live GOD-LOYAL lives

Our family is committed to having daily devotions together.  We have chosen to do this at night right before we go to bed.  Sometimes we read a special book or devotion.  At times we will use a reading plan from YouVersion.com or read through a book of the Bible one chapter at a time.  After reading and talking a bit we will pray together.

Family devotions have had a big impact on our family.  I love to hear my kids pray and talk about what they learn from the Bible.  There is nothing more important than connecting our family to God.

As we read last night a phrase caught my attention.  It hung in my mind for several minutes and enough to make me search a little deeper.  Here are the two verses that got my attention:

Proverbs 13:6 (MSG)

A God-loyal life keeps you on track; sin dumps the wicked in the ditch.

Proverbs 13:21 (MSG)

Disaster entraps sinners, but God-loyal people get a good life.

Godliness, righteousness, doing what is right … those are the words or phrase that other translations of the Bible use for GOD-LOYAL.  The term seems to be interchangeable for the kind of righteous life that honors God with what it does, what it says and what it has inside.

By allowing our lives to honor we have chosen to be loyal to God.  That is the same thing that God has done for us.  He is loyal to His children.  He went the extra mile by sending His son, He continues to pray for us all the time and He has paved the path for us to walk each day.  Our lives honoring God will in turn see the honor of God on them. 

I pray that my kids live GOD-LOYAL lives.  But I also know that my kids will follow the example that other people set for them.  The biggest example comes from their parents and those closest to them.

Through my four decades of life I’ve met many GOD-LOYAL people who have influenced my life.  Through my reading of Scripture I have read stories of people who connected to God by being GOD-LOYAL and would not let go.  That ought to be what we do.  We ought to connect our lives to God so much so that no one can remove us from His presence and from the passion we have to stay close to God.

I read this quote last week that talks about a women who is GOD-LOYAL: “A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her.”  ― Max Lucado

Here are some more verses that are from The Message on this same theme.  May we dare to live GOD-LOYAL lives.

Proverbs 15:6 (MSG)

The lives of God-loyal people flourish…

Proverbs 15:28 (MSG)

Prayerful answers come from God-loyal people…

Proverbs 15:29 (MSG)

God keeps his distance from the wicked; he closely attends to the prayers of God-loyal people.

Proverbs 20:7 (MSG)

God-loyal people, living honest lives, make it much easier for their children.

Proverbs 21:26 (MSG)

Sinners are always wanting what they don't have; the God-loyal are always giving what they do have.