“God Can Be Added To My List Of Loyalties”

I’m back!  It has been a long time since I’ve written and I am looking forward this.

I have been listening through the book “Secondhand Jesus – Trading Rumors of God for a Firsthand Faith” by Glenn Packiam.  In the 5th chapter, Glenn addresses the “rumor” that “God can be added to my list of loyalties.”  At first I wasn’t quite sure what that meant and after listening for a bit more, it hit me.  I have in many ways bought into that rumor of God.

The thought that struck me is that I can add God to my long list of loyalties and priorities as long as I put Him first.  I don’t have to give up my old goals and aspirations, I just add Jesus to the mix.  Somehow, we, or rather I, have fallen for the notion that as long as Jesus is my top priority, I can still keep the other aspects of my life going – Jesus even gets to become the miracle provider of those goals and aspirations.

When I pause to reflect, it doesn’t take long to realize it all stems from the condition of the heart.  Matthew 12:34 (NLT) says “…For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.”  More than what I say, it determines how I behave and what I long for.  I often quote the passage of scripture that says “…delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4 NIV); true as it may be, my reasons for delighting might be suspect to say the least.  As the old hymn sings “prone to wander, Lord I feel it; prone to leave the God I love.” (Psalm 95:10).  The heart is created for so much potential yet because of our sinful nature, the heart craves for things it shouldn’t and pride takes over.

I am a musician, a worship leader, a pastor, a businessman, a friend, a son, amongst other things.  I have been able to influence many lives with what I do and say, most often with the best of intentions.  I have personal friends who are connected beyond belief and I get to rub shoulders with very talented people constantly.  I am told that I am a lot of things, and my ego gets massaged; I crave more unknowingly at times even though I don’t profess to seek it.  Being a part of a Church movement, I constantly think of ways to be creative and innovative in the hopes of drawing people in.  I look for more influence in the name of moving things forward.

These things are a long list of priorities and loyalties I have and of course Jesus is included, and He is at the top of it all, driving most of these; but is He?  Today, I stopped to ask myself whether God can be added to my list of loyalties or is He my one loyalty.  I confess almost daily that Jesus is Lord, yet I still hoard parts of me.  I give other aspects of life priority.

My heart is heavy and I know I have to surrender.  Jesus simply cannot be added to my to-do list.  I have to protect my heart, like Solomon wrote in Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”  And today I pray the prayer of David in Psalm 86:11-12 (NIV):

“Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. 
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;  I will glorify your name forever.”

Jesus, You have my attention now, feel free to make adjustments and corrections.  Amen.