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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Sunday, August 17, 2003 "Ultimate Authority" |
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Frontline Devotion for Sunday, August 17, 2003 by Don Kress
Text for the Day: Matthew 10:26 – 11:6
Today’s text is a hard one, with many different themes upon which one could focus. I have elected to focus on verses 34-38: “…not peace, but a sword…set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother… take up your cross and follow me…” – hard words from our Savior.
A week ago, in Matthew 6, we read that, “No one can serve two masters. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:33 told us that the Kingdom of God is ultimate. Today’s text tells us that Christ comes first, with no rivals.
I believe that Christ honors and values natural affection and family unity. After all, He put us together in family units. But the hyperbole used by Christ in today’s passage makes it clear that His truth is more important than family harmony. History documents that any new idea brings tension and division between those who adopt it and those who cling to the old. Jesus’ teachings were filled with new ideas, and created division among those to whom He preached. Jesus even dealt with division and bitterness within His own earthly family, and was sometimes at odds with his mother, father, and brothers (Luke 2: 41-50; Matthew 12: 43-50). But Christ’s truth is more important than family harmony. Christ departed from His earthly family for the call of the Kingdom. He turned his back on His own life and gave it on the cross for the sake of His Kingdom. Ultimately, each of us must accept Christ’s doctrine as either true or untrue. Neutrality is not an option: we are either for Him or against Him. Ironically, it is when we surrender our relationships to Christ that we really find natural affection; it is when we turn our back on our own life that we find true life.
There seem to be a million roads down which we can seek fulfillment. But in reality it comes down to only two: the earth’s road or Christ’s road. We cannot travel both; neutrality is not an option. I suspect that most of you are like me: while I understand in my heart that there is only one right road, I find myself at the junction of these two roads scores of times every day. More times than not, I find myself choosing the road more traveled, the road that leads away from Calvary rather than toward it. One thing that has helped me attempt to choose the less traveled road is a prayer that I came across several years ago. It came to me by way of a radio program called “The Chapel of the Air,” hosted by Dr. David Mains. Dr. Mains introduced me to the “Ultimate Authority Prayer.” This prayer, whose author is unknown, addresses the two roads we face every day, although it refers to “bosses” rather than roads. I have a framed copy of this prayer that hangs in my office, and I pray it daily. I offer it to you as today’s prayer. May it help you understand that Christ reminds us that neutrality is not an option, and He calls us to take the road less traveled.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know that I live in a “two-boss world.” Conflicting voices call for my allegiance, but yours is the one I choose to obey. Help me to please you today by upholding your standards, resisting temptation, and faithfully representing you in all I do. I claim the promise of your presence this day as I go about my work. Christ, you are my ultimate authority. Amen.
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