Made To Be Loved

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  (Ephesians 3:17b-19 NIV)

We sometimes hear stories on the news of someone purchasing a painting at a garage sale and subsequently finding out that it is a priceless piece of art painted by a famous artist.  On television we see individuals bringing various items to antique experts who can properly assess the value of the thing they have acquired.  Time after time people stare in disbelief at the real worth of the article when it is valued by an expert.

Now how much would you say each life is worth?  We may say that those who are rich have great value in comparison to those who are less well off.  However when we go to the “expert” He will say, “Each life is of great beauty and infinite value” because the expert knows the real value of each person.  In the Bible’s story of creation in Genesis it says, God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31 NIV). We are all part of God’s creation made “in God’s own image” and “in His likeness”.  God is perfect!  God is love!  God is good!  We are made in God’s image.  What does that say about the value the maker attributes to us?  Our value is not determined by our wealth or our education or our social standing. We are valuable because we bear the image of our amazing Creator. 

Once paintings and other items of worth are discovered they are usually auctioned off to the highest bidder and then the true value of the item is revealed by what the highest bidder paid.  Similarly, we can clearly see our true worth by the price that God paid to purchase us.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17 NIV)

Which details of our life are left to chance and error when we become children of God?  None!  We are lavished with everlasting love no matter what may come our way.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!  (1 John 3:1 NIV)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 NIV)

Today, let’s rejoice in the fact that we were made to be loved by God and are of great value to Him and rest in that eternal truth.

©2015 Partners in Hope