day no. 15,187: whose likeness and inscription does it have?

Luke 20:19-26
The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar's.” He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.

Jesus asked whose image was on a coin. It was easy to see. The face of Caesar stared back at yours. That being the case, his image being on it, render it back to him as he requires. His image impressed upon it implies his ability to impose upon it as well. Caesar's will should prevail upon your purse because the coins were made by his will and in his image.

That said, whose image do we bear? God's! We are made in the image and likeness of God and our DNA is His signature. It is easy to see the work of God staring back at you when you look at your neighbor or catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror. That being the case, His image being on us, render it back to Him as He requires. His image impressed upon us implies His ability to impose upon us as well. His will should prevail upon us because we were made by His will and in His image.

Genesis 1:26-27
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and 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.

If all Caesar wants from you is some of your money, then give it to him. God requires all of you. Caesar's only interest is his coffer, God's interest is His Kingdom and your inclusion therein. Giving Caesar 20 cents on the dollar is nothing compared to giving God your entire life and livelihood. That said, it does say something about Caesar that he would ask for 20 percent of your earnings when God only requires 10. Just who does this Caesar think he is? The answer mathematically obvious.