Luke 20:20-26 Give To God What Is God's

Luke 20:20-26 NIV
The summer property tax bills are coming in. Earlier this month, I paid our Estimated Federal and State taxes. Over the course of a year, I write at least ten checks to cover some kind of tax and that is not even considering all the taxes that are paid at the cash registers. I'm not complaining, just stating the facts. We owe them, so we pay them. After all, it is God who establishes governing authorities. "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established." (Rom 13:1) 

If we are "to give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's," then what is it that we are give to God? What then belongs to God? According to Malachi 2:15: "Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit." Would it not then follow that if we belong to God that we should give ourselves wholly to Him?

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jeremiah 15 - The LORD Says No

The LORD's response to Jeremiah's continued prayers and excuses for the people is not so good. He tells Jeremiah, “Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people. Send them away from my presence! Let them go!" (Jer 15:1 NIV)

They are a hard hearted people who continue to backslide. They refuse to change their ways. They refuse to repent. And... repenting, that is turning away from their sins and toward the LORD, is the only thing that can help them. When they have dug themselves a hold so deep they can barely see out they might even go to someone for help. The problem is they usually want a "fix." Whatever has been broken, they want someone else to fix and ease the pain so they can continue in the way they've been following. But, there is no fix, except reconciliation with God. The only help or comfort comes through faith in the reconciling power of the Spirit of Christ. Sadly, many are so permanently oppositionally defiant, that He is the last one they will go to or listen to.

I am with Jeremiah. It is hard to see the people suffer even if it is from their own actions or inactions. It is so difficult that I had a hard time reading the entirety of chapter 15. But, I am not God. It is not up to me. I can pray and know that God will answer according to His will. But, sometimes, my prayers are answered with a no, simply because it is not His will, but mine that I ask for.

Read Jeremiah 15. It does not appear so good for those who turn their back on the LORD. They will go into captivity for deserting the LORD and walking in a way they think is more desirable to  them. As for those who say, I can't believe in a God like that; I am sorry, but, there is only one God. If we pick and choose or remake another to fit our image of who we want God to be, it is only a worthless, false god, like the ones Jeremiah has been warning us about, in the first place.

There is only one God. Worship and serve only Him. That is the only winning deal around.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 40 - You Worship A What? A Piece Of Wood?

One of my favorite scriptures....  It includes the scripture that predicts, the forerunner of Jesus, John the Baptist's coming:

"A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the deserta highway for our God"" (Isa 40:3 NIV)

As well as a reminder that the LORD will tend His flock like a tender shepherd and the verses that the favorite hymn "On Eagle's Wings" comes from.

"Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,they will walk and not be faint." (Isa 40:28-31)

The LORD is the everlasting God. As I was reading this chapter anew this morning, it struck me how we have this awesome God who created and cares for all things. He is God! Yet, much of humankind prefers to make their own gods.

 ^"With whom, then, will you compare God?
To what image will you liken him?
As for an idol, a metalworker casts it,
and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
and fashions silver chains for it.
A person too poor to present such an offering
selects wood that will not rot;
they look for a skilled workerto set up an idol that will not topple." (Isa 40:18:20)

It is quite unimaginable to me to consider building (creating) a god to worship and neglecting to worship of the One true God who created us. Why in the world would anyone worship an image made of metal or wood made by their own hands. No matter how well it is made, it is still an inanimate object and can do nothing for you. If you have to create it, it is certainly no god! It can do nothing for you!

Worship then the One who can. The One who gives strength to the weary. The One who created you, who created all the world and all that is in it. Worship the one who can and will not only give you strength when you are weary, but peace when you are troubled.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 13 - Day Of The Lord's Wrath

Babylon will be overthrown. Isaiah's prophecies, up to now, have centered on God's people. But, not any more. The LORD's wrath is to come upon those who are not His people. Babylon is to be destroyed.

This day, of the LORD's wrath, is too horrible to imagine. I cannot begin to imagine the horrible vision that Isaiah saw that prompted this prophecy and I do not want to. This message, I imagine, would bring a sense of comfort to God's people, knowing that God would act against their enemies. But, at the same, time would be a reminder to His people that if He would act against those who were not His people, who did not listen to Him; how would He deal with those who were His people and turned their backs on Him as the pagans did?

God is not to be mocked or taken for granted. God is God. He will protect and care for those who love Him. Even in the awesome (awful) day of His wrath, He will be with you. In that day, may He be for you and not against you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Sorry, not a pretty picture today. But, if you read chapter 13 of Isaiah, you will find that the day of His wrath is not a pretty picture.