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A series of commercials from Master Card has featured the word “priceless.” The commercials describe some extravagant purchases the owner of the credit card makes: dinner at a five-star restaurant, a limousine ride, a diamond ring, celebrating his wife’s birthday – priceless!

As I watch those commercials, I think, “Sure … but how are you going to pay off the credit card bill?” That comes with a price. Suddenly priceless gets pricey.

If God’s blessing came with a price tag on it, who could afford it? The price to obtain God’s favor would cost you your life. Unless you have kept every command of God perfectly, you cannot expect even an ounce of his favor.

The testimony of God’s Word says, “The ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough – that he should live on forever and not see decay” (Psalm 49:8-9).

With a great sense of relief, we know that God’s grace is free. He demands nothing from us. He gives us everything. He leaves us under no obligations because Jesus has so perfectly met them all.

The apostle Paul thanked God for his priceless grace given to the Corinthians in Christ Jesus. If you read 1 Corinthians, you will find how this group deserved none of God’s favor. If you read your life accurately, you will come to the same conclusion.

Jesus Christ secured God’s grace for us. His priceless, perfect life established the standard of conduct God accepted for all sinners. His priceless blood shed on the cross established that no curse for sin remains for any sinner anywhere.

When you know this and believe it, then you are enriched in every way. If you choose not to believe it, you have forfeited your riches and lose everything. Embrace God’s priceless grace in Christ Jesus to enjoy being enriched in every way.

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“I wanna’ hold your hand.” Remember that Beatle’s tune? We appreciate a personal touch. But in this verse of the Bible from Isaiah, the picture isn’t so much of romantic lovers, but of the parent who is taking the child by the hand. Can you picture it? The parent along with the toddler needs to cross the street, so the parent takes the toddler by the hand, guiding and protecting.

Surprisingly, in our Bible reading, the picture is that God the Father is the parent, and it’s Jesus’ hand which is being held. It reminds us that Jesus – the true God – became truly human, with our human weaknesses and needs. And so God the Father guided him, protected him, indeed, “held his hand” as he walked Jesus through life and finally to his death on the cross. The Father was guiding, protecting and holding his Son through it all.

But to what end? It was all for YOUR benefit, and MINE! It was all so that forgiveness and eternal life could be won for YOU and for ME! The Father held the hand of the Son, guiding him, directing him, caring for him, but ultimately with your interests in mind.

Now God the Father, because of the work of his Son, can look at you and say, “I wanna’ hold your hand, too.” And he does!

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Achievement and recognition, the two usually go hand in hand. Take any field of endeavor. Achievement usually leads to some kind of recognition. For the diligent student, it means better scholarship offers. For the dedicated athlete, it nets a more lucrative contract. For the ambitious employee, it results in better opportunities and compensation. Because achievement and recognition are so closely linked, it is hard to reconcile the thought of glory in humility. Few people recognize the humble or take notice of those who stand in the shadows of the lime light. Still, this is exactly what Jesus did when he came to this earth, and it is the truth to which John testifies so clearly and powerfully.

Jesus came to this earth to take on flesh and blood. He came to live with all people, and he came to live for me. He came to be my Substitute and my Savior.

I was under God’s just sentence for my sin and powerless to change the verdict. I desperately needed someone to rescue me. That someone was Jesus, and it meant he had to take my place in order to secure my release. Consequently, he subjected himself to humility by stepping down from his power and glory as God to become my servant. In serving me, he subjected himself to life on this earth, as well as the shameful death and punishment I deserved.

Here is where I see glory in humility. When Jesus gave up his power as the Son of God, it was to his glory. When Jesus endured my humility, it was to his praise. When Jesus endured the burden of my guilt, it was to proclaim the greatness of his undeserved love. From the world’s perspective this makes little sense. From God’s perspective, and for my rescue, it means everything.

I have a faithful and loving Savior. He allowed himself to be humiliated, condemned and crucified. In the process he secured my release, set me apart for heaven, and sealed his glory forever.

Although it may be hard to reconcile glory in humility, I see it accomplished in Jesus. He is the glorious Son of God. He is the humble Servant of grace and truth. He is my faithful Substitute and Savior.

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Sunday marks the beginning of a new year. This year new dreams will develop. New resolutions will be written down. New goals will be dreamed up. You will grow in wisdom. You will see children increase their knowledge. You will see people develop in the school of hard knocks.

As we look into Scripture, we also see people who grew over the years. Samuel was one of those. He grew up in the house of the high priest in Israel where he learned about his Lord. He served the Lord as he worked for the high priest. Most notable about the youth of Samuel is the description that “Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with men.”

As you start a new year, have you given thought about how you will continue to grow in stature and favor before the Lord? You grow as you hold on to the promises of God. Some of these promises include the promise of forgiveness for your sins, the promise of God who protects you and cares for you, the promise of God who remains with you in every situation. In addition to holding on to these promises, you also grow in stature and favor with the Lord as you live in response to the promises God has made.

So we are encouraged, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your heart to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:16-17).

As you mark the beginning of a new year, take the time to also look into the Word of God. Continue to grow in your faith as you make use of his Word and apply it to your life.