What's Your Pearl? (Jan 31)

Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven to a really expensive pearl. When a merchant man found it, he said, it was so valuable that he would give up everything else in order to obtain it. Jesus also likened the kingdom of heaven to a treasure in a field. When a man found it, he said, it was so valuable that he would give up everything else so that he could buy the field and rightfully own the treasure.

Matthew 13:44-46

44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Have you seen Jesus? Have you heard His call in your life? Have you seen the glory of God and His grace that He wants to impart to you? Have you seen the kingdom of heaven that God is offering to you? How valuable is it to you? If you had to buy it, how much would you spend? If you had to trade for it, what would you give up? If God asked you to give up everything, is there anything that you would hold back?

You see, if you see God's offer and it is valuable to you, so valuable that it is like that valuable pearl to you, then you would be willing to give up anything and anyone in your life in order to obtain it, just like that merchant man in Jesus' parable. But if there is anything that you think that you might hold back, then I think we might have just discovered what your pearl is. What are you holding onto instead of letting go of all in order to grab all of God's promises? Is it really a pearl of greater price than the God that is above all else?

Revelation 2:2-5

2 I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

You have seen God. He is that one precious pearl that is more valuable than anything that you could ever imagine. But in your hands is a little pearl, not worth much, that you refuse to release. You are holding onto it because you love it; it is valuable to you and you can't bear to see it go. Even when faced with the glories of God's richness, you hold on to your dear pearl: your dear worthless pearl.

Allowing God to Answer Prayer (Jan 24)

Have you ever had an unanswered prayer even though it seemed like you prayed diligently for a long time? Unanswered prayer might seem to indicate to some that God is either able to do it, but not willing, or willing to do it, but not able. This perception is wrong. God is both able and willing to answer prayer. Sometimes an unanswered prayer is restrained because of our lack of faith.

Read the selection from the devotional, “At His Feet,” for January 23, entitled, “Willing and Able.”

“Birds lack faith. They fly away when I enter the orchard, though I mean them no ill. Even so do we lack faith in God.” - Martin Luther

Mark 9:23-24

23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Mark 4:37-41

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Matthew 17:18-21

18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Mark 11:24

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Evidence of New Life (Jan 10)

Winter is an odd time of year. In the fall, all of the deciduous trees lost their leaves, flowers lost their blooms, and pretty much everything dries up and looks dead. During the winter, pretty much everything except for the evergreen trees looks dead. Now, things aren't really dead, as they'll come back in the spring, but there really doesn't appear to be any evidence of life.

For a few years, I have had a plant on my desk at work. I give it a little bit of water every workday and it has done pretty well. Occasionally one part of it will grow too long and start to lose leaves / whither up, but there are always new parts coming up from the root to replace it. Every Christmas, however, I am away from the office for over a week and there is nobody there to water the plant. When I return after New Year's Day, it usually looks pretty pitiful. It's all withered and dead looking. The soil is all dried out. It usually takes quite a bit of water to get it moist again. Usually, within a day or so, the youngest part of the plant will have sprung back to life and the older part of the plant will be hopelessly dead. That part gets cut off and thrown away. This year, there weren't too many parts of the plant left to lose and fortunately, within a day or so, the entire plant was filled with new life. In fact, the plant was so excited to get water again and feel that life rushing through it once more, that it popped out a flower. It's like it thought it went through winter and was blooming for spring. I've seen the plant growing really well, I've seen parts of the plant die off, I've seen it look kind of scraggly, alive, but not so hot, and I've seen it look really healthy, lush, and full, but when I see little flowers popping out, that's evidence that there's new life flowing through that plant: it's “spring,” there's new life, and it shows!

John 13:34-35

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Romans 12:9-21

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

It's a new year! I know each week is no different than the week before, but this is a time of year when so many people make a big deal about making new year's resolutions or renewing commitments for the year. Let's all take a moment to evaluate our lives and personalities. Is there new life flowing in you? Where's the evidence? So, just like my plant popped out a flower because of that life flowing through it, let's allow that new life in us to be evidenced by a life that exclaims the goodness of God, serves Him in every way, reaches out in love to those that need to know the Lord, and reacts in genuine care and concern towards our fellow brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.