Everyone has value. If you can't see it, pray and ask God to show you. Even that nasty person in your life that grates you and rubs you up the wrong way has value. Let's be honest, we all know one or two people that just push our buttons and get us to boiling point. Whether its betrayal, theft or lies - we've all felt its sting at some stage. Maybe God has put them there to teach us patience, grace, mercy and love? In the bible a group of self righteous religious leaders dragged a woman into the street that they had caught in the act of adultery. As disgusting and ridiculous as it sounds they claimed to have had visual proof of her crimes which only showed the perversion of their hearts to be spying a woman to catch her in the act. Jesus not only showed mercy and value to the woman and forgave her, but He also showed mercy and value to the arrogant and self-righteous crowd that knew no love. He taught them a valuable lesson that day. Love trumps Religion every time. It was religion that killed Jesus and hung Him on the cross, yet Jesus said one of the most profound things to the hate filled crowd right before He died "Father forgive them, they have no idea what they're doing". In the middle of a scene that only spelled hated and death - He spoke love. And that profound love sent shock waves through the entire earth that day resetting time itself and painting forever the image of grace, truth and freedom - The Cross. That love still exists today. God loves you.
