Less than 1 in 10,000 oysters produce a pearl of great value. Many believe that a grain of sand settling inside an oyster triggers the pearl-making process, but this is a myth. A pearl forms when an oyster ingests a parasite. To protect itself, the shiny, iridescent material that lines the inside of the oyster shell begins to encapsulate the parasite. This lining is called nacre, commonly known as Mother of Pearl. It takes time for the Mother of Pearl to give enough of herself to produce a little one. Pearls are rare and valuable because so few oysters create them. Pearls can be imitated, but imitations are never as valuable as the real thing.
Over the past five weeks, we have added some valuable pearls to our strands of theology. By examining Jesus’ calming of the storm in Mark 4, we’ve learned what He can and will do when a storm rages in our lives. We also recognized what we can do when our mustard seed faith is scattered into dry hearts. We discovered the importance of zakhar—remembering what God has already done—so that we gain the courage to move forward. And, unlike Adam and Eve, we have chosen to be grateful for all our blessings. So, why do we still feel tempted to listen to the voice that reminds us of everything we lack?
Perhaps we haven’t taken a Sabbath rest. Yes, God said to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. And, yes, many of us could use some physical rest, but what about finding rest for our spirits? We are all spiritual beings having a physical experience, not the other way around. When the most essential part of us, our spirit, finds rest, our body, mind, will, and emotions can also rest.
Hebrews describes the kind of rest many of us don’t realize we need—rest from unbelief. “And who was it who rebelled against God, even though they heard his voice? Wasn’t it the people Moses led out of Egypt? And who made God angry for forty years? Wasn’t it the people who sinned, whose corpses lay in the wilderness? And to whom was God speaking when he took an oath that they would never enter his rest? Wasn’t it the people who disobeyed him? So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest.” (Hebrews 3:16-19 NLT)
Satan planted parasitic lies into the hearts of the Israelites. They didn’t trust God because Satan convinced them that God didn’t love them enough to care for them. Satan whispered lies until they became as doubtful as the disciples on chaotic waters and as ungrateful as Adam and Eve in the garden. He still uses this age-old strategy because it still works.
Satan doesn’t want us to believe that God loves us with an everlasting love. He fuels unbelief by trying to make us think we must earn God’s love. However, “there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.” (Hebrews 4:9-11 NLT) Recognizing that God’s love, the grace of Jesus, and the friendship of the Holy Spirit are gifts does not mean we become complacent in our obedience. Quite the opposite! We can rest from arrogantly trying to prove ourselves so we can humbly rest in God’s love. Humble love loves best. “Love” that isn’t humble is no love at all.
God knew we would need help in learning how to love well, so He gave us the Holy Spirit. He is the shiny, iridescent One living inside us. When Satan places a parasite of doubt into our hearts, the Holy Spirit wraps us in protective layers of love. The Passion Translation paints a beautiful picture of the valuable pearl that is so carefully produced: “But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions:
joy that overflows ,
peace that subdues ,
patience that endures,
kindness in action,
a life full of virtue,
faith that prevails,
gentleness of heart ,
and strength of spirit .
Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.” (Galatians 5:22-23 TPT)
Paul said it best, “When you’re joined to the Anointed One, circumcision and religious obligations can benefit you nothing. All that matters now is living in the faith that works and expresses itself through love.” (Galatians 5:6 TPT)
Some look for love in all the wrong places, only to find imitations. When you know, feel, and experience God’s love, you find true joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May we faithfully display our strand of valuable pearls.
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!” (Matthew 13:45-46 NLT)
