Based on 2 Timothy 1 (New King James Version)
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.
One of the main things seen in this passage is loyalty, and unfortunately, the lack of loyalty of some people also. Without loyalty, nothing good can be achieved, and even less, God’s salvation. There are many who believe that because they say they believe in God or because they do certain religious things, or even because they said a prayer one day, they think that is enough to go to heaven. Many hide behind the idea that since we are saved graciously, they conclude that works are of no use after coming to Christ either. But according to the Word, that is not true, and it is far from the will of God. True faith in Christ leads you to do good works which are things that please the Father. We must always remember that whoever does the will of the Father will be granted entry into the kingdom of God. And loyalty is one of the main works that are part of God's will.
What makes loyalty so important? Because it is part of the most precious thing for God, love. Loyalty is the main component of love, because without loyalty, it is impossible for there to be love. Loyalty or faithfulness is what makes love possible and visible. One of the serious problems today is that the meaning of love has been lost, and that is why there is also very little loyalty. It is believed that love is a feeling and nothing more. But love is not only that, but something much deeper and more significant, on which the most essential thing about man is based, free will, the power to choose based on some type of reasoning, which should be what separates us from the rest of creation. But, today, man is guided more by his instincts, and unfortunately, not even by his natural instincts, but rather, against nature. The female does not kill her cubs, nor do the animals seek to change how they were born, and if an animal kills, it does not kill for sport or to be able to have better things, but rather it kills to survive, to eat, or to defend itself. These are a few examples in which human beings differ from others in nature. So, love and loyalty are interdependent, and are part of what is essential for man, and mainly, for God his Creator.
True love and loyalty are not things that are just said, but for them to really mean what they should mean, they must be seen through our actions. There is no point in telling a person that we love them or that our intention is to be faithful to them without showing it. These two things can only be verified visibly and tangibly, and also, through the passing of time (because what is true should not be momentary or temporary). And to whom do we owe loyalty? If we want to obtain eternal life, the Word of God teaches us that we must love the Lord (and because it speaks of love, loyalty or faithfulness is implied) and our neighbor. This is what the Word tells us: “But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:34-40. And as we said before, love, loyalty, and of course, faith is only seen through works, as it is also written: “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:14-20. True loyalty is seen only through deeds and time, and this glorifies God.
So, to whom do we owe loyalty to? To the Lord mainly, because He must be the foundation of everything in our life, but also, and as a result, we owe loyalty to our neighbors. And who is our neighbor? Is it our family, our loved ones and no one else? No. This is what the Word says: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48. Through this, God puts our enemies in the same place as our neighbor. And how do we show loyalty even to our enemies? Giving them the opportunity to also know the Gospel of God through our actions, if we have a true faith (because the dead cannot guide the dead to life). So, are you showing loyalty to God and your neighbor? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!