Mark 12:16-17 ESV
Many are the discussions I have heard centered around this text - especially those who are passionate about taxes! However, that's not what leapt out at me in this verse today.
Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” How did they know what belonged to Caesar - what they were to give to him? They knew by the likeness and inscription on the coin.
By the same token then, how do we know what is God's? Exodus 19:5, God speaks to us, Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. In 1st Samuel 2:8c, it reads, For all the earth is the Lord’s, and he has set the world in order.
Do we know? Is there an inscription? Yes, there is! In Hebrews 8:10, the writer reiterates the promise of God from the prophet Jeremiah, For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people...
A little further down in our text for today, vvs 29-30, Jesus said this is the greatest commandment, 'The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' With everything - ALL that we are! Have we rendered ourselves to God? ALL of it?
Prayer:
Father,
We are guilty of holding back and rendering unto ourselves what belongs only to You. Forgive us, O God! We don't want our love for You and our service to and for You to be only partially given. We want to love You as You demand - with ALL our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength. Break off the blinders we have so willingly kept in place. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Many are the discussions I have heard centered around this text - especially those who are passionate about taxes! However, that's not what leapt out at me in this verse today.
Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” How did they know what belonged to Caesar - what they were to give to him? They knew by the likeness and inscription on the coin.
By the same token then, how do we know what is God's? Exodus 19:5, God speaks to us, Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. In 1st Samuel 2:8c, it reads, For all the earth is the Lord’s, and he has set the world in order.
Do we know? Is there an inscription? Yes, there is! In Hebrews 8:10, the writer reiterates the promise of God from the prophet Jeremiah, For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people...
A little further down in our text for today, vvs 29-30, Jesus said this is the greatest commandment, 'The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' With everything - ALL that we are! Have we rendered ourselves to God? ALL of it?
Prayer:
Father,
We are guilty of holding back and rendering unto ourselves what belongs only to You. Forgive us, O God! We don't want our love for You and our service to and for You to be only partially given. We want to love You as You demand - with ALL our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength. Break off the blinders we have so willingly kept in place. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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