Exodus 14:13-14
But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. “The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent.”
When Jesus came along and offered Salvation to those who would believe, there were takers. As He entered Jerusalem on what would become Palm Sunday, the crowds were cheering. But many would fall away. John 6:60 (NKJV) says “60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” I don’t think it was the part they did not understand that troubled them; it was the part they did understand. It was clear they would have to stop living for themselves and start walking in God’s ways that was troubling.
Even Moses tied Salvation to accepting the Lord. Those words both appear in the same passage. Their redemption would come from Him. He would free them from their bondage in Egypt and, ultimately, their bondage to sin. The Israelites had already seen the Lord defeat the Egyptians. Moses told them “the Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.” They did not have to do anything but watch and be delivered.
Does the Lord still fight for you today? Your Savior is coming. It is six days until Christmas, the anniversary of the Savior entering this world. Luke 2:11says11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. He is your Lord as well as your Savior. So what does it mean to acknowledge Jesus as your Lord? It means you need to follow His teachings. You are to love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and all your strength and love your neighbor as yourself. I think that is a tall order. Perhaps that is why some fall away. They may have thought they could not live up to the requirements. But the angel told the shepherds “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.” What is this good news? The good news is that Christ, the Savior is born unto you. And He brings help with Him. In John, the Lord says14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. 15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, Jesus was born into the world and changed things forever. He made a way for us all to return to the Father. But there was much more than meets the eye. He also brought the Helper which is His Holy Spirit to live inside all believers. You have the Spirit of the Lord within you who will give you all strength and power to keep His commandments. He gives you everything you need to hold Him up as Lord. Christ can now be your Savior and Lord! Remember, you were made in His image and likeness. You have what you need to follow your Lord. The world will be a better place when Jesus is your Lord!
Lord, You said You would do whatever we ask in Your name. For what shall we ask today? We ask that Your Spirit help us love You and our neighbors. We ask that You guide us in the ways we should go and lead us by Your Spirit. Teach us to ask in Your name and love as You love. In Your name we pray! Amen!