Bought & Paid For

We are all familiar with the phrase "sponsored by", we see it used in many different ways. A stadium or sport team sponsored by a big corporation, a TV show or a movie sponsored by a large company. On public TV you'll find them sponsored by a charitable organization. Early in history Kings and Queens and rich elites sponsored artists, singers, poets, inventors and explorers. Sponsored means bought and paid for. I came across a story of a young German man who used this phrase in a very unique way. It seems his Oma which means grandma in German, his Oma bought him a car. his first car. It was a gift of love and a sacrifice for his Oma to pay for it. In honor of her gift and to remember her sacrifice and so that others could recognize the gift, he put a bumper sticker on the car that read "Sponsored by Oma". In other words bought ad paid for by Oma. Being Christians maybe we should all wear a sign that says "Sponsored by Christ" We are bought and paid for by Christ. The apostle Paul says in

Romans 6:19-20 "Do you not know that you are not your own, for you are bought with a price." There is an old gospel song that says ,"Redeemed how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, Redeemed through His infinite mercy. His child and forever I am." From the beginning the church has been singing about being paid for by Christ. In Revelation 4 and 5 John describes a throne and the One who sat upon it, who held a scroll in His hand that was sealed with seven seals. No one was found worthy to open the scroll. John began to weep greatly. One of the twenty four told him not to weep because the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David has overcome and can open it. Then John looked expectantly to see a ferocious lion but instead saw a lamb as if having been slain. He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. At this the four living creatures and the twenty four elders sang a new song; " Worthy are You to take the scroll and open the seals, for You were slain and by Your blood You purchased a people for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. And You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God and they will reign upon the earth. We should always remember this is our song as well. We are sponsored by, bought and paid for by Him. We are a personal possession of Jesus Christ our King.