Week of January 8, 2021
“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5:13-15 NKJV)
With all that we have experienced for the better part of a year and possible outcomes that have not been to our liking, have you asked this question, “Whose side is God on?” Have you considered that your political opponent is praying to the same God for victory, or the opposing football team fan is praying for God to let their team win, or two people are praying to the same God for the same job opening?
If we ask whose side is God on, I think we are viewing God from the wrong perspective. That would make God less than sovereign, and to say God is on my side is to say we have a special claim on God over others, and if we are not careful, we can use that claim to become a means to our selfish end. I think the better question should be, Are we on God’s side?
Even when personal tragedy comes, when we feel abandoned, when our opponent wins or outcomes are not to our choosing, can we still say, “I’m on God’s side?”
Abraham Lincoln said, “I do not care whether God is on my side; the important question is whether I am on God’s side, for God is always right.”
As the periods of life pass in front of me, and I raise the question or even reach a conclusion, God is not on my side” remember this” God is sovereign, He views the bigger picture and ask yourself this question – Am I still in God’s side?” You would be wise to trust His sovereign will even when you can’t trace the direction of His hand.
God Bless, Pastor Rick