Read 1 Peter 1:18-21
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (vs.18, 19).
When someone shows up at church in a chic new dress or an obviously trendy new suit, the question that rises mentally (though unexpressed if properly filtered by cultural norms) — “How much did it cost?” Paul laid aside linguistic niceties to communicate his inspired assess-ment of the value of our redemption. He is saying in effect what some are tempted to say in response to the question here illustrated — “Never mind, you could never afford it!” And, we truly had no resources to purchase redemption from our predicament. There is little to nothing that diminishes the perceived value of our redemption more than the perception — real or imagined — that we were good enough, wealthy enough, moral enough, and sufficiently pedigreed or holy enough to deserve it. The songwriter, Augustus M. Toplady, nailed it with the assertion — “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.” In this — in Him — lies our hope, our confidence, our faith, and our future. You better believe it! (Wayne Sams)

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child and forever I am. — Fanny Crosby

“The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

This devotional is the Saturday, March 4, 2017 entry of Opening the Word.