PRICELESS!

Ephesians 1:3-8
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love 5 He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will--6 to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

Our value as human beings keeps going up. Because of new transplant techniques and recent techno logical breakthroughs, and because we are living longer, the medical field has a greater need for organs and body parts. As waiting lists grow, the demand increases and prices skyrocket. The latest strategy is to divide livers in half and use them for two patients, doubling their value.

Strict regulations govern the harvesting and sale of vital organs, but the price can still be high. Black-market kidneys, for example, were selling for millions of dollars--and probably still do. In some states, families of donors can receive tax credits up to $15,000 for hearts or livers. Clandestine, illegal Internet sales at exorbitant costs are a major problem.

Plasma donors, whose blood is replaced after the plasma is extracted, can make $3,000 a year. Infertility clinics will pay
$5,000 to $8,000 for eggs. Wigmakers and doll shops will pay $30 an ounce for "good quality hair more than 16 inches long." Skin is in high demand for burn victims and cosmetic procedures.

No one is suggesting this, but if you sold off your body piece by piece on today's market, you'd get millions. But that's a drop in the bucket compared to what you're worth to God. He who made you sent His Son to die on the cross for you. He paid an enormous price for your redemption (Ephesians 1:7-8). He provided the ransom; He set you free from guilt, sin, and death.

You could pay off college loans, buy a house, or drive a Hummer with the current value of your body. But what is that (if it were possible)? Nothing, compared with the price the Father paid in giving the life of His one and only Son--of watching Him become sin for you (2 Corinthians 5:21).

No question. Salvation, with all it entails, is our most valuable possession. It's priceless! --Dave Egner

DESTINATION POINTS

* Do I feel that I am worth the price Christ paid for me? How does God's love for me increase my sense of self-worth?
* I can never repay the cost of my redemption. What can I do to express my gratitude to God for what He has done for me?

LINKS:
Self-Esteem: What Does The Bible Say?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0503

"Good Enough" 'Cause God Said So
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/2002/001/2.26.html

bottom line: Your value is out of this world.

soul journey