Rarely do I like to jump in between arguing by two opposing sides who both want their own way, but as parents it is mandatory to be the referee before your children who are both precious to you hurt or maim each other with words followed by slaps.  In bringing peace, we listen to each side present their “case” of unfairness and injustice.  Then the parent must choose the best course of action.  Most times, both children are wrong because they have chosen disobedience and they argue as a way to cover it up.  From both children, parents receive this question— “Whose side are you on?”  Sigh.  Our kids don’t get it in the heat of battle—as a parent we don’t take sides—we correct them because we love them.  We are on the side of all that is good for them.

We make decisions every hour of every day.  We make choices that guide the course of our lives.  To do nothing is also a choice!  Avoidance is also a choice.  Decisions, choices, and preferences we make affect not only our lives but it affects all those we relate to every day of our lives. 

Jesus teaches that there is one decision that is the most important one of our lives to make and decide we must!  There is no neutral ground upon which to stand.

“Choose this day whom you will serve…”  Joshua 24:15

“If you’re not on my side, you’re the enemy; if you’re not helping, you’re making things worse.” –Jesus

So, whose side are you on?

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.

^31-32 “There’s nothing done or said that can’t be forgiven. But if you deliberately persist in your slanders against God’s Spirit, you are repudiating the very One who forgives. If you reject the Son of Man out of some misunderstanding, the Holy Spirit can forgive you, but when you reject the Holy Spirit, you’re sawing off the branch on which you’re sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgives.

³³ “If you grow a healthy tree, you’ll pick healthy fruit. If you grow a diseased tree, you’ll pick worm-eaten fruit. The fruit tells you about the tree.

^34-37 “You have minds like a snake pit! How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-minded? It’s your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus is Lord.  Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords.  Jesus is alpha and omega, from beginning to the end.  Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (yesterday’s lesson). Jesus came to earth to save us from our sins by taking the punishment we deserve for our sins.  He chose us because He loves us.  Jesus was, is and always will be driven by the love of God.  God offers eternal life by believing in His Son and choosing to walk with Him.  In walking with God, we receive the blessing of growing in his character with protection from the enemy.  God’s love for us never changes and never ends.  Jesus at this moment is preparing a place for us to live with him in paradise, a place unimaginable in beauty.  Jesus is Life.  Jesus defeated the sting of death forever.

Satan is a former angel who was kicked out of heaven.  He was so full of pride and arrogance that he thought he could not only be like God but BE God.  Satan is a liar.  He is a joy robber who plays with our emotions.  Satan manipulates truth to get what he wants—us!  Satan hates us with a strong desire to lead us all to a forever fiery death.  His ultimate goal is defeating Jesus—but he did not.  But he still wants us to think he can—but he cannot.

We have a choice to make between two opposing sides.  So, whose side are we on? 

We decide daily.  Our words and behaviors will automatically reflect the choice our hearts have made—and world looking on will know who we love most. 

Lord,

The choice is clear.  Life or death?  I choose life.  I choose you.  You have loved me before I knew what love was!  I trust you, dear Jesus.  I have decided to follow you, no turning back, no turning back.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen!