All-in Commitmentনমুনা

Divided Loyalty

Heading into Super Bowl 57, one of the major storylines centered around Travis and Jason Kelce becoming the first brothers to face each other in the Super Bowl. Though it was exciting for fans to see brothers play against each other on the sport’s biggest stage, imagine how unique that experience was for their mom, Donna Kelce.

In an interview with the New York Post before the game, she said, “It’s gonna be really tough, but I’m just gonna cheer my head off when the offense is on the field. So I’m gonna be screaming the entire game.”

Throughout the Super Bowl, she had divided loyalties as she went back and forth rooting for each team when they had the ball. It made sense that she cheered for both of her sons, but in the end, only one of her sons came out on top.

When it comes to our lives, we can sometimes relate to having divided loyalties. We desire to follow Jesus, but we also like what the world offers. We want to please God, but we find ourselves also pleasing our flesh.

We go back and forth, wanting both our flesh and our spirit to win. We’ll cheer for God one minute, but then the world “gets the ball” and we start rooting for the pleasures it offers. Eventually, however, one “team” will win because only one can come out on top as our heart’s greatest desire.

The Bible tells us in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Today, let’s be encouraged to value God more than anything else and move past our divided loyalties. Let’s be clear that God is the One we serve and the One we cheer for unabashedly. Let’s go to Him for strength, direction, and wisdom with a heart that is aligned with Him.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for my divided loyalties and wavering back and forth between You and the world. Please give me the wisdom and strength I need to live a life completely devoted to You. You are the One I desire to serve and value above anything else. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

For more sports and faith devotionals, visit unpackinit.com.