“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:45-46

To start this devotion, I Googled “metaphorical bible verses” in hopes God—or Google—would throw the perfect verse in my lap to use as a jumping off point for my story. 
   Among my searches, one site mentioned the “Parable of the Pearl of Great Price.” I was greatly intrigued because I had never heard of it before. After reading, I promptly looked up the meaning. The commonly accepted meaning is that Christians are the merchant, and the pearl is the Kingdom of Heaven. It is to symbolize how valuable the Kingdom of Heaven is and how we should give everything up for it.
   While that interpretation is great and true, I like to think about the story in another way. I like to think that God is the merchant and we are His “fine pearls of great value”. Jesus hand selects each one of us, and literally gives up everything He has for us. 
   Whenever I am feeling down, remembering this fact helps me recognize my self worth. God didn’t have to pick us, He didn’t have to make us worthy, He didn’t have to give us life. But He did. 

    You are here because He picked you, and I think we forget that too often. Delight in the fact that you are a fine pearl!

 

Reflection Questions:

​

•When is a time that you have felt like a “fine pearl”?
•How does your self worth parallel your faith?