Loyalty to Christ begins in the heart. We must love him supremely. “He who loves father or mother more than me — is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me — is not worthy of me.” Nothing makes worthy discipleship, if love is lacking.
In these days, Christian activity is emphasized. This is beautiful but with all our activity, we fear lest we are not loving Christ as we should.
In one of the epistles to the seven churches, Jesus commends the church of Ephesus for many things — its works, its toil, its patience and that it could not bear evil men. “But,” he adds, “I have this against you — that you have left your first love.” With all its activity and self-sacrifice — it did not love Jesus as it used to do.
We are in danger of being so busy in the Lord’s work — that we cannot be enough with the Lord in love’s fellowship. He may say to us, “I like your works, your toils, your service — but I miss the love you gave me at first.” There is real danger that we get so busy in striving to be active Christians, so absorbed in our tasks that Christ himself shall be less loved and shall miss our communing with him!
Loyalty means first of all heart devotion. Has Christ really the highest place in your heart? It is not your work he wants most — it is you!
There must be loyalty of life. If there is true love in the heart — there should be a holy life and character. We need to guard against devotion to the work of Christ — while in the life the world sees there are flaws that do not honor Christ. He is patient with our stumblings. If he were not, who of us could hope to please him?
We are inexperienced, mere learners, at first. We misspell words and sing out of tune. Some of us are just beginning our Christian life, and are discouraged because we have failed to be what we meant to be and live as beautifully as we meant to. Christ is patient with us — when he knows that we are true in our heart, that we want to be faithful.
Christ never forgets how frail we are. But he does not want us to give up. Though we stumble when learning to walk, he wants us to get up and try again. Though we are defeated tomorrow, he wants us to rise and keep fighting.
A true soldier may be wounded, may be beaten — but he never is a deserter or traitor. He is always loyal. It is only when we desert Christ, become false to him — that we really fail. You never can fail — if you are true, if you are faithful.
There must also be loyalty in character. Paul suggests a cluster of the fruits of the Spirit: “Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control.” Most of these are quiet virtues. They are qualities of character. Yet these graces are essential to a complete Christian life.
Loyalty to Christ must also be active. The Christian belongs to the army of Christ and must follow his King to battle. He who fails to do his part in the conquest of the world, cannot call himself fully loyal to Christ.
Loyalty to Christ means activity in his service. Find your work — what you can do to make the world holier, happier, truer — and do it with all your might.
Loyalty to Christ demands sincerity and truth in all our living. God desires truth in the inward parts. A life of loyalty to Christ — means a life that is clean through and through. None can build a shining character — upon covered sins. Joy is part of a Christian life, and no one can be joyous — with sins concealed in his heart.
Paul says to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. We should test every feeling, every disposition, all conduct, by this test — loyalty to Christ.
Loyalty to Christ. There is really nothing else in religion. It is all in these three words. I will be faithful to Christ! I will be true to Christ. I will please Christ. I will be obedient to Christ. I will do his will. I will submit to his discipline. I will bear the cross he lays upon me!
J. R. Miller (1840-1912) was a pastor and former editorial superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication from 1880 to 1911. His works are now in the public domain. This is an edited version of his original.
