For today, the rest of this week, this month, this year, and every day of your life …

which side are you on?

TEXT: “But the multitude of the city was divided; and part held with the Jews,  and part with the apostles.” (Acts 14:4).

From time to time we have all had to choose a side.  In elections, Democrat or Republican, etc.  Remember the school yard -pitch up a bat, catch it and then hand over hand to see who gets first choice, and to determine which side we were on.

In life there are many choices that are more difficult and far more important.  In the text the multitude of the city was divided.  A part held with the Jews, and part held with the apostles. You can almost see a person being stopped and asked, “Which side are you on?”  And we can imagine the effort put forth to win a person to “our side.”

How many times man has been faced with this decision.  “Who is on the Lord’s side”? We must choose God or the world. And we cannot choose not to choose…We Must Choose. There are many Biblical examples of the choice that has to be made:

Mt. Carmel: “How long go ye limping between the two sides? If Jehovah be God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him.” (I Kings 18:21) We know the story. The contest and the results. But what choice did the people make?  Since Elijah had to flee, we assume most of them choose Baal.

Joshua: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve:….but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah.”  (Joshua 24:14,15). The people had entered and settled the “Promised Land”.  Now how were they going to live…what would be their choice. Later we read: “in those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges17:6) This was the choice they ultimately made and the Book of Judges is a testimony of what it cost them!

Jesus: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28) “And he said unto all, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23).

We must choose one side or the other, Christ or the world, because: “No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other.  Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”  (Matt. 6:24).

The Results of Choice: “Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 10:32,33).   We will be confessed….or denied.  It all depends upon “which side we are on!

Frank Briscoe

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