eFollowingJesusFeb20 - Pearl (read Matthew 13:44-46)

   How is the kingdom like someone sprinting away from discovered treasure, selling everything to possess it - or a jewel merchant finding the world's most extraordinary pearl, and without a second thought selling everything to have it?  The Gospel is fabulous treasure, the priceless pearl.  It is not fairly valuable, or somewhat worthwhile.  It is everything; all else pales by comparison.  You don't notice the screen door slamming behind you as you rush out after Jesus.

   Dietrich Bonhoeffer explained "the cost of discipleship."  You shed other securities, release well-devised plans.  "Cheap grace is forgiveness without repentance.  grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.  Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it, a man will gladly sell all he has.  It is the pearl of great price.  Grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ.  It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life.  Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son."

   Lord, I want to pursue You, the treasure, the pearl, with total abandon.

James

james@mpumc.org

Here is the full text of Matthew 13:44-58 -   44: "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45: "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46: who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. 47: "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; 48: when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad. 49: So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, 50: and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. 51: "Have you understood all this?" They said to him, "Yes." 52: And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old." 53: And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, 54: and coming to his own country he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55: Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56: And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?" 57: And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." 58: And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

The full eFollowingJesus series (thus far!) may be found on our web site.