Somethings Are Just Priceless

There are some things in life you cannot place a price tag on, because their value is well beyond price.  These things are so precious that you are not willing to part with it for any amount of money.

In Matt 13:44-46, Jesus tells a parable of the priceless treasure and pearl that was found.

 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” NIV

A parable is a short, simple story designed to communicate a spiritual truth, religious principle, or a moral lesson. Frequently parables use a manner of speech in which truth is illustrated by a comparison or example drawn from everyday experiences. In this way, a parable is often no more than an extended metaphor.

We learn to understand the deep things of God by studying the word of God just as a miner digs for silver and gold or a diver plunges into the depths of the sea for its hidden treasures.  Most great truths do not lie upon the surface but must be brought into the light by patient toil.

In this parable, Jesus is emphasizing the supreme worth of the kingdom of God and the fact that in the Christian life, there is no partial exchange. One must sell out to obtain the kingdom or be willing to sacrifice everything to serve the Lord. Often when people think of the kingdom of God, they don’t realize the great price one must pay in order for one to obtain it.

The Bible clearly states that when it comes to living the Christian life you're either in or you're out. So ask yourself: Are you holding anything back? Is your life fully submitted and surrendered to Christ? Nothing you are hanging onto is worth an inkling of the value of what you're missing out on in the Kingdom if you aren’t completely submitted. Jesus says we must give to Him what He was willing to give for us -- everything.

All too often, the priceless value of the kingdom is muted because our lives are saturated with the things of this world.  We cannot truly appreciate the beauty and value of the kingdom until it is all we have; and we will not comprehend its greatness until it is all we want – until we are willing to give everything in exchange for it.

I hope that you will take inventory of your life today and recognize the great treasure that we all possess that is our salvation. There are some things in life that money, material possessions and prestige cannot purchase.

Posted via email from Solid Rock

Playing Church!

 As the signs around us increasingly point to the fact that we are living in the end-times, the church must remind people that the Lord is coming soon by sending a resounding message.

The Bible says that in the last days:

 “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  without  love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power”.  (NIV)

The writer point out that people will have a form of godliness. That means that people will look the part but are not living the part, as Saints of God.

As a child, did you ever "play church?"   Were you a worshipper pretending to dance and shout to the music?  Or perhaps you played the role of the preacher delivering the Word from the pulpit?

 

When we "play church" we are mimicking a very real experience and going through the motions of what it looks like. But in order to make it to heaven, we are going to have to put aside the pretense and get serious about our salvation.

 It is time to stop playing church.  We can no longer look and dress the part as Christian, but we must live what we preach.  Matt 5:13

 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” 

That means being authentic and consistent in your walk with God.

 

From the outside we may look like all is well. We come to church, praise, run and loudly proclaim the blessings of God. But how are we living when no one is looking? Are you only a Christian on Sunday?  But then living how you please from Monday to Saturday?

 

Rest assured that God sees all. He knows the truth of our hearts and lives. The fifth chapter of the book of Acts tells the story of a couple who thought they could get away with playing at being true Christians.

 

Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of property and then held back some of the money. To compound their sin, they then lied about turning all of the money over to the Apostles.  Both paid with their lives for attempting to deceive the men of God. Could you imagine what might happen today if the Lord struck us down for our hidden sins?

 

Let us pledge to move forward with a very real relationship with our Savior.  It is better to do the work of the Kingdom than to play at living a submitted life.  Jesus is coming back for Christians who are real and about the business of His kingdom.

Posted via email from Solid Rock