“Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him I his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, when is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax 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 image is this? And whose inscription?’ ‘Caesar’s,’ they replied. Then he said to them, ‘So give back 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.” Matthew 22:15-22

Dear Jesus, I’m sad that those men sent their underlings to trap you in words about taxes. What a grand miscue that they would want to talk about taxes when you were laying down your life for their salvation. How tolerant you were to answer them, even though they wouldn’t listen. In your answer I hear the freedom of faith and love. It’s freedom to pay taxes to a grossly imperfect government because I believe in God. Faith in your heavenly Father leads me to submit to the government he has afforded me. It’s very flawed but it’s built on principles of freedom and opportunity for all. They strive for fairness and protection of their citizens. There are checks and balances and room for me to speak my mind. Give me the faith to live in peace under my government because I know you are guiding the entire world with your saving hand. Amen.

God gives us a government to live under while he gives us a message of hope that helps us live larger than that government.