GOD’S WORD FOR DECEMBER 17

Our  book this month  is a continuation of “Chiseled by the Master’s Hand ~ Lessons From the Life of Peter,” by Erwin  Lutzer.  Dr. Lutzer is  Canadian-born and served as Senior Pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years, until his retirement in 2016.   He now serves as Pastor Emeritus of Moody Church.  He’s written many books and has radio and internet teaching programs.

ONE WITH THE SOVEREIGN MASTER

(Matthew 17:24-27)

CHRIST SOVEREIGN POWER (CONT’D)

Christ is not a cold despot who rules us with an iron fist.  Far from it.  He told His disciples, “You are My friends, if you do what I command you.  No longer do I call you slaves; for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”  (Mt. 15:14-15).  This friendship results in partnership.

Read again Christ’s words to Peter:  “take the coin and give it to them for you and Me.”  There were not two fish that needed to be caught, one for Peter and another for Christ.  This ONE fish bearing ONE coin symbolized the partnership between Christ and Peter in meeting their obligations.  If Peter were to give himself wholly to God, he would not be abandoned.

At least three people benefited from this miracle.  FIRST: the tax collector was satisfied.  The work of the temple was helped and the sacrifices, such as they were, would be encouraged to continue.

SECOND, Christ benefited.  He said to Peter the coin was “For you and Me.”  He is glorified by the special provisions He makes for His people.  When He is not involved in supplying our needs, He loses glory.

To paraphrase F.B. Meyer, we see Christ in the wilderness fighting Satan, surviving a forty-day fast; and we can hear Him say, “This is for you and Me.”  We follow Him to Gethsemane and to the cross where He writhed in pain and we hear Him say, “this is for you and Me.”  We see Him rising from the grave, and then ascending into heaven and we hear Him say, “This is for you and Me.”  Some day we will reign with Him forever, and we will hear Him say, “This is for you and Me.”  Though He is the Son of God, He is our Partner and our Brother.

FINALLY. Peter benefited.  God delighted to stretch Peter’s faith and to purify his worship and love.  This was another gracious touch in the shaping of a man of God.  Peter had to learn, as all of us do, that the greatest need we have is not financial, it is not relational, it is not even good health.  Our greatest need is for faith, the ability  to trust Christ to meet every one of our needs.  Our greatest need is to understand our Brother, taking care of us every step of the way.

Years later, Peter would understand this much better and write, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.” (1Peter 5:6-7).

The Christ who timed the miracle of the tribute money is the same One who directs our steps today.  All we need to do is live with an attitude of surrender and faith and we will find that our partnership with Him is strong enough to help us weather the setbacks of life.

When Peter left his fishing business and became a partner in Christ’s fishing industry, he had no idea that he would see such a display of divine power.  Not only would he be able to share the Master’s heart, but even the Master’s coin.

Someday when we see Jesus, we all shall hear Him say, “This was for you and Me.”

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Hebrews 13:5

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.

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Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

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Colossians 3:23-24

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

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1 Corinthians 10:31

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

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2 Corinthians 4:6

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

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2 Corinthians 4:14-15

knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.  For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

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1 John 1:3

 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

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