Serving God Requires Our Loyalty

We’ve been discussing for the past few weeks what it takes to really serve God. Courage, trust, our prayers and today we will see how it takes loyalty to serve God. What better subject to talk about as we have just recognized a national holiday that we call Veterans Day. I never served in the military but I have great respect for anyone and everyone who did or does. If you are a veteran or are serving now in the military service, would you please stand so that we can recognize you?

Recognize each by what war they were involved in. (Attachment)

Last Thursday, our nation honored men and women who have served our country. Even today, veterans are coming home from war with scars, injuries, and some of them are having a very hard time. We also should take time to honor families who have stood by husbands, wives, sons, daughters, and others who make a great sacrifice when their loved ones serve our country.

We who have never had to be directly involved wonder. What is it like to sign your name to a paper that could possibly mean the end of your life? What is it like to walk down the cold hallways of a processing station? What is it like to sleep in a squeaky bunk bed where men have laid down their lives to never come home again? It takes the faith of a soldier – great faith! And I want to say from all of us, “Thank you for your service.”

The cost is great. Greater than any of us can really know or realize. Serving our country takes faith, it takes courage, it takes prayer, and it take loyalty. LOYALTY

Does loyalty mean anything in today's world? The United States Marine Corp motto since 1883 has been Semper Fidelis which is Latin for “always faithful.”

True story: Marine corporal Matthew Bradford exemplifies that motto. Serving in Iraq in January 2007, he was on patrol along the Euphrates River when he stepped on an improvised explosive device. Shrapnel blew into Bradford's eyes, took off one leg, severely mangled the other, damaged his left arm and right hand, and caused serious internal injuries. 3 weeks later, he woke up from a coma to discover he was blind and had lost both legs. Yet incredibly, in April 2010, Bradford reenlisted in the Marine corps. Becoming the first blind, double amputee ever to do so. Talk about always faithful.

Marines engaged in battle though understand the importance of unwavering loyalty. I want to use that idea of unwavering loyalty as we talk about serving our God with our loyalty. PRAYER

The prophet Elijah has shown us what unwavering loyalty to God looks like. In 1 Kings 18, we find Elijah embroiled in a battle of sorts. His loyalty to God was on display, and he challenged others to that same loyalty. His challenge still confronts us today.

Today's Scripture passage in 1 Kings 18 is probably one of the best-known stories about Elijah. If you have been with us the past few weeks you know that in our Scripture passage, we are still in a three-and-a-half year drought. But even after three and a half years of drought, Ahab, Jezebel, and the people of Israel still held to their Baal worship. Spelled B-A-A-L. Baal being a false god.

Even though Yahweh had proven himself supreme by causing the drought and the resulting famine, they remained stubborn in their affection for the false god. But Yahweh wasn’t done with them. He continued to speak through the prophet Elijah. Don’t let the name YAHWEH confuse you. YAHWEH was the most supreme name that could be given to God. He is YAHWEH, the GREAT I AM.

1 Kings 18:20-21 – “So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and gathered the prophets at Mount Carmel. Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him. But if Baal, follow him.”

But the people didn’t answer him. When you give someone the right to choose you are giving them the opportunity to be unfaithful. They may choose not to remain loyal. God has the power to force our allegiance, but he has never done so - and he never will. God could make us love him, but He never will. After all, if love is coerced it's not really love at all. And amazing as it is, the God of this universe, who spoke the world into existence and has no need of anything, still wants our love.

Throughout scripture, God made it plain that He wants our love, but that He will not tolerate our divided loyalty. To love God is to love Him first and foremost, above anything else. Loyalty to Him means surrendering any semblance of devotion to lesser gods.