Loyal to the Lord - May 29

Read 1 Kings 8:61

Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the LORD our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.

Reflect

What does being loyal to the Lord look like in everyday life? Why is He the only One truly worthy of our loyalty?

Most of us know the greatest commandment—love the LORD your God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). We know that we are supposed to love God with an undivided heart but that often means forsaking the things of this world. So we try to serve two masters. We try to do it all and have it all. We try to keep one foot in the door of heaven while striving after the things of this world.

For example, some people try to serve God and money. But Jesus Himself told us that will never work: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24).

Other people try to serve God and serve man at the same time. But it’s impossible to please everyone in that scenario, isn’t it? The world says to go one way and God says to go another. So often, the world calls what is evil in God’s eyes “good”, so if you are trying to follow the ways of the world to get the approval of people, you are walking in the opposite direction of God. We can’t be slaves to the approval of man and serve God at the same time any more than we can walk in opposite directions at the same time. The apostle Paul said it best, “We must obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29).

In today’s verse, we learn that faithful living means being loyal to the Lord. King Solomon spoke these words at the dedication of the temple. He was urging Israel to be faithful to the Lord their God. Solomon clarified that faithful, wholehearted devotion the Lord looks like walking in obedience to Him and keeping His commandments day in and day out. But that is easier said than done, right? Apart from the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives, we struggle to remain completely loyal to the Lord.

Solomon’s father, King David, expressed his desire to be wholeheartedly devoted to God. He didn’t want to worship or serve anything or anyone else. He wrote: “Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name” (Psalm 86:11, NIV).  David prayed and asked God to grant him an undivided heart. He knew he couldn’t do it alone, so he asked God to help him.

Why did David think God was worthy of his complete loyalty? Well, in the verses prior, David wrote: “Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God” (Psalm 86:8-10, NIV).

You see, God alone is worthy of our loyalty because He alone is God. There is no one else like Him! Therefore, He deserves our wholehearted, unwavering allegiance. If we want to live lives of faithfulness, we must be loyal to the Lord.

Respond

Lord, I confess that at times, I chase worldly things like money and the approval of other people. But I know that I cannot serve two masters. Please forgive me. Like David, I ask for an undivided heart. Help me to be wholly true to You, walking in obedience to Your commandments. Amen.

Reveal

Our obedient actions reveal our loyalty to the Lord to a watching world. Prayerfully consider whether you are walking in His statutes and keeping His commandments or whether you are trying to serve worldly things.