How easy is it to always choose sides? Isn’t it challenging to see the good in the opposing side? There are times that we will choose a side because of a recommendation from a friend or family member, but unless you commit to their beliefs, principles and practices, it becomes a very challenging thing to commit yourself wholeheartedly to the leaders and followers of that group. This is much the same with unbelievers when Christians try to convince them of their need for salvation in Jesus Christ. Notice that Jesus said that you will have to choose sides. You will choose in whom you will serve. Think about that as we meditate together today.

DATE POSTED Friday, 2021-09-03
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BY: Ed Algreen

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 12:51-53
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: 51 Do you think that I came to bring peace to earth? No indeed! I came to make people choose sides. 52 A family of five will be divided, with two of them against the other three. 53 Fathers and sons will turn against one another, and mothers and daughters will do the same. Mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law will also turn against each other.

APPLICATION: When our daughter was growing up, her mom would often ask who she loved the most. Invariably, she would respond ‘both of you’! We always chuckled, but isn’t that so true in life today? Christians are called to decide on what we will do with groups and individuals who operate in total disobedience to the Word of God. More often than not, we choose to accept their beliefs, rather than standing firm on the Word given by God for us to live by. Jesus told His disciples that there was reason He had given them certain commands and guides for living, even though many of His instructions might seem totally opposite to what the world around them were doing. You might recall that some disciples were called from various occupations – tax collector; fishermen; etc, and invited to become a follower of Christ. There were many obstacles for these brothers to transition from their daily jobs to follow a man despised by the Pharisees and government leaders, so Jesus needed to do a lot of teaching and retraining. But isn’t it interesting how Jesus chose to complete this training so bluntly? It seems like today we try to pretty up the Gospel and suggest such a glorious life in accepting and serving Jesus Christ, that one might think that it is only second to working at the palace. But friends, Jesus is still calling us to choose. Will we go with the crowds; please our greedy, angry politicians; or work diligently to becoming the popular guy/girl among our peers; or will we truly accept the call to serve only our God and obey His commands that He issued for our good? We may often go a direction with Jesus that our family, friends or boss disagrees with, and we will be forced to make a decision whether we will truly follow Christ, or whether the cost is too high. Unlike us, where we stand on the fence with many choices of man, Jesus wants us to follow His example in calling a spade a spade, even if it leads us to a cross like He endured. Where do you take your stand, dear friends? Are you for God, or against Him? There’s no in-between. If His Word teaches against something, then we are called to teach/preach/witness/stand against it, even if it cost us friends, family, coworkers, job, church, etc. Are you truly on the Lord’s side?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Heaven is promised for those who place their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and are willing to obey His commands, in spite of opposition and/or persecution.

PRAYER: Lord, I think of a hymn I sang as a child: ‘Who is on the Lord’s side’, never realizing that I would one day study these words of Yours to Your disciples and applying them to my life. What an eye opener today. We tend to think of You as the God of love, unity and One who creates nothing but peace and love among Your children. But as in all areas of life, we will create division when we stand firm on a point of view. Please teach us to be loyal to You in every aspect of our life and to always be obedient to Your commands, even if it causes division among those who disagree or sit on the fence of decision. I believe that You would have us love others, even through our disagreements, so please work miraculously through us as we dedicate our lives to You and live as You commanded. May all things still be done for Your ultimate glory. AMEN!