The Pearl of Great Price

from Matthew 13:45-46 "The Kingdom of Heaven (God's Kingdom, the place where He reigns and rules) is like (is being compared to, or is similiar in some way to) a merchant (a trader, a dealer, a buyer of precious jewels). This merchant is searching for fine pearls (precious, choice, excellent, goodly, good, beautiful pearls). And then he finds one. He finds the one: the pearl of great price. It is flawless, priceless; of exceedingly great value. The merchant immediately goes away and sells everything he has, all his possessions, all his wealth, in order to get it. And so he buys that pearl.

Without seeming to make more of myself that I ought to, I want to share with you, dear Reader, that God spoke to my heart and told me that I was His pearl of great price. And I cried, because how is it possible that God-His-very-own-Self could possibly think that highly of me? Yet I know it's true. For we are all made in the image of God; our true natures are mirrored in Him. As He is, so we are. Regardless of the state we're in, regardless of the dirt and grime that cover us and veil our true beauty - we are priceless to Him that made us. Priceless and of exceedingly great value. So much so, that He gave His life to purchase us from the grave.

One more quick thought about pearls (for why does the Bible speak of pearls and not some other precious gem?) -- pearls are made by irritants. The greater the trouble, the bigger and more beautiful the pearl becomes. Within the heart of every pearl is a seed of hardship. God promises great rewards to those who overcome. To those who don't let the trials of this life wear them down, but instead let the hardships shape them into a more perfect likeness of Jesus.

So let us all be pearls.