This month, our character focus is loyalty. The operational definition of loyalty is “Using difficult times to demonstrate my commitment to God and to those He has called me to serve.”

Being loyal is easy when everything is going well. But what happens when there are disagreements, personality clashes, misunderstandings, or trials? Are you willing to work out differences? Are you there for others in their times of need? When a friend strays from the ways of the Lord, do you lovingly bring it to his attention? (See Galatians 6:1.) When tragedy strikes, do you offer your help and support? (See I John 3:17.) When pressures come, do you take time to talk and pray together? (See James 5:16.) A loyal friend extends Christ’s love, no matter the cost. Committed in good times and bad—that is loyalty.

The opposite of loyalty is unfaithfulness. Difficulties often test our loyalty. When it is no longer convenient or beneficial for us personally, do we stay faithful to God’s call or back out to escape inconveniences? Realizing how much God sacrificed for us challenges us that no sacrifice is too great to make for Him. “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (I John 3:16).