A Year of Prayer: Season One Weekday DevotionalsSample

Tricks often have wonderfully elaborate traps. Read the following narrative through the eyes of a child watching smart, arrogant people trying to trip up a minor celebrity who has stepped onto their ‘patch’ or turf:

‘They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others because you pay no attention to who they are, but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay, or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.’ (Mark 12:14-17 NIV)

How easy is it to recognise tricky personalities the first time we meet them or discern when the enemy is working through discord to bring confusion?

The Pharisees and Herodians used half-truths, deception, flattery, and sleight of hand to try to get Jesus to make a fool of himself. Why? Because they feared his power, teaching, and inability to be controlled. They saw him as a minor celebrity who was taking up too much of their stage. It was time for the exit curtain.

Jesus wasn’t on a political ‘side’ and was not seeking to attract people to follow him for his own earthly power. His teachings pointed to God and a kingdom not of this world, not self, or glory, or pride. Jesus consistently sought out the powerless, lowly, humble, and meek, empowering their fragile worlds.

When he was asked about the coin, a full day’s wage, Jesus pointed to the image inscribed—the face of Caesar, the ruling force of the day. But Jesus pointed out the double-edged sword of truth—that while we are in the world, obeying the structures that give order to civilisation, we are inscribed with God's image, who rules above and through all things.

As such, we must submit ourselves and dedicate ourselves to God. Are we prepared to make peace with the unknowable and unfeasible to give God what is God’s? Will we sit with the mystery in order to know our Master and Messiah?

Prayer: What must I do today, Lord, to give you what is due your name? Let me seek to give you what is owed, all glory to your name.

Action: Reflect on a coin or unit of money. What does this note or coin show you about the story you’ve just read? How can you connect this to God?