I DOUBT not that among the young readers of this paper, there are some who, like little Samuel, have early heard the Lord’s voice, have early learned their sinfulness, and have been drawn by the Father to His Son; and to these I write a few words, to remind them how precious they are in Christ’s sight.
There are three expressions used in the Bible which show very clearly the place the Lord’s people have in His thoughts. In Matt. 13:4444Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. (Matthew 13:44), the Lord Jesus speaks of “treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.” It is not difficult to see that the Lord is speaking of Himself, and His love to His own. What brought the Lord into this world? What led Him to lay aside His glory and His power? For He whose glory Isaiah saw (Isa. 66Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son; (Isaiah 8:6)), became the lowly Son of Man, who had no place whereon to rest His head, and when here on earth He did nothing in His own power, but was ever dependent upon God, and all that He did was by the Spirit of God. Why did the Lord Jesus give up all that He had? Because, in this world of wicked and rebellious men, there were those He loved, His treasure, and He came to buy the field. The field is the world, and He has bought it that the treasure in it might be His. Nor was it only that the Lord gave up His rights and glories, but He gave up His life itself, that we who believe in His name might be saved. As an old writer says, speaking of this “And, having given the rest before, Here He gave up His life to pay our score.”
Just think, dear children, how He must have valued us, His people, to suffer all that He did. Notice, too, His words: “For joy he goeth and selleth all that he hath.” The Lord’s was no grudging gift, but, as we might gladly give up something we prize for the sake of those dear to us, so the Lord, in an infinitely fuller manner, gave up all that He had―”He gave Himself,” as Paul writes―for us.
But this is not all. We do not usually prize unlovely things, so the Lord speaks of the beauty as well as the worth of His people; He compares them to “a pearl of great price.” Matt. 13:4646Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. (Matthew 13:46). No doubt most of us know what a pearl is, and admire its beautiful, pure hues. So the Lord looked upon His people, and the beauty of the pearl had in His eyes, led Him, as in the case of the hidden treasure, to give all He had to buy it. What marvelous grace! Yet, when He came, seeking goodly pearls, we saw “no beauty that we should desire him.” But He desired us, and the price He paid was His own most precious blood.
One other word. The Lord speaks, in Mal. 3:16,1716Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. 17And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. (Malachi 3:16‑17), of those that fear Him, and says, “They shall be mine in that day when I make up my jewels.” He is here speaking of those of His people Israel who will by-and-by fear Jehovah, but it is not less true of the Lord’s people now. “My jewels!” How sweet it sounds! And this is what the Lord says of sinful creatures like ourselves, not a whit better than others, save only for what His grace has done. What love is His! And should not we, if we had some very precious jewels, often look upon them, and do you not think that the Lord ever looks upon His people? Indeed He does, and I pray that, as we think of His love, and of the delight He finds in us, we may be filled with peace and joy in Him. And more than this; if we have earthly friends who love us, and whom we love, we seek to please them; how much more should we seek to please Him whose love to us is infinitely greater than any earthly love can be.
W. J.