Turn your backs to Sin, turn back to God.
Monday Devo 4-17-23 - Turn your backs to sin, turn back to God
By Albie Cabildo
Did you know that if you are married and your gross income was at least $5 in 2022, you must file a federal tax return? Also, did you know that today is the deadline to file your returns, unless you're seeking an extension? Income taxes are just one type of tax. Taxes take on many forms, but the premise is the same: levying one party to fund another party. Good, bad, fair, unfair, right or wrong, taxes are as certain as death (paraphrasing Benjamin Franklin).
In the Old Testament, there are many references to taxes, such as assessments on land to be used as holy offerings to the Lord, and taxes for temple repair. These taxes were for honoring God, yet there are other occurrences where taxes lined the pockets of the earthly kings of the time. Tax collectors in ancient Rome were known as “publicans”. In Israel, Jews who were publicans collected the taxes on behalf of Caesar. These were taxes on property and income, as well as, duty on imports and exports and most things that traveled by road throughout the region. In those days, publicans were considered scoundrels, thieves, and traitors. Not only were they collecting on behalf of a foreign king who worshiped pagan gods, tax collectors were known to become wealthy themselves by lining their own pockets.
In Luke 19, we learn of Zacchaeus, the wee little man. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector, meaning he must have been crazy rich, gleaning off the top of all the junior publicans under his command. He caved to the pressures of the flesh. Does this sound familiar? The Jews wondered why Jesus would want to spend any time at Zacchaeus’ house and break bread with him, as he was considered a sinner, the worst of the worst. While Zacchaeus’ methods of tax collection were wrong, anything that draws us away from God and toward self is a sin.
Unfailingly, we are going to fail. Romans 3:23 reiterates this fact, For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We, however, are justified (declared righteous) by grace from the redemptive power of Jesus as stated in the verse immediately following.
Zacchaeus repented (probably feeling remorseful and guilt-ridden of his sin), turned away from his sin, and gave restitution to those that he stole from. Jesus forgave Zacchaeus and declared him saved. He will do the same for us. We should repent of our sins, but we should also focus on the “turned away” part. In Acts 3:19, the apostles Peter and John described this after people were witness to them healing the lame man outside the temple. The verse says, Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Whether we steal like Zacchaeus did, or we die to self in other ways, there’s no pit deep enough where Jesus’ hand can’t reach down to pull us out. He has overcome the ultimate pit, which was death.
By: Albie Cabildo
Monday Devo
