James 1:2-8 (NLT)
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of
any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your
endurance has a chance to grow.
4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully
developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous
God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
6 But when you ask him, be sure that
your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided
loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the
wind.
7 Such people should not expect to
receive anything from the Lord.
8 Their loyalty is divided between God
and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
There is power in undivided loyalty. We have
loyalty to a car brand. We have a sports team loyalty. None of
these should be more than our loyalty to God and our worship of Him.
God is not disloyal to us when our prayers are not
answered the way that we think He should. God is for us even when our
circumstances are not. We must be loyal to God for who He is and not in
our circumstances.
1. Undivided loyalty looks deeper than the
surface.
Matthew 22:35-37 (NLT)
35 One of them, an expert in religious
law, tried to trap him with this question:
36 “Teacher, which is the most important
commandment in the law of Moses?”
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love
the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all
your mind.
38 This is the first and greatest
commandment.
39 A second is equally important: ‘Love
your neighbor as yourself.
We are to have undivided loyalty to Jesus, and to
people. We cannot connect our
circumstances to our loyalty to God. Rain may be good to the farmer, but
the same rain might ruin someone else's wedding.
(If you're in an abusive relationship, use wisdom and
get help).
2. Undivided loyalty loves regardless of the
benefits.
Romans 12:9-10 (NLT)
9 Don’t just pretend to love others.
Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is
good.
10 Love each other with genuine
affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
Romans 15:7 (NLT)
7 Therefore, accept each other just as
Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.
We want to love God because He loves us. We
don't require a benefit from God for our love. He has already loved us and
given His Son, Jesus, for us.
1 John 4:9 (NKJV)
9 In this the love of God was
manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the
world, that we might live through Him.
3.
Undivided loyalty lives beyond myself. Jesus left heaven for
me.
Romans 12:11-13 (NLT)
11 Never be lazy, but work hard and
serve the Lord enthusiastically.
12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be
patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
13 When God’s people are in need, be
ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
Jesus went through the worst, so we can experience
God's best. Our goal is to help others experience God's best, which is
His Son.
John 15:13 (NLT)
13 There is no greater love than to lay
down one’s life for one’s friends (which Jesus did for you).
4. Undivided loyalty lasts to the end.
Circumstance might not change, but you can.
Hebrews 10:23-25 (NLT)
23 Let us hold tightly
without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his
promise.
24 Let us think of ways to motivate one
another to acts of love and good works.
25 And let us not neglect our
meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially
now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Will you say yes to Jesus? He is already
said yes to you if you'll have him.
Revelation 3:20 (NKJV)
20 Behold, I (Jesus) 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.
Layne Schranz, Church of the Highlands
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