If you have the cash, you can buy almost anything you want. According to Michael Sandel, author of What Money Can’t Buy, a person can purchase access to the car pool lane while driving alone for $8, a prison-cell upgrade for $90 a night, an amusement park Front of the Line Pass for $149, your doctor’s cell phone number for $1,500, and the right to shoot an endangered black rhino for $250,000. Yes, if you have the money, you can buy almost anything . . .
According to the apostle Paul, there’s one thing money can’t buy—spiritual freedom found in what Jesus has provided. Paul couldn’t help but break out in praise as he thought about salvation. The words that flowed included the use of the term “redemption.” Redemption is all about freedom, deliverance, or release from a state of slavery (Colossians 1:13-14). Redemption made possible by Jesus releases us from slavery to sin—wrong things done against our holy God (Hebrews 8:12).
When Jesus freely offered His life for us on the cross, He endured great suffering so that we might be freed from the pain and suffering sin brings. Before God, our sin required that a sacrifice be made (Hebrews 9:22), and Jesus voluntarily allowed His life to be taken so that we might receive life.
The privileges of receiving such freely given but costly grace include becoming children of God (Galatians 4:7), having our hearts made pure (Hebrews 9:14), doing good things because of what God has done in us (Titus 2:14), honoring God with our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), and worshiping Him. Yes, through the death of Jesus, we’ve been set free from enslavement to sin—but it was so very costly.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 17:1-19
More:
According to Galatians 4:4-5, why did God send Jesus to redeem us?
Next:
Why is it important to remember Jesus’ sacrifice for you? Take time right now to offer words or a song of praise to God for all He has done.
Gary Shultz on August 20, 2015 at 7:03 am
Remembering Christ’s sacrifice should be a base line concept for a believer. What I tend to fall into is everything we relate to here depreciates. Christ’s does not, the initial act is over; however, our Lord continues that foundation to launch an eternity of indescribable gifts. It was paid, but will be forever expanding His work of love.
Roxanne Robbins on August 20, 2015 at 7:57 am
Redemption through Jesus Christ is an extraordinary gift and one I don’t reflect on or grasp nearly enough. Thanks, Marvin, for the good reminder to consider what Christ did for us to free us from.
Winn Collier on August 21, 2015 at 4:29 pm
A prison cell upgrade for $90 per night??? What???