How do you pay for something that you purchase today? Who do you pay? When do you pay? Where do you pay? The answer, I suppose, depends on what the product or service is and who is making the purchase. Consider how much variation there is in paying for something today.
WHO do you pay? You might pay one person at a restaurant window, and then another person gives you what you paid for. You might pay a bank for a product that is given to you by a company.
WHEN do you pay? You may pay before you receive the product in a pre-order. You may put it on layaway, and make payments before receiving a product. You may purchase on credit, and make payments after receiving a product.
HOW do you pay? You could use cash, you could use a check, you could use a credit card. You could pay in-person or online. You could barter and exchange some good or services for what you want.
Systems and methods of payment vary so much that often questions must be asked to determine the exact who, what, when, where and how, in order to make sure it is done right. What does that have to do with anything spiritual?
The Bible talks about Jesus making a purchase. Did you know that Jesus bought something? First, He “redeemed His people” (Luke 1:68) “from every lawless deed” (Tit. 2:14) “to God” (Rev. 5:9). When and how did He do that? Second, which is identical with the first, He “purchased” His “church” (Acts 20:28). When and how did He do that?
The currency that Jesus used was not any “corruptible things, like silver or gold” (1 Pet. 1:18). No, what He “gave” in this purchase was “Himself” (Tit. 2:14). “He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28)—His “precious blood” (1 Pet. 1:19).
Jesus did not use a credit plan or a layaway plan. He paid in full in “the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8). Truly, “you were bought at a price” (1 Cor. 6:20)—the steep price of “the blood of His cross” (Col. 1:20).
Stop and reflect for a moment. That is how valuable you are to Him! He did not look for a clearance rack or a coupon! He gave all that He had to save your soul! Why would He do that? The simple answer is: He loves you! “His great love with which He loved us” (Eph. 2:4) is a hard thing to fathom, and the blessings we receive are just as unfathomable.
So, what should we do with this information? You no longer belong to yourself! You belong to Him, by right of purchase! “Therefore,” here it is, “glorify God” (1 Cor. 6:20).
-David Sproule
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