As we know our allegiance to someone or something, is our commitment or loyalty toward them. When we pledge our allegiance, we are acknowledging our belief and support to Jesus Christ our Lord!
NOW TO OUR ALLEGIANCE TO JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. WHAT DID HE DO TO DESERVE OUR ALLEGIANCE?
- He temporally gave up His totally divine nature and became “flesh”. “But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because He SUFFERED DEATH, so that by the grace of God He might taste death FOR EVERYONE.” (Heb. 2:9)
- He came down to earth, in person, to reveal to us what we had to do to be forgiven and redeemed! “ In Him was life, and that life was THE LIGHT of all mankind…The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world…all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD” (John 1:4-9, 12)
- He performed many miracles, moved by compassion for the sick and needy. “This is the disciple (John) who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that His testimony is true. Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the WHOLE WORLD WOULD NOT HAVE ROOM for the books that would be written.” (John 21:24-25)
- He suffered innocently, more than any other human. To demonstrate His love to us! “But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because HE SUFFERED DEATH, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect THROUGH WHAT HE SUFFERED.” (Heb. 2:9-10)
- He is coming back for us, to take us to our eternal home. “For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST. After that, we who are still alive and are left WILL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR. And so we will be with the Lord FOREVER. Therefore, encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thess. 4:16-18)
-Bill Stockham