How much is this?

My sister and I went to Florida recently to help our parents downsize and move back to Michigan.  One of the huge tasks that we faced was packing up all the things they would keep, and we also had to prepare for a garage sale to sell the rest.

I will admit that in the 100 degree Florida heat, we were not diligent in pricing all the garage sale items.  Because of our slothfulness, we heard this statement...A LOT..."How much is this?"

The pat answer that soon followed this garage sale question became... "One Dollar!"

We were so overwhelmed by the amount of stuff and the heat that we would have given the stuff away if we could have.

...well, we did give some things away.  "Shhhhhh!"

We were amazed as we watched people come and buy bunches of stuff that we thought no-one would want, yet it turned out that someone did value many of these items.

This was the exchange we heard again and again...

"How much is this?"

"A dollar."

"Wow!  I'll take it."

Many of the garage sale buyers weren't looking at the valued of the objects they were buying.  They only had one thing in mind--the deal.

But when God looks at us, he's not looking for a deal.  With God, our value begins with the fact that He created us in His own image.  (Genesis 1:27)

In Jeremiah 31:3, the Bible tells us that His love for us is everlasting.  It's relentless!

Just think how highly God valued us that even while we were sinners God sent His son to die for us.  (Romans 5:8)

Unlike the garage sale, where people are looking for a deal, in 1 Peter 1:18, 19 it says, "Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold...but with the precious blood of Christ."

God looks at us, not as a deal to be obtained at the lowest possible price.  No, He was willing to pay the highest price in the universe to redeem us--the blood of His dear Son.

When God the Father looks at us, he'll never ask, How much is this one? 

He knows exactly how much He was willing to pay, and He paid in full.