GOT TO HAVE IT NO MATTER WHAT IT COSTS
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13:44-46
Have you ever found something you really wanted in a store, hid it on some obscure shelf so that when you came back for it, it would still be there? I have. This is the picture of someone like you, or me, who finds a treasure hidden in a field. Unfortunately, there is not enough money to buy it so the prize is buried deeper so that no one else will find it before we come back for it. We go immediately to sell everything we own, raising enough money to buy this incomparable treasure.
There is no greater picture in the scriptures of what it means to embrace Christ than how Jesus, Himself, describes it in this parable. He makes it clear that it’s not some intellectual decision. This is a radical decision of the heart. I remember that Jesus said ‘Where my treasure is, there my heart will be also.’ Matthew 6:21 Becoming a disciple of Jesus is to discover Him and give up everything I own in order to make Him mine. Christianity is not a choice of convenience where I weigh the options of heaven and hell and then play it safe by acknowledging Jesus as Lord. I fear, really fear, that this very process of thought characterizes much of Western Christianity. Heart is not involved. Relationship is absent. Instead, there is a commitment to learn how a Christian acts and mimic the model.
The person in the parable sold all he had to buy the treasure. What is the meaning of that for me? I give up my life in exchange for His life. My riches, my dreams, my rights, my intuition, my philosophy, my relationships ~ all these are the currency by which I am able to make the treasure mine. Is it worth it? When Jesus is the treasure ~ there is no price too steep.
Have I truly seen Jesus as my treasure? When I set my eyes on Him, does my heart turn over at the realization that He is mine? If the Almighty is your gold and your precious silver, then you will delight yourself in the Almighty. Job 22:25-26 As with any true treasure, it appreciates over time. When I embraced Him and gave my life in exchange for His, I had no idea I would love Him this much today. His value climbs higher with every revelation.
I first discovered Your beauty when I realized that You died and gave Your life for an enemy. Then it hit me, I was Your enemy. I had to belong to You. In Jesus' name, Amen
For more from Christine Wyrtzen and Jaime Wyrtzen Lauze, please visit www.daughtersofpromise.org
Originally published Friday, 08 September 2023.
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