Jesus is Precious

Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner. 1 Peter 2:7

This isn't the blog post I intended to make, but I feel led to do so. I'm sure I'll still make the one I had in mind, but for now, it will have to wait for another day. Tonight, my pastor preached a message that greatly stirred my heart. The text verse for this post was his text verse. The topic of the sermon -- and of this post -- was "Jesus is Precious." If you'll allow me a few minutes of your time, I'd like to give you a few reasons that Jesus is precious to me. This won't and can't cover them all, but it should make the point.

The first reason He's precious to me is that He's the greatest friend I could ever have. A true friend is one who sticks with you through think and thin. A friend doesn't wait until things are going well to come to your side, and he doesn't run away when they aren't. The Bible says that a friend loveth at all times, and no one fits that description better than Jesus. He knows my worst, and yet, He still loves me. There is nothing I could ever do to cut off His love. He loves me no matter where I go, no matter what I do, and no matter what I experience.

Secondly, Jesus is precious to me because He helps me bear my burdens. We all know what it's like to be, as Paul said, "pressed out of measure, above strength." Some will say that God won't allow you to face anything that's too difficult for you to handle. Speaking from experience, I can say that those people are wrong. However, I can also say that when the burdens I have to carry are too much for me, He's always there to help me. There are many things I face that are too hard for me, but none of them are too hard for Him. As much as I wish I didn't have to face such things, I'm thankful for them, because they prove that Jesus can sustain me.

The faithfulness of Jesus is a third reason He's precious to me. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever, meaning I always know what I'll get when I go to Him. That's not true of people. Circumstances and moods can and will change how people deal with us, but I get the same Jesus every time I'm in His presence. Because of that, He's my rock. I can stand on Him and not be worried about the storms of life. My anchor is set in Him, and I can't be blown away.

The fourth reason I'll give you for why Jesus is precious to me is that He supplies my needs. It doesn't matter what the need is. It can be physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual. He has the ability and the willingness to supply for them all. He's the King of Glory, and all of creation belongs to Him. He's the God of all comfort, and no heartache is too troublesome for Him to heal. With a God like that, who else do I need?

Fifthly, Jesus is precious to me because of His salvation. Anytime I really think about this, it brings tears to my eyes. Why would Almighty God take on human flesh and give His life on a cross, bearing the penalty for my sin? I can't explain it, and I'm not sure I'll ever be able to. This is nothing but speculation on my part, but somehow, I feel that even in Heaven, we'll spend an eternity marveling at His love for us. As George Amon Webster of the Cathedrals wrote, "Why did He go to Calvary? There's just one reason. I am the one." I'm so thankful that Jesus took my place and offers salvation through the work He did.

Reason number six for my saying Jesus is precious is His continued forgiveness. As much as I wish I didn't, I still sin. I still sin every day. I deserve nothing more to be thrown away, but Jesus doesn't do that. He offers eternal life, and doesn't discard me when I don't live up to His standards. Even better, when I confess that sin to Him, He washes it away and it's as though it never happened. My fellowship with Him is unaffected, and I'm fully restored.

The seventh and final reason I'll give you that makes Jesus precious to me is the home He's gone to prepare for me. The Bible says some wonderful things about Heaven, but honestly, most of them don't really matter to me. How can I say that, you ask? It's simple. One reason so far outshines the others that I'm blinded to them. The key is this statement by Jesus: "where I am, there you may be also." The other reasons that He's precious to me make this one the greatest of all. He's gone to prepare a place for me so that I can be with Him. What better way could there be to spend eternity?

Is Jesus precious to you? If so, tell me why. I'd like to know why He means so much to you. Let's worship Him for who He is and what He's done. If He's not precious to you, the only reason I can think of is that you don't know Him. If that's the case, I'd love to introduce you to Him. He's waiting for you with open arms. One personal experience with Him is all it will take to make you say, "Jesus is Precious."