We just spent a few days helping to bury a dear friend and brother in law. We traveled to Oklahoma quickly to be with our family. It is interesting to watch how some people can help in this situation and other people make the greiving worse with their words and actions. Those who really help know God well. You can see it in their eyes. You know they are a member of His chosen team and everything they do quietly is to please their leader, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Others not so much.

Jesus gets right down to the bottom line. “This is war, there is no neutral ground.” We must choose Him. “If you’re not on my side, you’re the enemy; if you’re not helping, you’re making things worse.”

Mm, only two possible teams. No “gray area” says, Jesus. The world doesn’t think like Jesus. Please know that and do your best to listen to the Holy Spirit. Stay on the team that wins.

Matthew 12, The Message
No Neutral Ground
22-23 Next a poor demon-afflicted wretch, both blind and deaf, was set down before him. Jesus healed him, gave him his sight and hearing. The people who saw it were impressed—“This has to be the Son of David!”

24 But the Pharisees, when they heard the report, were cynical. “Black magic,” they said. “Some devil trick he’s pulled from his sleeve.”

25-27 Jesus confronted their slander. “A judge who gives opposite verdicts on the same person cancels himself out; a family that’s in a constant squabble disintegrates; if Satan banishes Satan, is there any Satan left? If you’re slinging devil mud at me, calling me a devil kicking out devils, doesn’t the same mud stick to your own exorcists?

28-29 “But if it’s by God’s power that I am sending the evil spirits packing, then God’s kingdom is here for sure. How in the world do you think it’s possible in broad daylight to enter the house of an awake, able-bodied man and walk off with his possessions unless you tie him up first? Tie him up, though, and you can clean him out.

30 “This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you’re not on my side, you’re the enemy; if you’re not helping, you’re making things worse.

Dear Heavenly Father, I repent of times of choosing to stay neutral. I choose you. You have chosen me. We are a team with others who know and praise You. You are God and we are not. There is no one like you. Why be on any other team? Thank you for this passage of Your Word that helps us to stay focused and alert to You when others try to justify their sin and drag us into thinking we are on the wrong team.
In Jesus Name, Amen