On the landmark weekend that Roe v. Wade was overturned, I was in Fort Worth at a large gathering of women who believed this ruling was an answer to prayer and something to celebrate. The thousand-plus women in this meeting wept, danced, prayed, repented, and cheered. I posted the eruption of praise to the only social media channel I interact with, Instagram, multiple times in both my feed and my stories. I flew home the next day, put down my phone, and focused on the wedding of my last son, his beautiful bride, and the friends and family who had flown in to celebrate with them.
But as we watched them exchange vows, a representative for godly womanhood pounced, slandering those who did not post to her preferred social media platform. I wasn’t the only one she went after; she called out a number of female ministers. One was overseas and another was recovering from surgery.
Why am I mentioning this?
It’s one thing for culture to behave in this divisive and destructive way but quite another when children of the kingdom act in this manner. Paul warned the Galatian church,
But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. (Gal. 5:15)
It is better to close your mouth than to bite and devour. It’s better to drop the stones and hit your knees. They are not my servants; they are God’s and He knows how to deal with His servants. Rather than judge the motives of others, we all need to take a deep breath, pray, believe the best, and turn it over to the only One who truly knows their thoughts and intents. Let’s choose truth rather than sides.
We see an interesting illustration of this in the book of Joshua. After forty years of wilderness wandering, the nation of Israel was on the threshold of entering their promised land. They had crossed the Jordan, made themselves ready, and were awaiting instructions on how to proceed. Joshua, their leader, was getting the lay of the land.
When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, ”Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” (Josh. 5:13, emphasis added)
I understand his question. I have asked it a hundred times myself! The children of lsrael were coming out of a rough season. They’d been tricked, attacked by enemies, harassed by serpents and plagues, and beguiled by a corrupt prophet for four decades. The manna had stopped. The men were sore after being circumcised, and Israel was anxious to learn what they were up against. Joshua wanted to know whose side this guy was on. But listen to this man’s response.
“Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the LORD’s army.”
At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence.
“I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your
servant to do?” (v. 14 NLT)
Rather than choose a side, he declared his alliance. I love this! He answered, “Neither one,” as though to say, Joshua, that’s the wrong question! Rather than ask me about sides, ask me who I am; then you’ll understand why I am here, and the time is now. Forty years of nomadic wanderings had pruned and prepared a people ready to possess the soil of their forefathers. Joshua fell on his face and worshiped. When we find ourselves on holy ground, that is all we can do!
The commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did as he was told. (v. 15 NLT)
In a world promoting division, it’s time we took off our shoes. We tread this earth on the threshold of a holy harvest. This coming season will involve both wheat and tares. Choose now and plant with care. Our words, deeds, and acts of kindness or cruelty become seeds that meet us in the future.
Redemption is possible when conflict is navigated in a godly manner. Rather than choose sides, we invite truth (Jesus) to be Lord over situations and conversations.
Lisa Bevere joins James and Betty this Monday and Tuesday on LIFE TODAY. Excerpted from The Fight For Female by Lisa Bevere. Copyright ©2024 by Lisa Bevere. Published by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Used by permission.
