Recently Philippe Quint, a Grammy-nominated violinist left his $4 million dollar violin in the back of a cab. His 1723 Antonio Stradivari "Ex-Keisewetter" violin spent the remainder of the night on the back seat of a minivan cab parked at New York City's Battery Park. The New York cabbie was still unaware of the valuable cargo he carried when he began his shift in the morning. But the frantic Quint was calling the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Newark's Taxi Commission searching for his priceless violin. That afternoon the cabbie discovered the violin case with the instrument inside. Quint soon arrived, dropped to his knees and shed tears of joy.

I can’t help but think, what was on Philippe’s mind that made him forget a pearl of great price? Was he excited to get home after a concert? Was he worried about his performance that evening? Or was he tired and just not thinking? And how easy it is to lose something valuable. To let it slip through your hands.

You too, can lose your opportunity to be used by the Lord. You can get excited about your job, vacation, or family that you lose the passion for Jesus and being His servant. Sometimes I wonder if we aren’t letting opportunities to serve the Lord in the back seat. Opportunities to make some critical decisions about God’s will for our new building. Or we are missing a chance to lead people in areas of ministry. Jesus gave warning to those who wanted to serve him but had other important things to do like funerals and weddings that they were missing the greater opportunity.

Don’t leave your “pearl of great price” for someone else to find and enjoy the blessing. God needs you to take up your ministry, your calling, your talent and work for Him. God has blessed us with a great opportunity to do something significant with our life. Let’s work together for His Glory.

I love you all,

Pastor Mark