Genesis 31, Matthew 22

Tuesday, Jan 8, 2008 - Brandon Hatmaker (Genesis 31, Matthew 22)

(Genesis 31)

When it was all said and done, Laban said in verse 50, “…remember that God is a witness between you and me." I hope this reality is always our confidence. At any moment in our lives, with any relationship, if we can find peace, joy, and/or confidence knowing that God is our witness, ultimately, that’s all we need. However, we must be aware that at times in which knowing this truth brings us strife or fear, not confidence, that something is wrong. It is then that we must truly search our hearts and motives. So many times in our journey, we avoid dealing with a personal issue in respect to Godly counsel or scripture. If we tune in, we will see that those are moments we have divorced our minds from our spirit and forgotten who stands as judge.

Father, help us to find our confidence in knowing that you stand as our witness. Help us to see that when our pattern in any area is to not go to You and Your Word for counsel, we are most commonly wrong in our intention. Help us to reunite our minds with our spirit as we search our hearts motives.

(Matthew 22)

In Matthew 22, once again the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus by asking is it right to pay taxes to Caesar. Verses 18-21 give Jesus’ response, “But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"

"Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.”

They were amazed. Why? It was probably for a few reasons. One, they simply could not stump Jesus. Two, Jesus always knew what they were up to. And three, His answer was amazing. It’s Caesar’s coin. So give it to him.

This begs the question: What truly belongs to God? We must be careful how we answer this question, because it’s answer (by wisdom’s demand) means it must be offered back to him. Or instead of being careful how we answer this question, maybe we should be joyful.

God, help us to see that all is yours. Nothing is ours. May we find confidence in knowing you are our provider, knowing also, that you are our protector, and our Heavenly Father. Thank you for loving the world so much, that you gave your only begotten Son. Thank you that through Him, we might have life, and might have the right to be called sons and daughters of the Creator of the Universe.