In yesterday’s sermon, I read a confession that I have only done once before, but felt it fit with the topic of loyalty.  It isn’t original with me, as I have only done minor editing, but I have a passion whenever I read it like it’s mine.  After the service, many came to me and asked for a copy, so here it is:

I’m a part of the fellowship of the unashamed.  I have Holy Spirit power.  The dye has been cast.  I have stepped over the line.  The decision has been made.  I am a disciple of Jesus and I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I’m done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.

My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear.

I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.  I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a loyal disciple of Jesus.  I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes.  And when He does come for His own, He’ll have no trouble recognizing me.  My colors will be clear!”

Are your colors clear?  Are you a loyal disciple of Jesus?  Read this again and again until you feel the power of these words!

I really appreciated the blog post by Seth Godin yesterday on “Little lies and small promises.”  In the post, Seth said, “I’ll be out of bed in five minutes, is not a true statement because it’s a promise not meant to be kept.  It actually means ‘go away, I’m sleeping, I’ll say what I need to get rid of you.'”  He went on to say, “You can already guess what the problem is with little lies.  They blur the line, and they lead (pretty quickly) to big lies.  The worst kind of little lies are the ones you make to yourself.  Once you’re willing to lie to yourself, you’re also willing to cheat at golf, and after that, it’s all downhill.”

Here’s my worst problem: Christians that lie!  How is that possible?  Can you be a truly devoted follower and tell lies?  I believe that Seth is right on when he says it starts with “little lies.”  Jesus said it like this, “If someone can be trusted with little they can be trusted with much.”  In other words, if you can’t tell the truth about little things, I’m not trusting you with ANY thing else!

How do we build more credibility?  Start telling the truth in the little things and the bigger things will follow.  It’s the little foxes that spoil things according to the Bible.  Hold yourself accountable to tell the truth in the everyday mundane responses to people.  Don’t lie and say, “I’ll pray about that,” if you have no intention of doing so.  It would be better to say, “That’s too bad, I hope it turns out okay,” rather than promising something you won’t deliver. 

Let’s keep it honest people!  Anybody else bothered by the lack of virtues?