1 Peter 1:18-19 – 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. (KJV)

Just recently, I received an email from a well-known Christian establishment. The email subject read, "Slightly Imperfect Gift Sale". The items had minor chips or scratches that caused them to fall short of perfection.

It got me to thinking about how far we humans fall short of perfection, yet, in order to receive the precious gift of salvation, there are no special criteria that we have to meet and no molds that we have to fit into.

We are eligible simply because we are sinners. Human beings were originally created perfectly by the Creator Himself. Through the fall of sin, all the rest of us became imperfect. But to God, our value was not diminished.

Just think: our perfect God did not auction us off or reduce our value to Himself. Instead, He paid the highest price that He could to redeem us from sin: He gave His very own life!

The more that I thought about the imperfect gift sale items email, the more humbled that I was. My salvation means everything to me. I am so grateful for it.

Thoughts of love, thankfulness, and appreciation sprang up in me, and are best expressed, I believe, in the following poem:

Created in perfection
Sin had now crept in
But we were still
His prized possession
We meant the world to Him

Jesus was not seeking
The rich, the qualified
For whosoever will He came
When on the cross He died

We were not auctioned off
Or our price reduced by sale
Jesus paid the highest price
Still bears it in His body
The scars from all the nails

So unlike my recent email
Imperfect gifts reduced in price
We meant so much to Jesus
He willingly laid down His life

Psalm 8:1a – O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! (KJV)

1 Timothy 1:17 – Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (KJV)

Prayer: Lord, our hearts overflow with thanksgiving and praise when we think about how much You love us and care for us, and how much You sacrificed on our behalf. Amen.

Forward this devotional     Share on Facebook

About the author:

Cheryl Mariano (Cheremiah) <cherylmariano@gmail.com>
Casa Grande, Arizona, USA
Send your feedback to the author