Day 29: Nothing Is More Valuable Than Jesus - Devotional

The Return ^ | July 19, 2020

[metmom]

Jesus loved to speak to the crowds in parables. “These things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables … that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, ‘I will open My mouth ins parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world’” (Matthew 13:34-35).

The Bible clearly states there are secrets of the Lord: “His secret counsel is with the upright” (Proverbs 3:32). These hidden truths have been unknown from the foundation of the world, but Matthew tells us they’re buried in Jesus’ parables. They have power to truly set Christians free if they are willing to pay the cost of discovering them.

Let’s look at the parable of the pearl of great price. “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” (Matthew 13:45-46). The merchant here was also an assayer, one who made his living by evaluating costly pearls for their quality and worth. He represents a very small band of believers and Jesus is the pearl of great price, of incalculable value.

Obviously, the pearl belonged to the Father who possessed Christ just as any father possesses his own son. Indeed, Jesus is the Father’s most valued and treasured possession and only one thing would cause the Father to give up this priceless pearl — love. He and his Son had made a covenant before the creation of the world and in that covenant, the Father agreed to give his Son up as a sacrifice for the purpose of redeeming humankind.

When the chief priests examined this pearl, they greatly devalued him. “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced” (Matthew 27:9). Think of it! The God of the universe had made his precious pearl available to all, yet these men put little or no value on him.

Beloved, God intends his pearl to be found by those who are obsessed with possessing him. It is as if he is saying, “My pearl is available only to those who place a great value on him.” Jesus offers you everything he is — joy, peace, purpose, holiness. He is your treasure, available to you in exchange for your trust, your love, and your faith in his Word.

[CharlesOConnell]

Play music for the poem from Song 46 (1623) by Orlando Gibbons, 1583-1625, in a New Window ⧉

The Eight Beatitudes

Matthew 5:3-12	Orlando Gibbons, 1583-1625
1. Blessed the poor in spirit, they are heirs To wealth untold, for heaven itself is theirs.	2. Blessed the meek, for without strife their hand Shall be victorious, and possess the land.
3. Blessed are they that mourn, for God one day Will comfort them, and wipe their tears away.	4. Blessed who hunger and who thirst, unskilled in wiles, for justice, for they shall be filled.
5. Blessed the merciful, for they’ll obtain The mercy which they grant their fellowmen.	6. Blessed the clean of heart, for they shall see The Lord in all his cloudless purity.
7. Blessed are the peace-makers kind and mild Children of God they shall be justly styled.	8. Blessed are they that suffer in the right, For heaven’s kingdom shall their cares requite.

[GailA]

Btt

[bennowens]

Of the 7 ways to present evidence (and thus sell your product) the most powerful is the analogy (parable).

[GailA]

JESUS CHRIST IS BOSS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJquP3Eq00o&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR33zG29T6GXnzxdBIoJ0nDsrrii0fagKZccpgqB2CY4Kr_bt9XiTkPe1P4