Image Bearer

They came with a trap in their pockets and a coin in their hands.

“Should we pay Caesar or not?”

Jesus didn’t argue politics—He held up a mirror.

“Whose image is on it?”

“Caesar’s.”

“Then give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar…

and give to God what belongs to God.”

We nod and move on, but don’t miss the knife-edge of that answer:

If a coin belongs to Caesar because it bears his image,

then you—heartbeat, breath, scars and story—belong to God because you bear His.

Genesis 1 says He made you in His image.

Not mass-produced. Not accident. Not afterthought.

Image-bearer.

That means the imprint of the King is stamped on your mind,

etched into your conscience,

woven through your worth.

So be honest: who’s been collecting you like loose change?

Career? Addiction? That old wound? The approval of people who don’t even know your middle name?

How many altars have you paid with your peace—

how many idols have you tipped with your time, your attention, your heart?

Caesar can have your taxes.

He can have your forms, your deadlines, your 9-to-5.

But he cannot have your soul.

Your soul is not for rent.

Your soul is not for sale.

Your soul bears Another’s face.

“Give to God what belongs to God.”

What does He ask for?

Not your performance—your presence.

Not your perfection—your surrender.

Your will. Your worship. Your yes.

The parts of you you’ve been hiding behind tired smiles and busy calendars.

The fear that keeps you up at 2 a.m.

The shame that whispers you’re too far gone.

The secret battles no one claps for.

Return His image to its rightful Owner.

Lay your rage down. Lay your pride down.

Lay your guilt, your grief, your grind—down.

Let the Potter take what’s cracked and pour in living water.

Let the Shepherd lift you from the thorns.

Let the Father put His ring back on your hand.

You are not currency in the marketplace of men.

You are a son. You are a daughter.

Blood-bought. Heaven-marked.

Stamped with the likeness that hell can’t erase.

So I’ll ask you again—

If the coin goes back to Caesar because it bears his face,

what goes back to God because it bears His?

Today, give Him what is already His:

Your heart. Your story. Your yes. Your life.

-Joe