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In this life, did God create us to walk alone?
You're listening to His light, Your path, with Pastor Rod Holler Sr.
Today, Pastor Holler shares a devotional title in this together.
Pastor Holler will explore what it really means to lean on each other
and to trust that God is right there with us every step of the way.
And now, here's Pastor Holler.
Matthew, chapter 17, verses 24 to 27.
And when they were come to Capernaum,
they that received tribute money came to Peter and said,
Doffnott, my master, pay tribute?
He said, yes.
And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him saying,
What thinkest thou Simon?
Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute?
Of their own children or of strangers?
Peter's saith unto him of strangers.
Jesus saith unto him, then are the children free.
Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them,
go thou to the sea and cast in hook,
and take up the fish that first comeeth up.
And when he had opened his mouth, thou shalt find the peace of money.
That take and give unto them for me and thee.
Our Bible story is that Peter was asked by the collectors at the temple
if Jesus paid tribute.
Peter spoke out of turn and said that Jesus did pay the tribute.
When he returned, Jesus asked him about this tribute.
Peter was surely impressed that Jesus knew of the event at the temple.
Jesus knew that Peter volunteered him to pay the tribute.
To this, Jesus corrected him.
He taught Peter through questions that made him think who Jesus was
and what the purpose of the temple was.
Since Jesus is God, there was no point of him paying the temple tribute.
The temple was all about Jesus, so why should he pay?
Matthew 1726, Peter saith unto him of strangers.
Jesus saith unto him, then are the children free.
Now that Peter has made a mistake and has been corrected of it,
Jesus moves on to resolving this matter.
Matthew 1726, notwithstanding,
lest we should offend them, go out of the sea and cast in hook
and take up the fish that first comeeth up.
And when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money.
That take and give unto them for me and thee.
Let us consider some key points.
First lesson here is that Jesus wants to resolve matters.
Surely Peter felt bad.
So Jesus began the restoration process immediately.
Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them.
The second lesson here is that Jesus aligned with Peter in the matter.
Note, notwithstanding, we should offend them.
Go to the sea and cast in hook and take up a fish that first comeeth up.
And when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money.
That take and give unto them for me and thee.
Jesus did not leave Peter alone in this mess.
Jesus did not dwell on the air, but rather he moved on to fixing it.
The third lesson is that Jesus already had a plan.
Peter did not know that Jesus was not required to pay the tax.
Neither did he know how to fix the mess that he had created.
But Jesus had a plan that would remedy the situation.
Peter did not tell Jesus what to do, rather he waited for instructions.
The fourth lesson is that Jesus included Peter in securing the money and paying the tribute.
In other words, Jesus immediately used Peter to show that he still trusted him.
There was no anger on behalf of Jesus.
Rather, Jesus had a spirit of reconciliation.
This story ought to give us great comfort.
Like Peter, we all make mistakes.
It is comforting to know that God does not change.
The lessons that we see here are still valid today.
First, that Jesus wants to resolve matters.
Second, that Jesus aligned with Peter in the matter.
Third lesson, Jesus already had a plan and the fourth lesson,
that Jesus included Peter in securing the money and paying the tribute.
Thanks for joining us for Pastor Holler's devotional in this together.
We hope you're encouraged to know you're never truly alone.
Remember, God wants us to grow closer to Him and to connect with fellow believers who can uplift us.
And sometimes, He calls us to be that source of encouragement for others.
Be sure to join us again tomorrow for another devotional from Pastor Holler
here on His light, Your Path.
