1 Corinthians 6:20a
You were bought at a price.

Today I had a conversation about CDs. And about burning CDs. And about whether or not that's such a legal thing. Now, I'm not turning this Evotion into a debate over the ethics of CD burning, but it did get me thinking about how the whole issue applies to my walk with Christ. Take my word for it, I wish that it didn't apply and you may feel the same way in a minute or two. If so, I know that there's plenty of room at the cross for any others who may feel the need to repent. I checked while I was there a moment ago...

Imagine an artist working day and night for weeks, months, maybe years to put together a CD so hot that everyone who hears it wants it. Now that artist paid the price for the success he or she is experiencing. All of us would agree about that. In fact, you may feel that the artist also deserves some payback for their work. Well, the people who set up the royalty system would agree with you because that is exactly how artists are "rewarded" for their work. So everytime a copy of that phenominal, chart-topping CD is burned, that artist is in some way being ripped off of some payback. Now that all of you whose music libraries are made up entirely of burned CDs are ready to lynch me, let's move on to the real point.

Jesus, the Bible says in our verse, clearly paid a price for our salvation. Not only that, but many saints have gone before us and paid the price in prayer for the level of God's presence we enjoy today. Even taken out of the spiritual realm we see this principle at work. We live in a free country because many soldiers were willing to pay the price - often the steep price of their lives- to ensure that freedom. And how often do we rip them off by taking for granted what cost them so dearly?

How many times have a sat in church and withheld from Jesus the reward He deserves for the price He paid on the cross for me? Everytime I experience His blessings, His presence, His provision without paying any price for it in prayer, worship or obedience, is it any different than burning a CD and enjoying music at no cost to myself? David said in 2 Samuel 24:24, "I will not offer to God sacrifices that cost me nothing." There's just something about paying the price that makes what you get even more meaningful. And I want my walk with God to be something I cherish. Something unique. I don't want my relationship with Jesus to be some burned copy of someone else's.

That's why I'm here, at the cross, telling God I'm sorry.

What's that? Oh, sure, I can move over...