The Pearl of Great Price

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

Too often we think that if we clean up the outside, the inside will change. Actually, we need to be totally transformed by changing the inside first. The Lord Jesus first wants your heart. When He has all of you, the inside will change.

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” Luke 9:23-25

In order to live for Christ each day, we must give our entire bodies to Him for His purposes. All our time, desires, and behaviors will belong to Him. We are called to deny our own selfish desires and follow God.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.

1 John 2:15-16

He purchased you.

Resolve to put God FIRST

in everything you do.

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Romans 12:4, 5

It is very important that you use your gifts to God’s glory. No matter your gift, it is important to God.

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 1 Corinthians 12:12-16

If you feel unimportant, remember God sees your value. Be a blessing to the body of Christ.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans 12:9

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

How do you conquer evil? Fight evil with GOOD and

good is always GOD.

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

I Peter 5:8

Satan is always at work to take you down.

GOD is always at work to lift you up.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matthew 13:45-46

Christ paid the

price.

You are the Pearl.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20

You are so important to God that He loved you enough to send His Son to die for you. Live for HIM.

You are valuable.

Sources: Holy Bible, NIV

FCA Inside/Out – Change Your Game