27 July 2014 - great price.pl

27 July 2014 - great price.pl

Brothers and sisters:
We know that all things work for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose. 

When we really know this, we can leave aside all the other concerns that rule us.  We can seek first the kingdom, we can love God, and let the rest take care of itself.

Jesus said to his disciples:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds and hides again,
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 

We see that every other treasure is less valuable than relationship with the LORD of the universe. In the fields of creation we find something beyond any created thing.  All things are from him, through him, and for him.  He is the alpha and the omega.  All times and seasons obey his laws.  He holds all of creation together in himself.  When he is with us nothing else can stand against us.  Nothing can truly work against our good.  There is nothing in the world with the buying power that this pearl has. Let us not cling to our old rags and refuse.  Let us consider them rubbish that we may gain Christ. Solomon puts the LORD first, and because he asks for this, because he seeks first the kingdom, the other things are also added unto him.

In addition, I give you what you have not asked for: I give you such riches and glory that among kings there will be no one like you all your days.

Solomon in his youth has the humility to realize that what he needs most is God.  He asks for discernment, for wisdom, for a heart that can truly say "Lord, I love your commands" because by those commands he can live according to the purpose for which he is made.

The Word of God, including his laws and commands, is manifest in Jesus, the pearl of great price.  This Word reveals not just mechanics for living but God himself.  This is the God who created the world and the world's laws.  He is the starting place for how we ought to interact with it because he holds the destiny of the world in his hands.  When we know this we begin to love his law.  When we don't know it nothing makes sense.

Wonderful are your decrees;
therefore I observe them.
The revelation of your words sheds light,
giving understanding to the simple.

Of course we aren't good at putting God first.  But even so, Jesus seeks us as if we were the pearl of great price.  He sells all he has, gives all he can, to buy us.  He purchases the field of death so that from it he might snatch the pearl of our hearts.  We should be confident in him, therefore, as is Paul:

For those he foreknew he also predestined
to be conformed to the image of his Son,
so that he might be the firstborn
among many brothers and sisters.
And those he predestined he also called;
and those he called he also justified;
and those he justified he also glorified.

The Son gives us his very self.  Will he not also give us all things (cf. Rom 8:32)?  Let us cast off the works of darkness.  In the dark the pearl remains hidden.  And once we find it, let us share it.  Let us cast the net wider and wider.  This blessing is meant for all.