We belong to God

Mark 12 : 13 - 17

Render to God the things that are God's

We have been 'stamped' with God's image since we are created in his own likeness. We rightfully belong not to ourselves but to God, who created us and redeemed us in the precious blood of his Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 6: 19 - 20). Everything that we 'have' in life is a 'gift' and we are to present everything, as an offering back to God.

It is easy to acknowledge in theory, but the human tendency towards self centeredness is so strong that we have to pull ourselves back to God centeredness ever so often, even several times within a single day!! How gracious is the Lord who loves us however 'incomplete' the project may be, how precious we are to him who painstakingly continues the loving work of moulding.

"Lord, because you have made me, I owe you the whole of my love; because you have redeemed me, I owe you the whole of myself; because you have promised so much, I owe you all my being.

I pray you, Lord, make me taste by love what I taste by knowledge; let me know by love what I know by understanding. I owe you more than my whole self, but I have no more, and by myself I cannot render the whole of it to you. Draw me to you, Lord, in the fullness of love. I am wholly yours by creation; make me all yours too, in love."

(Prayer of Anselm, 1033 - 1109)