Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today let’s be sincere about being loyal to God.

Today’s scripture, James 4:8 (NLT) says…Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

Consider…
2 Timothy 2:13 (NLT) is a verse many of us hold tightly to. It says…If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.

However, the preceding verses, 2 Timothy 2:11-12 (NLT) say…This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. [12] If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us.

While God is faithful to Himself, and specifically His word, He also reciprocates our public relationship with Him.

Jesus expressly says that in Matthew 10:32-33 (NLT)…“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. [33] But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.

God wants our public loyalty.

James 4:4-5 (NLT) rebukes…You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. [5] Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.

It’s important to remember, the book of James was written to believers, just like Jesus’ words were directed to His followers. That means God will hold us accountable for our loyalty, or lack thereof, to Him.

We know Jesus will declare Revelation 2:2-5 (AMP) to unfaithful followers…‘I know your deeds and your toil, and your patient endurance, and that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and have tested and critically appraised those who call themselves apostles (special messengers, personally chosen representatives, of Christ), and [in fact] are not, and have found them to be liars and impostors; [3] and [I know that] you [who believe] are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name’s sake, and that you have not grown weary [of being faithful to the truth]. [4] But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me]. [5] So remember the heights from which you have fallen, and repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will] and do the works you did at first [when you first knew Me]; otherwise, I will visit you and remove your lampstand (the church, its impact) from its place—unless you repent.

This means our inward desires and outward actions must align with our salvation confession. Said another way, Jesus mustn’t only be our Savior, He must be our Lord too!

You see Christ saved us to live for Him.

That’s what 2 Corinthians 5:15 (NLT) emphasizes…He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

As well as Titus 2:14 (NLT) highlights…He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

Somehow when listing all we believe God wants from us, we seem to overlook loyalty. Now someone may correctly point out loving God is the greatest commandment, I would just encourage you to see love’s loyalty described in 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT)…Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

When I read that verse, I hear love is loyal. All of the talk of loyalty made me search for a biblical definition, and I found this good description…
wholehearted fidelity coupled with unswerving devotion and duty. In the Bible, the concept of loyalty is purely relational. This means our whole being is thoroughly committed to someone (God).

That reminds me of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:24 (NLT)…“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

Jesus’ words come after He said in Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT)…“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. [20] Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. [21] Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Which begs the question, “who do you love?”.

As I raised that question I heard Jesus in Luke 14:26 (NLT) say…“If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.

Jesus must be our first and greatest love!

Jesus’ words hit play on the R&B song “Who Do You Love” by Bernard Wright. Redeeming the lyrics for God…

[Chorus: (Jesus), Us]
(Who do you love?)
LORD I’m in love with you
(Are you for sure?)
Sure as the sky is blue
(Who do you love?)
Just let me prove to you
(Are you for sure?)
Yes, LORD my love is true
(Who do you love?)
LORD I’m in love with you
(Are you for sure?)
Sure as the sky is blue
(Who do you love?)
Just let me prove to you
(Are you for sure?)
Yes, LORD my love is true

[Verse 2]
I used to be the great pretender
For the very first time I’m for real
You’ve got me listening to my heart now
You gotta believe, how I feel
I am ready to be become the giver
Now that I realized it’s give and take
Oooh your love has broken my defenses
This time I’m not just on the make
I gotta tell you LORD.

[Chorus: (Jesus), Us]
(Who do you love?)
LORD I’m in love with you
(Are you for sure?)
Sure as the sky is blue
(Who do you love?)
Just let me prove to you
(Are you for sure?)
Yes, LORD my love is true
(Who do you love?)
LORD I’m in love with you
(Are you for sure?)
Sure as the sky is blue
(Who do you love?)
Just let me prove to you
(Are you for sure?)
Yes, LORD my love is true

You see, God wants us to declare and openly share our love for Him.

That belief is supported by 1 John 4:7-8, 16 (NLT)…Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. [8] But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love…[16] We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

Speaking of living and loving in God’s love, I am compelled to cite the great commandment verbatim from Matthew 22:37 (NLT)…Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’

Notice the three letter word repeated for emphasis, ALL! God wants us to love Him with everything in us!

Here’s the dot connection, love and loyalty are both all in commitments!

So today, I encourage us to be fully committed to God, the same way we desire Him to be to us! 💞

Today’s song is…
Fully Committed

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)