A Great Day Of Fishing – Obedience
Jesus arrives in Capernaum, and the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax come to collect taxes from Peter and Jesus. And while the king is due his taxes, even he is subject to the higher king who is God our Father, the King and Creator of the world. And when you consider that Jesus who is the Son of the greater King is being asked to pay taxes to a lesser king, the request quite ridiculous. Jesus points out that even on earth the children of the king are exempt from paying taxes on earth. But even though the request is ridiculous, Jesus sets the example of how to live at peace and not offend the Jewish leaders by agreeing to pay the tax.
Scripture:
“But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” – Matthew 17:27
Observation/Application:
So he sends Peter down to the lake to catch a fish, and open its mouth, and to reach in there and get a four-drachma coin to pay their taxes. Imagine that. You head down to the local fishing hole, knowing that the first fish that you catch is going to have a coin in its mouth for you to pay your taxes. Peter must have been walking down to the lake thinking, “This is crazy, this is crazy, this is crazy. Yeah, I know that I have seen a lot of miracles, still… but this is crazy.” Can you imagine if God told us that in order to pay our taxes we should go down to the lake, fishing? I’d like to try that with my wife and see how that goes over. “Ok honey, I’m not going to work today. Yeah, God told me to go fishing and to get my money from out of the fishes mouth.” She would definitely think that I have lost my mind!
Image courtesy of: flyalf
But that is how God works! His ways are not our ways. We cannot comprehend His greatness. His weapons are not of this world – they have the power to demolish strongholds. A great takeaway from today’s scripture is that we need to be obedient to whatever it is that God is telling us to do, no matter how crazy it may seem. Because what seems impossible to us is totally possible with God!
So we have to ask ourselves, what kind of crazy task or instruction is God giving us? Do we talk to God enough where we would know His voice and know it is His instruction? Not sure where to start? Keep it simple and just start with, “Hi God”, and go from there. Just talk to Him like you would your best friend, as someone who has never let you down nor will ever let you down, someone who will always lift you up, who will always provide, as someone who will move the mountain if you ask and believe. And as our relationship grows we will get better at hearing his voice, knowing what he is asking us to do, and being obedient to His Will.
And then we can expect great days fishing!
#God’s-Ways-Are-Not-Our-Ways
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your Word today. Thank you for giving me this time to be effective both at work and at home. Thank you for making a way, when there was no way. Thank you for bringing me up out of the dark, lifting me out of the ashes, so that I could live in the glory of Your Holy Name! Help me to walk in your presence today Lord, and fill me with Your Holy Spirit, that I might be a blessing to others today by Your Will. Lead me Lord. Help me to walk in Your Way, in Jesus mighty name. Amen.
Today’s full reading: 2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicles 13; Psalm 68, Matthew 17
Scripture References From Today’s Reflection:
- “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9
- “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” – 2 Corinthians 10:4
- “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26
- “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.” – Mark 11:23
- “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
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