"Matter"

How much do you matter,

Do you really want to know,

When it comes down to it,

I want to tell and show,

That what we think has value,

Is shown by what is paid,

No matter the appraisal,

The bottom line is laid.

And when it comes to people,

How does one count the cost,

No matter if they’re famous,

Or unknown and so lost.

I think I know the answer,

It’s found in God’s own book,

And if we want to understand,

We must take a look.

It says we all have value,

The Lord loves one and all,

And He is no respecter,

He’ll save all those who call.

With Him there are no favorites,

He welcomes every race,

Every single person,

He gives a special place.

And bottom line the price was paid,

The blood that Jesus shed,

Shows us what we’re really worth,

The cross where He was led.

And no earthly possessions,

Or accomplishments at all,

Or even human failure,

Though we stumble and we fall,

Can ever change the mercy,

Or ever separate,

He loves without condition,

And this trumps every fate.

Never doubt you matter,

And the same for others, too,

Love the God who paid the price,

With Jesus’ blood for you.

“And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God…” (1 Peter 1:18-19, NLT)

We belong to Him because He is the Creator. But even more importantly, because He is our Redeemer. His ownership of us and willingness to sacrifice His Son to redeem us establishes our value eternally. If you are devalued by others for any reason, it contradicts what God has said and done where you are concerned. We may even devalue ourselves, living life more as an apology than an affirmation. But, again, this contradicts God’s truth about us. And it is not some dry, religious platitude that we’re talking about, We are talking about a passionate, hilarious, beautiful, purposeful adventure of grace, love and mercy to the highest degree. This, in spite of life’s trials and trouble. You matter. We matter. All lives, all the time and forever. It’s good to know.

Lord, help us gain our value from You, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Don Dane, dondane.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Don, and God bless you.