THE DANGEROUS PATH OF BEING DOUBLE-MINDED

Psalm 119:113-120 says, "I hate those with divided loyalties, but I love your instructions. You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope. Get out of my life, you evil-minded people, for I intend to obey the commands of my God. Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live! Do not let my hope be crushed. Sustain me, and I will be rescued; then I will meditate continually on your decrees. But you have rejected all who stray from your decrees. They are only fooling themselves. You skim off the wicked of the earth like scum; no wonder I love to obey your laws! I tremble in fear of you; I stand in awe of your regulations." Another phrase for divided loyalties is double-minded. The writer of this Psalm hated or rejected those people who could not decide whether to follow God's Word or not. They could not decide what to believe. James 1:6-8 says, "But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do." 

God wants us to believe in Him and follow His Word. God knows where our hearts are. He knows when we are surrendered to Him or not. For those of us who decided to follow God and His Word, God becomes our safe place, protector, and provider. God sustains us with His promises. When we follow God and His Word, we begin to hate any sin and wrongdoing. We want to make the wrong things right in our lives. We don't compromise the truth, but we stand for what is right and be an example, especially in our families, friends, and communities. They must know where we stand on everything. We show that we follow God in our actions and words that we say. A husband and wife decided to ask one of their sons to leave their home because he had fallen into drug and alcohol abuse and was setting a bad example for his younger siblings. Although it was a difficult decision because they loved their son, they felt it was necessary to uphold their principles. Years later, the son returned and expressed respect for his parents' consistency in their beliefs. This consistency inspired him to seek restoration and reconnect with them.

We may upset those we love by standing for our beliefs, but ultimately, it will serve as a great example for them. God wants us to live according to what we believe in. We follow God without compromising or apologizing, and God will use our lives as an example for His righteous ways. Let us avoid being double-minded or having divided loyalties. Let us be true to God, whom we believe in, and God will overwhelm us with His peace and security.

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) Why do I need to avoid being double-minded? Who do I follow in life: God or myself? What happens when I decide to follow God? 

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for reminding me this morning of the importance of not being double-minded. Please help me to be loyal to you and never compromise my spiritual walk with you, even when I offend those whom I love. I trust that you will take care of my situation. I pray that those I may offend by following your ways will recognize that I love and care for them. This love is the reason I cannot compromise my commitment to walking in your path. In your name, Jesus, I pray, Amen.