Precious to God - Martin Wiles

And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you.” Daniel 10:11 NLT

Some things become more precious with time, but are they precious to God?

As I’ve grown older, many things precious to me when I was young no longer are. I treasure my copies of The Stars and Stripes military newspapers from the 1960’s, given to me by my late father-in-law. I covet my grandmother’s old iron. I can imagine her heating it over the fireplace so she could iron her dress. Also precious are the thousands of handwritten sermons my father preached, which now linger in plastic totes in a storage shed. And, of course, there’s my baby book and baby blanket—two of the very few things my mother saved from my childhood. And the flag presented by the Veteran’s Association to my mother at my father’s funeral is also high on my precious list.

I attempt to hold possessions loosely, but all the above I cling to tightly. No one has enough money to buy them. I plan to pass them down to my children and grandchildren.

Daniel was privileged to have a heavenly messenger give him a vision of the future. When he appeared, he informed Daniel he was precious to God. He doesn’t specify why. Perhaps because Daniel had remained faithful to God through the years as he served pagan kings.

God’s pronouncement wasn’t unique to Daniel. Any of God’s children are just as precious. This consoles me—especially when I interact with those who don’t hold the same opinion of me. They might choose a different adjective.

God considers us precious because we’re His creation, created in His image. Though sin has marred the image, it’s capable of resurrection and refining when we allow Christ and, by association, the Holy Spirit into our hearts. God molds us into the person He wants us to be.

God has a plan and purpose for His children. That, too, makes us precious. We were not accidents or surprises to God. He also knows His plans for us and wants us to know them.

As I consider my children precious—even though they may occasionally disappoint me—I’m reminded that God considers me unique because I’m family. His blood runs through our veins. We’re unique because of the nature of our relationship. We must simply nurture it.

As God’s child, you are precious to Him. How can you revel in the relationship you have?

Father, I praise You for making me precious in Your sight. Enable me to live in the bounty of that relationship.  

Tweetable: Do you know you are precious to God? 

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