John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
And now we turn to the true valuation of a person, as God estimates it. A well-worn pair of Levi Jeans from the 1880s recently sold for $76,000.00 at an auction. Being worn and threadbare in some places, it did not, and could not have such a high valuation, in and of itself.
Originally, it did have some worth, but its current value was based solely upon what that person was willing to pay for it. Thus, that pair of Jeans is now very valuable in the sight of the one who had forked over such a large sum of money to procure it.
Similarly, with the valuation of persons; originally, we had value, and that is one of the reasons why God made that decision to purchase us back to Himself. But currently, what gives us such a high valuation is the price that was paid for us.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!