Ahhhhh… I’m in the sunshine outside, cooling breeze, maybe 70 degrees, sun at my back, crisp mountain air, not many people around… and appreciative of God’s respite for me, up away for the weekend…

You can say I needed it but honestly, I just say I am thankful to have it… and I could tell in the last few days or few weeks that I needed/need more Jesus scripture meat in my daily diet. More sunshine, more moments of rest, more Daily Bread….  I have been lacking a daily connection to a scripture story and this was a good opportunity to dig back into some good gospel news… I’ve been fishing for focus. Jesus is my need.

And it didn’t take long as I opened my summer reading book and my eyes feasted on one of my favorite passages of scripture… I had to stop reading my book and write about this scripture… it means so very much!!!

Jesus said to Peter: “Go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them [tax collectors] for Me and you.”

Ohhhhh…. I love this passage for so many reasons. And especially today, because it reminds me that Jesus fully God has already 1) accomplished all for our living, 2) succeeded in His living, 3) planned things ahead, 4) humbled Himself to jump through the artificial earthly hoops,  5) paid the tax for our life in this foreign land on earth, 6) hooked us in like the fish and reeled us in using such a creative story that actually happened, 7) taught us how to reason through an absurdity, 8) caught more flies with honey than vinegar…

Let’s read the full passage from Matthew 17:24-27, Peter and His Master Pay Their Taxes

When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”

He said, “Yes.”

And when he [Simon Peter] had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”

Peter said to Him, “From strangers.”

Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

Ohhhh… I live this, love this… how would anyone but God in Jesus have known not only that Peter could just plunk a fish out of the sea but that the fish would have a coin? or vice versa, how would Jesus know that a fish would have a coin would be so attracted to Peter’s fishing line? (You could marvel at obscurity or absurdity or Marvel at God’s Majesty)… How many times does Jesus say “DON’T WORRY! I’VE GOT THIS” – HOW MANY TIMES DO WE SAY “GIVE IT TO GOD?”

YES YES YES… 

I will return to my crisp mountain air and go make a smore… fuzzy crocs, a moment to breathe, and the realization that Jesus blesses me blesses us with hunger for Him and His Word, His Way, and a fishomatic coin dispenser to cover any incidentals in life.

Trust Jesus, Heaven has been fighting hard for us…

Amen