July 15 God’s Order

Luke 20:21-26 So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 23 He saw through their deception and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?” 25 “Caesar’s,” they replied. He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.” 26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.
 
HOW do we truly accept, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” The religious authorities asked the tax question to trap Jesus. If he said, “Pay taxes.” the people would reject him. If he said, “Don’t pay.” Rome could charge him with insurrection. Yet, are we to understand human government and God’s law are equal? How can that be? Here is a good answer from The Bible Exposition Commentary Copyright © 1989:
    “Jesus was not suggesting that we divide our loyalties between God and government since “the powers that be are ordained of God” (Romans 13: 1). We live as God-centered citizens when we obey the authorities for the Lord’s sake. When obedience to God conflicts with obedience to man, then we must put God first: Acts 5:29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!” But we must do it in a mariner that is honorable and loving. Even if we cannot respect the people in office, we must respect the office.”
    Our governments need godly men and women. This is the only way God’s people will remove godless laws. Christians are called to be salt and light in all aspects of life. That certainly means we who call Jesus “Lord and Savior” must purposefully align man’s laws with the Lord’s commands.
    Heed, though, this thought. Does your own life, then your home function under God’s law? This is where we are to first light and salt the world into God’s life-giving truth. God’s first authority to rule was Adam over his household. We are commanded to do better than he. Submit to the Lord. Render unto the Lord your love, obedience and diligence. Be an example of lawful security to a formless and void morality that surely leads to death. Stand up and be a woman, a man of God.
 
Prayer: May it be, Lord, (Joshua 23:15b) “that as for me and my household we will serve the Lord.”