Where Is Your Allegiance?

Where Is Your Allegiance?

Do you sometimes devote more attention and energy to politics than you do to advancing the kingdom of God? What would happen if we expended the amount of energy we do on politics on advancing Christ’s kingdom on earth? And talking as a Kenyan, if your country (I realize I’m primarily talking to fellow Christians, but it could apply to anyone) was genuinely opposed to the kingdom of God in its policy and action, would you forsake your country to demonstrate allegiance to Christ?

13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram[a] caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” Genesis 22:13-14

God's instruction was unimaginable. The son born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age, the only hope of God's promise to make Abraham into a great nation, the dearly loved son was to be put to death as a sacrifice. The request was out of character and seemed out of bounds. But Abraham obeyed without hesitation.

God's desire, however, was not for Isaac to die. He wanted Abraham to die ... to self. God wanted to make sure that Abraham's total allegiance was to Him. Seeing Abraham's willingness to obey the unthinkable test, God showed him what had been there all along ... a ram caught in the thicket. Abraham sacrificed God's provision instead of his son. He called the place Jehovah-Jireh, meaning "The Lord Will Provide."

To be a Christian, genuinely, is to always withhold devoting your fullest allegiance to a secular state, because your truest allegiance is as a citizen of a different kingdom, one that is invading this one. This doesn’t mean we deny our citizenry in a secular state entirely, at least not yet.

Is there anything that has stolen your heart away from God? A relationship? Job? Hobby? Dream? Child? Spouse? Money? Even good things can become an idol. But no one or no thing can stand between you and God. God will not put you through the same test He required of Abraham, but He wants your total allegiance just the same. Put Him first and He will provide everything you need. Remember, His name is Jehovah-Jireh.

Where does your primary allegiance lie?

Father, thank You for being my Jehovah-Jireh. I want to depend on You to provide all I need. Show me what has stolen my heart away from You, and give me the courage to take the action to place You on the throne. In Jesus' name. Amen.