MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17

THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE AND THE DIVINE PURSUIT

MEMORISE: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matthew 13:45-46)

BIBLE READING: MATTHEW 13:45-46; LUKE 15:4-7 (KJV)

Matthew 13:45-46: 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Luke 15:4-7: 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

INTRODUCTION: THE DIVINE CALCULUS OF WORTH

The value of anything is determined by the price someone is willing to pay for it. When we look at the world through the eyes of the market, we value things based on scarcity, utility, or demand. But when we look at human souls through the eyes of heaven, we confront a valuation that shatters every earthly economic model.

In the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price, the Lord Jesus likened the Kingdom of heaven to a merchant man seeking goodly pearls. This merchant represents Jesus Christ, and the pearls he sought represent souls. When he found one pearl of great price—a soul of incalculable, non-negotiable worth—he didn’t haggle. He didn’t try to find a cheaper option. The scripture says he “went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”

This parable is an eternal declaration of the immense value God places on a single soul. That one soul is worth everything to Him. It is worth the entire life, blood, and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Understanding this truth revolutionizes the way we approach soul winning, intercession, and follow-up.

I. THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE: THE COST OF REDEMPTION

The story of the merchant and the pearl encapsulates the entire story of redemption. It reveals the divine search, the divine discovery, and the divine cost.

A. The Divine Search and Discovery

The merchant wasn’t casually wandering; he was “seeking goodly pearls.” This speaks to the deliberate, persistent, and focused nature of God’s love. He is actively seeking those who are lost, those who are destined for glory but are currently trapped in the systems of the world.

When Jesus walked the earth, His ministry was characterized by this active search. He didn’t wait in the Temple; He went to the Samaritan woman at the well, the tax collector in the tree, and the prostitute at the feet of the Pharisees. He was the divine Merchant seeking His treasures.

The pearl itself is unique. It is the only gem formed organically through sacrifice—a grain of sand irritates the oyster, and in response, the oyster secretes layer upon layer of nacre, transforming the grit into a treasure. This beautifully symbolizes the soul of man being transformed from a source of friction and sorrow into an object of beauty and value by the relentless, protective covering of God’s grace.

B. The Priceless Cost

When the merchant found the one pearl of great price, he “sold all that he had, and bought it.”

What did Jesus, the divine Merchant, sell to purchase you? He sold His own life. The price was not silver or gold, but the precious blood of the Lamb (1 Peter 1:18-19).

• He sold His position in glory to descend to earth.
• He sold His reputation, accepting scorn and rejection.
• He sold His body on the cross, becoming sin for us.

This transaction tells us that you are not cheap. You are priceless. Every single soul matters deeply to God because they are worth the life of His only begotten Son.

This divine valuation should be the lens through which we view every person we encounter, regardless of their background, their current state, or their apparent worthlessness in the eyes of the world. They are heaven’s treasure, paid for by the greatest sacrifice in the history of the universe.

II. THE LOST SHEEP: THE JOY OF RECOVERY

To further drive home the point of the individual’s worth, the Master gave us the Parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15. This parable illustrates not just the cost, but the passion and tenacity of the divine pursuit.

A. The Tenacity of the Shepherd

The shepherd had a hundred sheep, representing the whole body of humanity. When one was lost, the shepherd didn’t rationalize, “Ninety-nine out of a hundred is a great success rate.” No! He “doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?”

This is the very essence of the Lord’s heart toward the lost. His love is not a generalized affection for the masses; it is a focused, personalized, and relentless pursuit of the individual.

This tenacity is what must define our soul-winning efforts. You are not just reaching people to grow your church, fellowship, or cell group; we are not merely adding numbers; we are going after treasures. That one person you prayed for, followed up, encouraged, and refused to give up on, even when they seemed disinterested or resistant to the message, is seen by heaven as the pearl of great price—the one lost sheep whose return completes the flock.

B. The Exceeding Joy in Heaven

The parable culminates in the magnificent celebration: “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance” (Luke 15:7).

The repentance of a single sinner triggers an exceeding, overflow-level joy in the presence of the angels of God. Think about that: a party in heaven is thrown for one person! This underscores how precious and significant every single soul is to the Father.

That one person you’re praying for, calling, visiting, and encouraging is not just another face, but heaven’s delight; a pearl of inestimable value. And the Lord Jesus says it’s worth giving everything to win that one.

III. THE INTERCESSOR’S MANDATE AND GENERATIONAL IMPACT

Understanding the value of the soul fundamentally changes the way we engage in the ministry of reconciliation. It transforms soul winning from a spiritual chore into a passionate rescue mission.

A. The Power of Persistence and Follow-up

The memory shared in the original devotional about the consistent gentleman who refused to give up is a powerful testimony to the efficacy of persistence.

Many years ago, I was just a young teenager—curious, distracted, and unsure of many things. But there was a gentleman who wouldn’t give up on me. He kept following me up, reaching out, helping me stay focused, and serving the Lord. He was one person God used to help me get steady in the things of God. But for his persistence, I might never have stepped into ministry.

This illustrates the life-altering impact of your consistent prayers and follow-up. This gentleman saw a pearl of great price where others might have only seen a distraction. He invested time, patience, and love.

That’s what your intercession and follow-up can do for someone. That’s what your consistent prayers can achieve. The lost soul often represents a destiny that needs rescuing and generations that need impacting. When you stabilize a new Christian, you are not just saving one life; you are potentially securing a bloodline for the Kingdom of God.

2 Timothy 2:8-10 confirms this mandate for endurance: “Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” Our endurance in outreach and follow-up is an act of selfless love, patterned after the Master’s own sacrifice.

B. Investing in Eternal Worth

Every investment we make in this life—financial, emotional, or intellectual—is temporary, except for the investment we make in the soul of man.

The merchant sold everything he had to purchase the pearl. In our modern context, this means:

• Selling the prejudice that tells you not to talk to a certain person.
• Selling the laziness that keeps you from making that follow-up call.
• Selling the fear of rejection that keeps you silent.
• Selling the comfort of your own schedule to meet a new convert’s spiritual need.

The Kingdom of Heaven is worth the sacrifice, and the soul of man is the currency.

IV. THE EXTENT OF GOD’S LOVE: JOHN 3:16 REDUX

The source of this immense valuation is found in the most famous verse in the Bible: John 3:16-17.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

This passage is a clear statement that the motivation is not judgment, but salvation. The worth of the soul is what drove the giving. God did not give His Son because we deserved it, but because He valued us. This boundless, unconditional love should fuel our mission.

Our recognition of a soul’s value must lead to a commitment to the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). We are now Christ’s ambassadors, carrying the message of the Merchant who sold everything to buy back His treasure. We carry the compassion of the Shepherd who risked everything to retrieve His lost lamb.

CONCLUSION: LIVE AS A SOUL WINNER

Never underestimate the worth of one soul. That one person is not just another statistic; they are a pearl of great price, a lost lamb whose return brings immeasurable joy to heaven.

Today, let your perception be aligned with God’s. See people not as they are, but as the precious, redeemed treasures they are destined to be. Be the persistent friend, the tenacious intercessor, the consistent follow-up person. Because you were worth everything to Jesus, every soul is worth everything to you.

The commission is clear: go after them with passion and grace, and in the power of the Spirit, bring the harvest into the Kingdom. Hallelujah!

PRAYER

Dear Father, thank you for the value you’ve placed on every soul. I see through your eyes and reach out to others with the same love and tenacity with which you reached out to the world. I recognise that every soul is a pearl of great price, and I’m inspired to go after them with passion, grace, and tireless commitment in the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for making me a fervent soul winner, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY

• Luke 15:4-7: (The Parable of the Lost Sheep)
• John 3:16-17: (The Motivation of Divine Love)
• 2 Timothy 2:8-10: (Enduring for the sake of the Elect)
• 1 Corinthians 6:20: For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

DAILY BIBLE READING PLAN

• 1 Year Plan: Hebrews 13 & Ezekiel 16
• 2 Year Plan: John 12:30-41 & 1 Chronicles 17