Are you important?  Do you matter?  Does anyone really care about you?

Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied.  Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.” (Matthew 13:44)

In the time Jesus walked as a man, if someone desired to protect their wealth, they would often bury it on their property.  The man in this parable finds such a treasure.  He is so overjoyed, he sells everything he has in order to buy the field.  He knew if he owned the field, he owned the treasure.

The field in this parable represents the world.  And the man represents Jesus.

Jesus gave everything he had, his life, his blood, in order to purchase the field and the treasure in the field.  Why?  If the field is the world, did Jesus buy the world because he wanted a planet?  No, he bought the world because He desired the treasure that was there.

The treasure gives him great joy.  Again, Matthew 13:44 says “then in his joy he goes out and sells everything he has and buys that field.”  Hebrews 12:2 says “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

What is the treasure that Jesus valued so highly, He was willing to suffer and die for?  You are.  I am.  We all are.  How incredibly wonderful to know He loves us that much!

Malachi 3:17, “They will be my people,” says the Lord of heaven’s armies.  “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure.  I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child.”

1 Peter 2: 9, “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people.  You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.  As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”

Sometimes we can get so much stuff piled up on top of us – sickness, sorrow, sin - we find ourselves in a dark place, and we need someone to help dig us out.  That’s what happened when Jesus bought the field; He dug up the treasure and brought it out into the light.

Paul wrote in the book of Romans, “But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us!” (Romans 5:8)

He didn’t say God proved His love for us after we started going to church….

He didn’t say God proved His love for us after we started reading the bible…

He didn’t say God proved His love for us after we started praying…

Now those things are important parts of a Christian’s life, and I think they’re necessary, but when we were still sinners He loved us.  Think about it - When we were at our absolute WORST – He loved us, and found joy in us. Its so incredible!

Once I asked my dad how much something was worth, and he replied, "Its worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it."  The next time someone tells you, or you think to yourself that you’re not worth anything, or that no one cares about you,  please remember this – Jesus knows who you are and where you are, and thinks so much of you, loves you so much, finds so much joy in you,  He sold everything He had to claim you as His treasure.

And He claims you by making you a child of God.  When you ask Jesus to save you and to be the Lord of your heart and your life, you become a priceless jewel to Him.  Maybe you have never received Jesus.  Maybe you think you’ve done too many bad things in your life.  Maybe you think you’re not good enough.

Paul wrote, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13).  Not some, or even most, but EVERYONE.  Jesus has already paid the price.  All we have to do is call on Him, accept Him.  We are God’s treasure.

Take the church to someone this week... you'll both benefit.

(c) 2009 Randall Buchanan

King's Invitation Ministries

P.O. Box 501

Foxworth MS 39483

http://kingsinvitation.christianblogsites.com/blog/

People are like bottles of pop.  You know… drinks… sodas… cokes… carbonated beverages…

We really are like bottles of pop – when we get shook up, whatever is inside will come spewing out!  It doesn’t matter what is on the label, either.  It’s what’s REALLY inside that comes out.  Jesus said, “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  For every tree is known by its own fruit.  For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:43-45).

What is this “treasure” of the heart?  If it is good treasure, it is the Word of God.  Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”; Proverbs 3:3 says, “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart…” ; and Deuteronomy 30:14-16, “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.  See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments…”

The prophet Jeremiah, talking about learning the scriptures, said,  “Your words were found and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart” (Jeremiah 15:16).  And Paul, in his letter to the church at Colosse, said “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another is psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:16-17).

We’ve got to look at ourselves beyond the label on the outside.  When we really get shook up, what comes out of us?  It’s sort of a diagnostic test on the state of our heart.  If what comes out isn’t Godly – we must repent and strive harder to fill our heart with the things of God, so that when something happens which causes actions before thoughts, we will not betray our King, but instead glorify Him by showing the world a different, better, way to live.

Take the church to someone this week – you’ll both benefit.

© 2008 Randall Buchanan

http://kingsinvitation.christianblogsites.com/blog/

King’s Invitation Ministries

P.O. Box 501

Foxworth MS 39483