Increased Value
Don't put a small value on yourself when God has paid the ultimate price for you
How valuable do you feel? Broken promises to yourself and unkept commitments to others can make you feel like you’re depreciating in value. Lack of recognition for your work and less-than-perfect beauty can make you feel unwanted or unlovable. Then consider the following words from the Bible.
“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed …”
- The market value of silver, gold, the US dollar, or a house fluctuates, and the value of what is considered precious today could plummet to nothing tomorrow (try selling your 2-year-old computer and you’ll discover it has lost its value in a hurry). Does that trend apply to you? Are you special one day and not the next? God reminds you of a fact. He redeemed you - bought you with an extreme expense of sacrificial effort - with something that has permanent, imperishable value!
“ … but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.”
- God had something more important to do before creating the world. You’re more important to God than the proper position of the planets or the colors of all the world’s flowers or the life cycles of the earth’s creatures! Before creating the world God first gave his attention to assigning value to you by appointing your precious Savior! Jesus has no defects. He can’t break a promise. He doesn’t forget about you. He will never run out of forgiveness or care. He will never be absent when you need him around. All this God has arranged “for your sake.”
“Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.”
- The power of God that raised his Son from the dead is ominous. The glory of God that expects perfect holiness is intimidating. But Jesus gives you a new perspective on God, one of faith, and as God’s child you revere him with a delightful appreciation, knowing that all his powers are always put to use for your good. This is not a possible outcome but a sure expectation that the Bible calls hope.
“Now that you have purified your souls by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.”
- Your soul is pure not because of what you do, but because of what you believe. The truth of God’s promises in Jesus. As a result of your pure heart and soul, set apart by Jesus for a heavenly destiny but also an earthly purpose, you can love others genuinely. You can endure all kinds of sacrificial risks to yourself that God will manage in his mysterious way. Your love to others then shares the value you have in Christ with them.
Don’t put a small value on yourself when God has paid the ultimate price for you!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, in my weakness of faith and slowness of understanding I often feel worthless. Thank you for your reassurance today that my value was priced as precious before the creation of the world - and hasn’t changed since. Enliven my faith and enlighten my understanding so that my disappointment is replaced with a brightened perspective that believes in your promises. Put my faith, hope, and love to work today by giving me another opportunity to do something kind - even sacrificial - to a friend or an enemy in need. Amen.
(The Bible reference in this MEMO is from 1 Peter 1:18-22)
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