The Pearl of Patience - “The pearl does not come into existence in a single day. There is a tedious process of waiting while the pearl is being slowly but surely formed. And so it has been with the Church. For centuries now, that of which the pearl is the figure and type has been in process of formation by the power and grace of God. Just as the oyster covered the wound in its side with one layer after another of the beautiful nacre, so God constantly repeats the process, so out of each generation of men on earth God has called a few and added them to that church which God is now building for His Son.”  Arthur W. Pink

 

The Valuable Pearl - in Bible days and for many centuries, the pearl was considered the most precious of all gems because men risked their lives diving into the deep waters to retrieve it. As in the parable, “You were bought with a price, so glorify God in your body and spirit, which are God’s”. 1 Corinthians 6:20.

 

The Pearl of Grace - The pearl is the oyster’s answer to what wounded it.  The sand enters the oyster’s side. Christ was pierced in His side on the cross. The grain of sand is abrasive and causes the pearl to release nacre. Our sinful nature is abrasive to Christ, He continually releases grace to cover His children.  We cut, He covers. We don’t deserve grace; it’s a gift.

 

The Unique Pearl – man cannot reproduce a pearl; no two pearls are alike; pearls come many different colors; pearls are made one at a time; pearls are found one at a time.

 

The Incandescent Pearl - the pearl’s beautiful incandescent color, captures and reflects light. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16

 

The Living Pearl - the pearl is the only gem that comes from a living creature. We come from a living God!  We are alive in Him.  

 

The Mother of Pearl - The oyster is found deep in the dark murky waters of the sea.  The pearl is formed in the center of the oyster.  If you hold up a pearl, try your best but you will never see the grain of sand and ...who would want to!  There is certainly nothing special about a grain of sand. The sand is hidden in the nacre that covers it. It is the nacre, the Mother of Pearl, that holds all value. In the same way, we are hid in Christ who covers us.  His grace covers us.  He is our infinite value! 

 

The Hidden Pearl - “I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord.”  Isaiah 45:3

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The Pearl of Unity -  the pearl is the only precious gem that isn’t divided.  Cut gold and you have two pieces of gold. Cut a diamond and you have two diamonds.  Cut a pearl and you have rendered it worthless.  A divided church is rendered worthless. “..maintain unity.” Ephesians 4:13

 

The Pearl of Humility - An oyster shell is gray and rough in appearance, the least desirable of shell collectors – “Jesus had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.” Isaiah 53:2 “And being found in human form, Jesus humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:8

 

The Pearl’s Worth - We would never look at a pearl and say, “Wow, what a great grain of sand!” The sand is what caused the injury! We look at a pearl and marvel at the pearl, not the sand. In the same way, its ridiculous pride to receive praise for ourselves, for only God is worthy of praise.

 

The Pearl of Suffering - as the nacre covers the sand; Christ covers us with His grace. We respond in the same way as Christ, the world is abrasive to us so we release grace in response to injury. Persecuted Christians respond with love, the more we do this, the greater the value. At the ultimate injury, the world is not worthy of Christ’s martyrs.  Hebrews 11:38

 

The 12 Pearls - "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl."  These Pearl gates are at the entrance way to heaven, one for each tribe.” Revelation 21:19-21