Pastor Ethan Boese
Back to School Shopping
2 Corinthians 5:21 – God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
We went to Target a few weeks ago. And as I looked at the supplies list for my child, I was teleported back in time to when my parents would take me back to school shopping.
I recalled how I always wanted the “cool” school stuff. The specialized backpack or binder that was way too expensive, or the eye-catching mechanical pencils in place of the boring regular #2s. My mom worked at Kohl’s. Which meant this was also the time of the year for us when Kohl’s cash was equivalent to gold. So we would also go “back to school” clothes and shoes shopping. There I was again, desiring the brand-named stuff.
Now that I am on the other side of this back-to-school shopping, I have finally come to the realization as to why I never received whatever my heart desired. These things are expensive. The 99-cent folder and $1.25 crayons are way more financially reasonable than their expensive counterparts. I had to pay $35.00 for size 10 in youth’s gym shoes, no wonder Kohl’s cash had a greater value than all the gold of King Solomon.
Jesus paid a price for you. It was an expensive price. There was no “back to school” sale or Kohl’s cash available to offset the cost. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us…” Let us understand what Paul says correctly. Jesus didn’t just pay for our sins, Jesus became our sins. And in becoming our sins Jesus suffered the full wrath of God that was meant for us. All so that “…we might become the righteousness of God.” That we would be given the credit of the perfect life that Jesus lived obeying all of God’s commands. So that when our God now looks at you, he does not see your sins, rather God sees Jesus’ perfection.
In my humble opinion when it comes to back-to-school shopping, the item does not justify the cost. Mechanical pencils are not as reliable as the tried and true #2s. Shoes are shoes, regardless if they are Nike, Hey Dude, or some off brand. However, as parents there are the moments where we do spend the big bucks and we do buy our children the nice things because we want to show our love to them in that moment in that manner.
You are expensive. Yet Jesus loves you. Jesus cannot bear the thought of not having you with him for eternity in heaven. Jesus cannot bear the thought of only paying for the sins of a few of us instead of all of us. So Jesus went “shopping.” And when he saw the price tag on you and me which read: Perfect Life, Death for Sins, Resurrection – Jesus willingly paid the tremendously high cost as he suffered Hell on that cross and shed his own blood. You are incredible valuable in the eyes of your Savior.
Lord’s Richest Blessings as you begin the school season in the Lord!
Pastor Boese
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
On each non-communion Sunday, Pastor Boese will invite children of all ages forward for the Children’s Message before the Hymn of the Day. Parents with young children may join them as they desire.
