Recently I listened to a powerful preacher by the name of S. M. Lockridge. Some of you may be familiar with a video that is circulating where he preaches an inspiring sermon titled, That’s My King. Shadrach Meshach Lockridge (March 7, 1913-April 4, 2000) was pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, a prominent African American congregation in San Diego, California, from 1953 to 1993. He was known for his preaching across the United States where his ministry reached more than 100,000 people.
Let me take one phrase from his sermon for consideration in this article. “Each of you is a pearl, but you don’t have a necklace without a string.” It is one of those thoughts that is simply profound by its very simplicity. The picture portrayed by those words is that of the church. Each member is a precious pearl. Christ is the string that binds us together. Each is tied to Him and individually members of one another. “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the sane function, so we being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” (Romans 12:4-5 NKJV)
A pearl necklace is an item of great value and is quite costly. One of Jesus’ shortest parables is about the pearl of great price. “Again the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:45-46 NKJV) I interpret the parable this way: The merchant is God. The pearl is the church. The purchase price was the life of His only begotten Son.
May we never fail to see the beauty and value of the necklace. Let us honor the String that holds us together. May we understand that God sees each pearl essential for the necklace.
l – Terry Morrison