lives to be with you here in Holywell. Be assured of our love and prayers, we pray often for you at Ipsley. I do bring the greetings of the church at Crosslanes, Ipsley many of you know my congregation, but I do bring the greetings. They particularly asked me to mention that this morning and today. Emma remembers you particularly, and the others as well. We pray for you, continue to pray for us. May the Lord richly bless you. I put a text on our church app yesterday. God shall bless us, from Psalm 67. God shall bless us. And that's true for Richly, and it's true for you here. and for other congregations up and down the nation. Well, be assured of our love and prayers and let me say it's a joy and a privilege to be with you here. Well, this morning I'd like us to consider the parable of the pearl of greatest price. Tonight we're going to look at Psalm 27 and consider strength for the journey. Strength for the journey. We who love the Lord, we're strangers and pilgrims as we read off in Hebrews 11. We feel our weakness, how we need strength for the journey. So the Lord willing, tonight we'll consider that. But this morning, I'd like us to consider the power of greatest price. And as we think of that, we turn to Matthew chapter 13. Matthew chapter 13, verses 45 through to verse 46. And as we consider these verses, we who love the Lord, oh, that we would treasure Christ the more this morning. and for any without Christ, that you, through the grace of God, would come to find the pearl of greatest price. Well, turn with me to Matthew 13, and I'm going to read verses 45 and verse 46. Again, the kingdom of heaven is likened to a merchant man seeking goodly pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sowed all that he had and brought it. Dear congregation, there is none like the Lord Jesus Christ. And as we think of him this morning, I have never been disappointed in him. One of his titles recorded for us in Isaiah 9 verse 6 is wonderful. Remember those well-known words, for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. And his name should be called Wonderful, Counselor. Wonderful. And he is, is he not? And we who love the Lord, are we not in awe? And as we think of Him, that He is wonderful, do you know we desire to love Him more and more and live for Him? At times my love is so faint, I feel, towards the Lord Jesus, but when I consider Him, He's wonderful. Oh, to love Him the more. He's wonderful. He is a marvel. His name, His title is wonderful. Let me ask you, Is he wonderful to you this morning? Well, he is wonderful in his person, and then secondly, wonderful in his work. Wonderful, we think of those words in the Song of Solomon. Yea, he is altogether lovely. There's none like him. We who love the Lord, we've never been disappointed in him. Yes, disappointed in ourselves, and I begin with myself, often I'm disappointed, but not in him. He's altogether lovely. He's precious. We read in 1 Peter 2 verse 7, unto you therefore which believe, he is precious. He is precious. He's wonderful. He is the pearl of greatest price. And we're going to consider him briefly here this morning in this parable. Now we think of the kingdom here in the parable, verse 45, the kingdom of heaven. And as we consider the parables which are in view of the kingdom, there's certain things to consider in view of the kingdom and those things associated with the kingdom. And we're led to consider particularly the church in the New Testament age. Well, as we think of the kingdom and those things associated with the kingdom, let me tell you this morning, there is a pearl. of greatest price, and are we not thankful, we who love him, that we know him, and we meet in his presence this morning? It may be there's someone here. You're in the presence of Christ because the Lord's people have gathered, but you don't value him. Oh, it's my prayer that yet you would yet come to value him. So we think then of the pearl of greatest price, and what a blessing is the Lord Jesus Christ. Gerald Bilkey's writing on this parable wrote, not only does Christ reveal the value of the kingdom, he represents and enfolds that value in himself. It is right that interpreters throughout the ages have understood the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price as essentially the Lord Jesus Christ. Now I am aware that there are a who considered the church here as the pearl. But oh, it's, I believe, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the majority of commentators and believers agree likewise. He is the pearl of greatest price, the Lord Jesus of Jesus Christ. We've already fallen to his names and titles, wonderful counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, what a description, what a name, a title that is. Consider he's the shepherd, he's the redeemer, he is the friend that's to get closer than a brother. Precious titles. Oh how we value the friendship of Christ. this morning, the pearl of greatest price. I'd like us to consider first of all the pearl of great price, secondly the pearl found and obtained, and thirdly the pearl greatly valued. Well let's consider first of all the pearl of great price. Let's read verse 45. Again, the kingdom of heaven who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it." The pearl of great price. Now we notice in the parable a merchant man goes seeking pearls in a particular place. You notice it there in verse 45. It's likened to a merchant man seeking goodly pearls who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and brought it." Now it's interesting when we consider the Greek word, which is translated here as bought, literally means from the Greek, and this is interesting, to go to a market to purchase, to buy. That's all there in the root of the word, which is translated as bought in verse 46. opening this up a little further. He goes to a marketplace to purchase. He's seeking, he's looking and there in the marketplace he buys the pearl of great price. Down south on Tuesdays and another day of the week, Saturday, there's the market in Salisbury. In Ringwood there's the market on Wednesdays and people go. And sometimes there are these stores where there's antiques, there's a number of jewels, watches, rings, so on and so forth. And certain ones go and they're searching. They're looking. But here the merchant man, he's gone to a place, the market, and he's searching. What do we read in verse 45? Seeking goodly pearls. Seeking goodly pearls. Well, as he's about his business, he finds one pearl of great price. Well, here's the parable. And here we're led to consider one, through the grace of God, finds the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, why do I say through the grace of God? We're left to ourselves. We wouldn't be here this morning, would we? Remember what John Newton wrote, amazing grace that saved a wretch like me. And it is, isn't it? When we consider ourselves and our sin and the state we were once in, how amazing is the grace of God. We're in awe, are we not? Just over a week ago, I was in Normandy and I went to the American cemetery. Over 9,000 war graves there. There was a silence. You could hear the silence and people were in awe. They were taken back. Are we not in awe? Are we not taken back at the grace of God? Well, through God's amazing grace, a wonderful discovery is made. That is the Lord Jesus Christ, the pearl of greatest price. By nature, men are blind. They're in the dark. There's a spiritual blindness, Isaiah 42, verse seven. How amazing is the grace of God. Once I was blind, but now I see. Let me ask you this morning, are you looking? Are you beholding the pearl of greatest price? Are you viewing him? Are you considering him? We'll come back to this in a moment as we close. Well, by the grace of God, a wonderful discovery discovery being made in your life. Many of you can look back to a time. You may not be able to remember a certain minute or an hour, but you can look back to that time and you knew from that time you had made a wonderful discovery. What a wonderful discovery is the Lord Jesus Christ. Many go on their way. I heard earlier the preaching of the gospel here in the open air. and how many have passed on their way, they've heard the preaching of the gospel, they've heard of Christ crucified, but on they go, they have not discovered the pearl of greatest price, they're blind. Oh, for a work of grace today. Oh, for a work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I was reminded last night listening to a sermon off the shepherd. He goes forth until he finds all that the Lord will be going forth. And through his word, men today would make this wonderful discovery, the pearl of great price. Now just briefly consider in verse 45, the merchant man was seeking goodly pearls. The merchant man was seeking goodly pearls. And we can consider that there are those who are seeking certain things which in and of themselves are good. A moral life. It's right that one follows the Ten Commandments, seeks to keep them. And there are those who are seeking to live a moral life. I've met many of them. I remember talking to a certain gentleman. He was seeking to do that which was right. but he wasn't believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. Others, they're seeking comfort. They want to know comfort. Not always will people tell you, but there are those who want to know comfort in view of eternity. They want to know comfort, peace. Well, yes, that's a good thing, isn't it? To know peace in the soul, but without knowing Jesus, peace, how can we really have true peace within? So we can consider the merchantman be seeking goodly pearls, and we can think of those who are seeking certain things which in and of themselves are good. But without Christ, what does it avail? I've known certain ones who sought to live an upright life, They sought to do certain things, keep the law, but they did not know the Lord Jesus Christ. Consider there have been those who went to church. They believed it was right to go to church, and it is. And then on a certain day, they made a wonderful discovery, the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, here's the merchant man. of great price went and sold all that he had and bought it. So we can consider certain ones seeking goodly pearls. But let's just consider this further. There is a natural thirst. There is a natural thirst. Not after the Lord, we're going to consider that as we turn to Isaiah 55, but there is a natural thirst. People want satisfaction within. Now turn with me to Isaiah 55 verse 2. Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread? You see they're looking in the wrong direction, but they want satisfaction. Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which satisfyeth not? No true satisfaction. Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. first but they haven't a hunger after the Lord and perhaps there's someone here perhaps it's you you've got a natural first you're seeking but you're looking in the wrong direction is there someone here this morning you're looking in the wrong direction you haven't made What do we read to those who are looking in the wrong direction? In Isaiah 55 verse 2, hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. You're looking in the wrong direction. The Lord Jesus Christ says to you, dear unconverted friend, hearken diligently unto me, all as you yet were through the grace of God. And as we think of the parable, the merchantman, he's seeking goodly pearls. He's in the marketplace and he finds one, a pearl of great price. What a discovery! It may be you ladies, you've been in a jewellery and you see there an item of jewellery. That's the one. You were looking at others, but that one caught your eye. Well, here's the merchantman. He found one. pearl of great price." Now that's so important, isn't it? Look there in the parable. Did he find a number of pearls of great price? No. He found one pearl of great price. Only the Lord Jesus Christ. I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. One. There's no one else. And you who love the Lord, be comforted this morning, you went to the right door. Sometimes doubts can arise in the heart of the believer. It may be you struggle with doubts at times, but consider Christ is the only one and you through the grace of God were led to him and you've made this wonderful discovery. There's no one else. Remember those disciples in name but not in truth, John 6, they walk no more. Peter says to the Lord, after being questioned by the Lord, will you also go away? Peter says, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. Peter knew there was no one else. Let that be a comfort to you this morning. One pearl, there's no one else you have believed. You have gone to the only door. But what a discovery has been made. One pearl of great A couple of years ago, my wife was in a village hall and she saw some items of jewelry, two pearls, and she paid just four pounds for them. This man sold them. Somebody who was helping the man was a little concerned because, well, he had sold them too cheaply. My wife got home and said, well, these aren't just plastic things. These are the real items. And they were precious. Two pearls. But I tell you, the Lord Jesus Christ is far more precious, is he not? He is the pearl of great price. Listen to Matthew Henry. Jesus Christ is a pearl of great price. a jewel of great value, which will make those who have it rich, truly rich, rich toward God in having Him. We have enough to make us happy here and forever. And it's true, isn't it, the pearl of great price? We've never been disappointed, we who love Him. We have all our needs met in Him. He came into the world, born of Bethlehem, and went all the way to the cross. He did it all. and we have in him a full salvation. He meets our every need. At times we can be brought low, like the psalmist, and we'll consider that tonight. But he comes, his grace is sufficient, his hand is strong, and he lifts us up. We need none other. Remember what the psalmist said in view of Christ, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want or lack. We have all we have need of in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the pearl of great price. We're rich in Him. We may not have much in this world by way of worldly possessions, but we're rich, for we have Christ. How blessed we are. And He belongs to us, not only now, but throughout all eternity. We're so blessed, we're so rich. He is the pearl of great price. Just open this up a little further, I'm conscious the time is passing. He is of great value, firstly. In 2018, one pearl, we're told, was sold for $32 million. One pearl. I'm sure you were not there bidding for that pearl. Just think of it, one pearl, $32 million. That's nothing, is it? compared to Jesus. He's the pearl of great price. He is God. So He is of infinite value. Remember those words in 2 Corinthians 8 verse 9, For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich. He is of infinite value as we consider that he is God, and further that he is our precious mediator. He is rich in wisdom and knowledge. In times we struggle, providences can seem dark and mysterious, we go to him, do we not? For he is rich in wisdom and The treasures. Are you confused? Are you perplexed at this time? There's a sermon being preached in Cardiff today. I already know the title of it. At your wit's end. Psalm 107. Are you at your wit's end? Maybe in some situation. Go unto Jesus. Remember in days of famine they were to go to Joseph. Will you go to Jesus? and knowledge, the pearl of great price. Secondly, he's wonderful, the pearl of great price. In certain selfish, like the oyster, pearls are found, and what takes place that forms the pearl is amazing, wonderful. And consider the Lord Jesus Christ, he who was God and still is God, took human nature. He was conceived in the womb of Mary by the Holy Ghost. Luke 1 verse 35. Amazing! He's God and he is man. The old catechism puts it like this. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man? Christ, the Son of God, became man by taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin. That's wonderful, isn't it? We're in awe, there's much mystery, but how wonderful He who is God took human nature so, for he came into this world to save. What happens inside the selfish is amazing, wonderful. Then consider the pearl grows. Well, that's amazing, isn't it? We haven't got time this morning. He grew in the womb of Mary. And then as a little child, he grew. Wonderful, isn't he? The pearl of great price. Let's consider thirdly, we haven't got much time. He is admired. The pearl of great price. Here's the merchantman, he's seeking goodly pearls. Who, when he has found one pearl of great price, he sees the pearl and he admires. It's special. It's precious. He's altogether lovely. Song of Solomon 5 verse 10, my beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. The chiefest! Let me just illustrate this. You have some precious friends here, do you not? And fervor of it. And it's a blessing, isn't it, to pray for one another, as friends. Us down in Ipsley, for you up here, and you up here for us down in Ipsley. Blessed are the ties that bind us, friendship, but all consider Christ. He is the friend above all friends that stick it closer than a brother. We admire him, such a friend, such a pearl. One must be blind not to admire him. Song of Solomon 5 verse 16. most sweet how he has spoken to us. Yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved and this is my friend. Oh, we admire him. Are you admiring Jesus this morning? Consider who he is. He's God. He's the Saviour. Consider his attributes, his personal excellencies. He's so kind, so loving, so gracious, so merciful. He's full of compassion. Consider his dealings this week, dear child of God, with you. We admire him. We can have heavy hearts at times, but he comes and he lifts us. Oh, we admire him. He is the pearl of greatest price. Well, let's move on and consider secondly and more briefly as time is nearly gone. The pearl found and obtained. The pearl found and obtained, verse 46, who, when he hath found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. When he hath found. Have you made this wonderful discovery? Can you look back this morning? Oh, through the grace of God, I found him. It's amazing, isn't it? I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind, but now I see, and I found him. I see him. He's the pearl of greatest price, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and brought it. Oh, as we consider this, the Lord draws near in effectual calling, and this wonderful discovery is made. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin. but also shows the suitableness of Christ. He's the only one, the only Saviour and Redeemer. He did it all here upon earth. One is shown the suitableness of Christ. Has that been revealed to you? In your heart, has this wonderful discovery been made? What a discovery. One is found looking. Think of the merchantman. and he looks at the pearl. Through the grace of God, one makes his discovery and they're found looking. Remember those words from Hebrews 12, looking unto Jesus. Are you looking? Are you exercising faith? Have you in an initial way looked and are you looking? He's so precious. He's altogether lovely. Your eyes go back to him, do they not, dear child of God? It's not long before you exercise faith or has it been a little while? Oh, turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look to Him, He's the power. Oh, what a discovery is made. Have you obtained Him through the grace of God? Now, we have the parable here, and as we come to the parables of our Lord, there are particular truths being presented to us. Now every detail of the parable may not be teaching a precise truth. It's the parable as a whole. We have to be careful. Let me illustrate this. Remember the parable of the Good Samaritan? Two pence. There have been some believers who thought that each pence represented a thousand years. Well, they've realised they're wrong. We have to be careful. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, The two pens represents the Lord's care and provision for us. So we have to be careful. And so too as we come to the pearl of great price. For we read here, and when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. What does it mean? Because one comes empty handed. to the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember the words of one of old, nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling. And let me tell you this, if we thought we had something in our hands, we wouldn't be clinging to the cross, would we? We wouldn't be seeing it's all of grace. Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling. We come empty handed. This is shown in Isaiah 55 verse 1, whoever Come ye buy and eat, yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price. A buying without money, it's all of grace, isn't it? Grace alone, Christ alone. We cannot purchase salvation. We cannot purchase Christ with money or wax. But what do we learn here? There is a receiving of the Lord Jesus Christ now in the parable the merchant man he parts or he sells in order to obtain Now we need to remember there. It is the parable But what do we learn here? Well, the sinner will part with certain things There will be a denying First of all denying of self righteousness Thousands in this country think they're going to heaven because they're good. You know, you often ask a question, how are you? Well, I'm not too bad. Well, I'm good. And you know, there's many people thinking, well, I haven't done this and I haven't done that. I've tried to live a good life. I'm going to heaven. That needs to be put to one side. One needs to deny their self righteousness. We're sinners, guilty, hell-deserving sinners. We've got nothing to offer. And so the one that truly discovers the peril will deny their self-righteousness. They will part with that, no, I've got nothing to offer. did, he gives a personal testimony in Philippians 3 verse 9, and be found in him not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. He parted with his self-righteousness. He said, no, I've got nothing to offer. I'm guilty. He said that to the Lord. If you have truly, you've been shown the pearl, and you have received the pearl. But then consider secondly, a sinful love that prevents one from loving and serving the Lord. Now we read in 1 John 2 verse 15, Love not the world, neither the things that were in the world. If any man loved the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Love not the world, that is the sinful thing that which men lust after, for we read in the next verse, verse 16, for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world. There are those who love the world, the lust of the world, and they will not love the Lord Jesus Christ. One must deny such a love then there needs to be a turning point, as there was in the life of Moses. What do we read in Hebrews 11, verse 24? By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. That's the world, isn't it? The pleasures of sin. Now let me pause. It is helpful to have money. But the danger is when money gets into the heart. The Puritan Thomas Watson uses an illustration. Water is good for the sailing of the ship, but the danger is when the water gets into the ship. I was travelling back from France last Saturday. Not yesterday, but the Saturday before. It was quite calm, but then a storm brewed. And then it became quite choppy. I'm thankful the water didn't get into the ship. Water is useful for the sailing of the ship, so is money. But the danger is, when the water gets into the ship, all money gets into the hearts as the Bureau from, love not the world, neither the things of the world. There are some rich people in the word of God, Abraham, Isaac, and we're thankful for them. Their hearts were for the Lord, not for their riches. That's the way it's to be if one increases in wealth. But oh, there were some, they loved the world. They couldn't love Christ. Back in the summer, there was a certain gentleman who came up to me after the camp, and I'd been ministering at the camp, and I'd been speaking about love to the Lord, and this young man came up to me. I heard what you said. about Christ being the door. And he was sat at the back, and we had this conversation. There's the door at the front, and yes, I can consider one comes through the door, but there's all these pews. And for me, I know that Christ is the door, but there's things in the way like these pews, and one of them is the love of the world. I can't truly say that I love Jesus. He was so honest. I pray he's loving Jesus now. But for some, they know that Christ is the door, but there's these hindrances in the way. Remember that certain one who came to the Lord, he was rich. He had his questions about eternal life, but he went away sorrowful because he loved his riches. But oh, consider here, this wonderful discovery is made and certain things are parted with, self-righteousness, love of the world. One does these things and Christ is known. Let me ask you, have you made this wonderful discovery? Is Christ in your life? You who love Him, be so thankful through the grace of God you made the discovery and He's in your life. What did the Apostle Paul say? Christ liveth in me. be closed this morning, I'd like us to consider thirdly and finally, the pearl greatly valued. The pearl greatly valued. Now we've seen that already in the parable, the merchant man, he sold certain things that he might receive. He valued the pearl and he continued to value the pearl. And dear brothers and sisters in Christ, did when we were saved, when the wonderful discovery was made, and we looked unto Jesus, do we not still value Him this morning? The merchantman sees and he esteems, he values, we sow, we esteem. Have you seen my beloved Saviour? Do you value Him? Looking unto Jesus, looking. It speaks of the exercise, does it not? Of faith. There was a certain minister who was asked many years ago, what exercise do you do? Well, I go into the kitchen, he said to the doctor, with a straight face. I don't mean that type of exercise. The fridge was there, that's what he meant. But you know, exercise, you're exercising. When we think of the graces, faith and love, exercising them, exercising faith, looking, are you looking? Are you loving the Lord? Can you say to the Lord this morning, I love thee? Would Peter, yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee? Are you looking? What do you see this morning? Unto you who believe, he is precious. 1 Peter 2, verse 7, he's precious. a valued, esteemed, a price that's all there in the Greek word. He's precious to you, isn't he, this morning? You're admiring him. Have you been speaking to Jesus in this cell? We thought of him, the pearl of great price. Have you told him this morning that you love him? I treasure thee, Lord Jesus, in my heart. I value Thee, I admire Thee. I struggle in my life. Yes, I may be struggling at this time, but I so admire Thee, Thou art so kind, so gracious. Friends may leave me, but Thou has never left me, Lord. I value Thee greatly. I hold Thee in the arms of faith, near to my heart. We see this in the Song of Solomon 3 verse 4. It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth. I held him and would not let him go. How has it been this past week? Have you had burdens on your heart? Difficulties you've gone through? Valley experiences? Well, look to him now. Are you holding him near? You know, we often learn that the preciousness of Jesus in the storm is true, isn't it? That's often where we learn. When we're at our wit's end, Psalm 107, when we feel on our own in the dark and some verse comes and it warms our soul, it touches us and we look to him and he's precious, I held him and will not let him go. Are you holding Jesus this morning right now? Near to your heart, is he precious to you? I held him and would not let him go. Oh, what it will be like when we step into heaven. We will see him, but we will still grasp him. With faith, that saving grace within. How precious! Such delights we will know there, but ought to know a little more of it here. These times when we hold him and we do not let him go, is not always the same, is it? And I begin with myself. The clouds of sorrow can come, and our hearts can be full of burdens. Oh, where is he? I have a book in my study. Where, oh where, is Emmanuel? Is it like that sometimes in your life? Where is He? Well, He's looking on. You remember the storm? The disciples were toiling and rowing. He was looking on, and He came to them. Well, He's looking on, and He'll make Himself known, and there will be a time when you say, I held Him and would not let Him go. I pray it's for you now. Oh, look to Him. He's so precious. Stay near to him and pray that he would stay near to you. Lean on him. You know, as a little boy, I used to lean on my mother in the sevens. Used to lean on her. Or when I was in the home, in the lounge, I used to lean. She was precious to me. It's not Jesus precious to you. Lean on him a little more this morning. Lean not onto your own understandings, lean lean on the beloved, you value him, do you not? In closing, show to him that you value him. And four brief things, very briefly. First of all, pour out your heart to him. You know, you may have a friend that you value so much and you phone them up or you email them or in today's modern technology, you send them a WhatsApp message or a messenger message, something like that, a text. And you tell them what's on your heart. They're a close friend. But Jesus is the friend that's thicker, closer than a brother. Show to him now that you value him. Pour out your heart. Is there something worrying you? Go and tell Jesus. I cannot bear this burden alone. Psalm 62, verse 8. Trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart before him. You remember that woman? With the issue of blood, she came to the Lord Jesus after she was healed. Mark 5 verse 33. The woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him and told him all the truth. Tell him everything. Let me say this, he already knows. But show to him you value him by you telling him what's on your mind, what's on your heart. Pour out your heart. Secondly, meditate on Him. You have a treasure in your home? Maybe a photo of a beloved one that's passed away and you look often at that photo and you think about happy times, don't you? Meditate on Christ. You remember Mary, the shepherds, they went forth telling the people in Bethlehem about the Lord Jesus Christ. But Mary, we're told in Luke 2, verse 19, pondered them in her heart, the things that she had heard and seen concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. She pondered them, she thought about them. You know, it's a precious thing when we take time to be holy. to the end of the sermon or the service. Just meditate on Christ now. He's special to you, isn't he? He's precious to you. Just consider just his love, his care of you, his compassion. Meditate on Christ. Show to him that you value him by meditating on him. I'm thinking about thee, Lord Jesus. And I tell you this, it does us good, doesn't it? to think about Jesus. Thirdly, read of Him. You value Him, do you not? Read of Him. John 5 verse 39, search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. You search, you read of Jesus, because you value Him. Do not you want to hear more of Jesus in your life before you see him if you're a believer here this morning? If you're not a believer, I pray that you would yet read of Jesus and you would value him. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, show to him now in your life that you value him. I'm going to read more of thee. Fourthly, listen to him. You remember Mary? Martha, she was busy and she had lawful sister were told in Luke 10 verse 39, sat at Jesus' feet and heard his word. His mouth is most sweet, Solomon 5 verse 16, how he has spoken to you, how he has comforted you, how he has put warmth in your heart through the word as we see in Luke 24. Do you not want to listen to him? I remember a number of years ago sat in It was Sunday school, many years ago. And he asked me a question in front of the children, just there. What are you looking forward to in heaven? Heaven's a long time, he said. What are you looking forward to? I tell you this this morning, I'm looking forward to sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to Him. Yes, I will praise Him, but I want to listen to Him, because I value Him. Before I get there, I want to listen more to Jesus. He has so much to tell us. We've read certain things in the Word. Oh, come back to the Word. Listen to Him. Show to Him that you value Him. And one more thing. If you have found the peril of great price, do not you want to tell others about him? When I fell in love with the lady who is now my wife, I went and told others. That was natural, wasn't it? You found the peril of greatest price. You esteem him, you value him. You know he so loves you, cares for you, you're amazed what he did for you. You know he will be at the end of the journey for you. Do not you want to tell others? You have the Lord Jesus Christ. One of old wrote, now will I tell to sinners around what a dear Saviour I have found. He is the pearl of greatest price. As we close this morning, is Jesus.