A few years back, my son decided that he wanted to fly to Calgary to watch his favorite team play. He knew it would cost him a lot, and at the time he was getting about $5.00/week for allowance. That’s a lot of weeks to save up just for the airfare alone. Nevermind the fact that at 9 years old, he wasn’t likely to get a job anytime soon. It might seem unreasonable that Graham would give up all that he had for one trip to Calgary, but to him it was everything.
Somehow he did it. Saving every allowance and every bit of birthday money he had, he was able to buy himself a two-way ticket to Calgary (dad helped out with the rest).
His ongoing persistence and deep dedication reminds me of two parables tucked into Matthew Chapter 13. One is that of a man who finds a treasure in a field, and the other a merchant who finds a pearl of great value. Both men sell all that they have to possess it.
Are we willing to to that? To value the cross more than this world? To give up the things that are holding us back from walking in light?
It’s foolishness to anyone who hasn’t tasted His grace. If you don’t see the sin, how could you possibly see the cost of redemption or the price that was paid.
But to those who have tasted the incomparable gift of God’s grace, His sustaining peace, and His unfailing love–this pearl is worth giving up all the garbage they have to possess it.
John MacArthur writes, “Any price is worth it if I can be found in Him, if I can know Him, if I can attain the resurrection of the dead, any price.”
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Tilling the Soil
Read Matthew Chapter 13:44-46
Planting Hope
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:8, NIV)
About the Author
DARLENE SCHACHT is an award-winning and NYT best-selling author. She is the founder of Time-Warp Wife Ministries, an online publication that encourages women to live Christ-centered lives.
Her passion for scripture and hunger for truth is the driving force behind a unique ministry that offers Bible studies and daily marriage prayers. Darlene is joined by her husband Michael on the daily podcast “5-Minute Marriage.”
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