45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:45-46)
In the parable of hidden treasure we studied earlier, the treasure represents human being, in order to obtain the treasure and to redeem mankind, Lord Jesus gave up His life. This parable tells us that a merchant is looking for fine pearls, and when he found one of great value, he sold everything and bought the pearl. Here the merchant represents each of us, and the pearl of great price represents Lord Jesus. Each of us is looking for fine pearls, pursuing precious things, pursuing study, pursuing work, etc. When we found the pearl of great price, Lord Jesus, we sold everything and bought the pearl.
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:8)
Here we see that the apostle Paul regards everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus. In order to gain Christ, he considered everything as garbage. When he found the pearl of great price, he regarded all the pearls he previously owned as loss, because they will affect him to obtain this pearl of great price, i.e. to gain Christ.
If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26)
Here it means that we need to love Lord Jesus more than our father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, even our own life. We love the Lord because He first loves us. Let us love the Lord more, love the Lord with all our hearts, and draw near to the Lord so that we can experience His presence, His peace and joy, and His blessings.
27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[a] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. (Matthew 19:27-30)
Some disciples of Lord Jesus, Peter and others, were uneducated fishermen. They left everything to follow Lord Jesus and received great rewards. Every one who follows the Lord and gives up for the Lord’s sake will be rewarded in the life and in the life to come, eternal life.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)
Here it says that if we seek God and Lord Jesus, we will find Him, if we seek Him with all our hearts. We should seek Him until we find Him. Not everyone serves God full time, but everyone can seek God and draw near to God. When we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. The Lord leads each one who serves him on a different path, and we must obey His leading.
May God bless you and your family. 🙏😀
