Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. Matthew 26:14-15

I think most of us would agree that $1,673,000 is not small change.

Maybe, but that’s the price paid last week at an auction in Gettysburg, PA. True, this is a special sword. The citizens of Kentucky gave the beautiful gold and silver weapon with the diamond monogram to General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant in 1864. It’s a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. But a million-and-a-half dollars is more than I would pay for such an item (if I had a million-and-a-half dollars).

Honesty, and my bank, both compel me to say that I will also not be bidding for the “world’s oldest running car.” The steam-powered vehicle, manufactured in 1884, is going to be placed on the auction block in August at Pebble Beach, Ca. That vehicle is expected to bring in somewhere between $1.5 and $2 million dollars.

You probably agree that while these historical items are of considerable interest, they’re simply not “millions of dollars interesting.”

So let me ask you, “How much is Jesus worth?” The High Priests of Israel were willing to pay thirty pieces of silver to have the Christ placed into their hands. Because Pontius Pilate thought Jesus was worth less than his political career, he was willing to send an innocent man to the cross. Over the centuries, martyrs have thought Jesus was so valuable that they were willing to suffer and die in terrible ways rather than renounce Him.

But what is Jesus worth to you? It is a question that can hardly be considered rhetorical. Remember, Jesus believed your forgiveness and eternal salvation to be of such eternal importance and worth that He was willing to suffer, die, and rise for you. So we ask again, “What is Jesus worth to you?” Will His value be reflected in the way you live your life today? Will your language be respectful and devoid of blasphemy? In all the work you do, will its quality reflect the importance of the Savior who lives within your heart? Will the people who meet you walk away knowing that Jesus is your dearest friend, your greatest strength, your constant companion?

By the Holy Spirit’s power, may the answer to all these questions be, “Jesus is my valued Savior, Counselor, and Lord.” May you be able to say, “This day and every day I shall glorify Him.”

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, You lived Your life, and You gave Your days, so I might be saved. May the joy of my blood-bought redemption be reflected in all I do today. In Your Name, Amen.

Today's Bible Readings: 1 Kings 14-15    Acts 12

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