Matthew 17:27
“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.”
What of Today’s Verse…
Peter had been fairly well-to-do. He had his house, and boat, and nets. There was no lack in the fisherman’s house. But when Jesus said, “Come after Me,” he left all, and there was an immediate cutting off of the former sources of supply, so that when the tax gatherer came, there was nothing to meet his claim. Our Lord maintained that He personally was under no obligation to meet the demand. As a child, to use His own words, He was free; but He immediately identified Himself, as He always does, with His troubled disciple. We can never leave anything for Christ, without His recognition, and His being ready to defray whatever cost may accrue from obedience.
The identification was so absolute between the Master and His disciple that He refrained from providing two coins, which might have indicated some severance of interest. Was it not His intention to put beyond all controversy that He and His are one, and that in every act of His on our behalf, in His willingness to meet the demands made upon us, there is no severance of interests, no mere patronage, but an absolute identification with all that concerns us.
There are profound lessons here. Demands are constantly knocking at the door of life, which we find it hard, sometimes impossible, to meet. There are needs of food and clothing, of the rent collector and the tax gatherer. But is not Christ aware? Is He not faithful? Will He let us go under in the struggle? Never! Whatever demand made on the servant is assumed by the Master—That takes, He says, and gives unto them for Me and thee.
As He enters the wilderness of temptation, He reminds us—it is “for Me and thee.” As He hangs upon the Cross, and passes forth from the grave, radiant with triumph, He turns to us and says: “This victory over death and the grave is for Me and thee.” Yes, and through all the ages that are yet to be, amid the marvels of unfolding new worlds, nothing shall accrue to Him of which He will not say: “That take, and give, or use, for Me and thee.” Only remember, we must take, and give. We must appropriate the unsearchable riches of Christ, we must impart them, or they will not profit us.
Let us Pray:
We thank Thee, our Father, for our union with the Risen Christ. May we share more largely in His glorious life, and live as the heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. Amen.
Words of Wisdom
Yes or No
I say “Yes!” to life.
Feelings of indecision or uncertainty may have stopped me in my tracks in the past. Now I see such times as opportunities to draw from inner resources to make the decisions that are right for me.
Setting an intention to open my mind to the gentle nudges of Spirit, I pause for a quiet moment of prayer. Through communion with God, I receive the guidance to say yes or no to the opportunities that come my way.
At times I will confidently say “yes!” to a richer, fuller experience of life. In other situations, I will confidently say “no” to circumstances that do not lead to my highest good.
With God’s constant guidance, I am filled with assurance that whether my word is yes or no, I am taking the right action.
“Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”–Matthew 5:37
