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God or Man? Who will it be?
I don’t think that’s what we should do, how could we stop telling people they could be saved. There comes a time in everyone’s life that we need to ask ourselves God, or man? Whose side are we on? Who will we serve? Who will we follow?
When I was barely saved a year and attending my first church that I could call my home church, I was put to the test!
I had been asked a question from a family member who shared the only answer I could give which was straight scripture. I was ignorant to what it would mean, but the person shared it in a different manner saying I was accusing them of sin. I never said anything about that of course, but because it was delivered that way the following day as I prepared to go to church my father told me I had to stop going to ‘that church’ or move out of his house.
I stood there a moment, I had to go to church, my step brother had just shown up and we were riding together to church those days. So he asked me…”What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know, but I’m going to church!” so we went!
I was given a place I could move in with the pastors family, but I could not do that> I loved my earthly father so much that I needed to keep our relationship open. So I went back home.
I also kept going to church!
My dad told me years later that he admired that I stuck to my Christian walk and followed God. If you read my devotional or watch the videos you know my Baptism story and it shares my commitment to follow the Lord where He leads me. That was my defining moment! My dad also knew the Lord before He passed. He has risen.
What was yours?
“So, fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
The people replied, “We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods. Joshua 24:14-16
Of course through history they waivered here and there but we will too if we do not keep our eyes on the Lord and our resolve to serve Him and Him only. Not man, but God.
As for me and my house we will serve the Lord!
When the captain of the Temple guard and the leading priests heard this, they were perplexed, wondering where it would all end.
Then someone arrived with startling news: “The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple, teaching the people!”
The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them. Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them.
“We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!” he said. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!”
But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”
When they heard this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them. But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while. Then he said to his colleagues, “Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men! Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About 400 others joined him, but he was killed, and all his followers went their various ways. The whole movement came to nothing. After him, at the time of the census, there was Judas of Galilee. He got people to follow him, but he was killed, too, and all his followers were scattered.
Acts 5:24-37
Each of us will have to live through this at least once in our lives. We will have to make the choice to follow Jesus, or to follow man. It maybe easy to make the choice, or to understand the differences between who is leading you or it may be hard to see if we are blinded by the way that appears easy, but is hard was is often the best choice.
I chose my Lord, and His directions to follow, and I kept my relationship with my earthly father as secondary and it worked out for me. God knew my choice and that was what was important at the time.
That defining moment influenced my whole life because it showed everyone that was involved that I chose to listen to God's direction, not mans.
What will you do? Whom will you chose?
Heavenly Father, help us to stay so closely connected to you that there is no question what we should do but to follow and serve You over man. In Jesus' name...