I realize I use the word precious quite frequently—a precious thought, a precious baby, a precious photo, and so on. So, what does this word mean? In Hebrew, precious means prized, weighty, rare. English defines it as of great value or price, as in precious stories.
What does God deem precious? One thing is wisdom. Proverbs 3:15 says, “(Wisdom) is more precious than jewels. Nothing you desire can compare with her.” Wisdom renders long life, riches, honor, pleasures, and peace.
God’s promise! As II Peter 1:4 says, “…His precious and exceeding great promises…” which He gave so we might escape the loathsome corruption of this world.
II Peter 1:1 tells us we share “…like precious faith… with other believers.” It’s what makes us a spiritual family.
God esteems Jesus as precious. I Peter 2:4 says, “To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed by men, but chosen of God and precious…”
And, in turn, Jesus is so precious to us who believe. I Peter 2:7 states, “Unto you, therefore, which believe, He is precious.”
Even physical death is precious to our Father. That can feel so antithetical to us. We don’t want to surrender a loved one to death. It’s final. It’s painful. But God’s Word teaches this in Psalm 116:15: “…precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”
We are saying goodbye, but God is welcoming home the believers who have been redeemed by His Son’s sacrifice. He gathers them to His presence. Forever. And this reunion is precious to Him.
I Peter 1:19 speaks of “the precious blood of Christ.” We cannot reach God through good works. We are redeemed to God through the rarefied lifeblood of the sinless, perfect, unblemished Lamb of God.
No wonder I like the word precious.
~ Vickie Richey
Christ Fellowship