Worthless or Valuable

It's the NFL offseason, with free agency beginning next week, and all eyes are on the quarterback position to see where guys end up and how much they get paid.

Russell Wilson, Sam Darnold, Jameis Winston, Aaron Rodgers, and Justin Fields are quarterbacks looking for new contracts. Although each has shortcomings, they hope some team will still find them valuable.

Will teams really want each of them as their quarterback, and are they willing to pay the price despite the question marks attached?

Fans and media members have mixed feelings about each of these quarterbacks and whether or not they're valuable enough to invest in.

Is Russell Wilson or Justin Fields valuable enough to Pittsburgh for them to give either a long-term contract? Wilson helped take the Steelers to the playoffs, but they ended the season losing five straight. Fields showed glimpses of potential early in the year but couldn't keep the starting job. Not to mention, the Bears already gave up on him.

Will a team still consider Aaron Rodgers valuable after his failed experiment with the Jets and determine he's worth pursuing? He's 41 years old and led the Jets to a losing record (5-12) last season.

Meanwhile, the Vikings have a big decision to make about Sam Darnold. He's another quarterback many fans and media members question, but do the Vikings see his value even if others don't? He had the best season of his career last year, throwing 35 touchdowns and over 4,000 yards.

However, he struggled when the pressure intensified at the end of the season, and his overall career has included many poor performances. Will they let him go, or will they pay the necessary price for him to stay in Minnesota?

As sports fans, we love guessing where quarterbacks will end up and breaking down free-agent deals. We willingly share our opinions on which players are valuable and which ones don't deserve a big contract, but ultimately, the team pays the high price and shows how much a player is worth to them.

With that in mind, I want to unpack the reality that our loving heavenly Father considers us valuable, even though we have many question marks attached. We have a "losing record" and sometimes struggle when the "pressure intensifies," but the God of the universe values us so much that He sent His son Jesus to save us from our sins.

We are told in Ephesians 2:4-7 (NLT), "But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)

"For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus."

We are not "perfect quarterbacks," but He showed us how valuable we are to Him in His kindness and mercy.

1 Corinthians 6:20 (AMP) says, "You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body."

Sometimes, people criticize us and don't think we're of much value. There are also days when we feel worthless and think nobody wants us.

Ultimately, we can't buy those lies. We must remember that God demonstrated that we matter enough for Him to allow His Son to lay down His life for us. He determined we were worth it and willing to pay the necessary price.

1 Corinthians 7:23 (NLT) tells us, "God paid a high price for you, so don't be enslaved by the world."

The truth of God's redemptive plan and how Jesus gave up His life for us should give us peace and an understanding that we are genuinely valuable to Him.

Matthew 10:31 (TLB) encourages us, "So don't worry! You are more valuable to Him than many sparrows."

He loves us, cares about us, wants us to be with Him, and provides for us. Romans 8:32 (ESV) says, "He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?"

Let's not allow anything or anyone to make us feel worthless. Our God considers us so valuable that He's given us way more than we could ever deserve. Today, let's agree to what He's offering us and receive Him in humility and gratitude.

I'm Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I can't thank You enough for loving and valuing me despite my shortcomings. I want to rest in that truth and find peace in knowing You paid the ultimate price for me. Help me respond with humility and gratitude, with a heart committed to You. You are so good and so kind to me. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.