Yoder: Carving out the pearl of great price
My father became a woodcarver after retiring, mastering his craft with surprising speed. It was as if he was born with a carving knife in one hand and a block of wood in the other, destined to shape beauty from the ordinary. To me, wood is just wood, but to carvers like Dad, it’s a hidden masterpiece, waiting for skilled hands to coax it into being. At times I’ve even thought to myself that maybe God specifically created him to be a woodcarver.
Watching Dad carve, I saw peace. His hands moved steadily, whistling softly, revealing creations as if they were always there. Unlike the frantic rush of life—people juggling tasks, wearing busyness like a badge—Dad’s contentment stood out. His craft mirrored a deeper truth: just as he uncovered beauty in wood, Jesus shapes us, revealing the treasure within.
Of all the many things Dad carved, one I cherish is a little girl kneeling, her hands forming a bowl holding a pearl—the pearl of great price. Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he sold everything to buy it” (Matthew 13:45-46). Imagine finding something so precious you’d give all you have to possess it. That’s the joy and peace Jesus offers.
Imagine realizing that you’ve found something so valuable that you are willing to literally sell everything you have just to possess it. You’ve searched for it your entire life and now you’ve finally found it. What unimaginable joy mixed with incredible peace and contentment.
Yet some, like the pearl’s seller, miss its worth. To them, it’s just another gem, like wood to the untrained eye. There are many people like this in our own country. They have no idea what is priceless beyond imagination. They overlook Jesus, distracted by life’s demands or unaware of His infinite value. Some know but hesitate to embrace Him. Both are invited to discover His transformative love.
Jesus is the pearl of great price. God the Father sent his Son here to earth not to condemn us, but to save us through him (John 3:17). That’s the story of Easter. Jesus is the most valuable gift we can ever receive. He’s the treasure beyond measure. Jesus is so priceless that many people have given their lives to be able to worship Him. They knew that if they were caught they would die, and yet they had to meet with other believers and raise their arms, their voices, and their hearts in praise.
They never set out to be martyrs. They were people just like you and me with families, hopes, and dreams just like us. They wanted to live. Yet they died for the privilege to do what many of us in this country take for granted. Worship Jesus.
Too many of us see wood as just wood, when there’s something special hidden inside: a priceless treasure. Of course, it depends on whose hands hold the wood. Whose hands shape you? Are they the hands of our culture? The hands of your friends? The hands of our country and our world as it drifts farther from God?
Or do you allow the scarred hands that hung on the cross just for you, shape the person you are? If you do, your life will never be the same. Let Jesus, the master carver, shape your heart. Pause today, pray, and seek Him. His love is invaluable, a priceless gift that changes everything.
Kathy Yoder is a devotional writer and Christian author. She may be reached at kathyyoder4@gmail.com and Kathyyoder.com.
