Life in Lifehouse

@tabernacleheart @disastrous-chaitea @dudynhabelyeber @claumen-blog @christgospel3712 @kiss-mee-youu @alyhey @valeriemeansstrong @dschulisworld @dawndaily @ishidgns @devotionalinspiration @beglorified @humblesparkle @fairyicon @xwayzr @lookwhatthelightfound @passion-not-perfection @jenniferbenitez-blog @pinkintheafternooon @danceintheriver @mintoki @scarlettosnow @bucolic-soul-blog @pattysmiley @it-all-comes-down-to-love-blog @perfectinhisimage @mayyourloveanchorme-blog-blog @gwaanpeople-blog-blog @adenissse @guitarpicksanddrumsticks @youaresparkly @fairytale-romances @dontletitgoout @lifehousegocentric @alalsip @vaginabow @goodbye-song-blog @thatonehippie69-blog @christianmyths-blog @brokenandsaved @lidavosloo @gingerspice-and-everythingnice @love-understanding-world-blog @pascalsbookie-blog @lovespalmtrees-blog @zaankali 

Later the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us - is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them, or shouldn’t we?”

Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you trying to tap me? Show me a Roman coin, and I’ll tell you.” When they handed it to him, he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”

"Caesar’s," they replied.

"Well, then," Jesus said, "give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God."

His reply completely amazed them.

- Mark 12:13-17 __________

This is a very interesting situation that these Pharisees and supporters of Herod had put Jesus in. Their question, while seeming innocent enough to us, was a very mean question. If Jesus had said YES to paying Caesar, it would have made many of his followers angry, since most Jews hated Rome. However, if he’d said no to paying Caesar, he could have been arrested for treason. Instead, Jesus took the route that no one would have expected. He said to give to Caesar what was Caesar’s, but to give to God what was God’s.

Now, let’s look at this in light of our own lives today. We live in a world very much run by governments. I, myself, and many of my readers, live in the USA. Our government doesn’t always make the best decisions when it comes to what God wants, but we, as citizens, are still expected to obey our government (as Jesus above just said).

However, we also have another authority, a higher authority: God. In this living parable that Jesus said, he pointed out that Caesar’s face was stamped on the money, which means that you must yield to his authority with how to spend the money. However, God also has stamped his likeness on something. The Bible tells us that all mankind is made in the image of God. That means that, just like the coin, we ourselves have been stamped with the likeness of God. That means that God owns us, and we are to give him everything we have, are, and do.

Do you live a life in service to God? Do you understand that each day is not for you, or about you, but about God? The whole world is God’s, and everything we have is only ours because God has chosen to give it to us.

"This is what The Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s… You will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouaged. Go out against them tomorrow, for The Lord is with you!" 2 Chronicles 20:15-17

The people of Judah were in a bad place. Huge armies were teaming up to attack them, and if they were going to lean on their own battle abilities, they had no chance. In fear and desperation, King Jehoshaphat prayed out to God to save them. God responded with this quote above. And sure enough, He was right! Just as the people of Judah were heading out for Battle, The Lord caused the allied armies to turn on each other, and to kill each other. God’s people didn’t even need to lift a finger to defeat the enemies. God did it for them!

How often in life do we feel that we need to fix our own problems, defeat our own “enemies”, or need to become better Christians through our own will? This story shows us that it’s not us with the power, but the God we trust! If you’re a Christian, then you’ve professed your faith and love for The Lord Jesus Christ. This means we are now his people, too, and he will help us fight the battles of life. Lean not on your own  skills and abilities, but just like King Jehoshaphat, we must pray to God, and trust that he will deliver us from whatever it is we’re dealing with. Only God has the power to truly deliver any of us!

When it comes to the problems in your life, are you trusting in God or yourself to solve them?