Is Jesus precious to you?

Precious things are things we dearly prize, things we keep close, watch closely, and, in a sense cannot live without. We like many things and would not easily part with them, but precious things are things we love and can’t bear to be without. I wonder, how precious is Jesus to you? 

I expect you to say that He is the most precious thing in all the world to you. But is that really so?

For all that He freely gives you, Jesus demands much of you. True, He only asks for your heart, but if He has your heart He has your all. He demands that you love Him above all others, put Him before all others, serve Him in all things, surrender your whole self to Him, deny yourself, take up His cross, and follow Him wherever He leads. No one demands of you as much as He does.

And He not only demands much of you, serving Him also costs you much. It cost you your time, your money, your thoughts, your affections, your motives–your very life. Christ calls you to live every moment in His interest, to use every dollar to His glory, to speak every word for His approval, to think every thought knowing that He hears them. He calls you to live and do as before His face and in His presence. To receive Christ as Saviour and to call Him Lord costs you everything.

Let me put it plainly: would you trade Jesus and His gospel for another? You know there are many religions in the world which demand so much less of you. The standard in other religions is so much lower and easily reached. You could have a lot easier go of it if you would change religions. And of course other religions are far from being so costly. They demand stated devotions and duties, but they don’t demand all. They cost an hour here and an act of self-denial there, but they don’t cost everything. Much is left for you to do as you please with your own.

So would you trade Jesus and His gospel for another? Does your faith in Jesus have a price on it? Could someone or something call your heart away from your commitment to Jesus Christ and His gospel? Is He precious to you?

I trust you can say, with all your heart, that He is more precious to you than anything else, than all the world, than your own life. I trust you can say that, for the love you have for Him, no demand He makes of you is too much; and for the love you have for Him, no cost in serving Him is too great. I trust you can say that, if you had a thousand lifetimes, you’d gladly live them all for Him. To the soul that loves Him, that really and truly loves Him, He is altogether lovely, His Commandments are not burdensome, His yoke is easy and His burden is light, His religion is a God-send, His paths are all pleasant and peaceful, His ways are full of joy and happiness, His demands are our heart’s desires, His service is the greatest freedom. To the soul that loves Him, there is no greater joy and happiness in all of life than in serving Him as Lord.

Tomorrow is our day of worship, our day of coming into His house and enjoying communion with Him. I pray today is your day of preparation, your day to ready the mind, prepare the heart, and put the body in order to honor the entire day as His Day. I pray He becomes more precious to you tomorrow than He is today. I pray your soul is fed on His Word to your satisfaction, your edification, and your sanctification. He is indeed precious. May He be as precious to you tomorrow as when you met Him for the very first time.