Verse of the Day 1/21

Through the Bible - Genesis 50 - Exodus 1, Matthew 15:29-16:4,

 

Good morning,

We've recently looked at "worship from the heart" and some of the things it means to love with all your heart.  I read this in Psalm 107 the other day and thought that it showed the heart of a worshipper speaking from personal experience.

 

Ps 107:8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For He satisfies the longing soul,
And fills the hungry soul with goodness.   NKJV

The first word of verse 8 is significant, the simple word oh.  It conveys the deep feeling of the heart, it conveys longing, a deep desire.  And what is that desire?  That people would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness.  The psalmist is hoping that his readers would experience what he has come to know and has experienced in all circumstances.  He knows what is like to hunger and thirst for righteousness.  He knows what is like to be filled.  It is a cry that you've heard from the prophets of the Old Testament, and the apostles, especially Paul in the New Testament, desiring that the people of the nation would turn their hearts to God, bringing renewal, hope for the hopeless, help for the helpless, often during times of change and uncertainty.

 

Mick Jagger made millions singing about "I can't get no satisfaction",

I can't get no satisfaction
I can't get no satisfaction
'cause i try and i try and i try and i try
I can't get no, i can't get no.........satisfaction!
 it's because he was looking for it in all of the wrong places.

 

Today's verse comes from Matthew 13 where Jesus tells of a couple of people who found satisfaction.  To get it they would give all and gain the kingdom.

 

Matt 13:44 "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.

45 "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. 46 When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!  NLT

Look closely at the verses.  They indicate that people don't always find the "treasure of God" in the same way.  The first individual found it by accident, or should we say it found him.  The second found it by a diligent search.  No matter how a person comes to know Christ as Saviour, it's values and joys are beyond estimation, He has become their treasure, it is through living in faith in Christ that will bring satisfaction.

Chris Tomlin writes in the song "You are My Treasure"

 

I'm created for You alone
Bought with a price I'm not my own
I'm seated in the heavenlies
And there's no place I'd rather be
Than with You forever Lord

You are my treasure

Faithful Lord, fill my cup
With your grace and love, Your grace and love
The pleasures that this world's sure of
Will never be enough, can never be enough

You are my treasure

 

Is Jesus your treasure?

 

In Christ,

Mike

 

Matt 13:36-47

The Parable of the Tares Explained

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field."

37 He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.  38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.  39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.  40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.  41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,  42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

44 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,  46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

NKJV