* Your Value

Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own. Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other.

2nd Corinthians 5:14-19 The Message

Sometimes, people have a hard time seeing past the superficial to get to the officially super part of a person. Have you ever experienced that - from either side? 

Often, I speak to people who are down and out. They really struggle to see anything of value in themselves or in their lives.  I like to use illustrations when speaking to help get a point across. So, I will take a $20 bill, straight from the ATM machine. New. crisp. Looking good! I'll hold it up and ask, "Who'd like to have this $20 bill?" Pretty much everyone wants it. Then I crinkle it up into a little ball. "Do you still want it?" (yes) I smash it between my hands several times, slam it against the podium and smash it again. "Do you still want it?" (yes) I throw it to the floor and stomp on it. Then put my heel on it and really grind it into the floor. "Do you still want it?" (yes)

At that point, I usually pick it back up and try to smooth it out, and make some remark about it not looking quite as good as it used to. And then because I normally speak at a function with a meal, I'll take it to a table and spill iced tea on it or coffee, then mop it up. I can get pretty creative with it, and I always ask, "Do you still want it?" And the answer is always yes, because $20 is $20 worth of something, even if it won't fill the gas tank. 

The point I make is that we all looked pretty good when we first started, then life slaps us around a little or we get knocked down. Somebody steps on us...maybe a whole lot of somebodys...but the point is, we still have value. God can and will bring us out of the circumstances of life and cause our lives to be made new. Still us, just new again because of what Christ did on the Cross.

If you have a hard time recognizing the value God places on you, you need to remember the price He paid for you. And it wasn't when you were all new and shiny and thought you were worth the most. He loved us while we were yet sinners, in our own filth, and sent His willing Son to die on the Cross for our redemption. That's your value.

Prayer:

Father,

        Such an exchange is beyond our ability to fathom. We know our sin. Help us to KNOW the power of the redemption through the shed blood of Jesus. Keep us ever mindful of Your value of it. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen