I Am On The Lord’s Side

Richard Thetford

In our song books we sing a song entitled "Who Will Follow Jesus?" The chorus of that song says: "Who will follow Jesus? Who will make reply, I am on the Lord's side; Master, here am I"? Those words no doubt are taken from the book of Matthew, chapter 12, verse 30, where Jesus said: "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." Jesus plainly taught that we are either for Him or we're against Him. We cannot serve two masters (Matt 6:24). We're either on the Lord's side or we're not.

Why Be On The Lord's Side?

We must strive to be on the Lord's side because if we aren't then there is no hope of eternal salvation! In Matthew 1:21 it says: "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." It is only through Jesus Christ that we can have forgiveness of sins and therefore we all should want to be on His side and follow His commandments. When we are on the Lord's side we are profited. In 1 Corinthians 15:58 the apostle Paul said: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." When we are on the Lord's side then we will want to abound in all the work of the Lord. Isn't it true that when we love doing something that we do it to the best of our ability, knowing that our work is not in vain because we are enjoying it.

All of us should look to our service for Christ the same way. We should enjoy being on the Lord's side and therefore do everything we do with fervent zeal, knowing that our eternal peace will someday be realized, because we were always determined to do ALL the will of Jesus (Matt 7:21). In addition, when we're on the Lord's side, then we will be happy in all things that we do (Eph 1:3). We also want to be on the Lord's side because it is honorable (John 12:26). We will be glorified (Rom 8:17), will have peace (John 16:33), and will reign with Christ forever (2 Tim 2:12) when we make it known that we are on the Lord's side!

Who Is On His Side?

Individuals show that they are on the Lord's side by believing in Jesus to the point of doing His will. In Hebrews 11:6, the Hebrew writer said: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." When we have faith in God, then others will see our faith and be able to see that we are on His side, not Satan's. When we truly believe in God, knowing that we will be rewarded by our life's service to Him (2 Tim 4:8), then we can be effective teachers in His kingdom!

Not only the believers, but the whole-hearted (Matt 12:30), and those that overcome the world (Rev 17:14), will be counted as being on His side. When one chooses to come out from the world and be separate (2 Cor 6:17) then they are making a statement by letting others know that they are choosing to be on the Lord's side! Only the faithful, and those that endure to the very end will be on His side forever (2 Tim 2:12).

In What Should We Be With Him?

When one chooses to be on the Lord's side then one has chosen to be with the Lord in death (Gal 2:20; 2 Tim 2:11), in burial (Col 2:12), and in the resurrection (Rom 6:5; Col 2:12). When one is baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), they have chosen to be with the Lord in the likeness of His death, burial and resurrection (Rom 6:3-5). Afterwards, one will serve Him in his manner of life (2 Tim 2:12) and that includes any suffering that may come our way in our physical life (Rom 8:17). Don't leave the Lord and return to the ways of the world (Gal 5:4). Are you on the Lord's side? Are you determined right now to serve Him daily so that you can spend an eternity with Him in heaven?