Purchasing power is the number of goods or services that can be purchased with a unit of currency. I remember as a child times were tough in the 1970s. Times of inflation, a stagnant economy and rising cost of essentials caused very frugal households. It was tough in a family of 7 on one income.
My father wouldn’t give money very often but sometimes he would give me 75 cents for a A on my report card and I felt like I was rich. I would run to the corner store and experience real purchasing power. In those days candy costed a penny, and a coca-Cola as a dime. Back then we have greater purchasing power.
Since then I’ve learned that purchasing power can fluctuate. What you could afford with a dollar back then sure isn’t happening today. Many factors affect purchasing power, like inflation and erratic swings in the stock market.
But unlike many, the blood of Jesus has purchasing power that is not affected by inflation or erratic stock market swings. This power does not fluctuate depending on what happens or where you are in the world. The purchasing power of Jesus is the same wherever it goes.
The question is what did Jesus’s blood purchase? Or better yet who did it purchase? According to Acts 20:28, He purchased the church. And, Paul on the eve of his departure from Ephesus he gathered the elders together and encouraged them to “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock. (and), be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood.” He warns them of “fierce wolves” who will come in and mislead the people, urging them to be vigilant.”
The Bible reminds us that Jesus purchased of people for His own possession. We understand the nature of possessions. When we purchase something, we expect to take possession of it. We own it. No longer does it belong to the seller. Even when we buy things on credit we don’t really own them. We’re making payments on them, we treat them as if they were ours. We think, “ these are in my possession because I bought them.” The Bible says that Jesus has paid the price for us. He bought us. He owns us. His purchase of His people was not on credit but was paid in full.
The Bible frequently remind us of the nature of our Lord’s purchase, as in which now belongs to Him. In Titus 2:14 and 1 Peter 2:9, the church is called a people “a people His own possession.” In 1 Corinthians 6:19, the church is reminded “you are not your own,for you were bought with a price.”
“What is your only comfort in life and in death?” -Heidelberg
This question rings with the truth of the purchasing power and possession of Jesus. That I am not my own, I belong to my faithful Savior Jesus, who has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood.
Jesus’s blood has purchasing power, not only to obtain us but also to cleanse us, wash us, sanctify us, and to make us righteous and holy. We must remember that heaven does not deal in dollars, pounds, euros, or even gold or silver. The only currency that is of value in heaven and throughout eternity is the blood of Jesus. It’s the only currency that is going to get us in.
The blood of Jesus has purchased me, and I am His and He is mine forever.
From Pity to Praise 