Shopping has never been my favorite past time. However, I do enjoy the occasional girls shopping trip. Any opportunity to spend a little time, a few laughs, grab a coffee and make a memory with someone special is a reason to go.
My husband may not realize it, but he got a good deal when he married me. Never wanting the nicest, most expensive things, I’ve always been frugal. As I raised my family, I’ve tried to teach them that if you don’t love it, then don’t buy it. This has become a bit of a motto for my daughter and me as we shop. Let me be honest, I’ve wasted money on several things over the years that I regretted buying almost immediately. Something may grab my attention because it looks good or the price seems to be a bargain, so then it becomes mine. However, the temporary excitement is quickly diminished as I realize I’m not in love with my purchase.
Loving something is important to me these days when I consider spending my money on it. The satisfaction that comes from a purchase now has to be more than a moment of happiness, it needs to be a lasting fulfilment.
Let’s think about the purchase that God made. The purchase that offers a guarantee, lasting fulfillment and benefits that are ours for the asking.
He paid the highest price for our soul. “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s”. I Cor. 6:20
God made a purchase for us that has lasting fulfillment and benefits. God purchased us out of love. The price of His Son was because He loved us so much. There was no buyer regret and He made a way for us to have access to Him through Jesus Christ. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6
And because we have been bought with a price, we have a guaranteed inheritance. “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14
We are sealed by God with the Holy Spirit. This means the purchase is final and guaranteed. As a born-again believer, you belong to Him. We have access to the One who owns it all. Our Savior, provider, healer, comforter, protector, counselor and keeper.
Today I want to remind you that you are valuable. God thought a lot about you to pay such a high price for you. May you never lose sight of what that means. Your access to the Father, through Jesus Christ, gives you around the clock care. You are His!
Fun fact: This picture was taken on March 11, 2019. This is Golgotha, the place where Jesus died. If you look closely, you can see why they call it the “Place of the Skull”.