My Name Is VictoriousVoorbeeld

Ever felt worthless? Ever felt like a grungy cast off? Ever felt like an inexpensive piece of junk? Ever felt too banged up, too messed up, or too beat up to have any value? I know I have. But there are two things I’ve learned from my obsessive love of antique stores and flea markets that have convinced me of our value. First, the maker matters. We have the best craftsman in the universe! We were made by God. Look at Isaiah 64:6, “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags.” We are banged up, messed up and beat up. We may feel worthless, but we're valuable. Look at verse 8, “And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.” The maker of the universe crafted YOU. The One who had the creative vision to form the mountains and the valleys, the rivers and the canyons, the oceans and the plains creatively formed you as well. He chose the color of your eyes, the pigment of your skin, and the curl of your hair - or lack thereof. His fingerprints are on you. His signature is on your soul. You have value because your maker matters. The second lesson is that value is determined by what someone is willing to pay. Someone was willing to pay a great price for you. Someone was willing to pay the ultimate price for you. You are so valuable to Jesus that, according to Phil 2, “He gave up his divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” He gave up His divine privileges as the son of God, humbled himself, and died an excruciating death. You are so valuable that He was mocked, beaten and nailed to a cross. You are so valuable that He defeated the grave so you could be reconciled with the Father. That’s the value you hold. Jesus has deemed you extremely valuable because he was willing to pay the price for you! You are not worthless. Your maker matters. Your value is determined by the great price Jesus was willing to pay. Your name is Valuable.