Loyalty

“For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offering”  Hosea 6:6

Loyalty – The paradigm example of the use of this Hebrew word is found in Psalm 136.  There the word hesed is used 26 times.  It is translated as “lovingkindness” or “faithfulness”.  Even though the prophet Hosea uses the same word, there is an important shift here.  For Hosea is not talking about God’s faithfulness to us.  He is talking about our faithfulness to Him.  In fact, God says that being faithful to Him is something that pleases Him immensely.  He delights in it.

If I asked you what it means for God to be faithful to us, what would you tell me?  Would you say that it means God always leaves the door open for repentance?  Would you point to God’s enduring sacrifice for us?  Would you remind me that God never leaves us of forsakes us?  All of these actions and more are part of what “lovingkindness” means to us.  But what does it mean for me to be loyal to God?

Let me give you a personal example.  I have a great Christian friend who once told me that faithfulness is what you do when the lights are off.  That means when no one is looking and no one will find out.  In my work (pretending to be a writer), I spend long hours at the computer.  Many of those hours I am alone, just tapping the keys.  It’s time when I could wander away with thoughts.  As my emotional stress increases, I am reminded of Paul’s warning to “take every thought captive to Christ Jesus”.  Why?  Because the most fertile soil for unfaithfulness is between my ears.  With a few key stokes I can escape reality and become the victim of visual destruction or conversational insanity.  You see, sin is really insane.  It is doing exactly what will kill you.  So, God wants my loyalty not because He is the ultimate Godfather but because He knows that loyalty is what I need for my survival.  That is why Paul insisted that following Jesus begins with renewing your mind.   What you think about will find its way into your actions.  God wants your mental loyalty and faithfulness because without it you will lose the battle that is raging over you.

Loyalty is not about compliance.  Many people can be obedient in the daylight but unfaithful in the dark.  Loyalty is about your private time – the time when you are free to do whatever you choose.  That’s when loyalty shines.  And that’s when God smiles and says to the angels, “You see, I love it when my children reflect Who I am in the dark.”

Today:  Take a loyalty exam.  What was your last “in the dark” experience?  Did it make God smile?  (If it didn’t, you are free to tell Him that it didn’t and ask for help.  He won’t turn you away.)