Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with images from Clay Cross, Bob Carlisle, and Bebe Winans singing … I Will Follow Christ … powerfully declaring in song how we must follow our Lord’s leading no what we face in life.
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Highlight Verse[s]: Matthew 17:27 [NLT] … 27 However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”
… Jesus showed Peter Whom is by the curious event of paying a tax from a fishes mouth.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Matthew 17:24-27 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus teaches on His sovereignty and divinity with the curious event of paying taxes by a coin from a fishes mouth.
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Reference Passage : … Romans 8:28 [NLT] … 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.
… Probably one of the hardest truths we, as Christians, face in times of great testing/challenge.
Reference Passage : … Philippians 4:19 [NLT] … 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
… A promise and a lesson sometimes hard to believe and live.
Reference Passage : … 2 Peter 1:3-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… It took a lot of teaching and Jesus’ show-n-tell before the resurrection; but in the end Peter learned the lesson to have faith in whatever our Lord has promised.
My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Tim Gustafson, used the curious story in Matthew 17 of Jesus using a coin from a fishes mouth [see photo] to pay a tax and to teach Peter (and us) how God can/will provide for our needs … because He is GOD and that’s what He promises! The ODB author wrote: Life is full of odd stories, and we find more than a few of them in the Bible. One day tax collectors came to Peter demanding to know, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” (Matt. 17:24). Jesus turned the situation into a teaching moment. He wanted Peter to understand His role as King. … Jesus wanted to be careful not to “cause offense” (v. 27), so He told Peter to go fishing. (This is the odd part of the story.) Peter found a coin in the mouth of the first fish he caught [again, see photo].
What on earth is Jesus doing here? A better question is, “What in God’s kingdom is Jesus doing?” He IS the rightful King—even when many do not recognize Him as such. When we accept His role as Lord in our lives, we become His children.
But do we get it?! I’m sure readers here can remember moments in our past when, as my title today declares, or asks, … ”Aw common, God, … REALLY?!” Perhaps a moment when the events in our life were way beyond us, perhaps seemingly outlandishly challenging; … yet God came thru, maybe in curious or even miraculous ways. It happened for me when God came after me … and saved me from my atheist, sinful self with series of “coin in the fish” moments.
My friend(s), … God is God; and He showed that to Peter when the fisherman found that silver coin in the mouth of that fish, … just where Jesus had told him it would be. The question is … do we really believe our God can - and will - do what it takes to provide for us [see Phil. 4:19, to guide us, to protect us, and to transform us … just as He has promised us? Do we really believe what God’s word promises in Romans 8:28 or 2Peter 1:3-5. Those are the faith challenges Peter - and we - are faced with?
Personally, I’m going for a YES! on these challenges. And today as I confront the my own taxing life, I’m going to do what today’s linked song declares … to seek and follow Jesus’ way … no matter what I face. … HOW ABOUT YOU?
My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Today I follow You!! … Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
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