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Searching For Pearls
Andrea Lende • July 26, 2020
Matthew 13:45-46
Sought After Pearls
You can also listen to the meditation and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Searching-For-Pearls-eh8rp1
Daily Word:
Matthew 15:45-46
“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.”
Sometimes I get out of balance in my pursuits.
As an adult I have duties that have to be done every day.
There is work that is tended to without question.
The real question is what am I pursuing beyond those things?
I definitely seek comfort.
Things like what I will eat and what I will wear.
Questions like, when can I sit down, when will I rest, and how much rest will I get roll through my mind constantly.
Our verses today suggest seeking the kingdom of God.
Not just in our spare time.
But all the time.
I know what it is like to go out and look for good deals.
Many times our family depends on it.
I know what it is like to find a good deal and how ecstatic I get when I do.
Jesus said, “the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a dealer in search of fine and precious pearls.”
As I read these words today, I was convicted.
I was thinking that I wasn’t sure I was seeking the kingdom with the kind of enthusiasm and determination of a dealer.
The next verse, “Who, on finding a single pearl of great price, went and sold all he had and bought it”, convicted me even more.
The dealer sold everything in pursuit of the precious pearl.
He sold everything so he could purchase that pearl.
There was nothing he had that was more valuable.
The kingdom of heaven is so precious that nothing on earth can compare to it.
It is worth more than anything we currently own.
It is worth more than all the things we own cumulatively.
Perspective changes everything.
The Lord is able to change my perspective, redirect my intentions, and soften my heart all at the same time.
Today I choose to focus more on the value of the kingdom of heaven and less on worldly things.
May you find that as you tend to the matter of the kingdom of heaven that the things of this world become less important.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for redirecting my thoughts and intentions today. Thank You for giving me a clearer perspective. Soften my heart for You and increase my focus on the kingdom of God. Help me seek You more ardently. Help me find You in everything I do. I see you all around me in the beauty of the land, Father, and know that You are Creator of all that I see. You are great and greatly to be praised! You are God of the universe and God of my heart. Keep my focus on You as I move through this day. Keep me mindful of Your grace and mercy and help me extend that to others. As the tasks of this day are many, bring my thoughts to You often. Help me serve those around me with joy. Keep my mind on You, Lord. May Your peace wrap around me like a blanket today. Set a guard upon my mouth so that I speak only lovely and uplifting words to others. Help me bless someone today. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM the Great I AM and there is nothing more important than seeking me and My will for your life.
Response: Help me seek You most ardently, Lord, and keep my eyes on You this day and all days.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.