Treasure!
Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. ~Romans 15:4
A treasure hunter in Florida searched for 16 years for a Spanish galleon that sank in 1622 with a cargo of precious metal. In 1985 the ship was located, and 40 million dollars worth of gold and silver were salvaged. The approximate location of the ship was determined by searching ancient records.
The Word of God contains great spiritual treasures. These, declares the psalmist, “are more precious than gold, than much pure gold” (Psalm 19:10). The wisdom of the Holy Scriptures, which make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, “cannot be bought with the finest gold” (Job 28:15) says Job. The Word of God exceeds every earthly treasure, for only it can comfort people when they, just like Job, have experienced trouble and heavy losses. Only God’s Word enables a person to say: “I know that my Redeemer lives” (Job 19:25).
Indeed, the Holy Scriptures hold treasures to make us rich and strengthen us spiritually, but how do they come into our possession? The answer is to search the Scriptures. When we read, study, discuss and apply the truths of God’s Word, “through endurance and the encouragement of Scriptures…we have hope.” Our growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ comes by hearing and reading God’s written Word. Then like the man who discovered treasures in a Spanish galleon, we too will discover precious treasure – most importantly our Highest Good, and he is Jesus Christ our Savior!
In Pursuit of Your Soul
Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. Acts 16:31
Some years ago there was a fierce manhunt in California. A thief had stolen a VW Bug. The authorities were so determined to get him that they unleashed all kinds of resources to find that one car and the thief who was driving it. They even resorted to broadcasting their message over local radio stations in order to find the thief and stop him.
Why such hot pursuit over this VW Bug? Here’s why. On the front seat of the stolen car was a box of crackers. But, unknown to the thief, the crackers were laced with poison. The car owner had intended to use the crackers to kill rats. The authorities, therefore, were in hot pursuit of this thief because they wanted to save his life.
Jesus has been in pursuit of your soul. Many times, in our sinful, confused thinking, we assume he’s after us because he wants us to pull over and behave better, to give up our freedom, to give up our fun.
When you and I think that way, we’ve got it all wrong. Jesus pursues us because he wants to save us. He pursues us because, if he doesn’t, the poison of our sin will consume us. He pursues us because he wants to give us life, peace, joy, and forgiveness. He died to purchase that forgiveness. And now he lives to pursue us through his gospel.
Believe in the One who has pursued you. Trust his promises. Savor his rescue of your soul. And let him continue his pursuit of others through you.
God chose you!
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world
to be holy and blameless in his sight.
In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ,
in accordance with his pleasure and will—
to the praise of his glorious grace,
which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,
in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
And he made known to us the mystery of his will
according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—
to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
In him we were also chosen,
having been predestined according to the plan of him
who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we,
who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
And you also were included in Christ
when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.
Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance
until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
~ Ephesians 1:3-14
Where Shepherds Lately Knelt
Where shepherds lately knelt and kept the angel’s word,
I come in half-belief, a pilgrim strangely stirred;
But there is room and welcome there for me,
But there is room and welcome there for me.
In that unlikely place I find him as they said:
Sweet newborn Babe, how frail! And in a manger bed,
A still small voice to cry one day for me,
A still small voice to cry one day for me.
How should I not have known Isaiah would be there,
His prophecies fulfilled? With pounding heart I stare:
A child, a son, the Prince of Peace for me,
A child, a son, the Prince of Peace for me.
Can I, will I forget how Love was born, and burned
It’s way into my heart unasked, unforced, unearned,
To die, to live, and not alone for me,
To die, to live, and not alone for me.
