When I look back on the people that have come in and out of my life ā¦ the enemy wants the losses to overshadow those who remain loyal friends.
We know when people pull away ā¦ when they are for us or not.
Itās obvious by their speech, actions, and heaven forbid ā¦ even in their Facebook activity (thatās a truth said in jest by the way).
Itās difficult when we realize the loyalty we give ā¦ is not always matched. And thatās okay because we know too well how human we all are.
But loyalty ā that true kind that eptiomizes God in every sense of the word ā¦ has been on my mind for some time. Recently in a meeting with one of my pastors, he hit on the subject -reiterating how important loyalty is for Christians to practice.
Loyalty comes in many forms.
There is loyalty to God that says ā¦ no matter what ā¦ Iām going to be faithful to you Lord.
This determined faithfulness to His statutes and commands, compels us to do the right thing ā¦ even when we donāt feel like it.
There is a persistent, unwavering commitment to our spouse that hangs tough when life is less than perfect.
In fact, this kind of loyalty builds character. Itās a determination much like a tenacious hound dog that wonāt let go of a bone.
There is a loyalty that a mother hen gives to her children.
A mother’s devotion will take on a herd of bullies even if it means being smashed like a bug in the dirt. NOBODY messes with my hairy, man, babies ā¦ and that goes for my daughter-in-law and grand-kids as well.
Then there is the sibling allegiance ā like the kind my boys have.
They may aggravate and irritate each other but by golly ā¦ nobodyās gonnaā mess with any one of them … or there will be a hellacious problem.
There is steadfastnessĀ to an Alma Mater ā¦ our favorite learning institute ā¦ Ā or die hard dedication to our favorite sports teams ā¦ and even to our preferred hobbies.
Then there is devoted constancy to the church ā¦ to Godās man in the pulpit ā¦ and to the body of Christ over all. This kind of loyalty guards against fickleness or offense.
Loyalty is vast in variety, but the one thatās wrestling in my heart of late ā¦ is the loyalty of a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
Itās a beautiful picture of walking through lifeās valleys with those you value during the hard times and even the good times.
And as Iāve tried to wrap my flawed brain around what loyalty really is and means in regards to friendship ā¦ I keep thinking about what loyalty isnāt. Those descriptions are much easier to name and recall for obvious reasons, arenāt they?
You see, we all can find a reason to abandon someone ā¦ when itās not convenient ā¦ when weāve been hurt ā¦ when thereās no apology ā¦ or when we just want to sit on the fence and not get involved.
But the truth of that isā¦ we can still be loyal in neutrality if we desire to. And perhaps we donāt realize when weāve walked away from loyalty? Or, maybe we justify it by flawed reasons?
Then for some reason we think loyalty is about shifting the relational balance and standing in one’s corner. But that’s not true loyalty. It’s not about taking sides … it’s about faithful friendship, period.
But as I search the bible looking for examples of what it means to truly be loyal ā¦ I keep hearing the Spirit say ā¦ āItās all about the love, Mel.ā
āItās all about the love.ā
Thatās a thought that makes me think ā¦ well if itās all about the love ā¦ then the people that abandon us never really love us, is that right God?
Maybe ā¦ probably ā¦ maybe not.
So, if we donāt feel this love to the core ā¦ then either we donāt love like Jesus loves ā¦ or we allow the enemy to draw our intentions away ā¦ making us abandon God, and each other.
In fact, I believe the loyalty we give is equal to the love we have in our hearts. This truth is making me examine some wounded places deep in my soul.
We can always find a reason to walk away ā¦ whether itās a righteous one can only be determined by the Holy Spirit ā¦ but the flawed words of man should never pull us away.
Iāve finally realized, if loyalty is all about love ā¦ then I need to adjust my love meter, I guess.
The truth is ā¦ there are times when itās easy to be loyal, right?
Like when itās not costly or when itās righteous ā¦ when we feel it to our core. I guess thatās the love part the Holy Spirit uttered to me.
But the point is ā¦ we are all so stinking flawed ā¦ we blow it in this love and loyalty thing.
If there is anything God has taught me at all in the last 12 months ā¦ loyalty matters because itās a reflection of Godās Covenant love.
If youāve never studied Godās Covenant love ā¦ then you will never understand true love or loyalty.
So ā¦ I want to love better, period.
And loving better doesnāt mean that I dive in without boundaries ā¦ but it does mean that I love ā¦ without judgement ā¦ without hypocrisy ā¦ and without giving up the desire to want Godās best for those that abandon me.
Loving better means I donāt take sides and I sure as heck donāt wag my tongue.
Loving better means I forgive ā¦ and I move on to heal.
Loving better means I donāt look back.
And finally, loving better means that even if my love and loyalty is not reciprocated ā¦ I love anyway ā¦ without offense.
Loyalty may be a dying character quality to the world ā¦ but Christians can show the world a better way – if we truly love whatās important ā¦ and whatās most important is God ā¦ and each other.
Lord, May our love be evident to you and each other ā¦ by our loyalty to do whatās right.
