Loyalty, the Stuff Friendships Are Made Of
June 16th, 2009A Devotional for Kids!
What I value most in my friendships is loyalty. I am devoted to my friends and they are devoted to me. Such a friend I find turns out to be a life long friend and stays with me through good times and bad times and even when I mess up in life.
Friendship always has to go two ways. If you want to have a good friend, you have to be a good friend. That reminds me of the story of The Bear and the Two Travelers as told in Aesop’s Fable.
Two friends were traveling together, when a bear met them. One of the men climbed up into a tree and hid in the branches. The other, knowing that he would most likely be attacked, fell flat on the ground. The Bear came
up and felt him with his snout and smelt him all over. The man held
his breath, and pretended to be dead.
The Bear soon left him. When he was gone, the man’s friend came down from the tree.
“Well, what did the bear say?” he asked.
He said, “Never travel with a friend who deserts you at the approach of danger.”
That is a great example of a friend who is disloyal.
God values loyalty in our relationship with Him too. When King Solomon became disloyal to God and worshiped his wives’ idols God could no longer bless him. Instead of giving King Solomon’s kingdom to his son, Rehoboam, God gave it to another man.
God is delighted when we are devoted to only Him. He wants us to hope in His unfailing love alone. Our trust and obedience bring pleasure to Him just as our friends’ loyalty does to us. Then He also blesses us by giving us His support.
“The LORD supports the humble
but he brings the wicked down into the dust. …
He covers the heavens with clouds,
provides rain for the earth,
and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures.
He gives food to the wild animals
and feeds the young ravens when they cry.
He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse
or in human might.
No, the LORDs delight is in those who fear him,
those who put their hope in his unfailing love.”
Psalm 147:6, 8–11
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I want to walk with you spiritually this year, inviting you to read the Bible through from cover to cover; from Genesis 1 all the way to Revelation 22:21. If that sounds too difficult for you and your kids, you can join in again after you have taken a break or join us for the days you’re up to it. I promise that you will understand the Bible in a much deeper way if you read it through from cover to cover in a year’s time.
Accept my challenge to read the Bible through in one year chronologically, including the Old and the New Testament.
Today read:
Monday June 15th
1 Kings 14:1-15:24
Acts 10:1-23
Psalm 133:1-3
Proverbs 17:7-8
Tuesday June 16th
1 Kings 15:25-17:24
Acts 10:24-48
Psalm 134:1-3
Proverbs 17:9-11
Wednesday June 17th
1 Kings 18:1-46
Acts 11:1-30
Psalm 135:1-21
Proverbs 17:12-13
Thursday June 18th
1 Kings 19:1-21
Acts 12:1-23
Psalm 136:1-26
Proverbs 17:14-15
Friday June 19th
1 Kings 20:1-21:29
Acts 12:24-13:15
Psalm 137:1-9
Proverbs 17:16
Saturday June 20th
1 Kings 22:1-53
Acts 13:16-41
Psalm 138:1-8
Proverbs 17:17-18
Sunday 21st
2 Kings 1:1-2:25
Acts 13:42-14:7
Psalm 139:1-24
Proverbs 17:19-21
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