Whew. Heavy. Meaty. This blog might not resonate with all but, it will with some. Last night I was in prayer and I heard the words “displaced loyalties”. I’ve heard of MISplaced loyalty but not DISplaced loyalty. I had to look it up.
When I began to research, I saw a lot regarding misplaced loyalty and began to read about it. I was IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED. I was not to get it wrong..I HEARD DISplaced-NOT MISplaced. The internet defines displaced: “to supplant, take over the place of something or someone; to substitute”. It defines misplaced as “lost or disoriented”. LOYALTY is defined as “a strong feeling of support or allegiance”.
I prayed. “God, what are you saying”. Break down. To MISplace something is not intentional. We MISplace our keys or a book. It even goes as deep as having a misplaced loyalty by being deceived by people, a person or things due to emotional distress or hardships when we are not thinking correctly. Its NOT done with a knowledge of doing something wrong or in error. Unintentional.
When there is a ‘DISplaced’ loyalty – it means that there is a CHOICE. INTENTIONAL. It is a conscious decision to supplant(dethrone, eject, remove), substitute or MOVE something OUT OF ITS PLACE. I understood why I was not to get the words mixed up. They are totally different.
This was becoming clear but I asked for more.
“God I need a scripture reference. Help me”
IMMEDIATELY, the story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10) came to me. Whoa. In this story the people were selling land and houses to bring to the Apostles (Act 4:34-35) so it could be DISTRIBUTED to those THAT HAD NEED. Ananias and Sapphira knew this. However, Ananias made up in his mind to lie about the price and convinced Sapphira to go along with him. HER LOYALTY WAS DISPLACED. (Ananias’ was too but my focus is Sapphira’s actions) She had a choice here. To stand with TRUTH or to follow along with the LIE that was being told because her loyalty was in her husband. The NIV version of this scripture states she had “FULL KNOWLEDGE” of what he was doing. She made the choice to make the alliance with her husband- “dethrone the truth” and pick up the lie, to her unfortunate demise.
Soo many thoughts hit me at once. Its personal to the reader. Are we guilty of this in some area of our lives? Do we know the truth but knowingly decide not to heed it? It doesn’t have to be in the big things. I know I had to repent in some areas. The following scenarios are thought provoking:
When we are faced with the TRUTH of a thing. When it is revealed knowledge without a doubt and it’s not what you’ve been taught. It’s not what you’ve been doing/believing all your life. It goes against EVERYTHING you thought you knew. That truth will bring you to a crossroad. Will you decide to align with what’s right? Are you willing to make a change, take a stand – might mess with your reputation – your money – lose friends – go against the grain. What do you do? If your best friend, your spouse, your boss, your pastor, your parent, family wants you to stand IN WRONG or SECRECY to protect them or a cause when you know it could be detrimental to others physically and/or spiritually, what would you do? Even more personal. The inner us – when no one is looking? What choices do we make? Christian or non-Christian, TRUTH REVEALED is TRUTH REVEALED. It literally calls for a decision to be made. The answer will reveal where the true loyalty lies.
In this “place” in time, there are lines being drawn everywhere. We can call it the beginning of “The Great Divide”. Issues of hearts are being revealed like never before and these issues are CALLING for personal decisions to be made on many levels and in many specific areas. Do we stand with TRUTH or displace that truth to remain loyal to others, ourselves, fear or just stubbornly refuse to be open to change? May we all choose correctly,
Will you pray with me? Father God we thank you for your Grace and Mercy. While reading this, things have been brought to our attention and we ask for your forgiveness. We open our hearts to you and ask you to soften every calloused area. Refresh us and fill us up with your love. Purify our hearts and minds so that they line up with your truth. We ask that you give us your grace, courage and holy boldness to be able to stand with you and with TRUTH. In Jesus Name, Amen.
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