"knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."
1 Peter 1:18&19
There is this modern hymn that has been playing in my head over and over again since Sunday morning, when the worship team led us in confessing, through singing, the beautiful truth held within its lyrics. As I listened to my church family sing out, I let the truth wash over my very weary soul and give me, even if just for a moment, peace. Curious yet? Here is the song:
“My worth is not in what I own Not in the strength of flesh and bone But in the costly wounds of love At the cross My worth is not in skill or name In win or lose, in pride or shame But in the blood of Christ that flowed At the cross I rejoice in my Redeemer Greatest Treasure, Wellspring of my soul I will trust in Him, no other. My soul is satisfied in Him alone
As summer flowers we fade and die Fame, youth and beauty hurry by But life eternal calls to us At the cross I will not boast in wealth or might Or human wisdom’s fleeting light But I will boast in knowing Christ At the cross Two wonders here that I confess My worth and my unworthiness My value fixed – my ransom paid At the cross”
That last verse is really what gets me. I confess that I have no worth on my own other than what Christ has given me, and he bought me at a great price. With the ransom of His life, that he paid on my behalf, my value became fixed. I am worth the Creator God’s love and sacrifice, not because of anything that I have done or will do, but because Jesus said that I am. This is in the Bible! It is true! 1 Peter 1:17-21 tells us:
“And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”
1 Peter 1:17-21
Our ransom was paid with the “precious blood of Christ” that does not fade or perish. Our ransom was paid by God himself. Jesus is worthy, and he calls us worthy. This is freedom. That we do not have to work for our worth. This is rest. That all of our efforts can be done because we are loved, not in the pursuit of that love. This is hope. That our worth does not depend on us, but on the precious, imperishable, and sufficient sacrifice of Jesus at the cross. Will you let this wonderful truth give you peace today?
My Prayer For You
Father thank you for making us worthy through the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus, on the cross. I ask that you would let that truth plant itself in our hearts, that it would take root there, and that it would produce fruit in our lives. Amen.
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