Who Is On The LORD'S Side...?

For the past few weeks during my quiet time with Jesus, I've been reading (omisoul ever so slowly! :D) through Exodus. This morning, I read Exodus 32:26, and the LORD gave me what I hope and pray will be my next three blog posts. :)


  "Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me..."  Exodus 32:26

What Does It Mean to be On the LORD's Side??

Part One

This morning as I read these words, it made me wonder... 'what does it really mean to "be on the LORD's side"?' I say I am, and I strive to live in such a way as to portray it... or do I?

If someone is on "some one's side", it usually means that there is another and opposing side that the first someone is going up against. This means two groups opposing each other-- everyone is either in one or the other, and only one of these groups will win. The opposing 2 groups in this case, the differing sides, are the LORD's side and the Satan's side.

When I think about quote "sides", a few different scenarios come to mind. For this study, we will take an in-depth look at all three, one at a time.

The different scenarios are as follows:

1.) A GAME: Such as a basketball or volleyball or soccer game-- or even simply an AWANA game, with two groups of teens/kids lined up against the opposing side/wall of the gym, ready to go at it.

2.) A DEBATE: An argument; like a college debate team or a fight on the school playground. Or as with politics- two sides debating about the same issue and the right &/or wrong way to solve it. Or even a court of law.

3.) A WAR: (who didn't see that one coming? ;p) A battle, with two armies of men on opposite sides of the battlefield, swords and sabers drawn, ready to fight.

Each of these illustrations have a few things in common:

1.) Each of them is under the leadership of one

     -a sports team has a coach and even amongst the team, there is usually a captain

     -a debate team had a leader; the playground has the bully and the 'hero'; with politics it the Republican candidate and the Democratic candidate; in a courtroom there's 2 lawyers each one representing their opposing client

     -a group of soldiers has a Captain or General leading them and giving them their orders

2.) In each case, the "sides" are in opposition or competition to or with the other

3.) In every instance, the main objective, the bottom line,the common goal is the same--- to win!!

SO!

What exactly does it mean to be 'on the LORD's side'?

It means that

a) I'm not on the devil's side,

which places me in

b) Opposition to the devil's side,

which means I'm

c) Fighting against the devil's side

But how exactly does being on the LORD's side apply to our lives? How do we get there? What does it entail?

First of all, we are all born on the devil's side. We join the LORD's side by realizing we are sinners,, bound for hell, and in need of a Savior and by accepting God's gift of salvation. But we can also be on the LORD's side, but live as though or in such a way as to imply we're on the devil's side. This aught not be!!! I am on the LORD's side- it only makes sense, therefore, that i behave in a way that aids His cause and bares a good testimony to others for Him!!

How can we as Christian young ladies do this? 

If we were to view the "LORD's Side" as a sports team, we could infer a few useful applications to our daily lives.

The LORD is our Coach (and/or Team Captain). We are to follow His shouted calls and plays as we race against the clock and members of the other team ("team sin" we'll call it lol). The objective is to win! To beat the opposing team! As a member of this team, we are to wear it's colors, to represent to all the people in the stands which team I am on. I am to behave with a good sportsman-like attitude toward my fellow teammates. To help them and encourage them. Every good player knows that a team that is truly united and playing as a team-- as one body under the coach's instructions, not a bunch of individuals that play the way they think the game should be played, play to show how great their supposed skill is, or ignores the Coach because they think they know better-- is the team that wins. Also, as in any sport, you are expected to give it your absolute all, play with your all the energy you posses!!- even though you're drenched with sweat; even though you can barely move; even though your nose is bleeding; even though #7 got a foot of height on you or you swear #16 is an Olympic runner ; even though every muscle in your body is screaming at you; you keep running even though you can't breathe and your side is cramping up; you give it everything you've got until the buzzer sounds, until the ref blows the final whistle, because you know that if  you stop or ease up on the pace even for a second,  the other team will take advantage of you/that. They'll spike the ball right into that open spot you're supposed to be covering. They'll steal the ball from you or slip that goal past you! If they see you slow down, it only encourages them to run faster!

So in this "game" we play every second of each day of our lives, we, as young ladies on the LORD's "team", must:

1.) Wear His colors and display His name (Exodus 17:15)

2.) Display good sportsman(woman)like attitudes toward our sister teammates (Mark 3:25) (1st Corinthians 12:12-27)

3.) Play the game with every ounce of strength we have and not give up until the whistle blows (1st Corinthians 9:24) (Hebrews 12:1-3) (2nd Thessalonians 3:13) (Galatians 6:9)

THIS IS OUR PART!!

BUT! Also, we must remember, our Coach is a Loving Coach. He knows exactly how much each one of us can handle before expiring of exhaustion; He knows the are certain aspects of the game we struggle with specifically; He knows which "position" on the court/Field we're weakest in and in which areas we're am strong; He knows exactly what to say to help and motivate us and what advice to give to strengthen our areas of weakness!

As my omnipotent Coach, the LORD:

1.) Knows when and why to call a "time out"

     -for critique of my technique

     -for correction or my attitude

     -for rest, refreshment, and renewal (of energy)

     (Isaiah 40:29) (Matthew 11:29) (Philemon 1:20)

2.) Knows which drills (or how many extra laps lol) to do next practice to strengthen us in our individual areas of weakness 

3.) Knows exactly which words of comfort to give when we are carried off the Field/court injured; He also knows the exact words to whisper in the huddle to inspire us and motivate (to keep us going) for those last five minutes of the game

But most importantly, He is a Coach that loves us for who we are, and who has saved us from the opposing team's captain!! This is what it means to be on the LORD's "team"-- on His 'side'.

Let us apply these thoughts to our lives today with the help of our Heavenly Coach, and play our hardest for Him today!

I love you all, dear sisters! Stay strong in the daily battle (or game :P) and stay tuned for the next two posts!

love in CHRIST OUR CAPTAIN

Katie