How the Cross Proves Your Value
By Rick Warren
“Come to the Lord, the living stone rejected by people as worthless but chosen by God as valuable.” 1 Peter 2:4 (GNT)
God says that you’re accepted—and that you’re valuable!
How much do you think you’re worth? I’m not talking about your net worth; I’m talking about your self-worth. Don’t ever confuse your tangible valuables with your value as a person. Being rich or poor has nothing to do with your worth as a person.
Two things determine value in life:
1. What someone is willing to pay for something.
2. Who has owned it
The Bible says, “You have been bought and paid for by Christ, so you belong to him” (1 Corinthians 7:23 TLB).
You belong to God, and Jesus paid for you with his life. The cross proves your value.
Nobody has ever paid a greater ransom than God paid for you! You’re acceptable, and you’re valuable.
Peter uses the imagery of a building project to illustrate your value. He paints a picture of God constructing a stone building. That building represents the church, the family of God.
Peter says, “Come to the Lord, the living stone rejected by people as worthless but chosen by God as valuable” (1 Peter 2:4 GNT). Jesus is the living stone. He was perfect, but some people still rejected him. You may think, “If I could just be perfect, then I would be accepted.” No! Jesus was perfect, but even he wasn’t accepted by everyone. Yet he was “chosen by God as valuable.”
You are one of God’s chosen, valuable stones too. When you gave your life to Christ, you became a building block in God’s great plan.
The next time you’re questioning your own self-worth, remember that Jesus thought you were worth his life, and you’re now forever part of God’s family.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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