Matthew 22:15-22 & Food With Friends!

Good morning...or afternoon!  Which ever it may be when you read this!  Would you open your Bible and read through today's passage, Matthew 22:15-22, or read it online HERE!!!  Now you are ready to follow along through the study, Matthew: The King and The Kingdom.  Today, my sister-in-law, Tiffany Kilpatrick, is sharing with us.  Have a great day, friends!

Today I was thinking about my boys (for those of you who don’t know me, I have 5 of them!) and 1Timothy 4:12 came to mind; “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” I wanted to encourage them with this verse. To exhort them to be the ones that people look to when they are looking for a compass; when they need to see how they ought to behave and conduct themselves.

Jesus is encouraging us in the same way, by allowing us to have access to the account of his conversation with these guys in Matthew. Albeit, He’s putting the Pharisee’s and their minions in their places, and He’s doing a big ol’ spiritual “juke”, side-stepping the political and religious snares they are trying to set for him. (They should have known better than to try to out-wit the creator of all wisdom!) But also, He is sending the church, His body, a message. Be an example. Don’t just strive to do right in things you view as spiritual matters, strive to do right in ALL matters. Romans 13:7 says, “Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.” God expects us, His children, to be models that the world can look to for direction about how to live, love, and carry on. We are to respect our leaders and the established government. We should pray for them and do our best to follow the laws of our state and nation as long as they do not interfere with the commands of God.

People are watching us, just like people of that day watched Jesus and His disciples. They are waiting for a slip up. They would love nothing more than for us to fall out of the boundaries we have chosen to walk in and operate in. 

“Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) Let Jesus be your strength, He will give you courage and you will be the example that people need to see.

 

Buttermilk Poundcake

1 cup oil or shortening       1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups sugar                      1 teaspoon butter flavoring

5 eggs                               ¼ teaspoon soda

3 cups flour                      1 cup buttermilk

Mix together first 6 ingredients. Add flour and buttermilk (alternating) and blend well.

Pour in a Bundt pan that has been greased and floured (I use Baker’s Joy oil and flour spray instead). Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour then turn the oven temp to 325 degrees until done (about 15-20 more minutes in my oven).

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: TIFFANY KILPATRICK is the wife of 11 years to Shannon Keith, and Mother to 5 boys ranging from 16 to 23 years old.  She is a Middle School Reading Teacher, and was the school Librarian before that.  Tiffany and her family attend Freedom Fellowship in Silsbee, Texas, where she sings on the Praise Team. 







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