‘As the deer pants for streams of water so my soul pants for you, O God’. (Psalm 42:1)you were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:20,7:23 NIV)
Have you ever looked at something, noticed the price being asked for it, and thought to yourself thats not worth it?
Ive done that at both ends of the spectrum. Ive gone into a shop to buy a loaf of bread, saw the price being charged and promptly retreated muttering to myself, Im not paying that much for a loaf of bread. Ive also walked round an art gallery that was selling paintings, noticed some that were being sold for in excess of a £1,000, and thought to myself, I dont think its worth that much.
At the end of the day any product is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
That got me thinking about us human beings. How much are we worth?
The basic chemical composition of the human body is: Oxygen 65%, Carbon 18%, Hydrogen 10%, Nitrogen 3%, Calcium 1.5%, Phosphorous 1%, Potassium 0.35%, Sulphur 0.25%, Sodium 0.15%, Chlorine 0.15%, Magnesium 0.05%, Iron 0.0004%, Iodine 0.00004%.
The current monetary worth placed on the basic elements in an individual human body is around £3.02.
Put like that it means we arent worth very much.
Thankfully God thinks each one of us is worth considerably more than some loose change rattling around in our pocket. He was willing to pay for us with highest price possible; the death of his dearly beloved Son.
God didnt redeem us with gold and silver but with the precious blood of His Son (c.f. 1 Peter 1:18-19; Acts 20:28). For humanity, God paid the ultimate price, which tells me that every human being is of infinite value.
Doesnt that do wonders for your self-worth? Doesnt the fact that God loves you so much that he paid this supreme price for you inspire you to live for him?
Graham Kendrick poignantly sums up the sentiment in his song, How Much Do You Think You Are Worth:
If you heard that your life had been valued
That a price had been paid on the nail
Would you ask what was traded,
How much and who paid it
Who was He and what was His name?
If you heard that His name was called Jesus
Would you say that the price was too dear?
Held to the cross not by nails but by love
It was you broke His heart, not the spear!
Would you say you are worth what it cost Him?
You say ‘no’, but the price stays the same.
If it don’t make you cry, laugh it off, pass Him by,
But just remember the day when you throw it away
That He paid what He thought you were worth.
How much do you think He is worth, boy?
Will anyone stand up and say?
Tell me, what are you willing to give Him
In return for the price that He paid?
Jesus gave his all for us because that is what we are worth to God. Surely love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
Prayer
Father, thank you that you were willing to pay such a high price for me. As I bask in how highly you value me, help me to consider how much Jesus is worth to me and then may I live for the one who gave Himself for me.
Amen
Have a good week living for Jesus.
Pastor Barry
