PRAYER: Responsibility and Accountability. Father God, remind Your children of both of these important ways of life. To be responsible for one's own actions. To be responsible to and with others. Responsible to our health. The responsibility to live a life in honor of You. We need to rebuke the avoidance of responsibility. So many people try to ignore it, try to brush it off to so many ridiculous excuses. When we live in Your Kingdom, responsibility is key; as is accountability. To be accountable of ones own actions. To hold our sisters and brothers accountable in love and gentleness. The responsibility and accountability to always be in action, even when waiting on You LORD. To place something in Your hands, does not mean to leave it up to fate. It is to activate our faith and get so in-tuned with You, that we know that every step that we're making is part of Your plan for us. Never overriding Your Word. Always being guided by Your Spirit. But also knowing that You have given us the freedom and power of choice. And in making these choices day to day-responsibility and accountability should be involved in our decisions. Thank You LORD for this awesome Word in due time. I remain Your faithful servant, in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.
PAYING TAXES TO CAESAR:
15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap (Jesus) in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way o God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" 18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying tax." They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"
21 "Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
The Pharisees, a religious group, opposed the Roman occupation of Palestine. The supporters of Herod, a political party, supported Herod Antipas and the policies instituted by Rome. Normally these two groups were bitter enemies, but here they untied against Jesus. Thinking they had a foolproof plan to corner Him, together their representatives asked Jesus about paying Roman taxes. The Jews were required to pay taxes to support the Roman government. They hated this taxation because the money went directly into Caesar's treasury, where some of it went to support the pagan temples and decadent life-style of the Roman aristocracy. Caesar's image on the denarius coins (usual day's wage for a laborer) was a constant reminder of Israel's subjection to Rome.
If Jesus agreed that it was right to pay taxes to Caesar, the Pharisees would say He was opposed to God, the only King they recognized. If Jesus said the taxes should not be paid, the supporters of Herod would hand Him over to Herod on the charge of rebellion. In this case the Pharisees were not motived by love for God's laws, and Herod's supporters were not motivated by love for Roman justice. Jesus avoided this trap by showing that we have dual citizenship here on earth. Our citizenship in the nation requires that we pay money for the services and benefits we receive. Those dreaded taxes. Our citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven requires that we pledge to God our obedience and commitment. Jesus' answer exposed their evil motives and embarrassed them both.
Opinions... The people asked Jesus' opinion several times, but He NEVER gave His opinion, He always spoke the Word. When it comes to God's Word we shouldn't have an opinion. It's not our opinions that make it true or not. The Word is Truth all on its own. So don't get stuck in the trap of having to explain God to someone. Or explaining what you think about different social subjects concerning your faith. It's not about our opinions, it's about what the WORD OF GOD says, period! When you believe in God's Word, that's all that matters and all the explanation necessary. Discernment and understanding, come from the Spirit of God ONLY. Pray for this instead of getting into hurtful debates.
HAVE YOU REALIZED THAT YOU'RE LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN NOW?
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