May the mumbling commence!
Many people make the statement that God is on their
side. Is God on our side? We like to think so. But the better question to ask is: Are we on
God’s side?
God’s people have been taught this lesson over and over
again. Will we ever learn it? Read from Lamentations chapter two:
All the strength of Israel vanishes beneath his fury.
The Lord has withdrawn his protection as the enemy attacks.
He consumes
the whole land of Israel like a raging
fire.
He bends
his bow against his people as though he were their enemy.
His strength
is used against them to kill their
finest youth.
His fury
is poured out like fire on beautiful Jerusalem.
Yes, the Lord has vanquished Israel like an
enemy.
He has destroyed
her forts and palaces.
He has brought
unending sorrow and tears to Jerusalem.
He has broken
down his Temple as though it were merely a garden shelter.
The Lord
has blotted out all memory of the holy
festivals and Sabbath days.
Kings and priests fall together before his anger.
The Lord has rejected his own altar; he despises
his own sanctuary.
He has given Jerusalem's palaces to her enemies.
They shout in the Lord's
Temple as though it were a day of celebration. (Verses 3-7)
The Lord withdrew protection from Jerusalem because they
did not follow God’s Word. God is on our
side..? No, are we on God’s side? That’s the question.
If we cannot answer the question truthfully and
affirmatively that we are on God’s side, then we are subject to the fruits of
our labors. Those fruits are a consuming
fire, war, strife, fury, defeat, destruction, sorrow and tears. The things we thought we could trust in –
like God’s sanctuary are no protection for us.
Those days are like a rapidly fading memory.
And those we call our enemies have a day in the sun…
victory… celebration. Oh, may we seek
the Lord’s side in all things! Let us
seek the Lord’s side to avoid these judgments!
Let’s render unto God what is God’s.
Read from Matthew chapter twenty-two:
Then the Pharisees met together to think of a way to trap Jesus into saying something for which
they could accuse him. They decided to
send some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to ask him
this question: "Teacher,
we know how honest you are. You
teach about the way of God regardless of
the consequences. You are impartial
and don't play favorites. Now tell
us what you think about this: Is it
right to pay taxes to the Roman government or not?"
But Jesus knew their evil motives. "You
hypocrites!" he said. "Whom are you trying to fool with your trick questions? Here, show me the Roman coin used for the
tax." When they handed him the coin, he asked, "Whose picture and title are stamped on it?"
"Caesar's," they replied.
"Well, then," he said, "give to Caesar
what belongs to him. But everything that
belongs to God must be given to God." His reply amazed them, and they went away.
(Verses 15-22)
And what does not belong to God!?! Let’s give the Lord our “everything”. That is being on God’s side. May it be so.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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