and you punish or dislike them for it, are you honestly trying to encourage them to change? Or are you doing it just so that you will feel better?
I've met people before who were a great friend when everything was going good, but if you do something they don't like, they don't even want to talk to you anymore. They come up with excuses, saying that a true friend wouldn't do this and that, or they hold a grudge, trying to make you feel sorry for what you have done. But don't forget the Bible says to remove the log from your own eye, before you help your friend to remove the speck of sawdust from his or her eye. Regardless of what you have done, if someone is not willing to forgive you and show mercy, they are the one not being a true friend. If you are loyal to others in need, the Bible promises that your deeds will be repaid to you much greater. You gain respect, honor, and trust from others, and you plant seeds which God will see to it that reap a great harvest. But most importantly, you are loving others as Christ would.
Copyright © 2007 T. Scott Morgan | www.the-daily-blessing.com
Please feel free to forward this message on as much as you like, as long as this copyright stays intact and the devotion is not altered.
This devotion may NOT be redistrubuted for profit.
Today's Scripture
"He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour. " - Proverbs 21:21
Today's Word
There are many very unloyal people in the world today. Many people will be a great friend when everything is going good, but then as soon as you do something they don't like, they stab you in the back. Or maybe when everyone seems to like you, they are a great friend, but then if you do something that isn't so popular, and they see someone else more pleasing than you, they ditch you for them.
A loyal person is someone who will stick by you through the good times and the bad. Even if you have done something horrible, they still recognize that no one is perfect, and we all make these mistakes. It is in those bad times that you need a friend like that the most.
In sports games when someone makes a great play, they have thousands of people cheering for them. If someone makes the winning play in the last few seconds of the game, half the crowd pretty much thinks that person is the best in the world. But then if they have a few bad games, they're talked down about, as if everyone just wants that person to quit and get lost. But it is in times like that when you need a friend the most to pull you up. Even those who make terrible decisions need loyalty. Say you're the president of a country and you just made the worst decision in history for your country. People are going to hate you. Some will hate you so much they'll be trying to get you out of office, or even worse. But even someone who messes up that bad needs encouragement.
The Bible says that those who follow righteousness and mercy will be given life and honor. Be loyal to those who do wrong and show mercy for others. There are many people in relationships today who are totally loyal and honest with their partner. But guess what happens as soon as their partner does something they don't like. Instead of sticking by their side, forgiving them, showing mercy and bringing them up like a true friend would, they just beat them down further, and leave. That is a great indicator that that person is just out for themselves. If you can't stick by those who mean the most to you, supporting them even when it is you that they have wronged, then they deserve better. Everyone wrongs other people in their life. No one is innocent of that. So if someone wrongs you, and you leave instead of sticking by their side and showing mercy, you are the one who is at greater fault.
We see people all the time who will spread rumors even about friends and family. Someone comes up to you and starts bad mouthing someone, joking to you about them and gossiping. The majority of people will laugh with them and talk about that person as well, because they want to be accepted and admired. Pride and reputation are valued way too high in western society these days. A loyal person will stick up for others, even when they know the person they are sticking up for has done wrong. Pull them aside and talk to them about it privately, but don't talk down about them. It is in those times that we need a friend the most. We all sin after all. If you are not innocent of ever doing something wrong, then don't throw any stones.
In the Bible when the woman who was caught in the act of adultry was brought to Jesus, He said that if anyone is without sin, throw the first stone. But if you notice, the fact that Jesus showed mercy for her literally empowered her to turn away from her sin and do good. So think about that. If you are angry at someone for something they have done, and you punish or dislike them for it, are you honestly trying to encourage them to change? Or are you doing it just so that you will feel better?
I've met people before who were a great friend when everything was going good, but if you do something they don't like, they don't even want to talk to you anymore. They come up with excuses, saying that a true friend wouldn't do this and that, or they hold a grudge, trying to make you feel sorry for what you have done. But don't forget the Bible says to remove the log from your own eye, before you help your friend to remove the speck of sawdust from his or her eye. Regardless of what you have done, if someone is not willing to forgive you and show mercy, they are the one not being a true friend. If you are loyal to others in need, the Bible promises that your deeds will be repaid to you much greater. You gain respect, honor, and trust from others, and you plant seeds which God will see to it that reap a great harvest. But most importantly, you are loving others as Christ would.
Copyright © 2007 T. Scott Morgan | www.the-daily-blessing.com
Please feel free to forward this message on as much as you like, as long as this copyright stays intact and the devotion is not altered.
This devotion may NOT be redistrubuted for profit.