Garage sales are not my favorite thing to do. They’re a lot of work put together. And then there’s the garage sale veterans who haggle over the price of everything. My apologies if you are one. 

“So, that can opener is marked $1 and you want to know if I’ll take 75 cents for it? Seriously?” 

Jesus once told a story about a merchant seeking fine pearls who found a perfect one (a big deal in the first century). He sells everything that he has and hands all the money over, without haggling, to obtain that one pearl of great value (Matthew 13:45-46). Obviously, not a garage sale veteran. This story is telling us something about God. Like the merchant, God knows great value when God sees it.  And God is willing to give everything for something of great value!

“Christ Jesus… though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8, NRSV)

Want to know what God considers to be highly valuable? Look in the mirror. Then remember that in Jesus Christ, God gave everything in order to be in relationship you. And be thankful that God isn't a garage sale verteran!

Click here to listen to more (November 15 sermon).

Your partner on the journey,

Pastor Steve