The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly 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.
Christ Himself is the pearl of great price. . . . The righteousness of Christ, as a pure, white pearl, has no defect, no stain. No work of man can improve the great and precious gift of God. It is without a flaw. In Christ are “hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:3. He is “made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” 1 Corinthians 1:30. All that can satisfy the needs and longings of the human soul, for this world and for the world to come, is found in Christ. Our Redeemer is the pearl so precious that in comparison all things else may be accounted loss. . . .
In the parable the pearl is not represented as a gift. The merchantman bought it at the price of all that he had. Many question the meaning of this, since Christ is represented in the Scriptures as a gift. He is a gift, but only to those who give themselves, soul, body, and spirit, to Him without reserve. We are to give ourselves to Christ, to live a life of willing obedience to all His requirements. All that we are, all the talents and capabilities we possess, are the Lord’s, to be consecrated to His service. When we thus give ourselves wholly to Him, Christ, with all the treasures of heaven, gives Himself to us. We obtain the pearl of great price. . . .
In the market of which divine mercy has the management, the precious pearl is represented as being bought without money and without price. In this market all may obtain the goods of heaven. The treasury of the jewels of truth is open to all. . . . The Saviour’s voice earnestly and lovingly invites us: “I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich.” . . . The poorest are as well able as the richest to purchase salvation; for no amount of worldly wealth can secure it. It is obtained by willing obedience, by giving ourselves to Christ as His own purchased possession. . . .
We cannot earn salvation, but we are to seek for it with as much interest and perseverance as though we would abandon everything in the world for it.
Maranatha p. 72
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Prayer Requests
—-my ex-brother-in-law is very sick. He’s 87 yrs old. I don’t believe he’s a Christian. Please, pray for 3 things: 1. That he knows Jesus before he leaves this world. 2. That he will tell his son he’s sorry for how he has treated him, all his life. He beat him as a child and has always,(&still does), verbally abuse him. My nephew is a man of God. He has always shown his dad, Johnny, respect, love and forgiveness. 3. His healing physically. Johnny has leukemia. He’s taking chemo and is hospitalized at this time. He probably will be released in the next 5/7days. Dr. says he must enter a long term med facility…this could be another problem… He wants to go home, Dr. say he can not live alone anymore. Johnny, lives in the country and his children all live a good hours drive away. Faye Ann
—–Keep Joann in prayer she is have a very difficult time since Craig passed away. Mary
—– Please pray! Pray now for healing over a young 17 year old girl. She has been ill for a while. She was in the hospital but they sent her home as there was nothing they could do. Today she will see her doctor. Prayers very much appreciated. Carolina
—– Nancy has been diagnosed with legionaries disease causing the pneumonia. Also emphsyma. Her condition remains the same. 50/50. When she is stabilized; they plan to care flight her back to _____. Her heart, liver, kidneys are good. She is run down, Marilyn
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Dear Friends,
As I was cleaning one day, I found a notebook belonging to Esther Marie when she was thirteen. One of the items in the notebook was her thoughts after her Grandma Hartwell had died of a heart attack. She remembered that a week or two before this, Ron was talking to her on the phone and asked Esther if she wanted to say hi to her granmother. Esther said that she was busy and would talk to her another time.
Before she had another opportunity, we got a phone call telling us that Ron’s mother had had a heart attack. Immediately, we made arrangements to drive to North Carolina to see her before she had the needed surgery. This took twenty-two hours. We drove straight through in order to get there as quickly as possible. When we crossed the border into North Carolina, we called to see how she was. Ron’s brother said that she seemed much better and that there was no hurry. We were so tired that we were not thinking clearly and decided to take the scenic route. Esther protested. She had the feeling that all was not well. How she wanted us to hurry. How she wanted to talk to her grandmother and tell her how sorry she was that she had not talked to her when she had had the opportunity.
Just as we pulled up to the hospital, they wheeled Ron’s mother into surgery. We never got to see her awake. Her heart was so bad that the doctor never sewed her back up and kept her heavily sedated until she died the next day. Esther cried the hardest of all. She was inconsolable. Until I read what Esther had written, I had no idea of this guilt my little girl had been carrying.
How important it is to take the opportunity to tell our loved ones that we love them or ask for their forgiveness if we have wronged them. Life is uncertain. We may never have another chance to talk to them again.
Even more important is the opportunity we have to accept Jesus as our Saviour. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor 6:2 How vital it is that we spend time with Him, asking forgiveness for the many times we have failed Him, praising Him for His goodness and great sacrifice for us, listening for His guiding voice directing our path. How His Great Heart of Love yearns for us to fellowship with Him. He calls, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Rev 3:20 Think of it! The Great King of the Universe, the One Who died for us, longs for us to learn of Him, to walk with Him, to be with Him where His is, to follow Him whithersoever He goes.
A time is coming when there will be no more opportunity to accept Him as our Saviour. How many in that day will cry, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jer 8:20 How few will be able to look up at Jesus coming in the clouds and exclaim, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa 25:9
May we take every opportunity to fellowship with our dear ones while we have them with us. May we also take every opportunity to fellowship with our Dear Saviour “giving diligence to make [our] calling and election sure: for if [we] do these things, [we] shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto [us] abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:10, 11 May we “rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” Amen! 1 Thes 5:16-24
Rose