Something Precious
Have you ever saved up for something a long time, waiting until you finally had enough money to buy it? Maybe it was a new bike or a new car (or new to you). You might have even parked it away from everyone else, just so it wouldn’t get scratched. It didn’t matter that you had to walk further. This was something that you wanted to keep nice for a long time, because it was important to you.
It’s been said that we spend our time and our money on what is important to us. Think about your life. What do you value most in your life?
Cost
If I build a piece of furniture, it might mean a lot to me. I might have spent many hours designing it, choosing and buying the lumber, cutting everything precisely, assembling it, staining it, then sanding and sealing it. To me, this is worth a lot, because it cost me a lot.
If I buy two pieces of lumber, then take five minutes to cut them and make a bench out of them, it cost me very little, so I might not consider it worth much.
Value
It’s also been said that something is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. No matter how much I value my piece of furniture, if no one wants to buy it, it is worthless to them.
If, on the other hand, people see it and fall in love with it, they might start bidding and outbidding each other, just so they can have that piece of furniture. Now, this same piece of furniture just became more valuable, because they consider it valuable.
Cost of Salvation
Galatians 3:13 (NASB)
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us or it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”
When this scripture says that Christ “redeemed us”, it means that He paid a price for us. He also became a curse for us, because we were cursed.
Romans 5:8 (NASB)
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus willingly gave His life for us, even though we were sinners, because of His great love.
Philippians 2:5-8 (NASB)
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Jesus humbled Himself so much that He submitted Himself to God the Father, then He “emptied Himself” and became a man – not just a man, but a servant of men. He then submitted Himself to becoming a curse and the subject of public humiliation.
For Jesus, this was the highest cost possible.
Jesus told His disciples, the day before His crucifixion:
John 15:13 (NASB)
13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
No Value of Salvation
John 1:10-11 (NASB)
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
Even though Jesus created the whole universe, including every person, many people rejected Him, and they still are rejecting Him today. They don’t understand what is available to them if they would only come to Him in repentance.
To them, the value of their salvation is zero – worthless.
High Value of Salvation
Hebrews 11:35-38 (NASB)
35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection;
36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated
38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.
I have read stories of Christians refusing to turn away from Jesus, then being killed (martyred) for that decision. Some were killed by lions in the Roman Colosseum. Others were burned to death. Even today, there are many Christians who are being killed because of their faith.
I have also heard stories of Christians in other countries getting up very early and walking for hours every Sunday, just so they can meet and worship with other Christians. Some even start their weekly journey the night before. After their church service, they make the trip back home.
To these Christians, the value of their salvation is very high – even priceless.
Your Valuation of Salvation
Acts 2:42, 43, 46 (NASB)
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
The early believers spent as much time together as they could. They were hungry and thirsty for more of God.
Acts 16:22-26 (NASB)
22 The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods.
23 When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely;
24 and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;
26 and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone s chains were unfastened.
Because some people did not like what Paul and Silas were preaching, they had them beaten and thrown in prison. Instead of complaining to each other and to God, they were rejoicing with songs of praise to God. God responded to their faith with an incredible miracle that caused the salvation of the jailer and his family, along with many others who heard of this story.
Today
It’s easy to get discouraged when difficult things happen or it looks like no one else cares. Sometimes, it can be hard, painful, or costly to worship the Lord. Do you think it’s just too hard?
What value do you place on meeting with other Christians?
What value do you place on your relationship with Jesus?
Are you willing to sacrifice everything just to remain faithful to Him?
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