Undivided Loyalty

Hey friends!
Thursday afternoon, I watched my brother Jordan graduate officer candidate school in Ft. Benning, GA.  Talk about impressive.  Watching 82 guys and 6 girls raise their right arms and pledge to defend the constitution, never accept defeat, never abandon the mission, and to uphold all the other things the United States prides herself on - I've never witnessed anything like it.  I have always been patriotic and I have always been proud of our men and women in uniform, but when my eyes filled with tears as I watched my brother vow to protect my freedom I felt it like I never have before.  These brave young officers are each willing to pay the ultimate price if necessary to defend the American way of life.  That's undivided loyalty in action, my friends!

In the last two chapters in the book of Joshua, Israel's leader is approaching the end of his life.  He realizes this and encourages the people to stay the course.  Joshua wanted the nation's legacy of undivided loyalty and faithfulness to God to outlive him.  He wanted it to continue to serve as an example to the surrounding people groups who were watching the Israelites, knowing who the God they served was.  Listen to the words from his final address to the nation:

"Now therefore fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness.  Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.  And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.  But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."                                                                                                      ~ Joshua 24:14,15

Undivided loyalty to Christ is a decision we must each individually choose.  No one else can do it for us - not  our parents, peers, or mentors.  It is something we each have to want for ourselves.  Are you ready to take that step of undivided loyalty?  It's not easy.  It includes having the Lord placing boundaries on your life and giving you certain convictions about things that no one else might share.  I believe that the convictions God gives each of His children might all look very different.  That's because we are each called to carry out a very unique, individualized mission that looks completely different from the person right beside us.  But it is imperative to never go against what God is calling us to and the convictions He has placed on our lives.  It's a sin to ourselves if we go against our conscience just because everyone else doesn't seem to have a problem with it (1 Corinthians 8).

Like a said before, it's not easy.  I was reminded of that last night at a work dinner I attended with friends from work.  Everyone in our group except for me started getting very "happy" only a few minutes in, and quickly formed the plan to go out and continue the festivities afterwards.  I didn't go with them and left before everyone else did.  I probably looked like the "party pooper", the lame good girl who lives up to her reputation at the office.  But that's okay.  I have thought a lot about how difficult it is to positively impact the people I work with because I'm only one person; it's me against everyone else.  But the Lord showed me a few weeks ago that something as simple as not drinking with them and letting them see that their are more options for fun than getting wasted on a Friday night can be part of my testimony.  It's something He has given me convictions about and I don't want to go against them and be unfaithful, unloyal, to what He is calling me to do.  This is part of my way of choosing today Whom I will serve.

What is God calling you to do?  What convictions and boundaries does He want to place on your life?  Listen to Him and go with it.  He's not doing it to annoy you or make you feel like the "odd duck out"; there's a beautiful reason He is calling you to that.  And on a little side note: don't judge fellow believers around you who might not share your convictions.  If what they are engaging in or enjoying is not directly contrary to scripture, you can cut them some slack.  It doesn't necessarily mean that they are being "unspiritual"; it could very well be that God simply has a different plan and calling for their live that the convictions He wants you to have would not be compatible with.

Be encouraged today knowing that God is fighting for you (Joshua 23:3)!  Reading through Joshua the past several weeks have reminded me of that truth, and it is such a wonderful promise to cling to.  He is on Your side.  He's not out to get you - as it might seem sometimes! - but rather He has only your best interests at heart.  It might not seem that way now, but it is true.  And a little while down the road of life, you'll be able to look back at whatever stage of life you are in now and realize that He did know the plans He had for you during this time, and they were beautiful plans indeed (Jeremiah 29:11).

Until next Wednesday!
Amber Noel