(The following is the January 14 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Matthew 12 and pay close attention to verse 30.)

It would be interesting to see the results of an opinion poll that asked, “Are you for Jesus, against Jesus, or indifferent?” We would likely have respondents in each of the three categories. However, Jesus said there are only two categories: “Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters” (v. 30).
As believers, we readily place ourselves among those for Jesus. Hopefully, our lives are consistent in thought, word, and deed with that claim as we submit to Christ’s lordship and the truth of his Word.
It’s also easy to identify those vocally adamant against Jesus. For example, well-known atheists enjoy debating Christians, writing books, and traveling on speaking circuits. They try to make Christians look like fools for believing in what they claim is a make-believe “flying spaghetti monster” * god.
But what about the indifferent category in our poll? Many would place themselves in that group. Maybe they’ve never heard of Jesus. Perhaps they know something about him but haven’t given him much thought. They aren’t consciously opposed to him; they never think about him. Jesus would say these people aren’t neutral. Instead, they are against him because they are not for him.
God created humans in his image, and we exist for his glory and purpose. As the Westminster Shorter Catechism puts it, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.” ** We either fulfill that purpose by living in a right relationship with God through faith in Christ, or we don’t. There is no viable third alternative of indifference.
Next Step:
A popular question decades ago asked, “If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Have your thoughts, words, and deeds this week been overtly for Christ? Have any been against him? Have you not thought much about him? What can you do soon to be more intentionally active for Christ?
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* “Flying Spaghetti Monster,” Wikipedia, last modified December 15, 2021, accessed January 4, 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster.
** The Shorter Catechism, (Great Britain: Christian Focus Publications, 2017), 8.
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