The allegiance that God demands

You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. For truly I tell you, you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. A disciple is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master. It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a slave like his master. Matthew 10:22-25

One of the many things that Jesus did while He was here on earth was to demonstrate what life of servanthood was all about. He followed the Father’s agenda in His life and did not pursue seeking His own. All His activities were done in obedience to the Father. “The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner” (John 5:19). It is always the Master that will set what the servant should do. The servant has to be obedient to His Master. Jesus death on the cross was how He expressed servanthood. He went to the cross because of His obedience to the Father. “Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” Going through agony, suffering, and eventual death were the ways Jesus has to live out His obedience. “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8). From the text, Jesus was instructing His disciples to be prepared facing trials in life because of their faith. He told them that the Son of God will undergo incredible sufferings in the hands of corrupt people. Then He reminded them that as their Master He has to endure such treatment and since servants are not above their Master, His followers will experience the same treatment. Compromise is not an option for Christ’s followers nor giving up in times of testing, but they are to remain faithful. There will be times that it will be tempting to deny your allegiance to God because of the persecution you are dealing with. It will be easy to just go along with the pressure and not stand up for what you know God wants you to do. But be reminded that if you claim you are a follower of Christ, your allegiance belongs to God. He commanded you to acknowledge Him and not to disown Him. Remaining faithful and steadfast in the midst of suffering is God’s way of helping us grow in obedience to Him. “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance” (Romans 5:3). Always remember that what will hold us until the end is our allegiance to God and His calling. “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33).

Blessings,

Noel De Guzman

www.my-wbc.com