Listen to the broadcast program. radio004en.ram (15 minutes)
The program's message is transcribed below.
This story is based on a short article.
THEME SONG "A Love Song to Jesus"
NEVILLE (Doreen's husband):
This program, ComfortForToday.com, comes to you from the home of Doreen and Neville Palmer of 27 Dominion Gardens Drive, Georgetown. We bless you in the name of Jesus!
The scripture verses for today are John 3:3, and Matthew 13:45-46.
Jesus said:
"Unless one is BORN AGAIN, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
"The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one PEARL OF GREAT PRICE, went and sold all that he had and bought it."
I now turn the program over to Doreen.
DOREEN:
Welcome to this another broadcast of ComfortForToday.com. We trust that as you listen today you will be comforted as the name of the program suggests.
The article I am reading today is #4 of the Short Articles on the website of "ComfortForToday.com" - the site with the same name as the broadcast.
Before I read the article, I would like to tell you what happened a day or two before I wrote it. While waiting in the Calgary airport for a flight home to Toronto, I kept returning to a small store where there was a teddy-bear for sale. I thought it was adorable, wanted to buy it, but kept walking away thinking I didn't need to spend $10 on a teddy-bear. Although I kept reminding myself I didn't need it, I ended up buying it. Not for one of the grandchildren, but for myself!
A few mornings later as I was awakening, I heard a Voice saying, "Go and write about your teddy-bear."
"My teddy-bear!" I had felt so guilty for having bought that teddy-bear for myself, why on earth would I be asked to write about it? But the Lord obviously wasn't angry with me. He knew how much I liked it!
As the Voice had directed, I picked up my pen, having no idea what I would say. But as I began to write, I realized the joy I had found in owning that little teddy-bear was only the introduction to an article on the joy of the Christian life. The words flowed without hesitation even though I had no idea what I was to write.
Although I have shortened the article somewhat since it was first published, the message was definitely from heaven and not from my own human mind! Although it has been published under various headings, the original title was "The Pearl of Great Price" and under that name it is #4 on the website.
The article goes like this:
THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE
"Like a new teddy-bear in the hands of a small child, like the trip home from the hospital with a first-born in one's arms, like a sunrise in vibrant colours over a body of water--so is the joy of the Christian life. Jesus calls it a "pearl of great price" (Matt.13:46) for which a person would be willing to give everything he owns in order to attain it. Too bad most folks haven't found it--or worse still, do not know it exists!
Jesus calls it being "born again" (John 3:3), theologians call it `conversion,' some call it `saved' or 'second birth.' Regardless of name, it is a complete reconstruction of one's thought patterns and a new reason for living. Instead of living for self, the desire to assist God in bringing His kingdom to earth assumes top priority. One's total energy is devoted to telling others about the beautiful treasure he found, and his money and his talents are used in the service of his Lord.
Jesus was once asked, "How can a man be born when he is old" (John 3:4)? When a baby is born he enters into a physical world; when a Christian is born he enters into a spiritual world. Conversion is an act of the Holy Spirit upon the life of a person who sincerely says, "Yes, I give my life to Jesus. I am sorry for my sins." While an individual must make the decision, the miracle itself is not of man, but a gift from Jesus.
As in the case of a physical birth, a spiritual birth presents the world with a baby. Just as a new-born infant requires nourishment, so the new-born Christian must be fed by the reading of God's Word and meeting with other Christians. If not cared for, he will die just as a baby dies if not given his milk. If fed properly, he will become a mature, grown-up Christian (Eph.4:13).
As a Christian matures in the faith, he becomes filled with more and more joy. He talks to His Lord as to a Friend, and knows that his prayers will be answered in the way that will be best for his spiritual growth. He loves others with God's love, and while he may weep for them, he is happy as he looks forward to a promised day when there will be no more tears or pain (Rev.21:4). It can be said of such people, "The joy of the Lord is their strength" (Neh.8:10).
Would that all men could find Jesus, this Pearl of great price!"
This is the end of the article. But if you want to have this greatest of all human joys, just repeat this prayer after me:
"Lord Jesus....please come to dwell inside me... I renounce all my sin ....and ask that you forgive me.... for everything I have ever done.....or said......or been.....Please allow me to dwell in your spiritual kingdom now and forever....."
If you are sincere in surrendering your life to Jesus to let Him be Lord of your life and obey His laws, He will do as you have prayed - His resurrected Spirit will come to dwell within you. You see, He can do that because He no longer hangs on a cruel cross. He is risen! He is alive. He lives among us.
Now listen to Jeremy Sinnott's recording of "Here is Love" an old hymn from the Welsh revival of 1906. (CD "Catch the Fire 3" available at the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship bookstore).
"HERE IS LOVE"
© 2002, Doreen Palmer