What’s the most precious thing you possess? What is the most valuable thing you own?
Of course the word precious carries two meanings. Some things are precious because they are of high value, high cost, high price. They may be rare or expensive, like precious metals, or diamonds. In that sense the most valuable thing you possess might be a house, or a car. It could be some jewellery, or stamps, or books, or a musical instrument, or even a piece of technology like a computer or a television.
But the word precious carries a second sense. Other things are precious to us because they are greatly valued, highly esteemed and cherished. Those things may not have any material value at all, to other people they may not be worth anything at all, but they are very important to us. Our family and our relationships are precious to us. Our pets, our teddy bears, even photos which bring back happy memories can be more precious to us than all the expensive objects we might own.
So what is most precious to you? I want us to think this evening about that one word – precious. Because it helps us identify what is important in our lives. The things the Bible says are precious will help us to think about what should be important to us.
The Bible uses the word precious many times in its first sense to describe objects which are expensive. 25 times we read the phrase “precious stones”, diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds. But Jesus taught us that we should have treasures in heaven, not treasures on earth. So it should not be a surprise that the Bible teaches us about spiritual things which are so much more valuable and precious than any earthly treasures. It is coincidentally interesting that we will find many of these things in the letters of Peter.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST is precious
1 Peter 2: 4. As you come to him, the living Stone- rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him- 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious.
We have thought about Christ the precious cornerstone before, from 1 Peter and before that from the original prophecy in Isaiah 28.
Isaiah 28 16 So this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.
SONG Lord you are more precious than silver; Lord you are more costly than gold;
Lord you are more beautiful than diamonds; and nothing I desire compares with you.
THE BLOOD OF CHRIST is precious
1 Peter 1:18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
We are mostly thinking about what is precious to us. But perhaps the most amazing precious thing of all in the Bible is this.
GOD’S PEOPLE are precious TO GOD – WE are precious to God
Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel:
‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour;
I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honoured in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.
What are human beings? In such a vast universe created by an infinitely greater and more glorious God, human beings might seem to be tiny and insignificant. But because we are the crown of creation, all created in the image of God, each one of us is of immense value to Him. But more than that, we are so precious that Jesus sacrificed Himself to save and redeem us. What is mankind? What are human beings? We have been redeemed through the blood of Christ who is supreme over all things. That is how much God loves us. We are infinitely precious to God!
When we consider all that Christ has accomplished for us, all the wonderful blessings of the marvellous salvation we have received, it is no surprise that the FAITH we put in Jesus is precious to us.
OUR FAITH is precious
1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade- kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Good News Translation v 7 Their purpose is to prove that your faith is genuine. Even gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire; and so your faith, which is much more precious than gold, must also be tested, so that it may endure. Then you will receive praise and glory and honor on the Day when Jesus Christ is revealed.
2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
Our faith is precious to US and our faith is also precious in God’s sight!
The Bible, the Holy Scriptures are precious to us, because it teaches us about our precious Saviour and because it strengthens our precious faith
GOD’S WORD is precious
Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring for ever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
Psalm 119 72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
Psalm 139 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—
God’s word the Holy Scriptures, and God’s thoughts, are more precious than any gold or riches. And within God’s Word,
GOD’s PROMISES are precious
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
The Lord Jesus Christ the cornerstone, Christ’s blood, our faith, God’s word, God’s promises
THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS is precious to God
Psalm 116 12 What shall I return to the LORD for all his goodness to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.
14 I will fulfil my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants.
Psalm 72 13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.
14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.
We are precious to God. The Lord Jesus Christ the cornerstone is precious. Christ’s blood, our faith, God’s word, God’s promises and the deaths of his saints – these are the things which the Bible says are precious. These are the things which are worth more than gold and silver and diamonds. These are the treasures in heaven which are worth so much more than any treasures on earth. So what is most precious to you?
