remembering the pearl

Today in the One Year Bible, we read from Philippians 3:5-21. Paul talks about giving up everything for the sake of knowing Jesus.

And that reminds us of the stories that Jesus tells about the pearl of great price, which we sell everything we own in order to purchase it. And some of us did just that in order to follow Jesus. Left everything behind for the sake of Him alone.

Some of us grew up with Him, though. For some of us, there never was a time when He wasn't in our lives... we knew Him from the time that we knew anything. So we kind of feel like we've had Him AND everything else at the same time.

For both sets of people, those who gave up all for Him, and those who knew Him all along... it's important for us to remember what that pearl is worth. To see everything else in our lives, not as garbage in themselves... but as garbage in comparison to Him. When we remember how important that pearl is, it reminds us to put everything else in perspective.

God, thanks for reminding us about the pearl of great price. Help us keep everything else in its proper perspective.