Pearl
I hope the New Year has started well for you.
I came across this beautiful account today, of a parable that Jesus gave about the kingdom of heaven:
“Or, the kingdom of heaven is like this: a merchant spends his whole life searching for fine pearls; yet when he finds a pearl of perfect purity, he sells all that he has and buys that single jewel and counts himself perfectly content.” *
And counts himself perfectly content.
This part is the part I’ve been thinking about.
It challenged me because there have been times when I haven’t always felt this kind of contentment in God. The deep, quiet, rich kind, I mean. Like a well of life deep on the inside of you. I’ve lost sight of it a little. Looked around a bit unsettled, a bit restless, as if something else could satisfy more. I’ve forgotten.
But these words of Jesus inspired me to remember.
We are heirs of the kingdom of God James 2:5.
We have been given something of the greatest possible treasure, the greatest possible purpose Matt 6:33, and the greatest possible promise 2 Tim. 2:12.
It is such a privilege, and there is such abundance.
One of my resolutions for this year is to keep growing in this perspective, and in choosing to be content in Him.
*Ref: Wangerin, W, The Book of God (1996, Lion, Oxford) 652
As always, spot on. What an honor that we can believe contentment is possible.
He is our great treasure. And I also often think- if I can just have this, or achieve that, then I will be happy. But of course as soon as I attain anything, that ‘just’ becomes something else. Nothing can satisfy except Him. This also reminds me of that quote by C.S Lewis which you have also posted here: “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
He offers us abundance and we would settle for less…
I think this is a good resolution for me to ponder as well. Thank you Birgit:)
Thank you for this beautiful blog!
This post suits perfect in my life right now.
Your sister in Christ from Sweden
So true @ngie, your comment made me think of Psalm 23:1 – “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” It gives me hope to know that it’s possible to find this kind of satisfaction in Him ox
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Thanks so much for this quote Rain, it’s so good. I wonder if it’s a question of getting a vision of this abundance. The lure of other things can be strong at times, and really hold out the promise of satisfying, and lead off on a path away from God. It’s something to think and pray about as you say, eyes to see the promise His kingdom, and the fullness found in Him :)
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Hi Gabriela, lovely to ‘meet’ you, and I’m so happy that you enjoyed this post :)
Welcome any time, God bless, Birgit.