Forward Movement is an official, non-profit agency of the Episcopal Church whose mission is to create compelling content for Christian living. Since 1935 we have published the quarterly devotional Forward Day by Day, as well as pamphlets, booklets, and books that encourage and nourish people in their lives of prayer and faith.
SATURDAY, December 3
Matthew 22:15-22. Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.
The gospels contain a number of stories about the authorities of the day trying to trap Jesus into incriminating himself. In this case, they ask him if it is lawful to pay taxes to the Roman emperor, thinking they can force Jesus to offend either the occupying government or the traditional religious hierarchy. Either way, they hope to undermine his credibility and wide popularity.
As always, Jesus has the last word. The outcomes of all these verbal skirmishes give me vicarious satisfaction in the same petty, childish way that I enjoy winning an argument myself in my own little world. “So there!” I crow. But the pleasure I derive from scor-ing one for Jesus misses the point. These stories aren’t about winning an argument; they aren’t about winning at all. It isn’t that Jesus has all the right answers. Jesus is the answer. It isn’t that Jesus uses the truth to trounce his opponents. Jesus is the truth. His death and resurrection put an end to the debates. In God’s kingdom, we are all winners.
PRAY for the Diocese of Western Izon (Province of Bendel, Nigeria)Ps 20, 21:1-7(8-14) * 110:1-5(6-7), 116, 117; Amos 5:18-27; Jude 17-25
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