“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.'” – Genesis 1:27

When the religious leaders asked Him if it was right for them to pay taxes to Caesar, Jesus asked them to show Him a coin. He looked at it and then asked, “Whose image is on it?”

When they said “Caesar’s”, He said, in essence, “Then it must belong to him. Give it to Caesar.” Then came the zinger, “And give to God what is God’s.”

Caesar had claimed a right to the money by stamping his image on it. God has claimed His right to every human being by stamping His image on us. In God’s eyes the money doesn’t matter – give the government what is owed.

But, people! Oh how much each of us matters to God.

We belong to Him! He has made us, stamped us, sealed us, and written His name on us. We belong to Him, to His family, and to His kingdom. So, let’s pay our taxes. After all, we are simply giving money to the government. But we do not give ourselves to anyone but God. We are His.

Somehow, that puts lots of things into perspective for me. Belonging to God keeps me above the fray and gives me security, dignity, peace, and joy. Makes me want to do something good for Him today.

. . . and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. – Colossians 3:10

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.  – Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897