Teacher Devotions: Only One

1 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.

I was partly listening to an interesting conversation on local radio this morning. It was all to do with a Methodist minister who has decided to become a Muslim. She doesn’t have any problem with this, and feels that the two faiths can be simultaneously followed by the one person. It just makes me wonder what she is looking for, and why she couldn’t find all that she spiritually needed in Christ alone.

People can sincerely believe anything that they want to in this life, but that doesn’t mean that they are right. I know many people who devote themselves to all kinds of different beliefs, but I honestly think that they are totally wrong. The Methodist minister who is now a Muslim is trying to make both those faiths fit together, but in reality they are poles apart. Jesus is The Christ, the One, Truly Anointed, Messenger, Prophet, and Son of God. There is no other Savior than Him. Christianity was founded on this absolute principle of faith; so to suggest that Jesus can share half of our devotion with someone or something else is just so wrong. The First Christians would never have diminished their beliefs in this fashion. I think that the Methodist Muslim minister is absolutely mistaken. She is idolizing her own self-made religion.

As we head into Holy Week, we all need to focus upon the passion and suffering of Jesus. He alone went to the Cross; He alone died for our sins; and He alone is truly resurrected from the grave. In other words, Christ did everything on His own. Our salvation comes from Him; our hopes lie with Him; and our immortality abides with Him. To quote from one of my favorite movies, ‘Highlander,’ – “There can be only One.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You came into world two thousand years ago to show the true way of finding God. Over the centuries, billions of people have accepted you as their Lord and Savior. Today, we count ourselves truly blessed to be amongst that amazing number. Help us to keep You in our hearts as we commemorate Holy Week and celebrate Easter. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.