Feeling Worthless?

 

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly 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

 

What is a pearl and why is it so valuable? The most valuable pearls are round and made naturally. Usually a parasite finds its way into an oyster or other mollusk while the mollusk is feeding. This causes the oyster to form a coating around the parasitic irritant. Layers and layers of coating around the irritant results in a pearl. To find a natural pearl, many oysters must be killed, therefore raising the price of the natural pearl above that of the farmed oyster pearls.

We are all people whose sin is revolting in God’s sight, but when Jesus covers our sin, we become precious in God’s sight. We are worth more than money to Him. He loved us so much, He allowed His Son to pay the price for our sins with His very life. After that initial salvation, Jesus continues to layer us, grow us, conform us into His image. How amazing, a sinful parasite in God’s creation can be changed into a pearl of great price.

How does God show you how valuable you are to His kingdom?

Won’t you leave a comment?

Look Up or Look Out?

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When the branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Matthew 24:32,33

The spring seemed so warm. We all rushed to plant our beans and put out tomatoes. We hung flowering baskets on our porches. But just when everything seemed to be well on its way, the cold snap hit.  We scurried to cover tomatoes and blooming plants. We threw covers over rows of beans, but lots of things turned brown. We misinterpreted the signs of spring. It cost us time and money. My fig tree is just now putting out the first leaves. Yes it’s late for fig trees but, now I know summer is near.

Are we treating scripture the same way? I taught in a private school in the mid ‘90s. It was very difficult to motivate the students because of all the buzz that Jesus would be back by 2000. Jesus is definitely coming back, but are we misinterpreting the signs? Are we putting emphasis in the wrong place? Check out what Jesus had to say in John 4:35.

 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say  unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

I hope we don’t let the harvest ruin in the field while we are watching for storm clouds to gather.

Mad Dog Cake

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

I’ve got this pretty good pound cake recipe I like to use for Mother’s Day because it goes well with fresh strawberries. I say pretty good because it has good texture and flavor, but to make it Mad Dog Pound Cake I have to add the boiled syrup. I pour the syrup over the cake and in the middle. It sits and soaks and mmmmmmmmmmm. With the first bite the syrup is running out the corner of your mouth and dripping off your chin. Of course that’s an exaggeration but it sure seems that good.

 

Our lives are a lot like good pound cake. Most of us would say we are pretty good people, but is pretty good, good enough to get us into heaven? My pound cake totally changes when the syrup is poured over it and into it. The syrup can’t be removed and no one would want to scrape it off. No one wants the cake without the syrup once they’ve tried it. Jesus said no one comes to the Father but by Him. He is the way, the truth, and the life. We can’t get to heaven or be a true Christian without first coming to Jesus. When our lives are covered by His blood and filled with the Holy Spirit, we are totally different people, fit for the kingdom of God. Only Jesus makes us good enough. Like syrup, once we’ve experienced salvation, there’s no going back to the old pretty good person and no one would want to.

Happy Mother’s Day.

 



A Vapor

For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

James 4:14 

photo courtesy of Heath Cartee, DRO fly fishing guide

We’ve all seen the results of a summer storm, but have we considered the visual God has given us through His creation. After the rains of the flood God sent a rainbow to remind Noah and we who follow, of His promise never to flood the earth again. Sometimes we get to see that rainbow. Other times the sun shines bright and hot. The mist rises like steam, vapor after the summer storm. After a few hours the puddles gone and the sky is filled with beautiful white puffy clouds.

What caused the steam to rise? Why were the muddy puddles gone? The sun - the sun drew the vapor up and muddy puddles disappeared. The sun transformed the water into the vapor that created the puffy clouds.

Life is like a vapor that lasts for a little while. Our muddy, sin-filled lives cling to the earth.  But Jesus draws our hearts to Him. Because the Son draws us, we can be saved. It is not we ourselves that can lift us from sin but the Son only.