Musings on Faith #22
On God's Side

During World War II, heavyweight boxer Joe Louis, the great "Brown Bomber", made a statement that we would win the War because "we are on God’s side". The press, of course, had a field day with the statement, saying that Joe had mis-spoken, meaning to say "God is on our side". But the great fighter had not mis-spoken at all. He meant what he said, and what he said was right. We were fighting pure evil, and we were on God’s side. Joe was a Christian. He knew what he was talking about.

It is not a question of God being on our side. What we need to make sure of is that we are on God’s side! "Submit yourselves therefore to God (James 4:7, NIV)." We want God to be on our side. We want to make life decisions in our own will and with our own reasoning, and then ask God to bless what we want and what we decide to do. It is because of this failure to submit to God’s will that we all too often fail to receive the blessings He has in store for us. We decide to go a certain way and then convince ourselves that it is God’s will that we go that way, rather than earnestly seeking His will from the outset and listening for His answer. So often, by doing so, we not only miss His blessings but also get ourselves into troubles, whether financial, personal, or relational.

One of the most famous passages of Proverbs is Chapter 3, verses 5-7a, which we have heard so many times we hear the words, like a familiar song wafting from the next room, but do not hear nor heed the meaning. Listen carefully! "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own under- standing. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes (KJV)." When this teaching says "acknowledge him" it means not just acknowledging His existence but His lordship over our lives. The servant listens to his master for directions. This is how we need to acknowledge our Lord, by listening, through Scripture, through prayer, and through the

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still, small voice of the Holy Spirit, and then by heeding His will and His desire for the direction of our lives. It is hard for willful man to do this, but if we can develop the good habit of submitting ourselves to God, and listening for His instructions and admonitions on a daily basis, regardless of how we feel and regardless of our present circumstances, then we will be "on God’s side" where we need to be! Then we will know which path to follow and He will guide our every step.

Yours in Christ,  Tom Woodard 

 

NOTE: The faith and insights of my Cuddin' Charlie Quarles are very valuable to me, and sometimes his comments on one of my Musings on Faith are so helpful to furthering the message that I feel I should share them with you. Here are his comments on #22:

"I find, in so many [business or committee] meetings at Church, that from start to finish the committee does not seek God's direction. The old saying "haste makes waste" is analagous to this, as to what we do without Our Lord leading us. Too many times the plans for the meeting have already been laid out by the chairperson and the pastor, without having the Church pray for God's guidance and approval. Works done in our own way are useless to Him, and we only succeed in pleasing people. Churches have become so bureaucratic, according to denominational structure, that they forget who's Church it really is. I am so grateful the Lord let me join His Church first, and my "membership" will always be under His Doctrine and His Discipline. We are to be about pleasing the Lord, not people, so keep your eyes on Jesus and your heart in tune with His will and you will not be lead astray." 

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