In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.—Ephesians 1:7 (NIV)

My sister Erica and her husband came to visit us last summer. Erica has an online reselling business that she is constantly curating for. This means hitting thrift shops and secondhand stores on a regular basis. While she was here, we went to a couple of them together. I lingered in the different aisles looking for cute items that caught my eye, but Erica had a different approach. A woman on a mission, she zoomed through the racks to find specific brands, many I didn’t recognize. Some items she chose, such as a worn pair of shoes and a brightly patterned shirt, didn’t look like much to me. But Erica knew their true worth at a glance. I was just looking for cute outfits. Erica was looking at the hidden value of each piece she picked up. 

My sister isn’t the only one who knows the value of something is often below the surface. Jesus sees the true value of each of us. I may not feel like my life is worth much, but Jesus disagreed. He paid the price to redeem me from my sins. Through His costly death, He bought me forgiveness and eternal life. I never have to doubt my worth because I know I’m worthy and valuable—in fact, I’m priceless in His sight.

Faith Step: When you question your true worth, grab your favorite pair of old jeans, hold them close, and remind yourself that no matter how you feel about yourself or what your condition, Jesus thinks you’re valuable—valuable enough to die for.