Ever watched Antiques Roadshow? People bring their old paintings and furniture, to learn about their history and have them valued. Then there’s always that one dirty, battered item that someone’s dug out from the depths of their attic. It doesn’t look much. But the expert recognises its value straight away, and the most unassuming thing that’s been ignored and forgotten for years turns out to be worth thousands of pounds. That’s the same way God sees us. When you think about the people Jesus called to be His disciples, some of them could be described as ‘dysfunctional’. But Jesus wasn’t put off. Like finding treasure in the attic, He could see their potential, draw it out and develop it. The truth is, we were all passed over and ignored until Jesus saw the true value in us. But rather than paying a bargain price, He paid the highest price possible. ‘While we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ (Romans 5:8 NIV). Paul wrote, ‘You are a letter from Christ…written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God.’ Other people don’t write your story. Even you don’t. ‘The Spirit of the living God’ is writing it. He looks past our flaws and weaknesses, and sees our true potential. So no matter how much we’ve been cast aside and rejected by others, we can be sure that God treasures us and knows our true worth.

What now?
Look in the mirror and remind yourself, ‘God paid the highest possible price for me. Then go out and try to see others as treasures God couldn’t live without, who Christ died to redeem.