God Our Provider

0:00Welcome and thank you for joining us for today's encouragement from our daily bread on the 8th of April, 2026. The Bible reading today is Matthew chapter 17 verses 24 to 27. Peter Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum. The collectors of the Tuzrakma temple tax came to Peter in asked, doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax? Yes, he does, he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. What do you think Simon, he asked? From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes? From their own children or from others? From others, Peter answered. Then the children are exempt, Jesus said to him, but so that we may not cause offence,

1:07go to the lake and throw out your line, take the first fish you catch, open its mouth, and you will find a four-drack macoin, take it and give it to them for my tax and yours. Today's article titled God our Provider was written by Monica LaRose. In 2024, teenager Keegan happily reeled in a two-foot burundi, but his happiness became elation when his little sister pointed out a tag on the fish. His catch was worth one million dollars as part of an Australian fishing competition. The annual event had been held since 2015, Keegan was the first to win the coveted top catch

2:12prize. However, slim the odds of catching that fish, the odds were far lower that a fish caught at random would have a coin in its mouth. But in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus instructed his disciple Peter to go to the lake and take the first fish you catch, open its mouth, and you will find a four-drack macoin. The context of this unlikely catch was a question of whether Jesus paid the temple tax, the irony of insisting that Jesus, God's son, pay a tax to support God's temple, wasn't lost on him. He pointed out that the king's children don't pay taxes to the king, but there was no need to cause a fence and distract others from his teaching by being perceived as a tax

3:14of aida, so Jesus instructed Peter to catch that fish, which had the exact amount to pay both his and Peter's tax. Perhaps in part it was a reminder to Peter and to us that God is a provider who is always with his children as they follow him. Let's pray. Loving God, please help me rest in your provision as I follow you. Amen. Thanks for listening today. My name's Peter and today's encouragement was provided by our daily bread ministries. Have you downloaded the free our daily bread ministries app from your app store? We can enjoy all the morning our daily bread devotions and evening meditations in one

4:17place. Let's open up God's word with you every day and every night reminding you of your heavenly Father's faithful love and presence and provision.