“After some discussion they finally decided to buy the potter’s field, and they made it into a cemetery for foreigners. That is why the field is still called the Field of Blood. This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah that says, ‘They took the thirty pieces of silver – the price at which He was valued by the people of Israel, and purchased the potter’s field, as the Lord directed.’” (Matthew 27:7-10 NLT)
Worth is largely determined by the eye of the beholder. Sports memorabilia can go for millions of dollars. Babe Ruth’s 1932 “Called Shot” Jersey sold for $24.1 million. 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card – $12.6 million.
Yet, we sometimes think we’re being generous when we toss a $20 bill in the offering basket when it’s passed, and, honestly, for some that’s a very generous offering. I’ve seen times I didn’t have $20 to give. It’s not necessarily and only what we give, it’s why we give and what we value. When we value things more than we value our relationship with Jesus, we’ve lost perspective as His child.
George Whitfield’s conviction was that Jesus is worth everything or He’s worth nothing. What does that mean? It means to me that Jesus gets first priority in everything – time, energy, money, thought, every avenue and aspect of my life. That’s why prayer is my first priority in the morning and the last thing on my mind when I go to bed.
It’s why we see every person as a person of value, created in the image of God, regardless of how obnoxious and vile they may be. “There but for the grace of God go I without Jesus” must be our attitude. None of us, regardless of how long we’ve walked with the Lord, is any better than anyone who may have just begun their journey with Him.
We add no value to our relationship with Jesus regardless of how long we’ve journeyed with Him. HE IS the VALUE! He paid the cost of our redemption and no amount of sacrifice we make will add anything to that. His priceless blood paid it all, that’s why He said from the Cross: “Tetelestai!” “It is finished!” Which literally means: “The debt is paid in full!”
What debt? Our sin debt, the cost of our sin that separated us from God. We treat our sin so lightly, but when we begin to grasp what our unfaithfulness and disregard to the desires of God cost our Savior, it should cause us to see our sin in a new light. It’s like stepping on the arm or leg of our infant child, then laughing about it as they scream in pain. It’s insensitive, cruel, uncaring, and inappropriate.
Satan’s goal is to keep us so focused on ourselves we ignore or disregard anyone else’s feelings, even God’s, but when we begin to value the cost of our salvation and see the worth of our Savior in it’s proper light, it should humble and convict us. Sin – every sin – is serious in the sight of God, that’s why sin separates us from God.
Sin caused the chasm between us and the Lord that the Cross bridged, but to pray a prayer and believe we can still continue to live in sin is to spit in Jesus’ face and laugh as we walk away. It’s not only hypocritical, it’s blasphemous. Repentance and confession should lead to a holy life that is built on the sacrifice of our Savior but evidenced by the quality of our lives as we live in appreciation of the tremendous cost of that sacrifice.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 