Shopping In The Sales

I went sales shopping today and was surprised at how quiet it was, compared to what I was expecting.

The post-Christmas sales tend to be incredibly busy with people rushing around, desperate to get more for their money.

I was amazed at some of the adverts on Christmas day for Boxing Day sales which started at 6am! It seems that, in this time of recession and financial insecurity, everyone is desperate to get the most for their money.

Everyone is hungry for more.

But I think even if I had unlimited resources, I would never be satisfied with what I could buy. I would always want more. There would always be something in me which didn't feel quite satisfied. Indeed, isn't the sole purpose of fashion to perpetuate our dissatisfaction with our lives?

It is easy to say we should be satisfied with what we have, it is so much harder to do.

There is a hunger deep inside all of us, and we try so hard to fill it and satiate it with different things.

But only one thing will satisfy.

Only one thing will give us all that we want.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

[Psalm 23:1 NLT]

I love the words of this song,

"Hungry, I come to you

For I know you satisfy.

I am empty, but I know

Your love does not run dry.

So I wait for you

I wait for you."

Instead of rushing to find our satisfaction in the sales, let's take our hunger to God. And wait for Him to satisfy us.

What's the Catch?

I've been shopping today for the first time in a while and I was amazed by how many sales and 'offers' there were around.

 

£20 off when you spend £100.  Come in to claim your free gift worth £15.  Buy two, get one free.

 

Offers which, on the surface, seem good. 

 

But there is always a catch.

 

I have to spend £100 to get £20 off.  I have to purchase several items and sign up to monthly emails to get a 'free' gift.  I have to buy two of something (which I might not even need or want), in order to get a third (again, which I might neither need nor want), for 'free'.

 

'Free' doesn't really mean 'free' anymore, does it?

 

There is always a catch.

 

Is that why we struggle to accept Jesus' words and promises?  Eternal life, forgiveness for all of the things we've done wrong, and a restoration of our relationship with our heavenly Father.  For free?

 

Is there a catch?

 

Yes. 

 

But not for us. 

 

Jesus has already paid the price to secure these things for us.  He laid down His perfect, flawless life as a sacrifice, or an exchange, for us.  He, quite literally, paid the cost on our behalf, so that we can enjoy the freedom that that brings.  We can have eternal life, we can receive forgiveness for the things that we've done wrong and our relationship with our heavenly Father can be restored.

 

Because Jesus paid the price.

"God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ."

[2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT]

 

In the examples from my shopping experience: Jesus has paid the £100, I just get to use the £20 off.  He has purchased several items and signed up for the emails; I get the free gift.  He has bought two items and given me the third for free.

 

It is free only because Jesus has paid the cost.  We get all of the benefits without having to pay any of the costs.

 

Is there a catch?  Yes.  But Jesus has already paid it for us.