Jesus is Essential
Matthew 13:45–46: 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.
This parable reveals Christ as the merchantman. He left His heavenly home and came to this earth to find a pearl of great price. He found lost sinners and died for them by shedding His precious blood. He sold all that He had to buy us and redeem us to God. He redeems us to God—He bought us. Consider the pearl for a moment. The pearl represents the church.
A pearl is not a stone like the diamond. It is formed by a living organism. A grain of sand or other foreign matter intrudes itself into the shell of a small sea creature. It hurts and harms it. The response of the organism is to send out a secretion that coats over the foreign matter. That fluid builds up until a pearl is formed—not a ruby or a diamond, but a beautiful white pearl. It’s not like other gems. It cannot be cut to enhance its beauty. It is formed intact. The minute you cut it, you ruin it. 1
Walking with Jesus
If you cut into a pearl, you ruin it. If you cut apart another believer or another fellowship with a sharpe tongue, you can ruin it. Let’s be known for building up others.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9
The beauty of a pearl exist because of a long period of rough times.
Praying
Lord, thank You for giving up everything so that I could spend eternity with You.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Gospels (Matthew 1-13) (electronic ed., Vol. 34). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
