"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"
-Psalm 8: 1

How Much It Cost?

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." (Genesis 1: 27) Just like that, God created his most treasured creation, us. Those of you who have received these Hello From Maple Grove e-mails for awhile know that I am often inspired by songs that I hear. Recently I was listening to the Michael W. Smith song, "Here I Am To Worship." Part of the chorus of that song goes: "I'll never know how much it cost, To see my sin upon that cross." In a world where we spend thousands and thousands of dollars on things such as homes, cars, clothing, jewelry, entertainment, etc...can we fathom the cost that Jesus paid for us by dying on the cross for our sins? Is there a dollar amount that can even come close to describing that 'cost'?

Our Lord truly is awesome, even indescribable. In Psalm 8:1 David writes "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" David is writing a praise to an awesome God. A God that isn't distant from us though. Our God is a God who knows us and cares for us, although that fact in itself is a wonder. "When I consider your heavens, the works of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?" (Psalm 8: 3-4) Who are we, that God would care so much for us? And yet, not only does God care for us, He loves us so much that He was willing to offer the greatest of sacrifices to pay the cost of our sinful nature.

Jesus, the Son of God, paid this cost for us. "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God, something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2: 6-8) Our Lord, who created us (Genesis 1: 27), our majestic Lord (Psalm 8: 1), the one who created the heavens, earth, moon, and stars (Psalm 8: 3-4) humbled Himself, left His heavenly realm, took on the appearance of man, and became obedient to death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2: 6-8) because of His great love for us. Can you put a price on that? I know that I can't. I will never comprehend or understand 'how much it cost', but I am truly thankful! May all of us take some time to praise the Lord and tell him thank-you! "Thank you Lord for creating me, knowing me, loving me. I confess to you Lord my sinfulness, and weaknesses. I praise you, Lord, for the sacrifice you have paid for me. Thank you, Jesus, for paying the cost of my sin. Help me Lord to accept that gift and to live my life in appreciation of it. Amen."

Take a moment and encourage someone this week.

I pray that all is well with you. Please let me know if you have any prayer concerns or praises. Have a great week and remember to smile :), the Lord loves you!

In Christ,

Shan D. Hartsough

"When I consider your heavens, the works of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?"
-Psalm 8: 3-4

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