Daily Devotion in Matthew 17

Daily Nugget:
“… 27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh 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.” Matthew 17:24-27

Many spend much energy trying to justify why they should not and do not give their finances sacrificially to the Lord. They miss seeing how God will provide for their needs. I have also noticed quite often that those who have justified robbing God by not giving their tithes (Malachi 3:8) also have many financial problems.

Some of those people have tried to talk me out of giving by faith to my local church. They justified not giving because they supposedly “knew” the Scriptures better than I did. They accused me of being foolish when I gave money to the ministry I could not “afford.”

Those people never got to the point where they ignored human reasoning and lived by faith. I am so glad I did not let them influence me. 

When I got saved, I soon learned about tithing (giving at least 10% of what God has allowed one to earn) from reading the Bible and from good preaching on the subject. I sacrificially gave even when giving was challenging because of my low economic level. 

However, not once did I ever miss a bill. Never was I even late in paying my commitments when I tithed. 

By tithing, I always got to see how God met my needs because there was no other way, as far as the “world” saw, but by His help. When the needs were most urgent, He many times provided unexpectedly.

In Matthew 17:25, a “tribute” was due to be paid by Jesus. Sometimes, a “tribute” was a temple tax or a gift to the Lord. Perhaps in Matthew 17, it was a government tax, as it was mentioned that “kings of the earth” were collecting it. 

The disciples and Jesus had no guaranteed salary or a well-stocked bank account. They lived day-by-day through God’s provision of their “daily bread.” 

When it came time to pay their taxes, an important need, Jesus told Peter to work for it. Peter obeyed, went down to the water’s edge, threw in a hook, and caught a fish. Peter reached into the fish’s mouth and, imagine that, pulled out a coin that was enough to pay their tribute.

Coincidence? Unlikely! It was God’s way of providing what they needed. If they had a large savings account and had just taken out the money they needed, they would have missed seeing how God had taken care of them — an important lesson to learn if one is to grow spiritually.

One of the biggest blessings in being a Christian is to see how God takes care of His own. Seeing Him meet needs establishes how real and faithful He is. To make it more exciting, His way of providing is often in a way one would never expect.

With the economy being in the mess it is, more are finding it hard to pay their bills. This is not the time to stop giving to God, but rather a time to give more faithfully and then see how the mighty hand of God will provide! He will not let you down.

Read more about what the Bible says about giving at https://www.devotionsfromthebible.com/genesis/giving-then-and-now-part-i/

Today’s Thought: 
“It is possible to give without loving, but it is impossible to love without giving.” — Braunstein

Words to Understand:
Elias: Greek form of Elijah
Lunatick: A type of madness/mental-illness supposedly induced by the moon
Raiment: clothing
Transfigured: outward appearance is changed
Vexed: troubled

Today’s Reading:
Matthew 17
1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.
10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
14 ¶ And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
22 ¶ And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.
24 ¶ And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
25 He saith, 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?
26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh 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.