Loved Beyond Measure

My wife Gemma and I recently moved home to be nearer my parents, both now in their eighties. Our bungalow went up for sale on the internet on a Tuesday afternoon at the end of May of this year. Twenty-three hours later we had a cash buyer who, after making varying bids under our asking price, eventually offered us the full price, which we quickly accepted. We were amazed and overwhelmed at such a quick sale especially as we had asked the Lord to make it very clear to us whether we were hearing Him correctly about moving home.

Something that was particularly unusual about the sale of our home was that the buyer didn’t even want to come and view it! He’d seen the photos on the property website, and decided immediately that there was investment potential, and pursued the purchase, despite our turning down his early bids. To be honest our home isn’t without its faults - an estate agent would probably describe it as ‘in need of improvement’ or ‘an ideal project’, and if a different buyer had been attracted to it and paid to have a thorough survey carried out, perhaps some faults might have been identified for us to fix before they agreed to buy.

What I’ve described above so speaks to me of how the Lord has purchased and redeemed our lives at such a great cost to Him. Jesus paid the full price for our redemption on the cross. When we come to Him He doesn’t say to us, “fix this thing or that thing in your life before I accept you”. He takes us just as we are.

Like the merchant in our scripture today who gave everything he had to buy the whole field containing the treasure, Jesus gave all that He had, Himself, to purchase our whole life with all its faults and brokenness. He values us beyond our understanding. You and I are the treasure He died for. He sees beyond our messes, wounds and sin. Like the man buying our bungalow, God sees our true potential and worth as sons and daughters created in His image. He wants to invest and lavish all His love and resources upon us to restore beauty, dignity and wholeness to our lives. If, like me, you’ve struggled, at times, with a lack of self-worth, perhaps it’s worth spending some time today reflecting on how much you are valued in God’s eyes - precious, honoured and bought with love at a great price.

Prayer: Father, I can’t comprehend the greatness of Your love for me, but I know it’s true, because Jesus came and died for me. Help me to receive Your love more and more, allowing You to change and heal me, and then please help me to love others with that same love. I love You Father. Thank You for loving me. Amen.