To be loyal is 1: unswerving in allegiance: a: faithful in allegiance to one's lawful sovereign or government b: faithful to a private person to whom fidelity is due c: faithful to a cause, ideal, custom, institution, or product.
The word loyalty is synonymous with the word fidelity - to be faithful. Under the word fidelity I found that it implies strict and continuing faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty. And that loyalty implies a faithfulness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce, desert, or betray.
SO when God says that He delights in loyalty he means more than us being kind/good. He desires us to have an unswerving allegiance to him that remains steadfast (firmly fixed in place) in the face of temptation.
SO Israel's sin (at least one of them) was that they were no longer devoted to God. They were no longer steadfast in what they believed and were easily influenced by the nations around them. They were not loyal or faithful to God.
BUT WHY? Why would God's chosen people no longer be faithful to a God who had been so faithful to them. Why are we so easily influenced by the world around us and are no longer faithful? The answer is in verse 1 there is no knowledge of God!!! They had no knowledge of who God was. Today we also have lost the knowledge of who God is!
Many say they believe in God, they follow God and yet they don't KNOW him. They have no real desire to study His word or to know the heart of who He is.
We have become a nation, and in many cases, a church that no longer knows the true living God? And what is even more heart breaking is that they don't even want to know the true God!! They are completely satisfied with a watered down version of truth.
How the heart of God must break!
This my most beloved sisters is why we must continue to encourage one another to be women of GOD’S TRUTH. We need to teach women how to study the word and know God for themselves!! We need to be unafraid to preach the TRUE Gospel of Jesus found in the written Word of God.
Oh God I pray that I might be more devoted to you. I pray that my loyalty would increase. Draw me into an ever deepening knowledge of who You are! Help me to be bold and speak Your truth in a world that is no longer interested in truth.
Isn't it interesting how, the more "the church" tries to make God and His Word a "little more applealing", by entertaining or adding more programs...the weaker the church seems to get? If we would just believe that God and His Word is enough...and that God does not need man's "song and dance" to draw people to Himself! If we could only remember that the Holy Spirit draws, and that He convicts, and He doesn't need our help. I believe we have only become a distraction.
ReplyDeleteThat's why we, individually, need to stand and simply be in the Word. Live it. And point others to it. Simple.
AMEN...and to the words of Gina, an amen to that too! Sometimes it's easier said than done, as we often forget that He is more than enough. If I don't believe He's all I need and satisfies because I KNOW Him and have experienced Him, then I can't encourage others in knowing Him- I can only try to attract them with the song and dance because I've heard that He's what we need. Experience for self makes all the difference. Like the shepherds in Luke 2 that went and saw and went away glorifying and praising God. After experiencing the truth of the angel's message for themselves, they couldn't help but tell everyone they came in contact with. May we live in His Spirit, knowing Him experiencially (this is what John 17:3 says eternal life is!) and that be the most convincing thing to those around us!
ReplyDeleteLove you!
Lynette
Hey, girl! I wanted to take the time to thank you for being a regular visitor on my blog. I saw that you added me to your "followers" list...and I just want you to know how honored and grateful to have known you for so many years, and that I count it a privilege that you visit me. I love getting to know your heart in a deeper way, through your blog!
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