Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

3 November 2024

Reading From Matthew 22, Mark 12

“Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.” 

–Matthew 22:15-22

     Christians are called by Christ to be good citizens of the communities and nations in which they live and to do so is part of our faithfulness to Him.  What is interesting to me is that the coin had the face of Caesar on it and so Jesus said it belonged to Him.  Coins at that time did not have an image of God on it and so what belongs to God? 

Everything. The Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it”  Today in the United States our currency has the motto “In God We Trust” and we believe that our tithe, ten percent of our income, represents the whole 100% which is in alignment with the belief that it all comes from and all belongs to God.  When we give our tithes and offerings, we are just giving back to God what is already His. 

When we ask the question of where a person’s priorities lie, we should look at their calendar and their checkbook. How we spend our time and money speak volumes about where our hearts are. God’s image is not on coinage. We bear the image of the Almighty and as we yield to the sanctifying and empowering work of the Holy Spirit, we reflect His glory. Our hearts, the very core of our being, belong to God. We pay our taxes and we cheerfully give our tithes, but to render unto God what is God’s is to surrender our lives to Him.

“Lord Jesus, I pray that we would give generously to the advancement of Your Kingdom.  May we be reminded that it is better to give than to receive.  Bless us with wisdom and discernment in how we live out good citizenship in our communities and nations but most of all that we would give You our very best.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.”

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

–Philippians 3:20-21