Finding Treasure - A Devotion

Luke 12:32-34 (NLT)

“So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

 

God wants to give you His Kingdom! After all, it is your inheritance. However, most people live like the prodigal son (Luke 15) who took his wealth prematurely and squandered it in the world only to come back to his father with nothing but repentance. Just as the father accepted his wayward son, the Lord awaits us with open arms and overflowing heart as His Beloved arrives. But not everyone is happy when “wayward” kids return home, look at the young man’s brother in the Biblical story. He had been working while his sibling played around. He did not understand the hardship of experience and brokenness of failure. This young man had been working at his father’s side. One thing in this story is abundantly clear. This man loved his children unconditionally. God loves you and me that way, too. He has filled His Kingdom with blessing, honor and glory that will spill over into our natural life when we seek after His Kingdom. What are we looking for? It is His Goodness, Grace, Mercy, Favor and Love that lead people to repentance but few are willing to work for it. When met with slight opposition, most return to their old life for a sense of security unable to see, know and understand just how valuable the treasure in Heaven really is.

 

Several years ago, our home was broken into and several items taken. We were blessed as the intruders did not ransack the house but were very direct in their approach. They knew what they were looking for and skeptically chose the items that they took. They took only the flat screen televisions leaving behind the old boxy units. Electronics were cleaned out including a new laptop while leaving behind an older PC. They skimmed the top drawer of every dresser looking for hidden things and took cash found in that very place. The thieves ran their hand under and around the edge of the mattresses looking for weapons, etc. often hid in this place. These were experienced perpetrators. They knew what they were looking for. Doing their homework on the street, they identified those things easily obtained and marketable. We now have a security alarm to deter others from helping themselves to our stuff. We also have gained some useful tips in the recovery process such as when purchasing new electronics to take the boxes to the dump rather than displaying them on the street by the garbage for every cruising criminal to see. We must protect our home using good common sense, locking the door and setting the alarm when we come and go. We take measures to protect those things of worth and value just as we worked very hard to obtain them. The problem is that we expect God to leave His Riches on the sidewalk so that we can just waltz through life scooping them up. God does this with His Provision and Protection, but His Treasure remains in Heaven. You can only access God’s Treasure in Heaven through a relationship with Jesus Christ. God’s Goodness is like nothing you can comprehend so it is Heaven. His Grace came at the highest price through the Blood of Jesus Christ. His Mercy is new every morning – you just have to step in to get it. His Favor is like nothing that I have ever experienced it blows me away every time and His Love is like no other. It is unconditional and complete. God holds tightly to the keys of Heaven releasing them only to those who are called the Children of God and who stick around long enough to step into His Kingdom.

 

Matthew 13:11-12 (NLT)

His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.

 

The Word of God reveals the secrets of the Kingdom of God. It shows us where to look for the priceless treasures hidden inside. The disciples didn’t understand what the big secret was, but then again they were quite surprised and dismayed by the death of Jesus although He foretold it months in advance. We are permitted to understand God’s Word because His Spirit lives inside of us guiding us. His Word reveals the way to Heaven and the contents of this magnificent place. But few take the time to know and understand God’s Word which reveals those things that we desire of God. We want to be blessed but have no idea where our blessing is hidden. We want God’s Favor but do not know where to find it. We attempt to live for Jesus without knowing the Way! For those who choose to seek more and more knowledge of God, understanding will be given. You will see the way to His Heart and access His Kingdom. But those who do nothing to find such a place will inevitably drift back into the darkness from which they came. It is sad but true. God’s Word reveals the secrets of Heaven. This is the place we begin to discover the great treasure that is hidden for us in His Kingdom and gain access to such things.

 

Matthew 11:12 (NLT)

And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing and violent people are attacking it.

 

The closer that we come to accessing God’s Kingdom along with the Power and Blessing it contains the greater the opposition. The enemy knows that if you ever discovery the truth about God’s Love and His Kingdom – he has lost you for good. So when you get close to experiencing God’s Goodness, Mercy and Love – all hell will break loose in your life. No kidding. The NKJV reads “kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” Just try living for God and seeking His Treasure in Heaven. You will meet great opposition. You will suffer violence and the violent take it by force. We must violently strive to have the Kingdom of God as promised even when everything is shaking and the supernatural realm is warring all around us. Do not let up but press in harder because you are that much closer to what God has for you – His Absolute Very Best. When opposition comes, take it as a signal to advance and not retreat! The Kingdom of God is close at hand and definitely worth having!

 

Matthew 13:44 (NLT)

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.”

 

How do you think the man discovered the treasure hidden in a field? He was working the field! He was probably considering buying the land for farming or cultivation as an investment. This man was thoroughly inspecting the land deciding its value and usefulness when he discovered treasure. He then did everything in his power to obtain it. Why do we think that there is never work involved in accessing the Kingdom of God? We must spend “time” which is our most valuable commodity seeking His Kingdom to obtain it. Time in His Word, in worship, in prayer and slowly giving our entire life to God is required to have the Blessings of Heaven. They are valuable with priceless potential surely the Lord would not squander them on those unwilling to make an investment in His Kingdom! You have to keep working. Keep striving. Keep pressing. Keep looking. Keep going. You can never give up if your goal is Heaven! It is too priceless to ignore and too precious to squander so we must work diligently to maintain righteousness and access to the Presence of God!

 

Matthew 13:45 (NLT)

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!”

 

The Kingdom of Heaven and all that it offers is worthy of a lifetime investment. The man did not sell some of his stuff but he sold EVERYTHING he owned to have the pearl of great price. Matthew 10:39 reminds us to make our life worth anything it must be given it to Jesus Christ. How much are you willing to give to access God’s Kingdom and His Blessing?

 

Matthew 19:21-22 (NLT)

Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”  But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

 

Where is your treasure today? A well-stocked life is a sign of material wealth but an empty heart will lead to nothing. What is too precious to give up for Jesus Christ? That is exactly what He requires. Confidence in the Kingdom of God and His Blessing is evident in sacrifice. What are you willing to give away to have more of Him? There is always more to give because we are human beings who withhold ourselves from the Lord daily! It requires a conscious effort to give yourself away and there are days you will not want to. But the Lord reminds us today – there is Treasure in Heaven. What will you do to access it? Are you desperate enough to give it all away today? Holding nothing back. Righteousness requires it.

 

Matthew 13:24-25 (NLT)

Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away…”

 

The more and more faith you sow into the Kingdom of Heaven, the more weeds will pop up in your garden. The enemy will stop at nothing to contaminate your blessing and rob you of faith. Guard your field. Do not let the enemy discourage you with his tactics. Roll with it because on the day of harvest, you will reap the Goodness of God, while the weeds or tares are burned in the fire. God promises to deal with them on His Time so be patient and cultivate the good things God is doing in your life. He will be your Avenger if you wait and do not take things in your own hands. Just keep working through His Grace, Mercy and Love all the way into His Kingdom where your treasure is safe in His Hands.

 

Matthew 13:31-32 (NLT)

Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”

 

God is about to give you double for your trouble. Small seeds of faith return big in His Kingdom so do not be discouraged with small beginnings. They will grow into enormous blessings!

 

Matthew 16:25-19 (NLT)

Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”  Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah,the Son of the living God.”Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John,because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’),and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hellwill not conquer it.And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbidon earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permiton earth will be permitted in heaven.”

 

The greatest treasure you will ever know is Jesus Christ. Simply knowing the Lord for yourself – not who your pastor says that he is or others believe Him to be, but in that moment of quiet revelation when you decide who Jesus is to you will change your life. The Lord will literally hand you the keys to His Kingdom when you truly know and understand who He is and the Treasure that you have discovered. Your life will be transformed. You will have the power to bring Heaven to earth and bind everything against the policies of the Kingdom. You will be a rock immovable in faith, love and power. You will live in the Presence of God! It all begins with a treasure hunt. Those who seek Him – will find Him! Those who give their life to such an endeavor will live forever!

 

Matthew 7:6-8 (NLT)

Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you. Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

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