FOR AUGUST 20 : WHOSE SIDE IS GOD ON?

[cimi]

August 20
Wednesday


WHOSE SIDE
IS GOD ON?

READ:
2 Chronicles 15:1-15
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The LORD searches all
hearts and understands
all the intent of the
thoughts.
__1 Chronicles 28:9
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I do not boast that God is on my side," wrote Abraham Lincoln. "I humbly pray that I am on God's side."

Lincoln's words paraphrase the thoughts Azariah expressed to King Asa of
Judah. After the Spirit of God came upon Azariah, he said, "The LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you" (2 Chron. 15:2).

Throughout history, people have done despicable deeds while boldly claiming that God was on their side. But being a Christian doesn't guarantee that God is "on our side" any more than being an ancient Israelite guaranteed that God was on theirs (Isa. 3:14-15). God is on the side of those who are on His side__who know His heart and mind and do His will__not those who insist on convincing God and others that their way is right.

Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord indicated that He sides with the oppressed (Isa. 58:6-7,10). For Christians, that means it is right to be on the side of those who are being wronged.

Instead of jumping into a situation with the presumptions that God is on our side, we need to be certain that we are on His. __Julie Ackerman Link
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```````Who will leave the world's side? Who will face the foe?`````````
``````````````By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,````````````
`````We are on the Lord's side__Savior, we are Thine! __Havergal`````
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It's dangerous to mistake our wishes
for God's will.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Chronicles 15:1-15*********

1 Now the Spirit of God
came upon Azariah the son
of Oded. 2 And he...said
to him: "...The LORD is
with you while you are with
Him. If you seek Him, He
will be found by you; but if
you forsake Him, He will
forsake you. 3 For a long
time Israel has been without
the true God, without a
teaching priest, and without
law; 4 but when in their
trouble they turned to the
LORD God of Israel, and
sought Him, He was found
by them. 5 And in those
times there was no peace to
the one who went out, nor to
the one who came in, but
great turmoil was on all the
inhabitants of the lands....

7 But you, be strong and do
not let your hands be weak,
for your work shall be
rewarded!"

8 And when Asa heard
these words...he took
courage, and removed the
abominable idols...and he
restored the altar of the
LORD that was before the
vestibule of the LORD.

9 Then he gathered all Judah
and Benjamin, and those
who dwelt with them from
Ephraim, Manasseh, and
Simeon....

12 Then they entered into a
covenant to seek the Lord
God of their fathers with all
their heart and with all their
soul; 13 and whoever would
not seek the LORD God of
Israel was to be put to death
.... 14 Then they took an
oath before the LORD....

15 And all Judah rejoiced at
the oath, for they had sworn
with all their heart and
sought Him with all their
soul; and He was found by
them, and the LORD gave
them rest all around.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

After Israel had fallen into terrible sin at the foot of Mt. Sinai, a
heartfelt repentance was required. Moses said, "Whoever is on the
LORD's side__come to me!" (Ex. 32:26). At the center of repentance
is the shifting of allegiance back to God. __Dennis Fisher