Worthy

I have a worn dollar bill tucked away in my wallet. It's away from the other bills that are crisp, folded and ready to spend. There is a tear that almost splits the paper in half, and without a little clear tape--it's not likely to be accepted at any store. It's my reminder of value.

There is one place that will take that dollar. In fact, they will take it and give me a brand new crisp dollar bill in return for it. The bank actually has an agreement with the place the dollar came from: the Federal Reserve. If you read the bill carefully, you can find out a lot about it's origin and age. Signatures, imprints and serial numbers call out each bill as unique.

For every dollar they get, that government entity recognizes it as legal tender. Dollar for dollar, coin for coin. As long as it's a little over half there, they count it as whole.

Counterfeit bills don't make it back out into circulation. You can't even get an even trade for it. Once it's flagged, it's bagged and the route from which it came is traced to the culprit who tried to fool the system. Fire is it's destination.

Real currency that is torn, stained and ragged is returned to the Federal Reserve where they print more to replace them. And the tattered money is incinerated. Never to be seen again.

I know people who wouldn't pick up a penny, much less a damaged dollar bill. They can't see the true value laying at their feet.

Have you ever looked into the eyes of someone who's been torn apart by the world? How about someone tattered by substance abuse? What about those who are half there because a physical or emotional abuse have left them hanging? Or have you crossed paths with the one who wears their sin as clear as a torn dollar bill, and can't seem to fix it on their own?

The world will say there is no value in that person. The world will say to lock them up, take them out of circulation...they add no value to this earth.

But the Creator of that soul knows full well the value of that human. They have His imprint, His signature, He strung together their DNA...He knows their name and the path that has dropped them at His feet. Where others will step over them and abandon them, God stoops, reaches out and grasps them in His fingertips.

"There you are! I knew I'd find you...my treasure!"

And in God's hands, something amazing happens. That torn human becomes reborn. The tattered life is renewed, the battered soul is bright and fresh again. Where once stood a devalued life, now stands a priceless child of God--ready to face the fire that would've suffocated them before. Because a new life is not without it's trials and consequences.

It's time to spend your life wisely.  The price has already been paid for us. Let's look forward in 2017 and dream of God-possibilities!



"Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:8-10