(Jesus said) "Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not;
you are of more value than many sparrows." Luke 12:7
Rick Norsigian is a commercial painter who lives in Fresno, California.
Rick Norsigian is also a very blessed and a very rich man.
Let me explain: Ten years ago Norsigian went to a garage sale for the purpose of
buying a barber chair. He didn't get the chair, but he did pick up some old
photographic glass plates.
For years Norsigian stored the two boxes containing those newspaper-wrapped
glass plates under his pool table. He's not storing them there any longer.
It appears the plates are original Ansel Adams plates -- some of which escaped
the fire which destroyed the great photographer's studio.
This means the photographic plates Norsigian paid $45 for are worth somewhere
around $200 million.
Now you, like most of us, may be wondering why doesn't something like that
happen to me? If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, may I assure you it already
has.
When other folks look at us, they may not see very much. We may appear to be
just an average Joe or Jane. But when the Lord looks, He sees somebody quite
different.
He sees a soul so valuable He was willing to sacrifice His only Son so it might
be saved. What are you worth to the Lord? Well, you're worth more than many
sparrows. You're even worth the life, suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection
of God's Son.
Now that kind of worth is not something you can take to the bank, and it's not
going to get you on the cover of a fashion magazine, but it still counts.
Indeed, it means everything.
Because Jesus sacrificed Himself for you, you have been forgiven, you have been
redeemed, and you have been promised eternal life.
In short, you are more blessed and far richer than Rick Norsigian -- unless Rick
is a believer, too.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I give thanks that while the world may not think
much of me, You loved me enough to offer Your life as a ransom for my salvation.
May I be eternally grateful for the sacrifice You made, which has forgiven my
sins and given me a new and better value. In Your Name. Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus
Lutheran Hour Ministries http://www.lhm.org/
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