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Henry Neufeld

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Henry Neufeld

Monday Morning Devotion

Guest essay by Jody Neufeld

Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 
Peter answered, “You are the Christ.’” 
Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. 
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Mark 8:27-33

I have been troubled by the choices we as Christians make for what we will stand up and be recognized as Christians. There are principles of Christ about which I must stand and not waver. I believe Jesus told me clearly what are the most important:

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40

Love God. No other gods before Him. No idols or statues or priorities before Him and who He is. Love my neighbor. Jesus spoke of my neighbor in the story of the Good Samaritan as someone with whom I have contact, as the Samaritan did the man on the road. This is the standard that governs the principles for which I stand.

As events in my country or in my city unfold, I find myself prayerfully considering what the Lord is saying to us as His people and to me personally. As I write this, a controversy has arisen about a statuary of the Ten Commandments and its placement in a government building. Lines have been drawn between Church and state, Christian and non-Christian, and, most troubling, between Christian and Christian. The media is being used to loudly proclaim questions of one’s true Christian beliefs from both sides of this un-Godly line.

What principle of God does this controversy represent? Is the judge in question being asked to commit murder? Is he being asked to reject his belief in God? Does the placement of a statue of the Ten Commandments in a judicial building cement that we are a people of God? Jesus said I am to be His disciple, His ambassador. How do I want to represent Him in this issue?

In the first Scripture today from Mark’s gospel, Peter has just made the proclamation that JESUS IS THE MESSIAH! In Matthew’s gospel (chapter 16), Jesus tells Peter that only the Father could have revealed that to Peter. Jesus is pleased with Peter and his open, public statement. But then when Jesus tells the disciples the truth of how He will appear weak and die in order to rise from the dead – Peter rebukes Jesus for saying something out of his preconceived idea. Notice that Mark says that Jesus turns and looks at “his disciples” and THEN rebukes Peter. Jesus knew that Peter was a leader and that his disbelief and off-track idea would pull the others off also. Jesus knew that He must bring the leader back online and not let the enemy have an opportunity to use this controversy of what the Messiah is and is not.

Is the enemy using the media to get us as Christians ‘off line’ about a statue? Whether the statue of the Ten Commandments sits inside a judicial building or not does not change whether my actions are governed BY the Ten Commandments of God or only man’s laws. How I speak of those who disagree with me, does change how Jesus will look upon me. He looks for an unconditional love in my heart while teaching me about His never-changing principles. It is in fact one of His principles: to love as He loves.

I want the Holy Spirit to keep my eyes on “center court” and not be distracted by a “ side game” being played by the flashy and loud enemy. I want to keep my eyes on Jesus, the Christ, and His will and plan.

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  • At the center of Henry’s Web . . .
    • Energion Publications
    • Everything
    • The Jevlir Caravansary
    • Neufeld Computer Services
    • Threads from Henry’s Web
  • All My Books
    • Revelation: A Participatory Study Guide
      • Revelation Study Guide – Front Cover
      • Revelation Study Guide – Back Cover
    • Stories of the Way: Table of Contents
    • Tales from Jevlir: Oddballs – Table of Contents
    • Not Ashamed of the Gospel
    • What’s in a Version?
      • Bible Version Selection Tool
      • Catalog Page
      • Reviews
    • When People Speak for God
      • Preview
      • Front Cover
      • Back Cover
      • Where to Buy
  • Essays
    • Book Reviews
      • Book Review: How to Lie with Statistics
      • Faith, Form, and Time
      • The Text of the New Testament in Contemporary Research
      • Review: Leviticus by Jacob Milgrom
    • Christian Experience
      • Dance Floor Worship
      • Principle and Compromise
      • His Deeds Keep Following Him
      • Thoughts on Revival
    • Politics and Society
      • Make Education a Priority
      • Moral Person – Moral Nation
      • Media Bias
      • Justice and Truth
    • God Does Things Backwards
    • Personal Statement of Beliefs
    • The Bible: Inspiration, Inerrancy, and Authority
      • Inerrancy FAQ
      • Inspiration, Biblical Authority, and Inerrancy
      • Bible Translations FAQ
    • Stand on the Mount before the Lord
      • The Danger of Assurance
      • The Hand of God
      • The Hand of God: Prayer
      • The Hand of God: Miracles
  • Bible Passages
    • Bible Stories, Story Series, and Histories
    • Hebrew Scriptures
      • Hebrew Transliteration Table
      • Problems in the Genealogies of Genesis 5 & 11
      • Ezekiel 1: A Glimpse of the Glory of Yahweh
      • Genesis Creation Stories – Form, Structure, and Relationship
      • The Two Flood Stories
      • PSALM 104: GOD — CREATOR AND SUSTAINER
        • Psalm 104: Appendix, Translation, and Notes
    • New Testament
      • A New Look at the Seals of Revelation
      • Hebrews Translation
    • Resources for Study
      • Resources for Studying Paul
      • Resources for Dating the Book of Daniel
      • Commentaries on Torah
      • Reading Job Video Collection
      • Resources for My Knowing God Series
  • Books
    • Books by Author
      • David Alan Black
      • Bruce G. Epperly
      • Dorothy L. Sayers
    • Process Theology Books
    • Stewardship Books
    • Book Review: The Jesus Quest: The Third Search for the Jew of Nazareth
  • Misc Essays
    • Construction for the New Year
      • The Proverbs 31 Woman Is Real
      • Holiness or Sanctimony
      • A Passion for the Passion
      • Obedience and Waiting
      • Live It!
      • You Have Been Rebelling
    • God Does It, But You Do It
      • A Fruitful Faith
      • Was Paul an Exegete?
      • Of Trees and Saplings
      • I Know That My Redeemer Lives
      • Are Seventh-day Adventists Christians
  • Henry and Jody Neufeld
    • Monday Morning Devotion
    • A Personal Testimony
  • Contact