I love this phrase. There are quite a few subtle variations on the meaning, but it is an urban colloquialism that means loyalty, no matter what.
I thank God that I have been blessed with a few people that have that kind of loyalty to me and I to them. It's a rich blessing that have true friends. They are with me and in my corner no matter what (or "regardless of what" as one of them would say).
This week we had Vacation Bible School at my church and I was privileged to be a teacher. The first lesson was taken from Daniel chapter three. The very well known story of the three Hebrew boys: Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego. It is a wonderful story of faith, but something jumped out at me so profoundly that it almost knocked me over.
We always focus on the deliverance. But the Hebrew boys did not. Their focus was on God and Him alone. They were ride or die for the Lord. Literally. If you read the story, they never once pray for deliverance. They talk about God's ability to deliver them, but more importantly they acknowledge His sovereignty. Verses 17-18 speak volumes.
17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
So the question confronts us: Do we have that kind of faith? Are we ride or die for the Lord? Yes, we know the boys were delivered. But would we have their kind of commitment and faith if they had not been delivered?
Think of all the first and second century Christian martyrs. The men and the women who died professing their faith in the Lord, who never saw deliverance on this side of life. Do we have faith like that?
Father, please take us to a place where we can truly say that we believe in Your ability, but we acknowledge that Your sovereignty trumps all. Give us a "ride or die" spirit for You.
Greetings in the matchless name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Risen King, What you have said could Not have been said better, for to be a Christian Christ(from Xristos meaning One who is anointed by God) ian(an end word that means to belong to a Country or a person or even a group and of course in the Name Christian we belong to Jesus(from the Greek who got it from the Hebrew name Joshua meaning God is Salvation(or God Saves his people:) For Jesus Christ himself said in Luke 9:23-26
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23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Wow....thank you for your wonderful comment. I appreciate your kinds words and insight.
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