Weekend Sermon -- "Pearl of Great Price"

     Hello, and welcome again to the Weekend Sermon.  I hope that everyone is doing well today.  Thank you for reading the blog.
     I'm sorry that I am later that usual in getting the sermon posted today.  I've been at the doctor's office.  I have a bad case of bronchitis that has exacerbated my asthma.  I had to get a breathing treatment and some different medications.
     In prayer this week, please remember to pray for those affected by the tornadoes in Louisiana.  Also, please pray for those in Haiti who are recovering from the hurricane.
     Remember to pray for peace in this world.  Pray for peace in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen.  Wherever there is war, let us pray that there will be peace.
     For our prayer focus countries. pray that many people in Togo and Brunei will hear the good news about Jesus and His redeeming love.
     Currently, we are in a series of messages on the parables of Jesus.  In last week's message, we focused our attention on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.  Today, I want to focus on two parables that have basically the same theme.
     In Matthew 13:44-46, Jesus tells two parables explaining what the kingdom of Heaven is like.  In the first parable, Jesus said that the kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.  When a man finds this treasure, he goes and sells all that he has in order to get enough money to buy the field where the treasure lies.  In the second parable, Jesus compares the kingdom of Heaven to a valuable pearl.  When a merchant finds this valuable pearl, he sells all that he has in order to obtain the pearl of great price.
     What both of these parables are driving at is the importance of finding what is truly meaningful in life.  What is it that is of the most value in life?  What would we be willing to give everything up for in order to obtain it?
      Jesus meaning in this parable is quite clear.  Our relationship with Him is that which we should hold to be of the most value in our lives.  Nothing else in this world is more important than our relationship with the Lord Jesus.
     In the two stories that Jesus told, it is evident that the two men had other valuable possessions.  However, they considered these things to be worthless when they discovered what was of true and eternal value.
     These two parables call on us to do some soul searching.  Is our relationship with Jesus the most important thing in our lives?  Would we be willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of Jesus?
     I know that for a lot of people, even those who claim to have a personal relationship with Jesus, many other things take priority in their lives.
     For some people, the most important thing in life is their career or business. They spend all of their time and energy climbing the career ladder and they attempt to make more and more money.  For others, fame and popularity are the most important things in life.
     Many people make family and friends the number one priority in life.  Family and friends are certainly important, but there is something that is more important and of more value than that.
     As believers in Jesus Christ, are priority should be on knowing Jesus and following Him with all of heart, mind, soul and strength.  Jesus should always come first and foremost in our lives no matter what.
     There are some things that we do in life that demonstrate that Jesus comes first.  Praying and communing with Jesus each and every day demonstrates that Jesus is first in our lives.  Reading about Jesus and the words that Jesus said are also of vital importance.
     I think that the number one way in which we demonstrate that Jesus is truly Lord of all of our life is when we obey His teachings and His commandments.  This clearly states to the world that we want to please the Lord Jesus by following in the path that He has set our before us.
     I hope that your relationship with the Lord Jesus is the most important thing in your life.  If you have become lax in spending time with the Lord, I hope that you will call out to Him today.  If you have never invited Jesus into your life, I hope that you will trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord.
     Next week, we will continue our series in the parables of Jesus.  I will post the verses on Monday and a poem on Tuesday.  I have a good dog book to review for Wednesday.  May God bless you all.  Amen.