When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?” “Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the Lord ’s army.” At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your servant to do?” (Joshua 5:13, 14 NLT)
Is electricity for the ones who continually use it to make their lives more convenient or against those that abused it and got electrocuted ? Is rain for those who had umbrellas to keep themselves dry or against those who had none and got their business clothes wet before an important meeting? Is the fair judge on the side of the persecutor or the accused? The answer to all these question is neither. Some things are not designed to take sides but to maintain their own and then those who want their favorable disposition must get on their side. It's like the fair judge, he is only to stay on the law's side and be for or against those who comply or break the law respectively.
God is also like that. The bible tells us that God is no respecter of persons. He shows no favoritism. That is, God is on God's side alone. He is on the side of his word, his grace and his works in redemption. Anyone who wants to enjoy his favor must get on his side.
The angel appeared to Joshua and Joshua asked if he was a friend or foe. The angel answered, "neither." In other words, "the question is not whether I am on your side but whether you are on mine. I have not come to fight for a man but for God and his will and to stand beside those who stand for his will. I have no allegiance to you or any human but to God, his will and his pleasure. I am not here to carry out your agenda but his. If will you get behind his agenda, if you will get on his side, then we would be on the same side."
There is a great lesson in this. In fact, it simplifies life considerably. God has only one position, when you align with his position then his light of favor shines on you and what you do. He becomes part of your story when you become a part of his story. You receive his grace manifested in your life when you shift your position to be under its shinning beam in Christ.
If God is for you, who can be against you? He is for you as you align with his grace, revealed in his word. If you turn against his word , then you face his resistance. Don't ask God to bless your projects, instead find out what God has blessed or is blessing and make it your project. Start doing what God is blessing. This is faith. Practicing faith as a lifestyle is how to be on God's side. Faith is your response to what God says he has done. God is not the one that responds to you. He has acted in grace and is waiting for your response to his grace. Your alignment through faith guarantees the flow of grace in your direction. Your acceptance of his word as your own is humility. The bible tells us God gives grace to the humble while he is against the proud:
"But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world." (James 4:6-8 NLT)
Humility is compliance with God and his will. Get on the side of the word. Accept what it says about you and your situation. Find yourself in it and see the path God has blessed for you. Then dedicate yourself to it. Stay on God's side. Refuse to halter between opinions. If God says it, let that settle your commitment. Chose to align with his word at all times, you will see his power and favor working strongly on your behalf.
Decision of the day
I know that God has moved and revealed his side. I choose to align myself to be on his side. I choose to take side with the word of God and not against it. I choose to do what he is blessing and has ordained.
Picture from commons.wikimedia.org
Is electricity for the ones who continually use it to make their lives more convenient or against those that abused it and got electrocuted ? Is rain for those who had umbrellas to keep themselves dry or against those who had none and got their business clothes wet before an important meeting? Is the fair judge on the side of the persecutor or the accused? The answer to all these question is neither. Some things are not designed to take sides but to maintain their own and then those who want their favorable disposition must get on their side. It's like the fair judge, he is only to stay on the law's side and be for or against those who comply or break the law respectively.
The angel appeared to Joshua and Joshua asked if he was a friend or foe. The angel answered, "neither." In other words, "the question is not whether I am on your side but whether you are on mine. I have not come to fight for a man but for God and his will and to stand beside those who stand for his will. I have no allegiance to you or any human but to God, his will and his pleasure. I am not here to carry out your agenda but his. If will you get behind his agenda, if you will get on his side, then we would be on the same side."
There is a great lesson in this. In fact, it simplifies life considerably. God has only one position, when you align with his position then his light of favor shines on you and what you do. He becomes part of your story when you become a part of his story. You receive his grace manifested in your life when you shift your position to be under its shinning beam in Christ.
If God is for you, who can be against you? He is for you as you align with his grace, revealed in his word. If you turn against his word , then you face his resistance. Don't ask God to bless your projects, instead find out what God has blessed or is blessing and make it your project. Start doing what God is blessing. This is faith. Practicing faith as a lifestyle is how to be on God's side. Faith is your response to what God says he has done. God is not the one that responds to you. He has acted in grace and is waiting for your response to his grace. Your alignment through faith guarantees the flow of grace in your direction. Your acceptance of his word as your own is humility. The bible tells us God gives grace to the humble while he is against the proud:
"But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world." (James 4:6-8 NLT)
Humility is compliance with God and his will. Get on the side of the word. Accept what it says about you and your situation. Find yourself in it and see the path God has blessed for you. Then dedicate yourself to it. Stay on God's side. Refuse to halter between opinions. If God says it, let that settle your commitment. Chose to align with his word at all times, you will see his power and favor working strongly on your behalf.
Decision of the day
I know that God has moved and revealed his side. I choose to align myself to be on his side. I choose to take side with the word of God and not against it. I choose to do what he is blessing and has ordained.
Picture from commons.wikimedia.org
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