All

And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.

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

Anything and Everything

So, little children, guard yourselves from worshiping anything but Him. 

1st John 5:21 TPT

We live in a society of opinions and influencers and haters and idols and selfies and binge-watching and then wonder why we can't hear from Heaven. Little children (believers, dear ones), guard yourselves from idols—[false teachings, moral compromises, and anything that would take God’s place in your heart].
1st John 5:21 The Amplified Bible

They say we've earned the right to serve our own needs first, that we should provide for our four and no more, to basically hoard instead of share under the guise and lies of keeping ourselves safe. Dear children, be on guard against all clever facsimiles. 1st John 5:21 The Message. Romans 12:2 in The Passion Translation tells us to Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.

God's Word tells us we are to serve OTHERS, that if we see someone with a need we should meet it, that we are to love as He loved and lay down our lives for others just as He did for us all. The New Living Translation writes our promise for today this way, Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. 

Prayer:

Father,

           Help us to guard our hearts and minds against everything that the world throws at us. According to Your Word in Ephesians 6, we will actively put on our armor to fight against all the wiles of the enemy of our souls. We submit ourselves to You. Open our eyes to see anything and everything that would seek to take Your place in our hearts. Root out those things that should have no place in us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* All of It

And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.
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 on 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