“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name above every name.” Philippians 2:9
Dear Ones:
Ascribing worth to someone or something is an act of attributing value. The Lord Jesus, in seeking to communicate to us the concept of true worth with regard to the kingdom of God, used the illustration of “…one pearl of great price.” (Matt. 13:46) The value attributed to this pearl was such that the man who found it “…sold ALL that he had, and bought it.” The Lord also used the illustration of a treasure hidden in a field, the value attributed to it being so great that the man who found it, went and “…sold all that he had, and bought the field.” In both cases we are faced with the assessment of worth, and the attribution of value, then a response that corresponds to such a discovered prize.
There is coming an event in heaven one day when, not only will every knee bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father, but there will be the most magnificent proclamation of the worth, the value attributed to God, our Maker and Redeemer. In Revelation 5:13, we read: “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing, honor, and glory and power, be unto Him that sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.'” It is one thing to attribute to God the Father and the Son worth, as declared by the words: blessing, honor, glory and power. It is another to proclaim that this attribution is forever, never diminishing or changing in its strength nor dimensions. As God IS, so IS the value that He is worthy to receive, a value or prize that is beyond description or comprehension. This, in part, is that “prize” toward which Paul is aiming (Phil. 3:14), that worthy reason for which he has “sold all that he had,” to know Christ, the “excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Phil. 3:8) In light of these great truths, what is to be our response to such a revelation and reality?
Jesus, in speaking of the last days, and His second coming, addressed His disciples as to how they were to live. He spoke first of all concerning living in expectancy: “Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord comes.” (Matt. 24:25) True faith is a daily, even moment by moment, attitude of waiting on God, expecting Him to work, act, and accomplish His blessed will in and through us. Jesus also told His disciples to “…be ready.” Readiness speaks of a communion maintained with God, with no shadow between. Thirdly, He addressed the issue of faithfulness and wisdom in service. He does not ask His disciples to become great and formidable individuals, with great reputations of having accomplished great things. What greater thing is there than to belong to Christ, and be complete in Him? His exhortation therefore is one of faithfulness to one’s calling, and the wise use of God’s corresponding gifts. Herein is the need for wisdom, a wisdom that is freely given to those who ask in faith. (James 1:5) The man, woman, boy or girl, who sees God with his heart and mind, and the incomprehensible and indescribable worth of knowing Him, is that one who will long to live in expectancy, readiness, loving and serving God faithfully in all “wisdom and spiritual understanding.”
Dear Father, give us to be those who see Thee in the sanctuary, perceiving Thy beauty and worth. Give us to understand in the measure of that which is possible, something of the prize, treasure, and blessing of knowing Thee. And grant us grace to be faithful and wise in that which You would have us trust You for. We thank Thee, and praise Thee in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad