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When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

“Yes,” he said.

When he went into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes? From their sons or from strangers?”

“From strangers,” he said.

“Then the sons are free,” Jesus told him. 27 “But, so we won’t offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fishhook, and take the first fish that you catch. When you open its mouth you’ll find a coin. Take it and give it to them for me and you.”

Matthew 17:24-26

Peter seems to be the only of Jesus’ disciples to be in his 20s (and thus responsible for the temple tax). And Jesus takes the moment to give him an object lesson. (1) people who tax you are not your loving parents who are going to take care of you and (2) this is why Jesus doesn’t make you pay to be his child, because he loves us. There are no “dues” to be a Christian, our way has already been paid. Don’t put your faith in those who take from you, trust in Jesus.

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When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:13-16

It doesn’t matter what others say about your faith, what do you say? Who do you say Jesus is? Is he a good teacher, a good man, a philosopher… or is he your Lord. Others will have to give an account of how they answer this question, but what about you? Who is Jesus to you? Live as though he is really the Messiah, the Son of the living God!

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When Jesus left there, he withdrew to the area of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came and kept crying out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely tormented by a demon.”

Jesus did not say a word to her. His disciples approached him and urged him, “Send her away because she’s crying out after us.”

He replied, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

But she came, knelt before him, and said, “Lord, help me!”

He answered, “It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

“Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

Then Jesus replied to her, “Woman, your faith is great. Let it be done for you as you want.” And from that moment her daughter was healed.

Matthew 15:21-28

Never give up, never surrender! Most of the time, the first time you ask, you won’t get an answer right away. Jesus came upon this woman, or rather, she put herself in Jesus’ path. The disciples wanted to send her away. Jesus confirmed, she was not part of his mission. But she kept coming. She knew Jesus could do a miracle. She kept asking. Now, that’s faith. If we really believed Jesus could do a miracle for us, would we stop asking? She wasn’t offended, she wasn’t put-out because she was put-off… she persisted. And you know what, that won Jesus over. Don’t give up. As Winston Churchill said “never, never, never give up!” Why not? Because Jesus is never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you, he’s never gonna make you cry, never gonna say goodbye, never gonna tell a lie and hurt you… he’s like Rick Astley in that way (only better). 🙂

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Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.”

He said, “Come.”

And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:27-31

We usually think in terms of faith or doubt. In our minds, you either believe or you don’t. There is a threshold of belief, trusting in Jesus to be born again, but that doesn’t mean we never doubt. Look at Peter. Jesus told him not do be afraid and Peter stepped out in faith! He followed Jesus and walked on water. But then it happened. He took his eyes off Jesus and he saw the obstacles around him. He began to sink, yet he knew where to turn. He turned back to Jesus “Lord, save me!” Peter doubted. I don’t think he doubted Jesus, but he doubted his own ability to faithfully follow Jesus. Don’t doubt, and when you do, look back to Jesus “Lord, save me!”

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 He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It’s the smallest of all the seeds, but when grown, it’s taller than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.”

Matthew 13:31-32

There’s room for you. Our faith may be small, it may not seem like we can accomplish much, but it’s not about the size of our faith, but the power of the object of our faith, Jesus Christ. He can accomplish anything. That’s how the church grew. Small, unremarkable, but explosive. Now all people are invited to rest under the shade of God’s love and protection. Don’t lose heart, we serve a big God.

Reading Plan for 2021; livestreams: Shiloh.TV
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