Jesus told many stories of what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. In one He compared it to a merchant looking for fine pearls and when He found one valuable pearl, He sold everything he had to buy it.
How is a pearl formed? When an irritant, such as a grain of sand, enters an oyster it responds by coating the irritant with layers of a substance called nacre to make itself more comfortable. Nacre is a crystalline substance, which over the years hardens, and eventually becomes a precious pearl.
Again, 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 NKJV)
In the parable that Jesus told, He is the one who gave all that He had to buy the pearl. Who is the pearl? We are! Jesus left the glory of heaven and came to earth to live and die for our sin. He paid the price of sin so that we could be reconciled to God and have eternal life in His Kingdom.
When we first came into recovery, we probably were like the pearl of great price at the beginning of its existence, an irritant to those around us. We had lots to learn, but God poured out His grace like a covering over us. As we surrendered to His ways, He lavishly poured out more grace until we became more valuable to the Kingdom of God.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. (2 Peter 1:5-7 NIV)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I seldom see myself as a pearl of great price, but I know a great price was paid for me. I ask that You continue to pour out your grace on me so that I may live in a way that brings honour to You and to Your kingdom. Amen
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