Devo Week 8

Pearls of Great Price - From the Inside-Out

It's especially important how we view suffering. To the follower of Christ, suffering is a catalyst for spiritual formation. Many have treated the Christian journey like a passport or an entry visa. The end goal of the Christian life, however, is Christlikeness. This Scripture about the pearl not only emphasizes transformation but how it takes place.

Key Concept: Suffering as the protective covering for transformation

Transformation usually takes place in the unseen realm similar to the formation of a pearl. Our internal responses to irritants and trials create a 'lustre' or grace upon our lives. Unlike successes, trials cause the testing of our faith. Sometimes accomplishments with goals and hard work can deceive us into thinking we hold the key to our destiny. Trials, however, confine us to the oyster shell, so to speak. Our responses to these trials determine the grace and glory of God upon our lives.

As we embrace trials under the grace of God, transformation of the Kingdom can take place. The primary fruit outlined in Scripture is not quantity, but quality -- the quality of a life conformed to the image of Christ. (Col. 1:24-27) Perhaps this is why the gates of the New Jerusalem are made of a single pearl. (Rev. 21:21) While our sufferings under the hand of God will produce Christlikeness, our unwillingness to embrace suffering will produce hardness and bitterness. The exhortation of this passage is to embrace suffering for the purpose of being formed into Christlikeness.

Key Word Definition: catalyst (noun)

-- an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action.

Excerpt from Devotional 8 with highlighted word:

"Jesus compared the pearl to the Kingdom of Heaven. Spiritual beauty also comes from within and most often as a result of our responses to life’s trials (or irritants). Our spiritual brightness comes from ‘the spirit of glory and of God’ resting upon us through suffering. (I Pet. 4:14) Even Jesus as the Son of Man, the ultimate pearl of great price, was made complete through suffering. (Heb. 5:8-9) Jesus is the one and only Messiah, but the way of the Cross is for all His followers. Suffering, then, serves as one of the Kingdom’s primary catalysts or stimulants for spiritual formation -- producing greater maturity and beauty in the life of the believer.”

Scripture: Matt 13:45-46

“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.” (NIV)