A Pearl

It's beach season. So many things to do and see, the ocean, the sand, the roller coaster, and the shells. I look for the showy shells but those aren't the ones that have the most valuable contents.

I went out on a boardwalk in the state park. Along the edges were these huge oyster beds. I had to read the signs to understand this wasn't just waste washed up. They were actually a filtration system. But back to my original thought. I wondered if there were any pearls there.

I gave our granddaughter a pearl still inside a shell she was supposed to open and place inside a necklace. There was a silly secular message included saying that the color of the pearl would bring a certain kind of good luck for the wearer. The outside of the package told us the color of the pearl included. Luck was not my point in giving her the necklace.

The Lord created everything with a purpose. Part of the oyster's purpose is the filtration system for the ocean. Another purpose is to demonstrate value. The more perfect the pearl found inside the oyster, the greater the value. Pearls are formed by the coating an oyster puts around a grain of sand to keep the sand from irritating the oyster. In other words, sand doesn't belong in the oyster. However, the pearl can be of great value or price when the grain of sand can no longer be seen.

Jesus tells of a merchantman who traveled far distances in search of a pearl of great price. When the merchant found the pearl, he sold all he had to purchase the pearl (Matthew 13:45,46). Jesus left heaven traveling that far distance to give His life to purchase our souls. The sin in our lives is an "irritating" substance that has to be covered with the blood of Jesus for us to belong to the Lord. Then and only then can we become that jewel of great price.

My granddaughter is only seven but I explained to her she is that pearl of great price. Jesus gave His life for her. I wanted her to wear that pearl, not as a secular good luck charm but as a daily reminder of how valuable she is to the Lord.

You are a pearl of great price too. What reminder do you have that you are of great price?

Hey kids:

Jesus used lots of parables, earthly stories, to help them understand spiritual meanings. Matthew 13 contains several of the parables and their meanings.

What is your favorite parable?
How do you see it applying to you?

I hope you will share the insights the Lord gives you this week as you read and study Jesus parables.

Blessings,

Gail