ransom

     A few years ago there was a true story about a man in New York City who was kidnapped. His kidnappers called his wife and asked for $100,000 ransom. She talked them down to $30,000.

     The story had a happy ending: the man returned home unharmed, the money was recovered, and the kidnappers were caught and sent to jail.  But don't you wonder what happened when the man got home and found that his wife got him back for a discount?

     Calvin Trillin was the writer of this story. He imagined what the negotiations must have been like: "$100,000 for that old guy?  You have got to be crazy.  Just look at him! Look at that gut!  You want $100,000 for that?  You've got to be kidding.  Give me a break here.  $30,000 is my top offer."

     I can sympathize with the kidnapped man because I wonder how much the people in my life think that I'm worth.  But I am flattered beyond description to realize that I was worth enough to God that He was willing to pay the ultimate price for my ransom, my redemption.  As Peter put it:

     "You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot." (I Peter 1:18-19)

     Ultimately, the value of something (or someone) is determined by how much someone is willing to pay for it.  A piece of art that may be worth millions of dollars to someone else may be worth less than a hundred dollars to me.  The worth of something is determined by how much we're willing to pay for it.

     What that means is that we are of tremendous value to God.  He didn't quibble about the price, but was willing to pay the full ransom amount -- the highest ransom ever paid!

-alan smith