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.” [Joshua 5:13-14 (NLT)]
The Israelites had just crossed the Jordan River and were preparing to conquer Canaan when Joshua came upon an armed man. Joshua was a stranger in a foreign land and, as Israel’s general, he may have been scrutinizing Jericho’s defenses to determine his plan of attack. I wonder if Joshua brandished his sword (while shaking in his sandals) as he queried, “Friend or foe?” The man, however, was neither ally nor adversary. Identifying himself as the commander-in-chief of the Lord’s army, his loyalty was to neither side. His allegiance was to God and the only side he was on was God’s! God wasn’t on Israel’s side any more than He was on Canaan’s. Israel, however, was on God’s side because their conquest of Jericho was part of His master plan of redemption. It was because they were on God’s side that the fortified city’s walls collapsed.
Jump ahead some 500 years to King Asa of Judah. In 2 Chronicles, we find the people of Judah under attack by an Ethiopian army of tens of thousands equipped with 300 chariots. Asa turned to God for guidance. Rather than ask God to be on their side, he prayed that Judah’s side was God’s and confirmed that it was in God’s name that they fought. In spite of overwhelming odds, Judah’s army was victorious, not because God was on their side but because they were on God’s. Asa then committed his kingdom to seeking God with all their heart and soul.
Unfortunately, twenty-one years later, the King forgot whose side he was on when Israel invaded Judah. Rather than turning to God, he committed himself to an alliance with the pagan Ben-hadad of Aram. Although the alliance at first appeared to be a success, the prophet Hanani rebuked the king for violating his covenant to seek the Lord’s side. Sadly, Asa’s foolhardiness meant that Judah would continue to be at war for generations.
When addressing a joint session of Congress in 1984, President Ronald Reagan noted that America was founded by men who believed God was their rock of safety. The President then added, “We must be cautious in claiming that God is on our side, but I think it’s all right to keep asking if we’re on His side.” 120 years earlier, in the midst of the Civil War, one of Abraham Lincoln’s advisors said he was grateful God was on their side. Lincoln replied, “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” Being on God’s side should be our concern, as well. Our all-powerful God does not choose sides; there only is one side and it is His.
Whether the dispute or disagreement is religious, political, familial, among neighbors or nations, we tend to get behind one side or another. Before taking sides, drawing lines in the sand, making threats, burning bridges, creating alliances, waging battle, or championing a cause, we must prayerfully determine which side is God’s. In many of our disputes, there’s a fair chance that neither side is God’s! While we may not be sure where God stands on every question, we do know He’s on the side of things like love, peace, forgiveness, truth, mercy, compassion, salvation, justice, healing, generosity, humility, decency, righteousness, and kindness. Let His Spirit and Word be our guide. Remember, it doesn’t matter whose side we’re on, if it isn’t God’s!
They always win who side with God. [Frederick W. Faber]
I lost my first father the same year I gained my second one. I only had my birth father for twenty years, but I was blessed to have my father-in-law for thirty-seven! Dad J lived his life well—with vigor, enthusiasm, joy, laughter, and a whole lot of love. Compassionate and generous, responsible and helpful, good-humored and resourceful, he was a man of faith and integrity (with a large dose of mischief on the side). The Bible might describe him as a man after God’s heart.
When reciting the creeds as a youngster, I wondered why I said we believed in the catholic church when we didn’t go to one. My family didn’t attend the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our priest was married, and our service was in English, so why did we attest faith in the catholic church? It wasn’t until my confirmation class that I clearly understood that the creeds weren’t referring to the Roman Catholic church. Coming from the Greek katholikos (derived from kath holos, meaning “throughout the whole”), catholic simply means universal! The term originates from the first century and the words of Ignatius of Antioch: “Where Jesus Christ is, there is the catholic church.”
Can worship be fun? In various translations, Hebrews 12:28 tells us to worship God with reverence and awe, honor and respect, or deep reverence. No where is there any mention of fun. In fact, except for the somewhat cynical and world-weary words directing us to eat, drink, and be merry in Ecclesiastes 8:15 Scripture uses the word “fun” in a negative way—that of “making fun” of someone. Hagar was sent away after she and Ishmael made fun of Isaac, Delilah accused Sampson of making fun of her with his lies, and the fertile Peninnah made fun of Hannah because of her barrenness. So, if, by “fun,” we mean mere amusement (especially at another’s expense), it doesn’t seem that fun and worship go hand in hand. On the other hand, if by “fun” we mean something deeper than light-hearted entertainment or diversion, perhaps it does.
Novelist Salman Rushdie said, “In the cookie of life, friends are the chocolate chips.” I agree. Granted, life can be as pleasant as a plain sugar cookie but, when you add chocolate chips to the batter or friends to the mix, it becomes something extra special.
Devotions of the Heart 