His

Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked them.

“Caesar’s,” they said to him.

Then he said to them, “Give, then, to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:20-21)

It occurred to me as I read Jesus’ words that he asks the same question of us whenever we look at ourselves in the mirror.

“Whose image is this? Whose name is inscribed on you?”

The answer? God’s.

When he created us, he imprinted his image on us and inscribed on our hearts, “Holy to the Lord.”

In short, we are his.

As the Psalmist put it,

He made us, and we are his… (Psalm 100:3)

And so we are to give to God what is God’s. All our heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30)

And we are to give him the fruit he desires: justice, mercy, faithfulness. (Matthew 23:23)

I was reflecting today on how often I fail in doing those things. Like the Pharisees and scribes, I often say but don’t do.

I don’t want to be that way.

God has imprinted his image on me, inscribing his wonderful name on my heart.

Leaning completely on his grace, I want to live up to that.