FREE TO SUBMIT

By

When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the tax?" He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?" And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself."
Matthew 17:24‭-‬27 ESV


Even now many a "free spirit" have thought they were unconventional. Even if it hurts or disappoints those around them, they feel free to flout the customs and conventions of their society and culture. None have had any more basis and authority to overrule the mores of the prevailing culture than Jesus did, but none have used that freedom more generously and humbly to submit to it, for the sake of others, than Jesus did.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE POWER TO FORGIVE

By
But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the Lord . Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, had shown him, but killed his son. And when he was dying, he said, "May the Lord see and avenge!" 2 Chronicles 24:21‭-‬22 ESV ¶Contrast Joash's response to that of Jesus, who, when He was reviled and crucified, asked God not to hold their sins against them. Which of the two of them had more of a right to seek vengeance? Which of the the two had more power to forgive? We can forgive when we know God is in control.
Read more

THE HORRIBLE PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE

By
Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart! Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. Psalm 36:10‭-‬11 ESV ¶The goal of the evil one is just to deprive us, not to have for himself the blessing of knowing God, just to take it away from us, just to drive us off the holy ground procured for us at the foot of the cross.
Read more

CORAM DEO? YES OR NO.

By
And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you and from the Lord our God, let us send abroad to our brothers who remain in all the lands of Israel, as well as to the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasturelands, that they may be gathered to us. Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.” All the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. 1 Chronicles 13:2‭-‬4 ESV ¶David gathers the people of Israel together in a great assembly and does something new. He asks their opinion. He asks them to inquire of the Lord for themselves, and decide. They have the opportunity to bring the ark of God close to them in their midst. Are they, unlike in the days of Saul, ready now to have the ark among them? Do they want to walk close to God, or keep Him at a distance? If His presence is right there, will it just become overly familiar to them? Will they begin to ignore Him and the ...
Read more