So glad you can be here for today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Tim Gustafson wrote today's reading, and he titled it The Great Divide.

In a classic Peanuts comic strip, Linus's friend berates him for his belief in the Great Pumpkin.

Walking away dejectedly, Linus says,

There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people.

Religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.

The Great Pumpkin existed only in Linus's head,

but the other two topics are oh so real,

dividing nations, families, and friends.

The problem occurred in Jesus' day as well.

The Pharisees were deeply religious and tried to follow the Old Testament law to the letter.

The Herodians were more political, yet both groups wanted to see the

Jewish people freed from Roman oppression. Jesus didn't seem to share their goals, so they approached

him with a politically charged question in Mark chapter 12. Should the people pay taxes to Caesar?

If Jesus said yes, the people would resent him. If he said no,

the Romans would arrest him for insurrection. Jesus asked for a coin. Whose image is this?

He asked. Everyone knew it was Caesar's. Jesus's words in verse 17 resonate today. Give back to Caesar, what is Caesar's,

and to God what is God's. His priorities and order, Jesus avoided their trap. Jesus came to do

his father's will. Following his lead, we too can seek God and His kingdom above all else,

directing the focus away from all the dissension and toward the one who is the truth.

The scripture reading for today's devotional is from Mark chapter 12 verses 13 through 17.

Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words.

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