20/08/2026
DAILY MANNA 2026 DEVOTIONAL
DATE: FRI, AUG 21, 2026
TOPIC: RESPONSIBILITIES OF DUAL CITIZENS
KEY VERSE:
"And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's." - (Matthew 22:20,21).
READ: Matthew 22:18-22 (KJV)
18. But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
19. Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
20. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
21. They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
22. When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
MESSAGE:
Kofi Annan, the Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006, is a figure whose life was shaped by the responsibilities of dual citizenship. While Annan was a Ghanaian citizen by birth, his role in international diplomacy required him to balance his connection to his homeland with his responsibility to the global community. In his role in Ghana, he worked to advance the nation's standing on the world stage, often advocating for African issues and the continent's development in the international arena. On the other hand, his global duty as UN Secretary-General involved diplomacy with countries in conflict, addressing human rights abuses, and working toward general global peace.
In the passage, the Pharisees, who were trying to trap Jesus, posed a question about paying taxes to Caesar. The dilemma they presented seemed unsolvable: if Jesus said it was lawful to pay tax, He could alienate the people, who hated Roman rule. But if He said it was unlawful, He could be accused of stirring insurrection. But Jesus, with His wisdom, cut through the manipulation and answered in a way that transcended their trap. He asked for a coin, a denarius, and asked whose image was on it. Then, He gave a profound answer that has echoed through history: "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
Jesus' words highlight that we are citizens of two realms - an earthly kingdom and God's kingdom. While on earth, we are to honour the systems of authority set before us, paying taxes, respecting laws, and fulfilling our civic duties, which are part of our witness to the world. On the other hand, we must always remember that we are made in the likeness of God and, as such, our lives, our very being, are His. In all, while our lives may be marked by the needs of the world - job, family, relationships - our ultimate allegiance should lie with God.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: A coin has two sides, so do our duties to God and man
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Daniel 3-5