Whom You Will Serve

“You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)

The world has a lot of friends. It’s easy to see: just turn on the news or walk out of your door and take a look around your neighborhood, your city, and you will see a lot of friends of the world. By James’ definition, friends of the world are those who do not remain faithful to the Lord.

“Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.” (James 4:5) 

There have been a lot of videos going around the internet and the news cycles of the continued protests throughout the country. One of the more shocking sights from the recent protests around the country is the symbol that’s being used as a declaration of solidarity. Do you know what it is? Kneeling. Police officers and protestors alike are kneeling as a sign of solidarity. The Scriptures are very clear about why and for whom we should kneel.

“For the Scriptures say, ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’” (Romans 14:11)

“Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,” (Psalm 95:6)

“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,” (Philippians 2:10)

Christ-followers should only get on their knees for Jesus Christ, our King. One day, everyone will kneel before Him.

“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.” (Joshua 24:15)

Among all the vitriol videos are some glimmers of hope. One such shining jewel was that of Georgia State Trooper O’Neal Saddler, who was allegedly asked to get on his knees to show his support of the protestors. In part Saddler replied, “I have much respect, but I only kneel for one person…God.” There were no riots or violence in the crowd because of his refusal to kneel because no one could argue against Saddler standing up for his beliefs and convictions. It’s an action we should be seeing more of. Stand up for your convictions, decide whom you will serve, draw the line as Joshua did. Decide whether or not you are going to be a friend of this world.

“Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” (Psalm 32:5)

If you have confessed and repented of your sins, then they are forgiven and gone, and so is the guilt that comes with those sins. We can’t feel guilt over sins of the past because those sins and the guilt that accompanies them is forgiven and gone. Don’t let society or a movement try to make you feel a guilt that the Lord has wiped away. When you ride the winds of society’s whims you can’t catch the wind of the Holy Spirit. You can stand for justice and love without becoming a friend of this world and kneeling to its demands. Choose today whom you will serve: you cannot bow to the culture and bow to the will God. Which will it be? Will you hang your head over the guilt this world says you should feel or will you stand tall in the freedom that Christ has given you through forgiveness? Will you be a friend of this world or a servant of God?

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

—Redeemed