I heard Jack Graham preach today on the radio.   He was talking about a lot of stuff but one thing stuck out was a little part of an analogy he was making that prompted me to think of this bit today.

I am most thankful, this Thanksgiving, for Christ’s paying the Price.

I think being a Christian has a little in common with being in one of those Most Expensive Stores out there.  You know, the kind where you don’t ask “how much is this?” before you buy it.

Graham was talking about how we must be prepared to give up everything we have.  For many of us, there’s a point in our walk where we really do get to face the decision to give everything to the Lord.  There is the point where we don’t even look at the receipt, just pick up the directions Christ gives us without considering the cost.

That’s where I am thankful, that he paid the price for our sins and that we get the freedom to serve him fully without reserve, without having to hold in reserve some part of our bank account for a rainy day.  No hoarding the food for some later month or hogging the gas “just in case.”

In Luke, Christ calls for the young rich guy to give it all up.

“One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

In Luke again, Zacchaeus really does give it all up.

“Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”

In Acts, Ananias and Sapphira didn’t get the gist of the directions.

This really is a promise as much as a commandment.  For us to surrender all is for us to be free from the bonds of all.

Thank you, Lord, for your great blessing of true liberty.  Thank you for lifting us from our worldly cages, those bonds that we have made for ourselves.

I thank you for your wonderful examples of how this commitment works.  Thank you for Steve Smith (and all his family, even), who has been living out your commandment to Not Count The Cost in reaching out with your Gospel to the world.

Thank you for all the pastors we’ve had in our many churches who continue on with their great ministries though shy the great funding and all the comforts that this world affords so many great leaders.

Thank you for the brave, tireless souls in our military who strive to serve you while serving the country, short on pay, often dirty, worn-down, hungry and scared.

Thank you for my little family, and that we can learn from your Word how we too can walk into the store of your blessings and guidance and not have to check the price-tags.