Pearl was an aging widow, living far from her two children and her grandchildren. She was in remarkable health and was blessed to have a sharp intellect and equally quick wit. Pearl was upbeat and happy. She was committed to her walk with Jesus and determined to finish strong.
Now all of that is not to say that the hounds of discouragement did not occasionally nag at her. But Pearl knew the One who kept her heart secure. Of course, there are always days when the cold gripping fingers of despair threaten even faithful souls like Pearl. But she has found a practical way to fight back, besides her regular routine of prayer, Bible study and church attendance.
Pearl’s place in life helped her see just how many other believers were in the same situation that she was in. Men and women who loved Jesus, but who faced loneliness and the feeling of nothingness.
So, Pearl got busy. She began to seek out these brothers and sisters. She went to where they were—retirement communities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities. Pearl organized weekly meetings or single visitations.
Pearl helped people realize the gifts and talents that still existed in each one of their lives as believers, even though they may be aging.
Pearl helped them find ways to adapt their skills and talents when physical mobility had become lost or impaired. She connected groups of people together as teams of differing strengths and limitations so that everyone could be included.
What was the result?
Well, primarily, God was glorified. That is our single most important purpose as believers. Pearl was blessed as were all of the lives that she touched and exponentially, all of the lives that each of those people touched, and so on.
And that, in a nutshell, is exactly what we are called to do.
One touch, one life, one spark at a time. The Gospel goes out like a beautiful glowing ember from an old broken-down clay pot. A beautiful fire from the Glory of God. That’s the real treasure. The treasure isn’t you and me. The Treasure is what lives and shines inside of you and me.
Do you see what Paul found?
For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake, seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair; pursued yet not forsaken; struck down yet not destroyed; always carrying in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh. So, then death works in us, but life in you.
2 Corinthians 4:5-12
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Isaiah 52:7
World English Bible (WEB)
by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 