As I was doing my devotions today, I came across a couple of verses that I know I’ve read a hundred times, and yet when I read it today it was as if I was reading it for the first time.
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 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.
James 1:5-6
Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
James 1:8
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.
James 4:8
Divided loyalty.
As I read these verses I was immediately convicted. I have been riding the fence in my relationship between God and the world. I have one leg on one side, the side I say I long to be on and I have the other leg dabbling in the world, enticed by all the so-called “pretty things.” I allow worldly desires to consume me…making me think I must have them…
I am a HUGE college basketball fan. Tar Heels all the way! I watch every game I can. And while there is nothing wrong with watching the sport, if I allow it to take over and distract me from the things of God I am dangling on that fence leaning closer to the world. I’m losing my balance. I can’t allow a simple game to control me. And that’s exactly what it is…a game. I’m letting it become an idol and that’s where it gets dangerous. It’s slowly taking God’s place at #1 in my heart and that’s a big red flag.
God didn’t send His Son to die for me so I can just turn around and allow trivial things that distract me from God…to take His place. God didn’t send His Son to take my place just for me to turn around and replace Him!
Here’s the thing…we can’t straddle the fence! We can’t serve God AND still desire to live FOR the world. We are told in Romans 12:2 to NOT “copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
We are called to live a life pleasing to the Lord and yet we end up making it all about ourselves. We allow idols to replace God…whether it be sports…television…anything that takes the focus off of the Lord.
It’s time to make the choice: God or the world…we can’t be loyal to both…
I’m sorry when I’ve just gone through the motions
“Nothing Else” by Cody Carnes and The Belonging Co
I’m sorry when I just sang another song
Take me back to where we started
I open up my heart to You
I’m sorry when I’ve come with my agenda
I’m sorry when I forgot that You’re enough
Take me back to where we started
I open up my heart to You
“But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:15
All You Need is Jesus 