Leadership has always, and will always be a part of our lives. We are leaders. We follow leaders. The church has leaders. But just because someone is a leader doesn’t mean they are good and trustworthy. Jesus gives us insight in the poor leadership of the religious. He corrects their false teaching, and also cautions those listening of what to look for in a false leader.

When asked what was most central to obeying God, Jesus answered with one command, and two objects of that command. In this order: Love God, Love your neighbor. But what is this love? How do we do that? And how will we measure up?

If we approach something or someone falsely, it’s only a matter of time before we find ourselves at odds, separated from the truth of whatever it is. The same is true of God - if we don’t know the truth of God, we will find ourselves diverging from Him, at odds and separated.

How do we know we trust God and His word? See Jesus. Jesus is the yes to ever promise of God!

Just before Jesus ascended to heaven after His resurrection He promised His followers that they would receive the power of His Spirit to be His witnesses throughout the earth. That is our calling, and what we are here for with Austin Life. Even with new and upcoming changes, this purpose remains!

In yet another effort to trap Jesus, the Pharisees and Herodians asked Jesus a question about paying taxes to Caesar. While Jesus does answer their question, His main focus is on whether or not the people will give to God what is rightfully His - our whole selves.

As people, we often times hate submitting to the authority of another. We do not want someone to tell us what to do. We can handle it. This is often times prideful. And if this is the approach we bring to Jesus, we will find ourselves digging a hole to our own destruction. May we repent in humility and surrender our lives to Him.

God has the power to set you free from sin.

We all want to see the miraculous happen. But how? What is our part, if any? Peter and the crew are stunned by another miracle from Jesus, and in today’s passage, Jesus tells them that they too could be a part of seeing miracles happen around them. Have faith in God!

In today’s passage, we see Jesus curse a fig true for not producing fruit, and then express a righteous anger towards those selling animals and exchanging money in the temple. What’s the connection? Both were outwardly portraying one thing, but upon closer examination, not the real deal. The deception led to the harm of self, others, and the glory of God. And this is what has Jesus so worked up.