Tax day

Now before you get all huffy, I am not going to rant about taxes. I do not like to send money to anyone who is going to use one cent of it for abortions. That makes me angry..
Still, Tim sent in the check today. I am grateful for a man who stays up late, is honest and does what he is supposed to do.

Jesus paid taxes. Yep, He did.

Matthew 17 goes like this: And when they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the two drachma tax(two days wages) came to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the two drachma tax?" He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons, or from strangers?"
And upon his saying, "From strangers," Jesus said to him, "Consequently, the sons are exempt. But lest we give them offense, go to the sea, throw in a hook and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a stater(shekel, worth four drachmas). Take that and give it to them for you and Me."



I'm not sure what is more incredible, the source of the money for the taxes or that Peter obeyed and carried out such a crazy request!! Granted, by this time, he has seen Jesus walk on water, heal many, speak to the waves and have them be still, and feed over 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish.


The picture is the tilapia, or St. Peter fish...fishy experts say it carries it's babies in it's mouth and it's mouth is able to open real wide...

There are many things we can "take home" from this passage...God provides in crazy ways sometimes..Obey Him, even when it does not make sense that a dumb fish would have a coin in it's mouth. Pay your taxes and don't gripe or make a spectacle of yourself--so you don't "give them offense." And--even Jesus, God in the flesh, paid taxes.

When I get to heaven, I hope there is some way to rewind these moments...I want to see the look on Peter's face when he pulled in that fish and opened it's mouth...

For now, I can only imagine by faith...

You, Lord God, are faithful, even on tax day,

Bonnie