This is like crazy. I am not quite back to where I was before the brothers but it is beginning to be uncontrolled again. I am reading about every other day or so and I think that because I have not been reading with my wife I am becoming more and more defensive when we talk. I am just worn out with everything and do not find enjoyment in life because I have not been seeking joy in Christ. I am temporarily trying to find pleasure in things, and experiences instead of seeking first the joy that God has for me.
Recently I was a sponsor for a team at our school’s hosting of a Bible Bowl competition. Now these kids aged from 9 or so to 17-18 were some of the most (weird, talented, smart, crazy) cool/nerdy stereotypically homeschooled kids you would ever meet. My team was the top of the 2 division. They were awesome and probably the most normal kids at the competition. I mean these kids were nuts with the knowledge that they had of the bible. I knew maybe 10% of the questions and these kids were answering all of them before the caller finished the question. Now as for how it impacted there life I couldn’t say. They prayed that it wasn’t just to win but to know Christ but I couldn’t see their hearts. I knew my heart. This competition was primarily over the book of Matthew and so subsequently my ego kicked in and I began to read.
The Temple Tax
24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”25 “Yes, he does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?” 26 “From others,” Peter answered.“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”
Now I know nothing about the temple tax but the end of this passage is what kicks my butt, in a good way. This is a humble, powerful, mysterious God that I get to know. I spit in his face, deny him, and ignore him but yet he loves me. Now what I see is Jesus is confronted by a tax collector through peter. You can sense the power he has because to me it looks like the tax collector is too after to ask Jesus too his face. Knowing what was going on Jesus asks him a logical question and peter give the answer.
I love the passages that Jesus speaks because they are not rhetorical question but “duh” questions. Like when you stick your hand in the fire will it not get burnt? DUH. He does that in this passage. Then the humble part, Jesus says “But so that we may not cause offense”. Even though he has every right not to pay he does it anyways. That’s boss.
Lastly is one of my favorite parts. I am not sure if it is because it has to do with fishing or not but he says, “go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin.” Seriously? He could have done anything. Reach in your pocket and take out the two coins. But no, he flexes his muscles and says go fishing and open the mouth of the fish you catch. Sick! David Blaine who?
I am weak in the flesh but he is strong. I need help because I cannot do it alone. Push me to continue to read and read with my wife. God help us to grow closer together and help me be slow to speak and quick to listen. Flex your muscles in my life.
Nos & Rehtaf, Dnabsuh 