We are very precious! God sacrificed his only begotten Son to die for all mankind:
- "For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's," 1 Corinthians 6:20
- "You are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men," 1 Corinthians 7:23.
- "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," John 3:16
Additionally, we are very precious to Jesus. He willingly left his heavenly home, came to this world as a human being, and voluntarily gave His life for us. "Who (the Logos), though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men," Philippians 2:6-7 (ESV)
Of special value to God and to Jesus Christ are faithful, Christian believers – those who today decide to walk in the footsteps of the Savior. The parables of the treasure and pearl are about these dear ones. In those parables, the merchant (Lord Jesus) sold everything he had (His perfect life) to buy the pearl (true Christians).
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it," Matthew 13:44-46.
