Today’s Reading: Luke 20-21
Key Verse: Luke 20:25
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Today’s reading concludes with, “take heed.” Here is Jesus’ conclusion to almost 100 verses of teaching, “Watch therefore and pray always.” This daily message can help us do that. When someone argues with Jesus, they don’t win the argument. The “coin” is a case in point. The Jews were groaning under the heel of Rome. Jesus’ answer to the tax question was simple, yet profound. Today, we struggle with our responsibilities to government and to God. We use money printed or minted by government, yet, our ultimate values are not political, but divine. God will put the final period on the history books of this age. In 1948 Billy Graham said, “For the first time in over 2000 years, Jerusalem is ruled by Jews. The time of the Gentiles is over” (21:24). Soon we will see “the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (21:27).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, here I am. I’m determined to “take heed.” By Your grace, I believe that at Your return, I will “escape all these things that will come to pass.” Please help me to be prepared at any moment to welcome Your coming. Please give me the gift of diligence, consistency and purity so that, because of Your forgiveness of my sin, I’ll be ready. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I recall an old preacher saying, regarding the seven husbands who married the woman in Jesus’ story, “They thought by the inch, spoke by the yard, and should be moved by the foot.” I read chapters 20 & 21 several times preparing this devotional. Not long ago, I taught through the entire book of Luke at a Bible Camp. Nevertheless, I received fresh insight from the Holy Spirit as I prepared this, which brought to my mind, Luke 21:34. I am not weighed down with carousing and drunkenness, but I confess that I struggled with the cares of this life, two years ago when the cancer specialist gave me his report. Faith for my healing is rising in my mind and heart.
