Thursday - authority

Prayer;  Dear Jesus,  show us what we need to know to make sense of a confusing world.  Help us to remember that You are our authority.  Amen.

Read:  St Luke 20: 20 - 26

The question of authority continues.  Spies are sent by the religious leaders trying to trap Jesus in his responses.  They ask Jesus if it is right to pay taxes to Caesar.  jesus asks them to show him a coin.  then he asks them who's  portrait is on the coin.  They reply that it is Caesar's.  Jesus say, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's  and give to God what is God's"  (St Luke 20: 25  NIV Zondervan 1983).  Inwardly,  the spies must have been saying, "Darn it!"

What of our churches today?  Do we give to the government what is the government's  and give to God what is God's?  What about property taxes?  Churches are presently exempt from property taxes... but is this fair for everyone else in the community and especially those in the community that have to pay property taxes on fixed incomes?  Do Churches always try and get a deal rather than paying full price for items? 

Prayer:  King of all,  may we truly give to You what is due to the glory of Your name,  not just the loose change from our pockets, but all the love in our hearts.  Amen.