Look Up: Who's Side is the Lord on?

Intro:
So, does God have a struggle when Tim Tebow plays against Eric Berry in a football game? Both men pray for God's help and support. Both men name the name of Christ in their lives. So, who's side is God on?

Maybe the better question: who's side are we on?

This picture comes from the TN vs. FL game September 19th. Much was made of the meeting between these two players. This was the first time the SEC Offensive Player of the Year met the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in the smash heard round the SEC.

Read:
Psalm 125
A song of ascents.

1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.

3 The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil.

4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart.

5 But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel.

Think:
Clearly the followers of the Lord have a choice in life. They choose to follow the Lord or follow their appetites. According to the Psalmist there are at least 2 things they choose:
1. To trust (verse 1). We are reminded of Proverbs 3 when we read these words. We are to trust the Lord with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding. In all our ways we are to acknowledge Him and He will direct our own ways. We are not to be wise in our own eyes but to fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

When we trust the Lord we tell Him that we will do it His way and in His timing. We will transfer control. The Psalmist says this is the person that is as solid as a rock. This is the person that holds on in evil times and waits on God to act against those that promote wickedness (verse 3).

2. To do good (verses 4 & 5). What would this mean to those that heard it years ago? To do God would mean to love God and to love others. To love justice and to love mercy and to walk humbly with their God.

To do good would also include obeying the Lord's commands. Verse 5 served as a warning that even the followers of the Lord could be tempted to turn to crooked ways and be banished with the evil doers. This was not the end goal for the follower of the Lord but remained a possibility. The follower of the Lord was to experience the Lord forevermore (verses 1 & 2) but if he turned to crooked ways would be banished (verse 5).

Do:
Who's side is the Lord on? He is on His own side. Are we on His side? That is the question we need to consider. In the end of it all God is not so concerned if Tebow or Berry win a football game but He is concerned that these men play hard, play fair and trust Him with their lives.

Are you trusting in the Lord today? Do you believe that you are where you are by His design and your choices? Some of the stuckness might be due to bad choices you have made. Some of the good things might also be due to this. Fortunately God is not stuck and will bless us in spite of ourselves but I'd rather trust Him and give Him the best opportunity to bless me.

Search your heart and see if there is anywhere you need to "turn away from evil" in your life. The crooked paths look nice but end in the ditch. Search your heart before the Lord and ask Him to help you trust Him and do good.

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