Die Hard Loyalty
Just recently I bought a popular Christian Rock CD with my hard earned cash. The opportunity presented itself while I was browsing the selections at a local music store. My real mission was to buy something cool for my wife for her upcoming birthday but the gleaming wrapper caught my eye and I couldn’t resist. Like the thoughtful husband I am (thank God she loves and puts up with me), I ended up getting her a gift certificate and running quickly to my car to listen to my new tunes.
I quickly ripped open the wrapping, wrestled with the safety seal (I hate those things!) and slid the CD in to my deck, fast forwarding to an all too familiar song that is constantly played all day on the radio.
Then I stopped, something didn’t seem right. Why, if I hear this song everyday on the radio, do I need to buy the CD. Yeah sure it’s better quality and you don’t have to listen to the announcers going on and on about their day but something was missing. I didn't just buy this CD for this song; I bought it for the whole musical experience. I was giving my loyalty to the band and I should appreciate their other work just as much.
Have you ever met a die hard fan? I mean one that knows every lyric and every downbeat that a band puts out. These guys and girls are the true example of loyalty to their favorite band. I admire them
In this fast paced, fast-food, get it while it’s hot, everything available at your fingertips world these guys and girls stick out. They are known as true fans, true followers.
That’s what God wants of us, to be true followers of Him. Totally devoted to His Word and hungry to be a part of anything that His people are doing. He wants our loyalty.
Romans 12:1 says So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. (Msg)
We are called to be die-hard fans of God, not just passive people that claim to “know him” or “experience him occasionally”. We are supposed to know God’s work (the Bible), all the upbeats and down beats, the ins and outs, the details. Along with that comes the calling to live out our loyalty in our everyday lives; everything we do, say, and think should be an offering to God.
That’s not easy! In fact it is almost impossible! But it can be accomplished with God’s help. If we give Him the loyalty He deserves through spending time with Him in prayer, worshiping Him throughout the day, and delving deep into His Word it becomes not only possible but addicting.
People know when you are faking it, they can sense when your life isn’t right, when you haven’t spent quality time with the Creator. Your own spiritual life will make more of an impact on them than any lesson you teach, any game you play, or any song you lead. They will look to you to see these things lived out, applied in a way that is real. Nothing speaks louder to the people of today then action. When you put your own faith in to action then you will be a true fan, a fan with die-hard loyalty. The people around you will see your loyalty and follow suite. From this more die-hard fans will develop and just imagine what a few of these could accomplish for God’s kingdom in this unfaithful unloyal world.
By Josh Carroll
Josh@fpcslo.org or Joshocarroll@msn.com
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! TRUST JESUS NOW
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