Daily Devotional – Monday, December 11, 2023
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)
The pearl merchant is on his daily routine of seeking beautiful pearls to buy and sell later at a profit. On this fateful day, he comes across the most beautiful and precious pearl he has ever seen. The owner of the gem, however, quotes an astronomical price. The merchant’s reaction teaches us two critical lessons on the worth of salvation and eternal life.
He Sells all He Owns
The merchant is in a dilemma. He knows this precious stone will fetch him a fortune in the market. Indeed, this is the break he has been waiting for to break free from the shackles of want and dependency on others. On the other hand, he lacks the financial muscle to purchase the gem.
Suddenly, a thought comes into his mind. What if I sell all my property and use the proceeds to buy this gem? Will this be a worthy investment? What if the deal falls through? Will my family support my decision? How will society view me?
The School of Self-Sacrifice
His business acumen, though, gets the better of him. He decides to risk all and buy the beautiful pearl. He sells all his property and buys the gem. He sacrifices everything because he knows the value of the stone. Noting is more precious in his eyes than this jewel. It is a decision he will not regret.
First, Jesus is the Merchant seeking beautiful pearls. When He set His eyes on the earth, He did not see the degradation and depravity occasioned by sin but the precious souls that needed salvation. He left everything in heaven and paid the heaviest price ever (His death) to redeem Adam and His descendants from sin.
A Call to Self-Denial
Second, we should imitate Christ. When we come into a saving relationship with Him, nothing else should matter. The eternal life He offers should compel us to sacrifice everything and follow Him. Because Christ loved us so much as to die for us, we should consider it an honour to live for Christ.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for paying the ultimate price for my redemption. Empower me to sacrifice all for You because You are my pearl of great price.
