Fence-sitters

9/27/20
Today’s devotion for today is based on Matthew 21:23, “By what authority are you doing these things?”  

The religious authorities came to Jesus one day and directly confronted him with the question recorded for us.  The question was meant to trick him into declaring that his authority came from God, so they could call him a blasphemer.
Rather than answering them, Jesus challenged them with a question, ‘John’s baptism – where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?’ One can almost picture the scene as they go back and forward trying to decide the answer, thinking of how it would look in the eyes of men, rather than looking for the truth. In the end, they opted for, ‘We don’t know’. The subsequent parable points to the sad truth that those sitting on the fence would miss out, but thankfully many who did not yet know the truth would be led by the Holy Spirit through repentance and faith into the kingdom.
Let us be bold to confess the truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, revealed to us through Scripture, and that he has the authority to make us his children through baptism, forgive our sins, and bring us to be with him in heaven.
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Please pray with me the prayer for today:  Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, forgive me for the times when I sat on the fence and was afraid to declare your truth boldly. Strengthen me through the Holy Spirit to acknowledge your authority, power, love, and mercy. In Jesus’ blessed name, I pray. Amen.