Fifth Sunday in Lent

The Either/Or Jesus
"Whoever does not gather with me scatters." Matthew 12:30

It seems quite common for people today to understand themselves as Christians, but to have no real need to actually follow and be led by Jesus.   There's kind of a general ascribing to Christian values, but it doesn't go much farther than that.  In today's lesson, Jesus doesn't give his hearers that option.  Either you're all in or you're all out.  You can't just "kind of like" his teachings, and take it no farther.

It would be easy for me to stand in self righteous judgment of such people, except for the fact that I do the same thing myself.  Some days I feel like I'm all in, and at other times I'm nearly all out.  Who among us always follows the call of Jesus to love and serve 100% of the time?  So, I'm grateful for Sundays, where I can once again come to receive forgiveness of my sins, be renewed by the Holy Spirit,  receive my Lord in bread and wine, and be encouraged by fellow believers.  I can begin a new week all in, even though I know I'll probably struggle with following, until the next time we gather to be renewed and refreshed.