"Loyalty"

"And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” - Luke 4:8

Several nights ago I watched a movie about the life of Marco Polo.  Upon his first trip to China, with his father and uncle, the Emperor requested that he stay in China. Marco was appointed as a diplomatic representative of the Emperor Kublai Khan.  He conducted much business for the Emperor although he was a European.  After being there for some time, the movie did not say how long, the Empress said to the Emperor that it was time for Marco’s loyalty to China to be tested.  He was sent on a trip to represent the Emperor but wasn’t told that he was being tested to see if he would handle the situation in the best interest of China or betray them. (He passed the test.)

During this part of the movie, the Holy Spirit began to speak to me something that I need to share with you.  The whole world is in turmoil.  Evil is being called good; good is being called evil.  The world is changing daily.  Evil men are getting worse and worse.  Lies and manipulation is running rampant.  Our freedoms are being taken away from us at an alarming rate. Fear has taken the driver’s seat. We truly are living in the last days and events that have been prophesied are being fulfilled before our eyes. 

The thing I need to share is this:  Through these events our loyalty to Jesus is being tested. There’s an old song which says, “Who is on the Lord’s side among you?”  Jesus is returning soon.  He is coming back for those whose sole allegiance is to Him.  If your allegiance to a certain political party, to a race, to a culture, to a nation, to a philosophy, to a popular opinion, to a person or to your own personal agenda is above your allegiance to Jesus, then you are failing the test.   

Our allegiance and loyalty have to be to Him first above everything and everyone else.  We can’t serve two masters.  If you love anything/anyone above Him, you are not worthy of Him. This is why He said the greatest commandment was to love the LORD your God with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, ALL your strength and ALL your mind.  Our hearts can’t be divided.  Our loyalty to Him can’t be divided and it can’t be divided between Him and anything else.  Check your loyalty.  There is nothing wrong with being loyal to the right things (the things that are approved by God) but even at that, our loyalty is always to the Lord first and foremost.  

Have a great day.  Your loyalty and allegiance to the Lord is being put to the test.  Are you passing or failing?

For further reading:

Matthew 6:24; 10:37, 38

Luke 10:27

Psalm 86:11