Misplaced Loyalties

by Nadine Davis

I may catch some heat because of this post.  However, I am compelled to post in hopes that those who have ears, hear The Truth discovered in this revelation.  I myself had to repent for being more loyal to my friendships, personal priorities, plans and pursuits than to The Lord Jesus Christ.  Only The Truth, when applied to our lives, will set us free!

Yesterday, the Sunday following Easter,  I was a bit astonished to see how the numbers in our Sunday Fellowship dwindled from the Easter Sunday attendance of just last week.  As I pondered the thought of why so many people have determined to make Easter Sunday more about their personal appearance than that of desiring to see Jesus, I was grieved.  I asked the Lord, why? Why is it that people today are so deceived with themselves?  It’s all about them and their own personal preferences.  Even those who profess to Love God seem to have misplaced loyalty when it comes to serving God.  That is when the Lord revealed truth to my heart. Not so much about what grieved me, but what grieved Him.

I learned that many of us have little or no commitment to anything or anyone other than ourselves and our personal priorities. When it comes to the things of God we will always defer to our own personal considerations and priorities.  Nothing and no one takes precedence over our fleshly desires and preferences. We are unable able to see that strung out over time, there is a distinct pattern created out of the actions and activities of our lives.  We are blind and oblivious to the unspoken testimony our lives portray that stand in stark contrast to our so-called professions of faith and love for God.  We don’t get the fact that there are those who see it quite clearly day after day, week after week, year after year. The unfortunate thing is that many who do see it are complicit to our wickedness when they watch as we move through life this way and never say anything.  They actually partake in our waywardness by not sharing Truth with us so that we may be healed.

Beloved, this is not about condemnation – it’s about Truth!  As the Lord made clear this Truth to my heart I had only one response – repentance. I don’t want to be a men pleaser – I desire to be please God above men. You see, it is true that God is love.  However, without rightly dividing the Word of Truth we err and misinterpret the truth. When you rightly divide the Word of Truth you will discover that the love of God also means correction and chastisement.  We get booed when we share that Truth because it doesn’t make us “feel good”.  But the Truth is that because He loves us He must chasten us!  Hear is what The Truth reveals…Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude]. (Rev. 3:19 AMP)

Correction cannot be compared to condemnation.  They are not from the same source according to Romans 8 where it explains that…Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.  Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Because our Father loves us – He gives us His Truth – not fleshly appeals that stroke our flesh with the touchy feelies and warm fuzzies we crave.  Romans 8 goes on to inform us that as true Christians…Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.  Beloved - Jesus knows our heart.  We can fake out people but we can’t fool God. He knows!  We can think that as along as things go our way and our plots and plans are fulfilled we are walking in The Spirit - Not so beloved.  Having our way and getting what we want does not make us rich or righteous!  It actually makes us blind to the reality of our ways.  But because of the Love of our Savior who desires that we not be destroyed with the unrighteous, He says...Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Rev. 3:20).  That is The Lord’s desire for us.  

What we must do first is to agree with His Word and REPENT and Let Him sit on the throne of our heart.  Let Him be the reason behind our comings and going!  Let Him be the source and the center of our living .   Does your job get better loyalties than your God?  Do you defer to it as the source of your livelihood?  If so, you’ve missed it.  Does your mate, children and friends get better loyalties than your God? Do you defer to them for your approval and significance rather than your God?  If so, you’ve missed it.  Does your own personal preference, longings and desires get better loyalties than your God?  Do you defer to your own heart as the decision maker for your actions or lack there of, rather than loyalty and service to your God?   You’ve missed it beloved.

Jesus died to give us victory over this world, our flesh and the devil.  Basically we don’t really have a legitimate excuse for exalting anything or anyone above our loyalty to Him.  After all, the only reason we have Life is because He is the one Who gave it. 

Have you checked out your Light lately?  Does it shine brightly for Jesus or is it dimmed and obscured to the world?  If so,  we may have exalted our own personal preferences over the Light of God in our lives.  If our lights are dimmed when our loyalties are seen by the world as being focused on every other thing than focusing on our King, our loyalties are divided.  Jesus described His disciples as those who follow and are loyal to Him. He says they are clearly known by their fruit and the love they have for one another.  Do we love our worldly pursuits and those who have no regard for the Lordship of Jesus.  Beloved, you won’t get an apple from a briar bush. Nor will you get a cantaloupe from a cactus.  It’s impossible!

Have you checked out your spiritual fruit?  What is the main topic of our conversations?  What is the focus of our daily itineraries?  When people think of us what do you think is the first thing that comes to their mind? Is it our love for God and one another? Is it about our faithfulness to God, our patience, our goodness or our temperance? If you are not sure – ask God to reveal the Truth to your heart.  Are your loyalties divided?  

Beloved, it is the last hour and Jesus could show up any day.  Let’s not waste time sweating the small stuff.  Let’s repent and throw ourselves at the mercy of Our King.  He has victory planned for us – victory over this world! Victory over our flesh!  Victory over the devil! 

Even Come Now Lord Jesus!