Wednesday, April 9, 2008

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY: Matthew 17:24-27

PSALM OF THE WEEK: Psalm 131

HYMN OF THE DAY: #69 “How Like a Gentle Spirit” http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh115.sht

VERSE OF THE DAY: When Peter said, “From others,” Jesus said, “Then the children are free.” Matthew 17:26 NRSV

 

When I was working a secular job, my Jewish employees would take off for The Day of Atonement.  Then they would spend the next week grumbling around the depot about how much they had been charged (based on what the synagogue thought they made the previous year) in order to get their sins forgiven.

 Jesus gave us a better way:  Our sins are forgiven!  You haven’t been charged a fee for it because Jesus paid it all.  Jesus referred to his death and resurrection as the “sign of Jonah” (see Matthew 16:4) then had Peter find this Temple Tax coin (enough money for both of their taxes) in the mouth of a fish (verse 27).  This, then, is a virtual parable of how Christ would pay it all for all of us. We are children of the King, who get to live in the Kingdom for free (see verse 25).  What we have is not the obligation that creates grumbling, but the opportunity for joy.  What we give back to the Lord is not a “tax” (see verse 24), our “obligation”, or an “admission fee”.  What we give is what comes from the joy in our heart for being freed by Christ.  The money we freely and joyfully give to the church is very important.  Even more important is the gift we give to Jesus of our entire life.

 

PRAYER: O God of Forgiveness; I thank you that in the blood of Jesus Christ, my sins are totally forgiven.  There is no gift I can bring to you that is equal to that gift you give me.  Accept what I can give, what I can do, and how I can live as the best gifts I can give back to you and let me do so continuously with a grateful and joyful heart. Amen.

 

See you in Church Sunday,

Pastor Sandy

 

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