Kingdom Manna

Treasures

Matthew 13:44, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

Tales of adventure. Tales of mystery. Tales of treasure marked by an X. They captivate our childhood. Empty the pockets of a six-year-old, the hidden box of a twelve-year-old, the journal of a young adult. All treasure.

What is our treasure? Where is it? “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” For what does my heart yearn. For what am I willing to give everything away. For what do I covet with joy.

Too often, Lord, it is the value of tangibles. Life, health, relationships, wealth, vocation, prestige. All fragile.

When will I seek Your treasure? Treasure that does not rust or decay or die. “Seek ye my face”, the psalmist prays. “Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” I think it’s the word strive that stops me. It sounds difficult. And yet I would gladly pour all my muscle into digging up the X. Maybe that’s the difference. Concentrated effort for a short duration or commitment for a lifetime. But the reward is Your heritage.

Teach me Your values, Lord. Take my heart. Turn it toward Your treasures hidden in relationship with You. All eternity.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 16:11

You show me the path of life.

In your presence there is fullness of joy;

in your right hand are pleasure forevermore.

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus 15:26, And He said, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I the Lord, am your healer.

Twenty bodies sat poised, eyes focused on their teacher, waiting for the signal. As one, they raised their instruments, paused, then played the movement; notes rising and falling, slower then faster in accordance with her hands. She held their earnest attention.

Jesus speaks to Pilate telling him, “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” And Pilate replies, “What is truth?” He was not prepared to listen.

Am I listening to You, Lord, in earnest? Or do I come to hear Your word, Your voice, on the run, half-hearted, scattered?

You called Israel to a relationship, a commitment, a healthy life. If they would heed Your voice, obey Your words, walk with You.

Lord help me to heed Your voice in earnest, so that my life will be an act of decision to follow in Your ways. Help me to choose the melody of an obedient walk with You and not a flighty engagement, when I feel like it, which is so easily broken.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 95:7

For He is our God,

And we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.

Today, if you would hear His voice,

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus 4:19, “Go back to Egypt,…”

After wrestling with the authenticity of God’s call, Moses accepted. He had made a new life for himself in Midian; a wife and family, work, and now a restored relationship to the God of his fathers. Did peace descend on Moses like a sun’s warm ray?

“All the men who were seeking your life are dead,” God told him. Physically, it was safe for Moses to return. Emotionally, it meant a return to a place of pain, with memories of broken relationships and broken dreams. The place Moses left in fear and hurt. Now God asked Moses to face it again through His perspective, with new eyes.

To relive painful incidents in God’s Presence opens the door of healing to wounds. God can smooth out the sharp edges of splintered hurts. He can restore life and bring new beginnings where death, destruction, slavery, abuse and desertion once existed.

Whether we are called to physically return, or to emotionally or mentally reconnect to buried wounds, we too have to go back long enough to recognize and receive healing. “..He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.”

Whenever the pain rises to the surface Lord, please remind me to place it in Your hands and watch for Your renewal.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.