Good morning to all on this Saturday morning. Waine and I are in Hawkinsville Georgia. I am working in this sleepy little town that has a well kept secret! The country club here has a wonderful golf course. The people here are very friendly and go out of their way to make you feel welcome. I have a great husband who ensures that I am safe and not lonely when working away from home. Thank God for him!
I am continuing my journey in Matthew 22 verses 16-39, "Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap Him in His words. They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap Me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought Him a denarius, and He asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. Then He said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left Him and went away. That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him with a question. "Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him. Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. Finally, the woman died. Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?" Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'[a]? He is not the God of the dead but of the living." When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. Amen and amen!
Do you know people who try and trap God? These people still exist. They try and debate the existence of God and don't undertsand the very act of engaging you in a debate is evidence that they think there is a God. So what's the point of trying to disprove God? Satan is the point. Satan prowls around like a lion that has been cheated of its meal. Satan knows that there is a God and Satan also knows that this time on earth is the time when we must profess our faith in order to spend eternity with God and not Satan. It has always been about numbers to Satan. He wanted an army of fallen angles so that he could compete with God. Satan's fallen angels will be those of us who chose not to accept the blood of Jesus as atonement for our sins; these lost folk will spend an eternity without God, which I think is a definition of hell. Can you imagine life without God; I can't. He is my strength on a daily basis; the reason I can face the challenges of life. Waine and I were remarking on how good life is for us. We have our health; our children are healthy and successful; we have grandchildren that know us. We are blessed! I could certainly focus on the challenges I have personally however the Love of God allows me to focus on the the good. The Pharisees and Sadducees didn't know the love of God. They only knew the fear of the law which is why they couldn't accept the ministry of Christ. In your daily walk you will encounter many who live life without the power of Jesus. Read them the Word of God and allow the Power of the Words transform their lives. Jesus desires that all who hear His Words respond and gain victory over the grave and victory over the all things that block our ability to live this life fully. Be blessed today in Jesus name.
Stephanie
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