See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 1. John 3:1

Some blogs are easy to write. Ideas come easily, words flow readily and random thoughts become coherent. At the end of a good Sheep Pen day , the day is very good.

Today is harder. Although my life is going quite well, I’m unsettled. In the past, any 24 hours without drama and chaos would have been priceless so I’m very grateful for the absence of problems. However, why then this lingering malaise and discontent? Why when my personal life is quiet is my spirit not at ease? I take comfort that King David who was much wiser and more spiritually mature than I also lamented:
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 45:5

Whenever I’m dejected, have the blues, or am down in the dumps I need not look far for the cause. In my case it originates from past rejection, insecurity and feeling worthless. Childhood “father issues”, ancient and more recent family history and awkward, frustrating relationships top the list. Pick a number. Personal conflicts can cause a tailspin of rejection. Life on planet earth constantly buffeted by the devil ain’t for the feeble.

I can’t afford indulging in self pity so I took it before the Lord. “Heavenly Father, I feel like a big fat zero lately. What am I worth anyway? What are any of us worth? I can’t seem to grasp it. Help me to see differently. Show me what I am worth in Your eyes.” Of course the answer came even before my prayer was finished. In my spirit I heard, “purchased by God, at the highest price.” That is who you are.

Our value is not who we think we are, what we do or what we dream about. It isn’t relationships either going well or stinkingly sour. t isn’t trying to fit in by performing for someone else. It isn’t living up to others expectations or what I believe are their expectations of me. My self worth isn’t being spiritual or serving in ministry. I dare to say it isn’t even worshiping God on Sundays either in majestic cathedrals or in sound and stage mega churches. The Spirit of God says:

God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son. John 3:16

My worth – and yours – is that God paid the highest price for us. He gave His beloved Son Jesus and there is no higher price possible for our redemption. Jesus also paid the highest price – his precious life on the cross. Greater love, a greater cost than this, no man has. Dare we even consider ask what the highest price of the Holy Spirit is?

Our worth is not one jot in ourselves, but in God. Psalm 103 reminds us that humans are like flowers and grass. The wind passes by and we’re no more. But God knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. He pities us, loves us, forgives us and has mercy toward us – and sent Jesus to redeem us. Therein is our intrinsic value. No one can take away our worth in Christ Jesus or separate us from the love of God we have in Him. When Jesus said, “It is finished,” the price was paid in full. He set the bar for what we’re worth in heaven with God, His Father. Nothing can be less. Nothing can be greater. It is finished and I am/you are worth something because Jesus paid everything.

I think of slaves on the auction block. Slave buyers haggle a price based on what is offered and what can be gotten out of the poor wretch. The slave’s worth lasts only as long as he can provide much more than the slave price. Too often I’ve acted like a slave – to what I don’t even know. I feel compelled to Work it out even to death, to prove the impossible to everyone – or else. It is a demonic whip lashing by a furious Satan.

To put our real God- given worth into perspective, consider this. The highest price paid for any art work was for a painting by Leonardo Da Vinci. A year ago it went at Sotheby’s auction for 450 million dollars, despite doubts as to its authenticity. An unidentified buyer was willing to pay a very big price to own Da Vinci’s masterpiece. The painting is of Christ, “Salvator Mundi” (Savior of the World). How interesting! Someone was willing to spend half a billion dollars for an image of the Messiah. We receive the real Savior of the world who paid the highest price for us. We receive Him just by asking not by paying. God’s way reverses the world!

Our loving Father is not a slave trader, slave seller or slave buyer. He purchased us at the penultimate price off the auction block of sin and slavery and then He made us children and heirs. His reborn children are worth more than silver, gold, art masterpieces or any created thing because God’s love has been poured out on us. I need to burn this onto my heart especially when the devil tells me I’m not worth a rotten fig. How dare I believe I’m worthless! I’ve been purchased of God at great cost. There is nothing greater than Jesus’ price paid in full.

Today, if you hear the sound of His Voice, believe it is finished. My worth is set by Jesus forever. It’s a promise to cling to. Might it also be for you?