by Heather Crowley
Matthew 13:45-46 - The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything and he buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had, and bought it.
Every day is a testament to what we cherish. Although life is a series of days, most of which we do not remember, there are moments that stay in our memory and are heavy like honey…they linger. Although we cherish many things, none are more worthy than that which is eternal! In the parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Priceless Pearl, Jesus tells us of someone who found something so valuable, that all else was worthy to be sold and forgotten. Interesting how while in this world, while having the most valuable thing, we can get distracted by so much, even baubles and things that will rust and waste away. It is helpful to be reminded of our greatest possession, that we can again see clearly that daily, it is worthy of devotion, care and pursuit all the days of our lives.
What We Have Found
As Christians, there is a point in our life that for many, is one, if not the most, cherished memory…the time upon which we called on our Father! It is a time where we came out of a slumber and were quickened by the very Spirit of God! What a thought! That for the very first time, we look up into the sky and wonder about the heavens, and that God is out there and is real and alive. When we are saved, there is a call that, although varying in details, is very much the same for everyone. That call is to follow Him. In Genesis 12:1, the Lord says to Abram, “Go out from your land; your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.” Abram was going out into the unknown to follow a God that no one around him believed in. But Abram had something valuable. He heard God and he was going to follow! In Isaiah chapter 6 we learn that Isaiah was called by God to give a message to His people after a vision. He heard the voice of the Lord saying “Who should I send? Who will go for us?” to which Isaiah responded, “Here I am. Send me.” The calling of God is a point by which we pivot from one direction to another and one life to another. In Luke 24:32, the Emmaus disciples spoke of having walked and talked with Christ after his resurrection saying, “…Weren’t our hearts ablaze within us while He was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?”
We can have many things in life--many good things--but none is worthy of our worship but God. What we have in Christ is so magnificent and awesome that our very hearts should burn for it!
Why Is It Valuable?
Our God is so easy to love and worship. Although redeemed, we are weak. And we often need to remember what we have and what has been done for us. In John 14:26 it says “But the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you.” We all have scripture that compels our soul to cry out to God. One of my favorites is Job 26:7, saying “He stretches the northern skies over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing. He enfolds the waters in His clouds, yet the clouds do not burst beneath their weight.” In John 5:1-8, we see another moving portrait of the character and heart of our God, who helped a pitiful man who could not get up to go in the waters of the pool of Bethesda. The man had been sick for 38 years, and because he was not strong, he was repeatedly sent to the back of the line. Our God saw THAT man--the man that all others pushed back. What a God! He loves and bends to tend to the weak and pitiful! He spoke the world into existence! HE…is the greatest prize!
What Do We Do
Most of us will never go down in history. We will most likely not make it into space, cure a disease or become a great leader of men. But our life is witnessed by God. He created and fashioned us with tenderness and love for a purpose. We are each precious in His sight, unique…and He tends to us like a beloved garden. No matter how small our doings may feel, when in the will of God and with our hearts firmly securing our great prize, we may live for a greater end...to bring glory to God. To make His name famous. To tell the good news to the world. There is no greater purpose. There is no greater end. Every year there is strife that, although new to us, is not new. The book of Ecclesiastes says in chapter 1, verse 9, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” So although we live in a world that not only has evil in it, but often celebrates and promotes it, our mission is the same…always. May we pray that in the new year, we bring ourselves to God daily and remember that what have is precious. That our mission be made clear in our hearts regardless of the circumstances around us. Praise God that He is the Ancient of Days and a foundation and rock that cannot be moved! He knows exactly where we are and has purpose for our time!
Acts 17:26-27 - From one man He has made every nation of men to live all over the earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live, so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though he is not far from each of us.
If you are following our “Daily Bible-Reading Plan,” today's passages are John 5 & Psalm 7.