Pledge of Allegiance

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship.

– Romans 12:1

Americans of a certain age will recall that the Pledge of Allegiance was recited each morning in classrooms across the nation — with millions of students placing their right hand over their heart — and all in front of the flag. It was a daily declaration of devotion to the Stars and Stripes and the republic for which it stands.

Being a Christ-follower also calls for allegiance, but to One who's much

greater than any flag or nation. In fact, Jesus requires total devotion from his disciples and would-be followers. Half-heartedness and non-committal don't make the cut.

Believers should therefore demonstrate a Christ-centered faith through their words and deeds. That doesn't mean we must earn God's favor through good works and morality, following a set of rules, or going to church religiously and putting a check in the bucket each Sunday. In fact, we read in Isaiah 64:6 that our so-called good deeds are considered filthy rags when compared to God's high standards of perfection. That's why Jesus — who actually DID live a perfect, sin-free life — was the only one worthy enough to pay the penalty we all deserve for failing our Creator.

Although we're powerless to save ourselves, our Savior did so willingly to accomplish what was planned at the foundation of the world. It's through this sacrifice that he made it possible for his followers in the centuries that followed to serve as his hands and feet on earth. To illustrate the importance of his incredible mission, Jesus told a story about a master, who gave each of his three servants a considerable sum of money to invest while he was away on an extended trip. After a while, the master returned to claim what was his. He was pleased with the first two servants, who had used their funds wisely. Their efforts and willingness to risk their allocations resulted in doubling the money. But it wasn't so with the third servant. He was afraid of his boss' stern reputation and didn't want to risk a loss. So instead, he played it safe and buried his master's money in a hole in the ground.

This is where modern-day Christ-followers enter the picture. Like the three servants in the story, we've also received resources, skills and opportunities to invest in the lives of others. The beneficiaries could be your spouse, sibling or child. They might also be a coworker, neighbor, villagers in Central America ... or maybe someone God puts in your path through unexpected circumstances.

So here's the obvious question: How are we investing what God has given to us? Are we turning our faith into action and changing the world one person at a time, or are we playing it safe? 

The answer depends on our allegiance.