Reflection by Jeff Koch
Scripture: Isaiah 45:1, 4-6; Psalm 96; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b; Matthew 22:15-21
“To you I call; for you will surely heed me, O God; turn your ear to me; hear my words. Guard me as the apple of your eye; in the shadow of your wings protect me.”
The gospel reading for this week has been heard in so many settings. We are most always drawn the words Jesus says when confronted with empire worship. The hot topic of the day was what do we owe Caesar? Rome was the empire that held Israel in captivity and Caesar demanded payment of his taxes, something the Israelites had great reservation about. But when the Messiah comes, they thought he wouldn’t want us to pay taxes to this Caesar, but would free them from the tyranny of their oppressors. So, if this Jesus was truly the Messiah he would tell us to not pay taxes. But Jesus asks for a coin, ‘who’s image is on this coin? . . . Caesars,” they responded. Jesus continues and each person was just waiting for His response. But what he says was not exactly what they wanted to hear. He said, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are God’s.” The coin? The Caesar’s image. What had God’s image on it? The listeners! We do! We are made in the image of God. And we are to give what belongs to God back to God; to return ourselves to God.
The Greek word that is used there is literally to render, “to give away, i.e. up, over, back: — to deliver (again), to give (again), perform, render, restore.” Jesus is saying, he wants us to take the things that God has give and give back to Him; Jesus is saying, God wants YOU! As we read the scriptures, we see time and time again where they turned away from God. Their mouths spoke things about God, but their hearts were far from him. While they were concerned about taxes, the empire of Rome’s impact on their lives. This needs to stop and the Messiah will help us overcome this empire. But Jesus seeks to turn their concerns and frustrations, back to them and asks them to think about where they are with God, give your self back to him, turn to God.
And even further into what Jesus is actually saying here . . . we are made in the image of God, the word Jesus uses here is the word icon. We are the icon of God. When the world looks at us they should see God. As icons of God, we need to be the image of who God is, to show the world God. To give to the world, who He is. They need to udnerstbdng the true image of God. Doing that begins when we return again, to give again themselves back to God.
As I read these passages from this mindset, I say so many things that God has given us. He has given us a name . . . Christian, lets return to God and show the world what that name means. He has given us the ability to have a will and live and do things according to that will, lets give that will back to him and exercise that will to give him glory. He has given us himself, in Jesus. Let us give him praise, and glory for all the has done. Or as the Psalmist says, “Give the Lord, glory and praise; give to the Lord the glory due his name! . . . The Lord is king, let us worship the Lord in holy attire.
Paul, in speaking of his ministry among the people of Thessalonica says, I have given you the gospel, not only in word, but in power and in the Holy Spirit with much conviction. We give the good news of the gospel to others around us that are within our circle of influence. So much more we could see to turn back to God and give him those things he has blessed us with, for his use in the lives of those around us. But I think what happened to me last evening was the best illustration.
God has given us a song to sing! A new song! (Psalm 96:1-4) wonderful admonition to turn to God and give him something that he has given us, our breath and a song. As I write this I am attending a conference and retreat in Tennessee. We had a time of worship last night, one of the songs we say was called, Great are you Lord! One section of the song says, “It’s Your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise We pour out our praiseIt’s Your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise to You only.” The breath we have in our lungs, is in reality a gift from God. Our heartbeat is a gift of God. Everything we have is a gift of God. Let us return, thanks.
One of my new mentors is Meister Eckhart. He is teaching me so much! He famously once said, “if the only prayer we ever pray in your entire life was simply, Thank You! That prayer would be enough.” Thank you, Lord! Let us give the world what he had given us. Let us give him the glory due His name.
Almighty ever-living God, grant that we may always conform our will to yours and serve your majesty in sincerity of heart. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns wth you in the unity of the Holy Spirit. God, for ever and ever. Amen!”