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At the Heart of the Question




"And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:  Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no? But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?  Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.  And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.  And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace."  - Luke 20:21-26

 Dear Friends,

 Jesus was preaching and teaching in the temple and some of those present began to question His authority.  When the Lord would not respond to their inquiry in a way that suited them, they set out to lay traps for Him.  Spies were sent to try to catch Him saying or doing something that they could lay blame on.  The question posed in the twenty-second verse of Luke chapter 20 is an example of such a trap. "Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or no?"  Jesus knew the heart of the ones posing the question and was deliberate in His response. 

 Sometimes people question us and issues surrounding our faith not because of a desire to know or to seek the Truth.  Rather, sometimes the questioning is to try to engage us in a debate, to stir up controversy.  On occasion the enemy is tempting us to argue our position.  

 Ours is not to argue or debate the truth of the gospel.If others do not believe it grieves us yet God abides faithful. He does not need or want us to engage in debate regarding His existence, His power or His authority.
"It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers."  - II Timothy 2:11-14

When confronted with questions regarding your faith let the Word of God inform your response.  It is the Word that convicts and the Word, Jesus Christ when He is lifted up, draws the heart of those who would believe.

"For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."  - Isaiah 55:10-11

Jesus said:
"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."
  - John 12:32

It is my prayer that in spite of what may be at the heart of the questions, Jesus Christ will always be at the heart of your response.

in Christ,
Sis. Stephanie

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