Luke Chapter 20 verses 1 – 8 (NIV)
One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?” He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: John’s baptism —was it from heaven, or of human origin?” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.”Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
The chief priests, teachers of the law and elders had many opportunities to learn from the anointed teachings of Jesus. How much they could have learned and how blessed they could have been!
But when they had the chance to acknowledge all that God had done, they didn’t want to acknowledge that they were wrong about John. They tried to make themselves seem neutral. They wouldn’t take a stand one way or the other. It’s a reminder to me of Jesus’ warning in the book of Revelation about the consequences of being lukewarm. In this era of political correctness, many people think the safest option is to sit on the fence. But If you sit on the fence you miss out!
Dear Lord,
Help me to have the courage never to sit on the fence. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.