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By
the Sea of Galilee stands a cafe called St. Peter's Restaurant. The menu
has a delicacy called St. Peter's Fish. I was told that it tastes excellent.
Apparently, this fish is caught in the Sea of Galilee but this is a strange
fish. The fertilized eggs of the fish are held inside her mouth. When the
eggs are hatched, the minnows stay there until they are ready to go into
the water for a quick swim. If danger evident or they need nourishment they
quickly go back into their is mother's mouth. There comes a time when the
mother says enough of that and she literally spews them out of her mouth
since she can't take "the big mouth" stuff anymore.
But
having an empty mouth all the time bothers her, so very often, she will
pick up a bottle cap or a coin and keep it in her mouth like a soother.
As a matter of fact, St. Peter's Restaurant states that 1 out of every 3
fish caught today have a bottle cap or coin inside the mouth of the fish.
Back
in Jesus' day, as the Bible records in Matthew 17:24-27, the tax collectors
of the Temple came to Peter and asked if his teacher paid the temple tax
lately. Peter said that Jesus did but to make sure, he went to Jesus. He
was about to speak but Jesus, who knew what was on Peter's mind already,
said, "What do you think, Simon Peter? From whom do the kings of the earth
collect duties and taxes--from their own sons or from others?" Of course
Peter replied, "From others." Jesus said, "Then the sons are exempt."
imagine Jesus had to laugh here because that statement
had a double meaning. We are also the sons of the King. But I do not want
you to think that we should not pay our taxes. Jesus did supply the much
needed Temple Tax in a most unusual way. He told Peter to go fishing and
yes, Peter caught St. Peter's Fish. The fish had a four-drachma coin inside
it.
Peter must have been overwhelmed. This was twice the amount
required for his temple tax. But then he realized that Jesus wanted Peter
to pay the tax for himself and Jesus. |
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Friend,
God will supply in most unusual ways. You may be depressed at this time
of year because of financial restraints, broken relationships, ill health
or abuse. God will not give you all your material desires, but He can
restore you from within. Just as it took you a while to get into your
predicament, it may take time for you to overcome your circumstances.
God doesn't have quick-fix-it answers. Peter had to go out and catch the
fish. You might not be able to catch St. Peter's Fish but I'm sure that
God will be able to supply since-- as the Bible says-- He owns the cattle
on a 1,000 hills. We can belong to a King who definitely is rich!
 A
Prayer:
Jesus, thank you for this story that shows you can supply all
of my needs. I realize that I can't do it on my own and there are
so many obstacles that obstruct my focus. It's like I can't see anymore.
I need you to regain my focus. I know that there is a lot of mess
and garbage in my life so could you please clear it out and make me
clean. Then I can respect myself once more. Let the broken relationships
mend, my finances be in order, my health improve and may I forgive
the abuser in my life. I am sorry for the wrongs that I have committed
against You. Set me straight and give me a new life. In Jesus' name,
Amen." |
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