EARLIER this week, during my study in preparation for one thing, I discovered another quite unexpected “thing other” – discovering something I had never seen before in scripture. It is always so exciting when that happens, when some unexpected little gem is unearthed.
A PARABLE that is becoming a favorite the more I think upon it is The Pearl of Great Price. I think it is the shortest of all the parables, like the Parable of the Hidden Treasure, which is also holding a similar place in my thoughts. Both are short, to the point, without explanation, and quite inexplicable. I’ve heard many sermons on these two, but none that ever really satisfied. I mean, think about it, who in their right mind would when he had found one pearl of great price, would go and sell all that he owned to purchase it? Well, our Lord never minces his words, and someone who would do such a thing would have to know something, have a big picture as it were, that we, the mere observer can’t understand. As I think on this, and muse upon the Hidden Treasure parable as well, I’ve come to the conclusion that this merchant in pearls and the treasure hunter saw something in the moment that the uneducated or lazy eye overlooked. And that something was an inherent value and investment opportunity that far exceeded their present state of affairs. They were willing to give all they had – bankrupt self if necessary – to acquire something that far outweighed whatever they had to give up! With the pearl merchant it meant owning something to care for and protect in safe keeping of rare value that would grow in unsurpassed worth overtime. For the prospector, it was a field of opportunity to be unearthed, labored over, and relished in.
THE thing is, how many people walked through the market place and never took note of that one Pearl of Great Price and were the poorer for it? How many never looked down, probed a little, or even scratched the surfaced to discover that there might be something just below the line of sight of great value to be owned and possessed as their own. Missed opportunities that will never be recovered are just that, sad commentaries of missed opportunities.
THERE is a deep and wondrous treasure hidden away within God’s word, and a Pearl of Infinite Value awaiting the ones willing to find and invest themselves in owning it. When Jesus took his first deliberates steps towards the cross and the Kingdom, with his disciples straggling alongside, he said:
Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you Matt 6:33
WHAT did he see that they didn’t see in that kingdom perspective that they needed to see?
TODAY we look at the last two paragraphs in our study in Principles of Spiritual Growth Chapter 18, this last chapter titled Continuance. This has been a long road of study. Take note how our author closes this out. I trust this has been a benefit to the readers. I’m uncertain at this moment where to, or if to, continue these weekly notes now that we’ve come to the end of these first two sections in our study in The Complete Green Letters. But for today let us reflect on these closing comments.
In the inexorable riches of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10, Isa 30:15, Jas. 1:2
****************************
Chapter 18—Continuance Part-5, conclusion
“If our hearts are really true to Him we may be assured He will lead us on in the knowledge of Himself just as fast as we are able to advance. He knows how much we can take in, and He does not fail to minister to us the very food that is suitable to our present need. We may sometimes feel inclined to be impatient with ourselves because we do not make more rapid progress, but we have to learn to trust the Lord with our spiritual education. If our eyes are upon Him, and we follow with simple hearts as He leads us, we shall find that He leads us by a right way and brings us through all the exercises we need in order to form our souls in the appreciation of Himself, and of all those blessed things which are brought to pass in Him. We have to trust His love all through, and to learn increasingly to distrust ourselves” (C. A. C.).
Paul writes to us, as he did to Timothy: “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (II Tim. 2:1–3). We rejoice with you as you continue in Him. “The Lord is faithful, who shall establish you” (II Thess. 3:3).
