Yesterday while in the hotel lobby, I overheard a phone reservation being made for the room we are staying in. I knew we were getting a good, off-season deal on our spacious suite overlooking Lake Chelan, but I had no idea it was this good. We are paying $130 per night. The same room in August costs $310 on weeknights, $340 on weekends. Without reservation, I love this suite. Nevertheless, I noticed that the place in our bedroom where the wallpaper was loose two months ago had not yet been repaired. And one whole corner seam in the wall by the balcony has separated. There are two ways I could look at this:
Hey, if this room is worth $340 per night, I expect it to be perfect.
Or
Wow, this room is worth $340 per night despite its imperfections.
What a parable for the way I look at people. I can choose to judge others' worth by tallying up their faults, or I can focus on the price paid for them--their purchase price is the cross of Christ. If Jesus was willing to give His life to pay for us, in far from perfect condition, I should value others the way Christ does. Even the ones begging at intersections. Even the opposing party's politicians. For individuals who come to know Him, some of those flaws will be fixed in this life, and the rest of the imperfections God Himself will take care of when we get to heaven. But right now, the most flawed among us are still worth the price Jesus was willing to pay for them. And if I recognize the grace that makes that true in my life, I will extend that grace to others and value them not by their imperfections, but for what they are truly worth.
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