The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and Valuable Pearl..Craig Denison Ministries

 The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and Valuable Pearl

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

Jesus loved to use stories to illustrate profound, life-transforming concepts. He loved to use real and genuine settings, characters, and ideas that apply to all of us to reveal God’s heart of pursuit and love. This week we’re going to spend time allowing the parables of Jesus to speak directly to our situations, mindsets, and core beliefs about who God is. Open your heart and mind to be transformed by the powerful and captivating stories of Jesus.

Scripture:“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matthew 13:44

Devotional:

If you could only have one thing in life, what would it be? Take an honest look at your heart for a minute today. What do you love most? What would you give up everything else for?

Would you believe that your heavenly Father’s answer to those questions is you? That the Creator of the universe loves you most? Would you believe he would give up everything to have relationship with you? I heard a life-changing sermon from Pastor Robert Morris of Gateway Church in which he proved, by looking at Genesis 2, that God’s greatest desire is relationship with us. After God creates Adam in his own image, God says, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him” (Genesis 2:18). God brings every created animal before Adam to see if he deems any of them suitable as a helper, and Genesis 2:20 says, “But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.” Then without consulting Adam, God puts him to sleep and forms a woman out of his rib. Seeing the woman upon waking, Adam says, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man” (Genesis 2:23). How did God know Adam would want a woman as his helper? How did God know she would be the desire of his heart? God knew Adam most longed for a bride because Adam was made in God’s image, and God’s greatest desire is for relationship with us, whom the Bible calls his Bride.

Let the truth of God’s heart sink in for a minute. Out of everything else God has created or could have created, he most desires relationship with you. And he so longed for you to know him fully that he sent Jesus to die to make restored relationship possible. God calls us to himself daily with his love. He stands at the door of our heart and knocks, beckoning us with his loving-kindness to simply come and know him.

Once we truly grasp the depth of God’s desire for us, the only true response is to give up everything for him. He laid the foundation for our commitment to him with the greatest single act of love, and he simply waits, beckoning us to respond, living our lives with him as our highest priority. And he doesn’t do so selfishly, but because the absolute best way for us to live our lives is in total commitment to him.

In Matthew 13:44-46, Jesus tells a parable explaining this response to God’s unending love. He says, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” The kingdom of God is the greatest treasure, the pearl of greatest value. Relationship with him is worth our entire lives. Pursuing him with all our heart is the absolute greatest ambition we could have. Paul described this pursuit in Philippians 3:8 when he said, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”

So again, reflect on your own heart. What do you value above all else? God’s not angry with you if it truly isn’t him. You see, the truth is that our pursuit of God will only ever match our revelation of his goodness.God knows that if he isn’t truly the greatest desire of your heart, it’s because you don’t fully know how good he is. If you had the full revelation of his love for you, living totally for him wouldn’t even be a choice. So great is the worth of knowing Jesus that as you see him, you will naturally give up everything to know him more.

So, today as you enter into prayer, know the first step in growing in your pursuit of God is acknowledging the posture of your own heart. How strongly do you desire deeper relationship with him? How much would you give up to know him? What do you seek fulfillment in during your free time?

The second step is receiving a fresh revelation of his incredible love for you.Spend time simply encountering his heart. Meditate on the truth that he desires relationship with you above all else. He so greatly enjoys you that he pursues you with all of his focus and energy.

Last, respond to a revelation of his love with your own love. Worship him, adore him, and live for him with your life. You will encounter him in anything you do as worship. He will pour out his presence, favor, and blessing in any area you live out of love for him. Colossians 1:13-14 says, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” And Luke 12:31 promises us, “Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”

Pursue a deeper relationship with your heavenly Father today through prayer. As you live for him and seek his kingdom first, you’ll discover all he has longed to add to your life.           

Guided Prayer:

1. Reflect on your own life. How strongly do you desire deeper relationship with him? How much would you give up to know him? What do you seek fulfillment in during your free time?

“The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.” Psalm 14:2

2. Meditate on the depth of God’s love for you. Receive a fresh revelation of how greatly he enjoys you. Think about the story in Genesis of how God’s greatest desire was relationship with his Bride.

“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” Hebrews 12:2-3

“O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crannies of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.” Song of Solomon 2:14

3. Respond to God’s love with your own. Spend time simply adoring him. Spend time in solitude sitting with him, encountering his heart, and giving him your own. He paid the highest price for you just to be able have a relationship with him. So take time and be the reward of his sacrifice.

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

May we answer the call to live for love with our lives today. May we live in response to this benediction found in Hebrews 12:28:

“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.”

Extended Reading: Philippians 3

I Was Glad I Went to Church..ANITHA ABRAHAM

 I Was Glad I Went to Church

ANITHA ABRAHAM

“Eli answered, ‘Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.’ She said, ‘May your servant find favor in your eyes.’ Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.” 1 Samuel 1:17-18 (NIV)

The Saturday before Mother’s Day, I started preparing my husband in advance … “I don’t want to go to church tomorrow.” Tearful, I was in a complete funk.

Graciously, he listened and kindly talked me through what I was feeling. “Where is this coming from?” he asked. I didn’t have a good answer for him.

The fact that my husband and I don’t have children has never consumed me. However, over the past few years, Mother’s Day has become increasingly difficult. It started when my young nephews gave me a Mother’s Day card at church. I immediately started crying in the lobby. Ever since then, I’ve become more aware of how sensitive I am about this holiday.

By skipping church, I wanted to avoid the tears as much as possible. At least I didn’t want other people seeing me ugly cry. I just wanted to be by myself.

After I finished talking to my husband, I decided to go for a walk. I hit “shuffle” on my music app and immediately heard the words of a worship song:

“My weapons are praise and thanksgiving. This is how I fight my battles …”

I felt God stirring my heart with these words. Was I fighting my battle, or was I retreating in isolation? While solitude can be healing sometimes, in my case I realized I wanted to run from the house of God so I could hide, not heal. Really, church was exactly where I needed to be … surrounded by God's people in a saturated environment of God's presence.

In 1 Samuel 1, there is a story of a barren woman named Hannah. Her situation was especially difficult because of a sister-wives competition that was going on. “This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat” (1 Samuel 1:7, NIV).

Year after year … drama and heartache. Going to the temple was a reminder of what she didn’t have.

Hannah didn’t let that stop her. She went to the house of God and took her heartache to the One who could do something about it.

She poured out her soul to the Lord and told Eli, the priest: “‘… I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.’ Eli answered, ‘Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.’ She said, ‘May your servant find favor in your eyes.’ Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast” (1 Samuel 1:16-18, NIV).

In that moment, nothing about her situation had changed, but something in Hannah did.

I don’t know what is going on in your world that may cause you to say, “I don’t want to go to church,” like I did. Maybe it’s a holiday that is a painful reminder of what you don’t have … or maybe there are people at church who have hurt you … or maybe it's just the opposite — you don’t feel like anyone knows you at all.

I want to encourage you to go to the house of the Lord. Position yourself to receive from your heavenly Father and from the saints around you. Both can be a healing balm to our souls if we are open to them.

I’ll tell you … I am glad I went to church that day. I worshipped and prayed. I heard a wonderful teaching from a pastor who was grieving personal loss. I enjoyed fellowship with friends and family afterward. We celebrated with our moms. It was a great day.

My situation hadn’t changed, but something changed in me. Does this mean I will never struggle again with these feelings? No. But I pray I remember what I learned that weekend: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD’” (Psalm 122:1, NLT).

Dear heavenly Father, help me to always turn to You first when times are tough. I am grateful for the peace and comfort You provide. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Learning to Serve Others with Love..Emily Rose Massey

 Learning to Serve Others with Love

By Emily Rose Massey

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.”- Romans 12:10-13 NASB

“Ministry” is derived from the Greek word diakoneo, meaning “to serve.” Every believer is called into ministry to serve Jesus and His body. Jesus came to earth to serve others and calls us to follow His lead in selflessness and compassion for others, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is human to seek after the cravings of our flesh, but in Christ Jesus, we can turn from old ways (Colossians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:24). The Holy Spirit empowers us to set our selfishness aside to follow Jesus in service of others. That kind of lifestyle starts with our mindset. 

Bible study and spiritual discipline allow the Holy Spirit to renew our minds, shifting our focus to eternal and spiritual matters. The longer we walk with the Lord, the more able we are to hold up under the temptations of worldly thinking and fleshly desires. Our behavior and attitude change as God gives us the desire to love, obey, and serve Him fervently! Selfish living isn’t an option for Christ followers! The Apostle Paul encouraged believers to become committed to the Lord and our brothers and sisters in Christ:

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.” Romans 12:10-13 NASB

 Intersecting Faith and Life:

In dying to our selfish ways, our lives bring glory to God. We may feel pain and joy as the light of God shows up in other people’s lives. He does not leave us to our strength to follow the command to love and serve one another. God empowers us to surrender to Him and His ways entirely. Our love for Him and others will grow stronger with each obedient step. Every passing day, by God’s grace, we mature and cultivate a heart to serve others for His glory! Who is God asking you to serve? What selfish desires do you need to put aside to put someone else’s life before yours? Are you too busy or distracted to serve or pray for others? Let’s take some time and write down those who might come to mind. Who can you minister to, even if it is just a simple phone call to encourage someone or invite a new couple from your church over for dinner? May God empower us to choose others above ourselves and show the love of Christ with great compassion.

Further Reading:

• Philippians 2:1-4
• Galatians 5:13-14
• John 12:26

 

3 Specific Things That Point to the End Times..Jennifer Waddle

3 Specific Things That Point to the End Times
by Jennifer Waddle

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things that are written in it; for the time is near. Revelation 1:3

Books, movies, and speculations have been made about the end times, to the point that people have become almost calloused toward the thought. Sadly, the phrase “zombie apocalypse” has become more of a popular idea than the second coming of Jesus Christ.

For Christians, the “end of all things” ushers in the return of Jesus and the culmination of our faith. But even Christians grow complacent in the waiting. We get caught up in everyday life and forget about the much awaited day when every eye will see and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. (Philippians 2:9-11)

How can we be sure the end is near? What are the signs that Jesus’ return is right around the corner? Here are 3 specific things that point to the end times.

1. Growing corruption

Today’s culture has fulfilled every description in 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Daily, we hear about greed, deceit, and horrific crimes being committed by people who are unloving and unholy. Despising what is good, people have decided to live their lives based on the inclinations of their own hearts. Unfortunately, the Bible warns that our hearts are deceptive and full of wickedness.(Jeremiah 17:9)

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

As corruption continues to grow. we can remain steadfast, looking to the Author and Perfecter of our faith—Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 12:2)

2. Increased war

Battle and strife between people groups has been an issue since the beginning of creation. However, in the last days, wars and rumors of wars will only increase. From this basic timeline of wars across the centuries, we can see that world peace simply isn’t a reality.

As Jesus said in Matthew 24:6-7, there will continue to be wars and rumors of wars. Nation will rise against nation before His return. There really is only one true source of peace—Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

3. A rise in deceivers

Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” Matthew 24:4

In this century alone, more than half-a-dozen men have claimed to be the Christ. Deceiving the weak and vulnerable, they are fulfilling what Jesus warned about in Matthew 24. Christians must be on guard against this kind of deception.

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:24 ESV

We must know what the Bible says in order to guard our own hearts from being deceived. No matter what sign or wonder is performed, nothing will compare to the glorious coming of the Savior. In the end, there will be no “guess-work” as to whether or not Jesus is who He says He is.

Instead of relying on books and movies to inform us of the end times, let’s rely on the only source of true wisdom—the living word of God.

“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” Revelation 22:7

A Prayer for Moms Who Question Their Impact..Laura Bailey

 A Prayer for Moms Who Question Their Impact

By Laura Bailey

"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" - John 6:9 NIV

Countless times throughout the day, I question if I am making a meaningful difference in my children's lives. Giving up my career, sacrificing financial security, forgoing the adult interaction I love, and even the luxury of using the bathroom without interruption, the choice to stay home with my children wasn't–and isn't-- easy.

As an achievement junkie, results queen, and task-list slayer, switching roles to a full-time mom was like wearing a new pair of shoes for the first time; I experienced a lot of discomfort before I broke into my motherhood shoes. Many things about motherhood are less than glamorous, but it's not the bottomless laundry pile, the endless demands of tiny humans, or the copious amount of cleaning that is the problem. Instead, it's the nagging lies that taunt me. Maybe you relate to these endless, swirling questions I replay.  

• What if you gave up the things you loved and enjoyed in vain?
• What if you're not even making a significant impact on your children? 
• What if this is all a big waste of time? 

As a believer, I know everything has a purpose in God's economy. I believe God values family, and the impact of a godly, present mother is undeniable in the lives of children. God works through everyday people, often in unseen and ordinary places. So, when the lie creeps in that my role as "just a mom" is insignificant, that I am more valuable than "watching kids all day," I am reminded of the story in John 6:1-14 of the little boy and his lunch that Jesus used to feed over 5,000 people. The passage's focus often rests on the miracle of turning five loaves and two fish into enough to fill the bellies of thousands– rightly so. But I can't help but think about how the lunch got into the hands of the boy; someone had to pack it for him, and no doubt it was his mother. And if I was to put myself in her shoes, it might have been hard for her to send her son off to see this great teacher and stay home. But, because of her deep love and concern for her little boy, she made sure to meet his physical needs by packing a lunch, which provided a way for a miracle, meeting many people's spiritual needs.

Feeding her child was likely another thing on her list; perhaps she didn't even give it much thought. Yet, God extraordinarily used a mother's simple and routine care to touch millions of people, as this miracle is shared repeatedly. So, when doubt creeps in, shut it down with God's Truth. Happy Mother's Day! You are valuable, significant, and impactful not just today as you meet your children's physical needs but eternally as you share the Gospel through your faithful commitment to Christ.

Let's Pray:
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of motherhood. Too often, we don't realize the enormous blessing of being a mother; please help us as we learn to value our roles within the home. We pray for all mothers, when doubt creeps in, that they can quickly shut down the lies with the Truth from Your Word.

Help us, Lord, as we focus not on the seen but on the unseen. Guide our conversations, making the most of every opportunity with our children by birth and the others we impact beyond our home. Please, God, forgive us when we fail to obey, are ungrateful, or question your plan for our lives. Please give us patience and humility as we parent with You, not leaning on our understanding but entirely depending on the power of the Holy Spirit living within our hearts. We love you, Lord. In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

Tragedy in the Church House..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Tragedy in the Church House

Dr. Charles Stanley

Matthew 5:14-15

Every Sunday countless people all over the world sit in church buildings with a false sense of security. They assume that their morality, lifelong church membership, or baptism will earn them a place in heaven. While many of these folks sincerely desire to please God, they are confused about what the Christian life is all about. They think in terms of doing rather than being. So they imitate the actions of good Christians: going to a weekly service, praying, reading the Bible, and trying to be decent people.

However, salvation is not the product of good works. We come into the world with a corrupt nature, and all our wrongdoing is born of a heart turned away from the Lord. Because we are sinful people, we sin. It's that simple. The good news is that in the salvation experience, we are given a brand-new nature (2 Cor. 5:17). Our sin is wiped away because Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself for us. From the moment we trust in Him, the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts so that we can live righteously.

The world values action, but the Father prioritizes relationship--specifically a right relationship with Him. People who scurry about flaunting religiosity are missing out on the deeply satisfying and joyous intimacy between a believer and the Lord.

We can help turn others' tragic misunderstandings into triumph by being ready to explain why we have hope (1 Peter 3:15). Speak of the personal relationship with Christ that's possible when a person admits his need and trusts in the Savior. If your light shines, it reflects well on the church.