LIVING FOR GOD
Luke 20:20-26
“He said to them, ‘Then give back to Caesar
what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’”
- (Luke 20: 25)
In this
day and age, it is easy to tell what product belongs to which company. The symbols on these items tell us
about the quality and value of what we are buying. When we see a Mercedes-Benz
or an Apple product, we know its worth. Likewise, Caesar’s face and
inscription on the denarius made it known to the Jews that money and power
belonged to him. The question of power
& ownership was as important in Biblical times as it is today. In the
above passage we read that the teachers of the law came to Jesus with a
question that was both clever and entrapping. Jesus, however, replied with a
wise statement that leads us to ask ourselves “what belongs to God?”
In Genesis 1:27, it says that God created man
in His own image. Not only did He create us, but He also saved us through His
son, Jesus Christ. Our lives belong to our Creator because we are made to bear
His image and represent His love in this world. Our choices and actions have
the potential to show others we belong to God.
So, how can we give ourselves to Him? God
gives us the freedom to choose how we live our lives, but it is only by His
grace that we are saved (Ephesians 2: 8-10). With all the temptations we face
in this world, we must actively choose to follow God and ask for His grace and
strength to help us stay on course. If we are not swimming against the current
of worldly submission, then we will float downstream with its waves.
I once heard a story of a young boy who had
decided to accept Christ into his life. One Sunday, the boy decided to attend
church for the very first time. During the service, the congregation began to
pass around the offertory plates. The boy did not know what they were until he
saw the people around him placing money inside. He desperately searched his
pockets for something to give Jesus, as he thought about the free gift of
salvation he had just received. But He had no money and so sadly passed the
plate along. Moments later, he walked to the back of the church and asked the
usher for the offering plate again. After receiving it, he placed it down and
stepped right into the center of the plate. He said, “Jesus, I don’t have anything
to give you today, but just me. I give you all of me.”
We belong to God, are we ready to give
ourselves fully to “HIM” today?
Prayer: “Lord, help me to be a reflection of your
love and give my life daily to you.” Amen
Sheena
Eetickal, St. Thomas MTC, Chicago