Comparative Values

“THERMOPOLIS -- Hidden in plain sight for years was a treasure that may be worth as much or more than the Wyoming museum that now has it. The treasure is one of the five original copies of a photograph that Harry Longabaugh — better known as the “Sundance Kid” — had taken with his paramour, Ethel “Etta” Place, just before the wanted outlaws fled the country for Argentina with notorious outlaw partner Butch Cassidy. The photo was taken in 1901 in New York by the DeYoung Photography Studio. Some historians have suggested it’s a wedding photo, as the two are rather handsomely dressed. Harry is holding onto a top hat, while Etta has a gold pocket watch pinned to the lapel of her dress, which Harry had just purchased for her at the Tiffany & Co. jewelry store.”*

Part of the opening sentence of this article caught my attention: “...worth as much or more than the Wyoming museum that now has it.”  In an even greater way, that concept aptly describes the treasure that has been placed within the people of God -- i.e. the church.  We are the repository of something of greater value than ourselves.  The Bible highlights this principle often.  “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).  In Christ, we “...are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 1:22).  “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11).

As valuable as we are in the eyes of God, we are merely the temple for something of even greater value -- the very presence of God.  As Paul says: “...we are the temple of the living God...” (2 Corinthians 6:16).  What an incredible privilege!  What an incredible responsibility!

God loves you!

Mike

*https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/09/03/ultra-rare-sundance-kid-photo-may-be-worth-more-than-the-wyoming-museum-its-in/?fbclid=IwAR0MDZyIPJOKVXneUeM1cVVr20HoWboBjQQalkNO5i0cHwT_jnVximTz-Cc