ACCEPTING FELLOW BELIEVERS
Matthew 12:20
“ ‘He who is not with me is against Me, and he who does not gather with me scatters abroad.’ ”
Either I am with Jesus or I am against Him. There is no middle ground. But this reminds me of the time that John saw someone casting out demons and wanted to stop him because he was not a part of their “group.” Jesus told him, “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side” (Luke 9:49-50). This does not deny that there are cults that preach a spurious Gospel. Paul warned about those who preach a different Gospel and “want to pervert the Gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:7). They should be rejected because they are not of Jesus’ side. But those who declare the true Gospel – that Jesus is God who came to die for our sins and rose again – should not be shunned nor criticized just because they have some doctrinal distinctive. They should be embraced as fellow believers because they are on Jesus’ side. Paul had the proper perspective: “Whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice” (Philippians 1:18).
TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Anyone who believes that Jesus died and rose again is on Jesus’ side.
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Have a “Jesus’ side” day. Love you.
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