Today’s Encouragement is, “However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.” Matthew 17:27 NLT
Go Down to the Lake –
Notice how Jesus provided the money to pay his tax debt and Peter’s tax in a wonderfully creative and even humorous way! The religious leaders were trying to catch Him breaking some of their rules. But Jesus showed Peter (and only Peter knew where the money came from) that He could provide whatever was needed in any way He chose. He could have (but didn’t) just reached into His pocket for a coin! But He chose a far more elaborate, miraculous, and even hilarious method!
He didn’t say, as one might expect, “Go cast a net and take the catch to the market and sell it to pay the tax.” “Look through the mouths of all the fish until you find a coin.” Nope, He was extremely specific!
This is a beautiful example of how God operates in our lives. He provides exactly what we need in whatever way (perhaps miraculous, perhaps hilarious, often creative) He chooses. And like Peter, we are to respond in faith no matter how strange it seems.
Just do what He says!
He always provides… precisely what we need when we need it, but – in His way, according to His plan, purpose, and creative methods.
Father God, You truly are all we need. Please draw us close to You and help us look to You for our every need.
Draw Me Close
Michael W Smith
Today’s Encouragement 