submission to God’s will in the heart. There may be times when because of your trials tears will be in your eyes, but deep down in your heart you are grateful and even in the suffering you would not ask for it to be different. Be willing and joyful in your complete obedience to Jehovah’s purposes. When the Lord Jesus was suffering so cruelly before Herod and the Romans he would not have a smile on his face, because he was being hurt, but he knew he was drinking the cup his Father purposed for him to drink, and so “as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth”. (Isa. 53:7, AS) No murmuring, no complaints, obedient even to death, and obedience led to life. He is our model.

Loyalty the Test

1, 2. What does loyalty mean, how is it exemplified in Christ Jesus, and to whom does Jehovah entrust Kingdom interests?

THE word “loyalty” does not appear in the King James or the American Standard Version. Yet there are many words in the Bible that have exactly the same meaning. It is used at Deuteronomy 13:4, Moffatt’s translation, rendering it from the Hebrew dabáq, which means “to cling or adhere, to cleave, to stick”. It is a French word from the Latin legalis, meaning “lawful”, the old French being loial, hence our English word “loyal”, from the root “law”. The accepted usage of the word is faithful in love or duty, being true to one’s word, or of one who in times of revolt remains faithful to his allegiance. It means that which is done in strict conformity with the law of God. A loyal person is one who is dependable, not negligent, faithful in the performance of duty, and in heart harmony with God’s arrangements. This is exemplified in Christ Jesus. It is written of him: “An open ear thou gavest me; I answered, ‘Here I come to do thy bidding in the Book; to please and serve thee is my joy, thy law lies deep within my heart.’” (Ps. 40:6-8, Mo) He held strictly and firmly to God’s law at all times, just as though he was the law, never deviating. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.” (Heb. 13:8, NW) Jehovah God is always consistent, never neglecting his own laws and principles. “With him there is not a variation of the turning of the shadow.”—Jas. 1:17, NW.

² Jehovah is still training his faithful ones for their present and future service, and no one is capable of exercising authority until he has learned to obey and be loyal to authority. Some of God’s servants have not been men of great “natural ability”, as this world understands that term, but they have had real ability in the Lord’s sight, and have been thoroughly dependable and loyal to Jehovah and his will. The ones today with whom God entrusts his Kingdom interests are those who have demonstrated their loyalty under test, having that same strict conformity to God’s law as was demonstrated by Christ. It must be the result of one’s personal convictions.

3. Who hold true to God’s law, and to what authorities are they loyal?

³ True, the loyalty of one may impress and influence others, but it is exhibited, not for that purpose, but because of one’s allegiance. Nor must one person’s loyalty be the controlling factor to force others to the same conclusion. However, where a group are all of the same opinion and determination from personal conviction, and all