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Title: Find the pearl of great price
"The kingdom of heaven is like something precious buried in a field, which a man found and hid again; then in his joy he goes and sells all he has and buys that field. Again the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a dealer in search of fine and precious pearls, Who, on finding a single pearl of great price, went and sold all he had and bought it.”
Matthew 13:44-46 AMP
Here the Lord Jesus Christ likens the kingdom of heaven to treasure buried in a field.
Notice in this parable the man buries it again in the same field, goes away, sells everything he had and comes to buy that field.
There are three things here to learn. 1. The treasure gave him a joy unspeakable, exceeding great joy. The kingdom of heaven brings us joy, peace and well-being. It gives us completeness. It brings us salvation- the sum total of everything Jesus Christ atoned for including eternal life, physical and emotional well-being, His provision, His victory, His righteousness, His guidance.
Secondly, notice the treasure was priceless- the man did not go and sell some of his goods, he sold everything. The treasure was worth giving everything he had. Yes the kingdom of heaven is priceless-you need to give it your whole heart, give it your all. Whoever you are whatever you have- it requires and demands your all, your whole heart. It demands your full attention, whole-heartedness not half-hearted approach.
Thirdly - he bought the whole field, it is a package. It has the very good and priceless and the sacrifices as well. That is why the Lord Jesus Christ also said to His disciples in Matthew 16:24 "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
Denying self and taking up your own cross means there are sacrifices associated with being part of the kingdom of heaven. We need to accept the sacrifices as well. The sacrifice is summarized by- you cease to live for yourself and begin to live for Jesus Christ, you seek His will in all you do. Seeking and allowing the will of God to be accomplished in your life is carrying His cross. That's why Galatians 2:20 says "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (KJV). That is why Lord Jesus taught us to pray and say "Your will be done" in Matthew 6:10. He desires the best for you in every situation and His grace, His unmerited favour is sufficient for you, He is love and He is good. He is rightous and He is holy. He is just. Because of these attributes your life is at its best when you do His will. The Psalmist says “For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
Psalms 84:11 KJV
Therefore child of God remember the kingdom of heaven brings you a completed joy of salvation package, but you need to give it your whole heart and take the full package, do not pick and choose the very good bits and leave the not so good bits. Take the completed joy and the sacrifices that come with it. Yes indeed find your pearl of great price, sell everything you have and go buy it. That is the kingdom of heaven.
Prayer: Lord Jesus I thank you for the sacrifice you made for me so that I can know God and be part of the kingdom of heaven. Thank you for the complete package of salvation. I give my whole heart to you. I deny self, and take up my cross to follow you. In all I do Lord I will seek your will. Thank you for the grace I need for every day. Amen.
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