January 25

¹⁸But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?  ¹⁹Show me the coin used for paying the tax.”  They brought him a denarius, ²⁰and he asked them, “Whose image is this?  And whose inscription?”

²¹”Caesar’s,” they replied.

The he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”  (Matthew 22:18-21)

This is one of my favorite passages of the New Testament.  I love how wise Jesus is and how He flips the Pharisees plan on its head.  And I think this verse easily resonates in our present time, when many complain and gripe about taxes and what they owe the government.  We seem to quickly forget that everything comes from God, but God only asks for 10% to be given back to Him in the form of a tithe.  Then the government takes their share, and the government deserves their share.  They, of course, have created the monetary system that allows our capitalistic system to work so well in America.  It was the government that built the interstate system which keeps most of America running.  It was the government who helped bring the internet into our lives, which now powers many of the sectors in our economy.  So just like in the day of Caesar, give back to Washington what is Washington’s.

Reading plan:  Matthew Chapter 23

Deeper reading plan:  back to Exodus Chapter 38-40 (Congratulations!  You’ve finished your second Book of the Bible and are almost halfway through the most challenging section to read!)

Prayer and meditation:  continue to pray for your request from day 1 and ask God for clarity to always know what to give God what is God’s.

Fitness challenge:  cardio day:  run for 14 minutes straight.  By now your cardio goal should be running for 14 minutes solid (Not sprinting-at least at 50% effort of a full sprint).

Serve day!  It’s your fourth Saturday. Hopefully by now you have made lasting bonds where you have chosen to volunteer this first month.  You’ve completed one month of stepping up to help those in need.  Tomorrow we’ll reflect on this great achievement.