Tag: treasure and heart
“Fear not, little flock!”
Scripture reading for March 28th: Deuteronomy 27-31, Luke 12
Luke 12:27-31 “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek His kingdom and these things will be added as well.”
Each day believers have choices to make concerning how they spend the gift of time, talent, and energy. As fallen creatures, before salvation, we were driven by appetites, fear, and opinions of others. Worry and fear marked each day in most of mankind because of concern about food, water, clothes and shelter consumed most of life. Jesus spoke to His followers of a different way to spend our time and energy. He promised if we would put our effort into seeking God’s kingdom and His righteousness, God would take care of our basic physical needs. Jesus then used examples of the birds and the lilies to emphasis our Father’s amazing care and provision. We as His children are of much more value and it is the Father’s good pleasure to give us our needs and even a full inheritance in His eternal kingdom! Praise our Lord!
Luke 12:32-34 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.” For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Prayer: Father God, forgive me for not always trusting You. Thank You for Your faithful provision for me and my families needs! Give me grace to know how to use the material things You have blessed me with to further Your kingdom and help lost people find righteousness and eternal life through the Gospel. I desire Your blessing and a full inheritance in Your Kingdom!
Deuteronomy 30:15-16 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord by loving the Lord your God, by walking in His ways, and by keeping His commandments and His statutes and His rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.”
Seek first the kingdom!
Scripture reading for January 8th: Matthew 6
Jesus’ message was full of teaching about the kingdom of heaven. Jesus taught His disciples to pray to the Father. Their first request was to be the declaration, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) Jesus wanted His followers submitted to the King and in agreement with His will! In their case, the King would be their heavenly Father! Jesus was taking them beyond where they were to a New Covenant understanding of adoption as God’s children.
Jesus taught His followers not to store up money or earthly treasures. He taught that many things can rob us here of those earthly treasures. Thieves could steal them or the elements could cause them to decay or become worthless. Instead, kingdom people store their treasures in heaven where they will be eternally safe. Jesus stated emphatically, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) Besides that, no one can serve two masters! “You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Matthew 6:24b)
We all have a tendency to worry about our daily needs. People in Jesus’ time did the same thing. Jesus encouraged them not to worry about their needs, telling them that their heavenly Father knew them. They were supposed to ask Him for their daily bread each day! (Matthew 6:11) They could observe the birds and the grass and see that God cared for them. They were much more valuable to God! “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33-34)