Hang On To That Receipt!

“For you were bought with a price.” 1 Cor. 6:20

I was at a Women’s Conference recently that was so good. It was encouraging, inspiring and really motivated my desire to serve Him even more. I was on a “spiritual high” for the weekend but, eventually, we all come down from that high.

Being there in person was kind of like shopping in God’s department store. My “shopping experience” had all the feelings that a customer has during their purchase journey. It began well before the actual transaction and continues on. I saw and experienced things I really wanted that will make me more like Him. I can use them to become more like Him. I dropped the items in my spiritual shopping cart. I worked with a sales person (the Holy Spirit) to complete my purchase. I submitted my payment by submitting myself to Him and then I was done! The final sale was just between God and I. The cost was submission.

When we’re at a high point in our Christian walk, we excitedly accept all that God has to offer. We accept His love and agree to love others. We accept forgiveness and agree to forgive others. We accept the gift of being a servant and agree to serve others. We accept the more difficult challenges to walk against culture, to break old habits, to be in the world but not of the world, to take up our cross daily. We put all these things in our spiritual cart. Some things are harder than others. We can’t decide how much we really want it. We’re on a “high” though so we toss it in at the last minute. It might cost us a little more but it’s worth it.

Every item came listed on a single receipt for that which we accepted and purchased. The receipt is our written acknowledgement that something of value has been transferred from God to us. He recommended the items and we chose to accept them. We also chose some of the items on our own. On top of that, He gave us a BONUS! The bonus is that He paid for everything else - our sin, our shame, our regrets, our past mistakes, unforgiveness, our hurt, and our anger. He paid for it ALL!

His Word is a written receipt for all that He offers us as a believer. Why do we wait for a printed receipt? We wait until we are in possession of the receipt before we leave so our minds will be at ease should we decide to return anything. We already have a mental receipt for all that was offered to us and what we accepted. We also have a printed receipt now showing what He paid for. I hate to say it BUT, we are fine with the lines on the receipt showing things He paid for. As for what we chose to purchase, we all want that part of the receipt because even though it’s all been paid in full and we have it in hand, we may change our mind and return some of it. One of the things we received doesn’t look as good as we thought it would. It’s not so easy to use or just not exactly what we thought it would be. It’s cost us more than we expected. Loving others is too hard. Walking against what culture says doesn’t make me look good. Nobody else has this one. On and on with excuses of why, in our minds, we should return things.

When we come down from that shopping high, our resolve has crumbled and weakened as we face everyday life. We might have some buyers remorse. Should we hang onto all those things we agreed to? Unless what we asked for arrives damaged or defective, He does not accept returns on personalized items due to the customized nature of them for each of us specifically. God never delivers damaged or defective goods. He knows what He paid for and He was intentional about His purchase and giving us the receipt of His Word. Do we need to remind ourselves of all He paid for? Look at your receipt. I’m letting go of any receipts that are only good for 30 days-those temporary things. I will keep my receipt showing what He paid for which will last for eternity. He will use everything He and I purchased. Some might take some adjusting but they will be used and become more comfortable over time. He doesn’t buy anything that has no purpose. Anything we buy, He can find a purpose for it. You don’t ever need to return anything to Him. Hang onto to the receipts that matter-His Word. He accepts no returns! He paid the price and it’s paid for forever!