“Render to Ceasar the things that are Ceasar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Lk. 20:25).  Do you see the real value of these statements?  Jesus is talking about more than taxes.  He is talking about more than government.  Jesus is talking about you!  You see… you were made in the image of God!  Whose likeness and inscription are written on you?… God’s!

Think about it.  You are made in the image of God.  I think God looks at you like I look at my children.  While I love them and value them for who they are, I also see a little bit of me in them.  When God looks at you He sees you as different than the animals.  He sees His image in you!

Yet somehow we have also marred His image in us.  We have rebelled against Him.  We have each turned to our own way.  We have worshiped things that we were not made to worship.  We have made ourselves out to be gods rather than beings created in the image of God.

Yet now here Christ.  The ultimate image of God because He is God now says, “Give back to God the things that are His.”  And we stand stained, corrupted, and defiled.  Would God even want us back?  We have taken his image and spoiled it in our rebellion.  Can we even be restored?… The answer is Yes!  For Jesus Himself was headed to the cross for our sake.  The ultimate image of God, the word of God, taking on our sin, suffering God’s wrath, clothing us in His righteousness, rising from the dead and now standing at the right hand of the father interceding on our behalf.  So then he says, “Give to God the things that are God’s.”

Father,

I am reminded again today that I am twice yours.  Once by creation in Adam and second by redemption in Christ.  I have nothing to offer you, other than what you have created me to do.  Today I give you glory and seek to live my life in such a way as to point all other to you.  Thank you for the glorious good news of the gospel, that you still take rebels and turn them into worshipers.