October 25
Matthew 21:28-32; Mark 12:1-12; Matthew 21:33-46; Luke 20:9-19; Matthew 22:1-14; Mark 12:13-17; Matthew 22:15-22; Luke 20:20-26; Mark 12:18-27; Matthew 22:23-33; Luke 20:27-40
Everyone loves a good story. We lean in and listen whether the story is of a galaxy far, far away, two sons, a vineyard owner, or a wedding banquet. Jesus took the mundane of life and used it to teach spiritual lessons. Everyone knows a pair of brothers, so Jesus used brothers to communicate that obedience is found in doing what God desires and not just in intellectually assenting to these acts. Everyone in Jesus' day was familiar with vineyard owners and Jesus used these concepts to teach the rejection of much of Israel. Everyone has attended a wedding and Jesus used this to teach about those who would be received into eternal life and the final banquet between God and his people.
All of these stories challenge us to consider what we have done with Jesus. Jesus points out the superiority of God in his response to the religious leaders regarding taxation. Caesar’s face is on the coins, so what he deserves should be given back to him. God is superior to Caesar and since his image is on us, our lives should be given back to him. To reject him, to persecute or kill his followers, or to refuse the invitation to his banquet, places us in opposition to the God of the universe who made us in his image. So let us live for him, glorify him, and surrender our all to him.
Father God, help me to submit to you as the ultimate king over everything including me. Amen.
How could you more effectively communicate the gospel in creative ways like the master storyteller Jesus?
Everyone loves a good story. We lean in and listen whether the story is of a galaxy far, far away, two sons, a vineyard owner, or a wedding banquet. Jesus took the mundane of life and used it to teach spiritual lessons. Everyone knows a pair of brothers, so Jesus used brothers to communicate that obedience is found in doing what God desires and not just in intellectually assenting to these acts. Everyone in Jesus' day was familiar with vineyard owners and Jesus used these concepts to teach the rejection of much of Israel. Everyone has attended a wedding and Jesus used this to teach about those who would be received into eternal life and the final banquet between God and his people.
All of these stories challenge us to consider what we have done with Jesus. Jesus points out the superiority of God in his response to the religious leaders regarding taxation. Caesar’s face is on the coins, so what he deserves should be given back to him. God is superior to Caesar and since his image is on us, our lives should be given back to him. To reject him, to persecute or kill his followers, or to refuse the invitation to his banquet, places us in opposition to the God of the universe who made us in his image. So let us live for him, glorify him, and surrender our all to him.
Father God, help me to submit to you as the ultimate king over everything including me. Amen.
How could you more effectively communicate the gospel in creative ways like the master storyteller Jesus?
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