By comparing the kingdom of heaven to a pearl, Christ desired to lead every soul to appreciate that pearl above all else. The possession of the pearl, which means the possession of a personal Savior, is the symbol of true riches. It is a treasure above every earthly treasure.

Christ is ready to receive all who come to Him in sincerity. He is our only hope, our Alpha and Omega. He is our sun and shield, our wisdom, our sanctification, our righteousness. Only by His power can our hearts be kept in the love of God….

On one occasion Christ warned His disciples to beware how they cast their pearls before those who had not discernment to appreciate their value…. “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs,” He said, “neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” …

When people show themselves unimpressionable, unable to appreciate the pearl of great price; when they deal dishonestly with God and with others; when they show that the fruit they bear is the fruit of the forbidden tree, beware lest, by connecting with them, you lose your connection with God….

Truth as it is in Jesus sets us right and keeps us so. The truth is an anchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast. But the truth is no truth to those who do not obey it. When men and women drift away from the principles of truth, they always betray sacred trust. Let every soul, in whatever sphere of action, make sure that the truth is implanted in the heart by the power of the Spirit of God. Unless this is made certain, those who preach the Word will betray holy trusts. Physicians will make shipwreck of the faith. Lawyers, judges, senators, will become corrupted, and yielding to bribery, will allow themselves to be bought and sold. Those who do not walk in the light as Christ is in the light are blind leaders of the blind, “Clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots.”—The Review and Herald, August 1, 1899.

From the Heart p. 120
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Harley. He was taken to the hospital during the night. The doctor said he needs a pacemaker. He will get it done tomorrow. Pray also for his mother who is in her nineties and needs prayer for health issues. M
—- Please pray for my son. He was in a car accident and he’s in the hospital. My prayer is that this will be a spiritual awakening for him cause it’s not good. He totaled his car. Apparently he had been drinking and he ran into the front of a dollar store & put a big hole in it. And when he did that he hit a propane tank! Blessed be the Lord- it did not explode. I pray this is the start of what I’ve been praying for “a conversion.” He has been estranged from me for years… Angela
—-Please pray for James who was in a motorcycle accident and is in the hospital. Pray also for Ron who is still having problems with his blood pressure. Rose
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Dear Friends,

During this time of year, when we especially think of the death and resurrection of our Dear Saviour, I thought I would share the passage in Isaiah which so plainly prophesies of Him. “Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider. Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isa 52:13-53:12

The Crucifixion (this song was written by Esther when she was about sixteen)

At the Garden of Gethsemane
Jesus felt the need to pray
And as He walked He stumbled and fellowship
Under the weight of our sin.
Soon you could hear the mob
Rushing for our Lord
And then Judas kissed the Lord
And sold Him to the crowd.
Jesus was wounded and bruised
And yet He remained so calm
And as He looked upon the crowd
Love filled His eyes.
“Crucify the Lord! Crucify the Son of Man!
“Crucify the Lord! Crucify the Son of Man!”

Jesus walked down the road
The cross was laid on His back
But soon He fell under the weight
He couldn’t bear the pain.
They reached the hill of Calvary
Jesus was laid on the cross
But when they pounded the nails through His hands
He never uttered a sound.
They raised the cross into the hole
Jesus had blood on His face
But through the storm He looked to the sky
And cried out to our God
“Father why hast Thou forsaken Me?
Father why has Thou forgotten Me!”

And then with these last words
He cried out through the pain
“It is finished!” And then He died!
His heart broke from the weight of our sin.
Then Joseph asked for His body
He gently took Him down
And then he laid Him in his tomb
That’s all he could do for his Lord.
Soldiers guarded the tomb
They didn’t want Jesus to escape
But then the angel come with a great light
And they fell to the ground as dead.
Jesus is alive! Jesus did rise again!
Jesus is alive! He saved us from our sins!
Jesus is alive! Jesus will come again!
Jesus is alive! He has saved us from our sins!

May we accept His great sacrifice for us. May we praise Him for His Great Love. May we so live that when He comes we will look up with rejoicing and exclaim, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa 25:9

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/the-pearl-of-great-price.html