For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24

In this devotion no names or political parties will be mentioned.

What we will say is an American politician is currently asking for $300,000 to make a speech at a university. Since this is a public university, the $300,000 is the marked-down price for this individual's appearance. I guess that's free enterprise at its best ... or worst.

Think about that: $300,000!

For the life of me, I can't think of what any human being might say that would make their presentation worth $300,000. Well, maybe they might be worth the $300,000 price tag if they had a foolproof plan to make peace between the Jews and the Palestinians, or knew how to get North Korea to disarm, or how -- using just the stuff a person has in his medicine cabinet -- he could cure Ebola, AIDS and cancer.

To the best of my knowledge, the speaker will not be addressing those topics during the message, so I guess I'd be reluctant to cough up that kind of cash, which is being asked for.

Hold it! Wait! There is another exception. I'd be willing to pay any amount of money to hear Jesus speak. In Mark 1:22, it says, the people at Capernaum's were "astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes."

I should think so.

Well, if I had it, I would gladly pay $300,000 to hear Jesus call people to repentance, or hear Him offer forgiveness to a troubled sinner, or watch the faces of the crowd after the Savior called Lazarus out of his grave.

Most Christians would pay a bundle to hear Jesus teach the Lord's Prayer and to sit at the table on Maundy Thursday when He said, "Take eat, this is My body; take drink, this is My blood" (see Matthew 26:26-28). Knowing He was carrying your sins and dying your death, what price wouldn't you pay to stand in support at the foot of the cross?

Of course, paying Jesus isn't necessary.

Jesus, the greatest Teacher and Philosopher the world has ever seen, never charged anybody a penny to hear Him talk about how He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. Jesus, the only Savior this world will ever need and will ever see, never passed the collection plate before He spoke of God's love and grace.

No, Jesus never charged. He just gave.

He gave His words, His time, His life for the purpose of saving us from our mortal enemies: sin, death and devil. He gave Himself and in so doing offered us all we need to be moved from hell into heaven, from being a slave under Satan's rule to an adopted child in the Father's family.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I could never begin to pay You for the many sacrifices You have made and given the gifts which save. Even though I cannot pay You, be with me so I can live a life of thanksgiving for all You have done. This I ask in Your Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 107, 126    Revelation 10

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