1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

I received many gift cards for Christmas this year. I like receiving these gift cards because they allow me to be involved in the selection of the gift I want to receive. You see, the gift card is not the true gift. No, the true gift is still sitting on the shelf and needs to be REDEEMED. It doesn’t need to be purchased, because the price has already been paid. It needs to be redeemed.

Like that product on the shelf we also have value. And like that product, we do not need to be purchased because the price has already been paid. God claims us as His own through the redeeming value of His Son who died on the cross for our sake.

No amount of money, “silver or gold” could offer the redemption that our sinfull lives need. The perfect blood of Christ is the only source of our complete redemption and in doing so God has claimed us for His own.

As much as we enjoy picking out our own gift by participating in the actual selection. God rejoices even more when He claims us as His own.

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