"Bought"

What’s it take to buy you,

To make you so submit,

To how they can control you,

To speak up or to quit.

Is it only money,

Or favor or a break,

To go along or look away,

Just what will it take.

The politicians do it,

it is a way of life,

But in most endeavors,

Cuts just like a knife.

To tear down what is righteous,

Dull down what is true,

Throws away integrity,

And betrays me and you.

So next time you’re tempted,

Just to go along,

To pay back some cheap favor,

Don’t do it, it is wrong.

“For you know that God paid a ransom to save you…” (1 Peter 1:18, NLT)

God bought and paid for us with the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. This shows both our need and our value. All the more reason to never sell out for anything less. And life is full of offers. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And all too often things that are promised come with a high price tag. You help me and I’ll make it worth your while. But greasing the palm or placating the demand of someone with an agenda is never what God wants. In fact, we are called to honor the One who truly bought us before all others. If we become slaves of Jesus we become free indeed.

Lord, deliver us from every harmful, sinful compromise, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Jack Sorenson, jacksorensonfineart.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Jack, and God bless you.