FOR ME AND YOU

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."  (Matthew 17:27 NKJV)

Peter had been fairly well-to-do. He had his house, and boat, and nets. There was no need in the fisherman's house. But when Jesus said, "Come after Me," he left all, and there was an immediate cutting off of the former sources of supply, so that when the tax collector came, there was nothing for him to pay his taxes. Our Lord maintained that He personally was under no obligation to meet the demand. As a child, to use His own words, He was free; but He immediately identified Himself, as He always does, with His troubled disciple. We can never leave anything for Christ, without His recognition, and His being ready to defray whatever cost may accrue from obedience.

The identification was so absolute between the Master and His disciple that He refrained from providing two coins, which might have indicated some division of interest. Was it not His intention to put beyond all controversy that He and His are one, and that in every act of His on our behalf, in His willingness to meet the demands made upon us, there is no division of interests, no mere patronage, but an absolute identification with all that concerns us.

There are profound lessons here. Demands are constantly knocking at the door of life, which we find it hard, sometimes impossible, to meet. There are needs of food and clothing, of the rent collector and the tax collector. But is not Christ aware? Is He not faithful? Will He let us go under in the struggle? Never! Whatever demand made on the servant is assumed by the Master, “take that and give it to them for Me and you." 

As He enters the wilderness of temptation, He reminds us it is "'for Me and you." As He hangs upon the cross, and passes forth from the grave, radiant with triumph, He turns to us and says: "This victory over death and the grave is for Me and you." Yes, and through all the ages that are yet to come, amid the marvels of unfolding new worlds, nothing shall accrue to Him of which He will not say: "That take, and give, or use, for Me and you." Only remember, we must take, and give. We must appropriate the unsearchable riches of Christ, we must impart them, or they will not profit us.

PRAYER

We thank You, our Father, for our union with the risen Christ. May we share more abundantly in His glorious life, and live as the heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. It is His name I plead, AMEN.

God's Daily Promise

Promise #70:
I have blessed you in Christ with every heavenly blessing. 

Ephesians 1:3 (WEB)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ;