Thursday, December 18 Jehovah . . . shows loyal love to those who love him and keep his commandments.​—Dan. 9:4.

[Áine]

Thursday, December 18

Jehovah . . . shows loyal love to those who love him and keep his commandments.—Dan. 9:4.

 

In the Bible, the Hebrew word for “loyalty,” or “loyal love,” conveys the idea of a warm and loving attachment that is often used to describe the love that God has for his servants. The same word is also used to describe the love shown among God’s servants. (2 Sam. 9:6, 7) Our loyalty can become stronger over time. Consider how this proved true for Daniel. Daniel’s loyalty to Jehovah was tested throughout his life. But one of the greatest tests came when he was in his 90’s. Members of the royal court disliked Daniel and had little respect for the God he worshipped. So they devised a plot to have Daniel killed. They had a decree issued that would test whether Daniel would be loyal to his God or to the king. All Daniel had to do to prove his loyalty to the king was to stop praying to Jehovah for 30 days. Daniel refused to compromise.—Dan. 6:12-15,20-22. w23.08 5 ¶10-12

[dljbsp]

Jehovah’s loyal love is not abstract, and it is not sentimental.

It is expressed with purpose, direction, and expectation.

He extends loyal love to those who choose Him—not occasionally, not emotionally, but consistently.

That kind of love does not lower standards to keep people comfortable; it strengthens people so they can remain faithful under pressure.

 

The lesson is straightforward.

Jehovah’s loyal love is not triggered by crisis behavior but by a settled course.

When obedience is routine, faithfulness under trial is not a surprise—it is the natural outcome.

[Áine]

Are your lovely answers AI generated?

[dljbsp]

AI is not that good. I have them prepared in advance, just waiting for your post, every day.
 

[dilip kumar]

Imagine... at the age of 90 ...when you are supposed to live a peaceful life... satan trying you. 

 

What i understood was.... even at 90 years( if we are alive)  we must be spiritually strong.

 

Also Daniel could have tactfully handled this situation.

 

But he chose to show his love for Jehovah not in a suppressed way but with full heart. How much love he had for Jehovah was clearly expressed.

 

 

[Vincent Callahan]

Ok, while reading today's Text a few Scriptures come to my mind. We are taught to be imitators of God, so we are supposed to love what he loves and hate what he hates, with those thoughts a couple Scriptures come to mind. 

 

Ephesians 5:1

Therefore become imitators of God, as beloved children,

 

Romans 12:9

Let your love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is wicked; cling to what is good.

 

Daniel's example also makes me think of how important it is to be persistent and consistent in prayer because it said that all he had to do was stop praying for 30 days. Then it says Daniel refused to compromise. Makes me think of a Scripture we often reflect on to remind us of the privilege prayer is.

 

Psalm 62:8

Trust in him at all times, O people.

Pour out your hearts before him. 

God is a refuge for us. 

(Selah)

 

There was another Scripture that came to mind for me and it is also in Psalm. 

 

Psalm 89:14

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;

Loyal love and faithfulness stand before you.

 

It is always striking to me that of all Jehovah's beautiful qualities in this verse loyal love and faithfulness stand before him. So, as imitators of God if these qualities are so essential to his being then they are essential apart of us being servants of Jehovah, true Christians.

 

There is one more verse I would like to share and it is another one that I felt Daniel really had the grasp of or understood and lived. That verse is also in Psalms and it is another one I also marvel at or meditate on.

 

Psalm 63:3

Because your loyal love is better than life,

My own lips will glorify you.

 

This Scripture I feel is how a true servant of Jehovah has to come to feel in their heart, especially if they were tested in the way that Daniel was tested where their life was "on the line" so to speak. 

I imagine a Scripture like this could keep things in perspective at a time like that, to remember that Jehovah's loyal is even better than life itself.