Daily Manna: Make For Peace

"Sunday 15, December 2013"

*TEXT: MATTHEW 17:22-27*

*"KEY VERSE: “Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee” (Matthew 17:27)."*

It is not every time that we must fight for our rights because if we do, we might lose something more valuable. There is usually a price to be paid for peace. This price may at times mean having to forego what may belegitimately our right. True, this may not come easy but it is quite worth whatever pain or seeming humiliation we may have to bear if we do. The reason there is conflict the world over - homes, nations, workplaces, etc. - is the unwillingness of one party to back down for the other. And you know how much we come to lose as a result of this.
Christians are to follow the example of Christ in all things. Even though He was not obliged to pay the temple tax as the Lord of the temple, Jesus opted to pay in order to avoid any form of provocations. He had a loftier and more sublime task ahead of Him. His mind was focused on the price He had to pay for the world’s redemption on the cross. This was more important than becoming petty with contending over His right not to pay the temple tax.
Christians must always bear in mind their mission in the world. As “salt of the earth” and “light of the world”, we must avoid whatever will make our lives unsavoury and dim. There is no point picking a fight over issues that are so petty and of little consequence. If we are to win the world for Christ, we cannot afford to be fighting over issues with the world.
As this is true with our relationships and interactions with the outside world, so it is as we relate with one another in the family and the church. Contentions, strife and unnecessary rivalries over what we consider our rights or not, will further divide us, make us vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks and an object of ridicule before the world we are trying to win. Let’s give up whatever it is, humble ourselves and be willing to suffer loss for the gain and glory of Christ.
*THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: It is foolishness to lose the valuable for the trivial.*
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