"Did You Know..?"

Did you know that every day the things around us lose its value? The value of money, value of life, value of Christ..!

Today I need you to take a stroll back down memory lane. Remember, if you can, the first dollar you earned. Do you remember how you wanted to hold on to it but again the urge to spend it on something of your choice? Now think about the first car you bought? If you were like most people you showed it off to everybody, including some of the people you worked with. And all of your friends and families had to see it. You would even go as far as to tell about all the great features it has and for the first month you kept it sparkling so that everyone would know it was new.

Now for those of us that have children or have had a girlfriend/boyfriend think about how you felt when they first came into your life. Most of us went out of our way in one way or another. For our children many spend months looking for the perfect name. Others spend way too much fixing up that nursery, and when he/she finally arrived more money gets spent on pictures. For those that can’t relate to the child experience consider your boyfriend/girlfriend. Think back to when you first met. Do you recall talking for hours trying to get to know all you could about each other. Then while dating the both of you would go out of your way to make sure you impressed one another. Men I’m sure you took her out on nice dates, while you ladies spent way too much time in the bathroom trying to get ready.

This next trip I want you to think back to the day you felt Christ touch your heart. You know, the day you knew you wanted to change and be saved. Yeah, I know your smiling on the inside remembering the warmth that enveloped you, causing you to feel both guilty and comforted at the same. This was because for the first time in your life you knew everything was going to be ok. After getting saved you wanted to share your bliss with everyone, and despite your fears you wanted to give back to the world somehow. You wanted to show Christ that you were thankful for his death and grace. So you told God in your heart that you would share his redemptive story.

                But something happened..! Think back again to your first experiences, this time instead of earning it, think about when it was given freely. Chances are that dollar was spent w/out thought. As for the car, the average male drove it like it was stolen, even though chances are he kept it tuned up. While the average female only put gas in it, not ever considering a  tune-up or the like. Children & boy/girlfriends  don’t fit in the ”freely given” category, but all the same, once time had passes they too were not cherished as the day they first arrived. The saddest part in all of this is we treat Christ the same way. I have come to the conclusion that anything that fits in the “maintenance” category will be neglected after a while. Many will argue this fact because they don’t want to look like bad parents or stewards of the things they own. But if you are honest with yourself you know this is true.

                Unlike us however, Christ did not give up on his commitment(s) he stayed with it until the bitter end, that in turn became our sweet salvation. So I extend to you this challenge; search your heart to find the value of things once cherished. Do you show your children the love that you once had for them, more importantly do they know you love them? Do you show your significant other that he/she is not a thing of the past and that you still love them with the same fire as when you met? Above all others make sure you don’t forget the one who died for you, the one that still despite our faults goes before God on our behalf. Lastly don’t forget the commitment you made on the day he touched your heart.