“What’s this diamond worth?” he asked the sales person.

“Well, it all depends,” came the reply.

“Depends on what?” he asked as though the sales person was playing a game with him.

“Many different things,” he responded. “Its size and weight, its cut and clarity to begin with. But in the end its worth depends on what you would pay for it.”

Worth is a purely personal thing. And the more desire we have for some “thing” the more we are willing to give something up for it or sacrifice to get it.

This section of Psalm 119 is very interesting. Its author has a burning desire to have a close relationship with God. His desire for this relationship is very clear: “Teach me...give me...direct me...turn my heart...” are pleas he makes to God to enable him to “live” God’s “words” in his life. He speaks of God’s decrees, His laws, His commands and His statues.

And then he adds one very profound statement: “Turn my eyes away from worthless things, preserve my life according to Your word.” He realized the fact that his eyes were the gate into his mind and that the things he looked at were the things that could draw him away from God’s Word and turn his attention to things that are worthless and most often destructive.

Someone has wisely said that “What the eyes do not see, the heart does not crave. But what the eyes admire, the heart desires.”

Prayer: Help us, Heavenly Father, to keep our mind on Your words and our eyes focused on things above. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 119:36 Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.

Whenever pennies were made in ancient Rome, they were always stamped with the image of the emperor on them. It served as a constant reminder to those who used the coins that they were expected to honor him and obey his laws.

In the opening verses of His Word, God said, “Let us make man to be in our image, to be like us.” Moses, quoting God, said that we have the image of our God on us. And the fact that we have the image of God on us proves our unquestionable worth to God.

People frequently talk about self-worth. Often we hear of individuals who have low self-worth. Some people even describe themselves saying, “I’m really not worth very much.” This seems to come from the opinions of others who they think are important – perhaps parents, friends or teachers. That is unfortunate because they seem to struggle to find something significant about themselves that would make them feel worthwhile.

However, it is never about self-worth, it is about God-worth. Whenever we are tempted to think that we have no significance or importance, we need to remind ourselves that we were created in the image of God. And even though that image was lost in the fall, the story does not end there. A few verses later God begins to reveal His plan of redemption which demanded the death of His Son on the cross. We see our true worth to God in Christ’s cross.

Prayer: We admit, Father, that we cannot understand how much You love us. But we accept Your grace and ask that through Christ our Savior, we will see our worth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Genesis 1:26-31 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; (Read more…)

At the end of each season in each major sport, someone is recognized as being the most valuable player. In 1942, the Most Valuable Player of the Year Award in the American League was given to a player who made the most errors, hit into more double plays than anyone else and also struck out more than any other player. His name was Joe Gordon. He was also named into the baseball players Hall of Fame.

We can learn much from Joe Gordon. Even though he failed in some categories more than other players he did not allow his failures to be final. He did not give up nor refuse to do his best. He persisted through his problems and kept struggling to be successful. And he was! Rather than giving up he stood up, faced his problems and focused on his goal: to be his best and do his best.

Paul said, “Work with enthusiasm (and) remember that God will reward each one of us for the good we do…” This word of encouragement is a point well worth pondering.

There are times, for the Christian, that we work hard and do our best to be faithful in the tasks that God brings our way. We serve without notice and with little recognition. It seems as though no one cares because no one comments. But God does indeed care and one day He will make a comment: Well done, good and faithful servant.

Prayer: Lord, for all who are weary in well doing and continue to serve You faithfully, we ask that someone somewhere will recognize the good they have done. In Your Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Ephesians 6:8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

Thomas Jefferson was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was also the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. One of his other roles was as a minister of the United States to France.

When he went to France to serve America, he presented his credentials to the French premier. As he looked at them, the premier said, “I see you’ve come to replace Benjamin Franklin.”

“No sir,” came his response. “I’ve come to succeed him. No one can replace him!”

And that is true of each of us: No one can replace us or is equipped to do the work that God has planned for us to do. What a sobering thought.

Even as our fingerprints are unique and will never be given to another person, so are the tasks and responsibilities that God has set before us. We are an “original” with our own set of credentials.

Our worth is not dependent on what we do but on who we are in Christ. Our worth does not come from what we have been able to achieve or accomplish but from God’s mercy and grace. Our worth is revealed in the price God paid for our redemption through the death of Christ on the cross.

God has something unique for each of us to do as “His minister” to His World. No one can replace us!

Prayer: May we accept our responsibility, Lord, to do what You would have us to do, knowing that You have chosen us and prepared us for something special. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Revelation 2:19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.