Reach • Devotion 3

A Price Paid
Mitchell Holmes

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.” Galatians 1:3-4

It is so easy to forget things. I am a forgetful person. My wallet, keys, sunglasses, you name it, I have forgotten it. Now I know some of you reading this are far more organized than I am and you do not empathize with this struggle. Even so, I would wager that you still forget things. As humorous as it is to constantly forget my wallet, I also forget far more important things. I forget the many ways that God has blessed me. Here are a few:
 
• I live in a time period when I have the ability to pray directly to the Lord, this was not always so.
• I live in a country where I can attend church without fearing for my life.
• I can afford food and housing.
• I have an incredible family.

These are just a few of the astounding blessings on my life that the Lord saw fit to grant me, and yet it is so easy to forget these things as soon as one bad day comes. When my tire pops on the interstate, you best believe that the last thing on my mind is how blessed I am to be able to pray whenever, wherever I want. I would be willing to bet I am not alone in this struggle, it is easy for all of us to forget some of the most incredible things because they are a steadfast part of our lives, day in and day out.

One of the most incredible things that I think is all too easy to forget is the price that has been paid for us. Each of us has an unpayable debt. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  All of us have done wrong and all of us have a debt that we simply cannot pay. Galatians 1:4 is our focus for today and it says, “Who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.”

On the cross, Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, creator of the universe, and Light of the World, thought of you. Specifically, I am speaking of you, the one that is reading this text right now. He thought about you and all of the wrong you have done and will do. He thought about the trials and sufferings you would go through and how you would turn your back on Him time and time again. He thought about the ways that you would reject His loving embrace. He saw all of it and He chose to die for you anyway. He took your sin, He took my sin, and the sins of all humanity onto Himself so that we did not have to pay the price of our sin. He took our unpayable debt, He placed it upon Himself, and He who knew no sin paid it all.

Today, as you ponder and pray, consider the things that are so easy to forget. Brainstorm ways to remind yourself of these blessings so that when the bad days come, you never forget the price that has been paid for you, and He who paid that price gladly.