A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

 NEUTRALITY IS NOT POSSIBLE

Matthew 12:30 “Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters.” 

Neutral means that you are unwilling to take a side. When doing a crossword puzzle and the clue is “religiously neutral,” this clue is for the word agnostic. An agnostic is someone who believes that the existence of God, Jesus or the supernatural is unknowable or unknown. Agnostics are apathetic, shows no interest in God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, or anything religious. 

In today’s devotional verse, Jesus says that in regard to a relationship with Him there is no such thing as apathy or neutrality. For Jesus, either you are His disciple or you are not. (see Revelation 3:15-17) When it comes to a relationship with Jesus, He does not permit a “take it or leave it” attitude.   

In Revelation 3:20-22, Jesus’ words regarding the relationship a disciple has with Him are: “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with Me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with My Father on His throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” 

Christians are not neutral. A disciple of Jesus Christ believes that He alone is “the way, the truth and the life and that no one comes to the Father except through Him.” (see John 14:6) Jesus said, “ . . . whoever disowns Me before others, I will disown before My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:33) Jesus says, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty. . . whoever comes to Me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day. For My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6:35,37-40) 

Prayer: Jesus, You alone are the way, truth and eternal life is mine only through You. Send Your Holy Spirit to give me faith to believe and trust in You alone for my forgiveness of sins and eternal life with You. In Your holy name. Amen. 

You are the way; through You alone Can we the Father find;    
In You, O Christ, has God revealed His heart and will and mind. 

You are the truth; Your Word alone True wisdom can impart;  
You only can inform the mind And purify the heart. 

You are the life; the empty tomb Proclaims Your conqu’ring arm,  
And those who put their trust in You Not death nor hell shall harm. 

You are the way, the truth, the life; Grant us that way to know,  
That truth to keep, that life to win Whose joys eternal flow.

You Are the Way; through You Alone // LSB 526