You are that one.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13: 45 - 46 NKJV
His Word rings true.
The merchant [Jesus] seeks beautiful pearls [the hearts of mankind] to find a pearl of great price [a soul that says, “Yes” to Him], gave His all [His life] and paid the cost for the one. This parable depicts our value through the eyes of God. The Lord, propelled by love, gave His life, paying the price - a price only He could pay - for one He held so dear. A pearl of great price. You are that one.
I don’t know about you, but I find these verses perplexing. It overwhelms me to think that God Almighty sees me in such a way. One of great worth? Beautiful? To die for?
But, He did. He does. He will forever. You are that one. ( Selah. Let that sink in for a moment.) His Word rings true. You are precious in His sight. Gem quality! Bought with a price - the price of death upon the cross. Redeemed! You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (1 Peter 1:18-19) For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:20 )
An Irritation can be turned into something beautiful.
So it is with the pearl, and so it is with the heart of man.
Within an oyster, mussel, or clam, an irritation within the shell causes the shellfish to secrete a fluid (nacre) to coat the irritant. Layer upon layer, this coating is accumulated until a pearl is formed. Astoundingly, the irritant is used to cultivate a gem.
In comparison, isn’t that how it can work within the heart of man? When irritation comes, a pearl can be formed when we cover it with lovingkindness, asking God to coat it in His grace. In doing so, a gem-like quality forms within us. The Lord can take each layer of difficulty that is surrendered to Him, and make something beautiful within our lives. Becoming a gem in the hands of the Lord is a process of glorification. As stated in Proverbs 19:11 in the Amplified version: Good sense and discretion make a man slow to anger, and it is his honor and glory to overlook a transgression or an offense [without seeking revenge and harboring resentment].
Or, on the contrary, we could choose to remain irritated, allowing the inflammation to build, producing bitterness within our heart. The solution lies within the decision of one’s soul. Will the trials we face produce godly qualities within us, or will we allow such aggravation to gnaw at our peace and well being? Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
(Galatians 6:9 NIV)
Trials refine us.
Life brings trials - irritations - so that our faith may prove genuine.
Though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:6-7 NKJV)
Consider rejoicing in the maturation process for God is creating a pearl!
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4 NKJV)
Stay the course.
Allow the pearl to form. Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6 NKJV)
Luster
Let the luster of the Lord be seen upon our countenance. Look to Him. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
(Psalm 34:5NIV)
Shine forth the radiance of God’s image. For, God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
(Genesis 1:27 NKJV)
Fear not the irritations of life! Be confident in Christ.
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
(Hebrews 13:5 - 6 NKJV)
If ever there was a year to rob us of our luster, the year 2020 would qualify. But God!
Prayer
Father,
Help me to see myself as You see me. I am overwhelmed by Your thoughts toward me, and the significance You have placed upon my life - the death of Your Son. Grant unto me a greater understanding of my worth to You, that I am to die for, beautiful, and of great worth. As I accept Your truth, may my heart glisten with the glory of the Lord.
I apply the salve of the Blood of Jesus upon the irritations within my life, rendering them into Your hands. Layer upon layer, may a pearl be made through Your touch upon my life, as You complete the good work You began in me.
I repent for harboring an offense, and allowing the irritations of life to have a destructive power within me, for I have not produced a gem-like quality. I choose to overlook the repeated offense. Please lift the weariness from my soul, restoring my luster for You, renewing my health down to the cellular level.
Thank you for using the irritants I have encountered to bring maturity to my faith.
I rejoice, for I am redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus! I have been bought with a great price; therefore, I will glorify God in my body and in my spirit, for I am a pearl of great price! I hold value! Jesus said so; so it must be true! I am a gem!
Amen
Just a thought…
Twelve Gates
I couldn’t help but think of the twelve gates as I researched pearls.
The twelve gates spoken of in the book of Revelation are made of pearl. Surrounding the New Jerusalem, “The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl.” (Revelation 21:21) Layer upon layer, the gates of pearl were formed.
The twelve gates represent the twelve tribes of Israel surrounding the New Jerusalem. “Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. (Revelation 21:12-13)
Layer upon layer, generation upon generation, every irritation was used to establish the twelve tribes - like a pearl. Through the gates of pearl, the Lord says, “Come!”
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