January 31 — One Pearl of Great Price

Hope for Today: A Daily Devotion from Reasons for Hope*Jesus

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“The kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls — who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matthew 13:45-46

Blessed are they to whom the gospel has made known the unsearchable riches of Christ. He is that one pearl of great price — in comparison to which all other goodly things that men desire are worthless. Without Him, we are poor and miserable — though we abound in all manner of worldly treasure. But if we have found Him and discovered the excellency of His name — we are in possession of a treasure that makes us rich indeed and we have reason to be content with our portion, though stripped of every earthly comfort. For the Father gives grace and glory, even eternal life, in His Son Jesus Christ; and he who has the Son of God has life.

O, my soul! You, like the merchantman, have been seeking goodly pearls and eagerly looking here and there for happiness, all your days. Have you at length been enlightened to perceive where true joys are to be found? Then will you be willing to sell all, in order to win Christ and be found in Him? If there is anything that you are unwilling to part with for His sake — you know not His value; you are not worthy of Him. Renounce all — heartily, at once, and forever — and so receive Christ, that priceless pearl, as your own, and you are made rich forever.

Devotion by Karl Heinrich von Bogatzky (1690—1774)