March 01, 2022

 God With Us

The God of every Nation. All colors, language, and nationality. 

Tuesday

It is the 1st of the Month.

Our Prayers and thoughts with the European country Ukraine. 

Psalms 62

Psalm 62[a]

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

1 Truly my soul finds rest in God;

    my salvation comes from him.

2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;

    he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

3 How long will you assault me?

    Would all of you throw me down—

    this leaning wall, this tottering fence?

4 Surely they intend to topple me

    from my lofty place;

    they take delight in lies.

With their mouths they bless,

    but in their hearts they curse.[b]

5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;

    my hope comes from him.

6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;

    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;

    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

8 Trust in him at all times, you people;

    pour out your hearts to him,

    for God is our refuge.

9 Surely the lowborn are but a breath,

    the highborn are but a lie.

If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;

    together they are only a breath.

10 Do not trust in extortion

    or put vain hope in stolen goods;

though your riches increase,

    do not set your heart on them.

11 One thing God has spoken,

    two things I have heard:

“Power belongs to you, God,

12     and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;

and, “You reward everyone

    according to what they have done.”

According to King David our rewards will be according to what we have done. 

Mark Cont...

Paying Taxes to Ceasar

 The Pharisees wanted to cause an issue between Jesus and the small government at that time (Caesar). The Pharisees are being those bad tenants and they are plotting against him. What is their goal? Just causing issues. But this time they it does not work. God tells them to do what is required. Remember, Ceasar is not much concern about the Kingdom of God, but he is concern with his rule on earth. 

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar

13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay, or shouldn’t we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

I love how they asked is it right to pay to taxes.

No one wants to pay taxes. Sometimes it doesn't feel right but it is what one does.

Some people get out of paying them, but God says do what is right.

Have a great day!