The Times News has teamed up with area clergy to share ‘Words of Comfort’ twice a week in our print edition and online at . Any member of the clergy who’d like to get involved can contact Allison Winters at awinters@sixriversmedia.com.
The Times News has teamed up with area clergy to share ‘Words of Comfort’ twice a week in our print edition and online at . Any member of the clergy who’d like to get involved can contact Allison Winters at awinters@sixriversmedia.com.
I am sure all of us have seen a sign in a store that said “You break it, you buy it,†or it said something similar.
I remember once being in one with a 2 year old and a 13 year old in a shop full of fragile glass figurines. What could go wrong?
I always hated to see those signs, especially when the kids were with me. I always was afraid that I would end up buying something that I didn’t want. I know I don’t want to buy something broken. Most likely if it were broken it would be worthless.
It definitely would be worth less than what you would have had to pay for it. The signs do remind us to be careful. The store owners have a legitimate concern. They can’t sell broken merchandise and make a profit.
When we buy something, we want it to be new and in perfect condition. Something would have to be very special for us to pay full price for it when it was broken.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says: “... You are not your own; you were bought at a price….â€
Fortunately for us Jesus Christ values us so much that he was willing to pay full price for us, regardless of how broken we may be. Despite our condition, we are that valuable to him.
We are not worthless! We have value! He can fix our brokenness. We are not just fixed, we are renewed.
Jesus came to us in human form. He suffered and died so that he could redeem us from our sin. That is the only way that we can be reconciled to God. We should be so happy that we have been freed from guilt, shame and condemnation; that we should be busting to tell everyone.
Actually we are commanded to so. Christ came to serve us by redeeming us by becoming the perfect sacrifice.
Matthew 20:28 says, “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.â€
Christ came to redeem us and serve us and we should follow his example and serve others. That love your neighbor thing. These two verses sum it up.
Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.â€
Rev. Shane Wallace is a pastor at Coeburn Methodist Church.
Rev. Shane Wallace is pastor at Coeburn Methodist Church.
