What is loyalty? It is the old couple taking care of each other after more than 50 years of being together. It is a mother mailing her weekly letter to a son doing time in prison. It is feeding and bathing an aging parent with Alzheimer’s.

What is loyalty? It is a 96-year-old widow with rheumatism showing up for Bible class on a cold, drizzly morning. It is praying every day for our elders. It is keeping the support going strong for our missionaries by our weekly offering.

What is loyalty? It is talking the church up, not down. It is refusing to gossip or complain. It is being careful not to bring reproach on the cause of Christ.

What is loyalty? It is being there on every occasion appointed by the elders for worship and fellowship. It is hanging in there when others have long since given up. It is resisting temptation when it would be so easy to give in. It is doing what needs to be done even when no one but God notices.

What is loyalty? It is Jesus going to the cross because it was the Father’s will. It is Jesus loving His disciples “to the end” (John 13:1). It is Jesus refusing to give up on Peter, who had denied Him, by telling him, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17).

It is obedience to the Master who laid down His life for us. It is holding on to His body, the church, in spite of hurts caused by our fellow members. It is holding firmly to the truth in spite of attacks by unbelievers and defections by the unfaithful.

That is loyalty! —David Gibson