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Question: did you ever have someone try to pull the wool over your eyes, so to speak, or try to fool, trap or entangle you, by your own words?  In Jesus’ day the religious leaders tried to trap Him in a tax debate, read this in Matthew 22:15-22, “Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?’

But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, ‘Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money.’

So they brought Him a denarius.

And He said to them, ‘Whose image and inscription is this?’

They said to Him, ‘Caesar’s.’

And He said to them, ‘Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.”

These religious leaders thought they had Him pinned down, but he turned their words on themselves and exposed their evil motives.  Jesus agreed that it was right to pay Caesar the tax, avoiding the trap they were trying to snare Him in.  Now I want to ask you another question: because Caesar’s image was on the coin, they were to give to Caesar what belonged to him, and we are to give to God what belongs to God, then that means we all have to give God all of us, right?  Think about this; whose image is in and on us?

God’s Word says this in Genesis 1:26-27, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

We are reflections of God’s glory; we are not exactly like Him.  So every person that walks the earth owes Him everything and He owes us nothing.  Meditate on that for a while, and not only that, but read this in Psalms 139:13-18:

“For You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother’s womb.

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.

My frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them.

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;

When I awake, I am still with You.”

God’s character is in every person, so when you feel terrible about yourself remember God’s Spirit is ready and willing to work with you.  God knows everything about you and He loves you.  Jesus doesn’t want your gold, frankincense and myrrh, He wants you.  He loves us so much he provided everything we would need to have a personal relationship with Him; all we have to do is receive what He has provided for us.  The Word says all who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.  I hope you will call on Him today and repent of your sins and ask Him to be your Lord and Savior and let Him fill you with His peace, love and joy.  May God bless you and yours and may you have a super day!