Have you ever watched the television game show “The Price Is Right” (TPIR)? I used to watch it as a kid and I wasn’t even interested in most of the products on the show. It was the excitement to guess the price and to see what sort of prizes would be offered! While writing this post I checked out some YouTube videos of TPIR in the 1980s and the one I stumbled across had the contestants bidding on “picture heaters”. The contestants and even Bob Barker were confused as to what a picture heater was (and I still am).
My whole life I’ve been fascinated with prices and I am certain that if I were a contestant on TPIR I’d win a new car. My obsession with prices drives my wife crazy. She bought egg whites the other day, and then my curiosity kicked in… The container says 15 eggs so my guess would be $7 so to find out if I was correct, I asked her how much they were. She said, “I don’t know, I’ll have to check the receipt”. Knowing I can be annoying about this I held off for a couple of days and asked again. Unfortunately, there’s no receipt so I’m making plans to head to the store and find out myself. I just have to know. Was the price right?
While the price-guessing game is fun, it reminds me of the things in life that cost everything and the things that cost nothing. Price is always important.
Today’s reading: 2 Samuel 3-5; 1 Chronicles 12; Psalm 122; Acts 22
In Acts 22:24-25 Paul is about to be whipped so he asks the centurion if this treatment was lawful for a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned.
“I am, too,” the commander muttered, “and it cost me plenty!” Paul answered, “But I am a citizen by birth!” (Acts 22:28)
Paul’s citizenship ended up saving him from the beating. He paid nothing for it, yet it could have saved his life. This leads to thoughts of the cross where like the commander, the cross cost Jesus plenty (everything), yet salvation for us is a free gift if we choose to put our faith, hope, and trust in Christ alone.
Too often I find myself wanting more of the things I don’t need and not being thankful for the things I already have. Let’s pause together to give thanks, palms up, eyes closed with gratitude for the one who paid it all.