January 18, 2022 – Reflection on “Our Treasure!”

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be as well. Matthew 6:21.

Where can we find Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace to find the reason for Hope, and the strength to wait for what we cannot see? Where can we find the Joy that comes from choosing Jesus’ way of living?

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law, he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1-2.

Two choices. Choosing to live according to the Word, or the way of the sinner. Just as there is Light, there is darkness. From the beginning, God created light. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:3-4.

Everything God created confronts us with His Strength and His Existence. His Presence is continual. As Jesus left his disciples, He told them. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17. We have the Father, the Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit dwelling within us when we believe.

The sixty-six books of the Bible were written by many writers who were inspired by God. This includes the Pentateuch, those written by the prophets, and the four gospels talks about the thirty-three years of the life of Jesus on the earth, plus the beginning of the Church, and then Revelations, revealing the second coming of Jesus Christ.

And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also, He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.” To the thirsty, I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. Revelation 21:5-6.

Revelation 22:20-21 ends with these words. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Meditating on the Word daily converts us, transforms our lives and teaches us. The Word of God helps us learn to pray and blesses us.

Prayers are written in God’s words, including sections that become our prayers. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14. I remember hearing Mom praying this scripture.

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray — and meditating on this prayer, teaches us. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” Matthew 6:9b-13.

A mind that meditates on His Word daily learns how to please God with his thinking and finding His Joy. Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-9.

How is it possible to do these things? Commit. Trust. Say no to evil and, as Jesus said, “No, get thee behind me!” to Satan as He was being tempted. So, we shall say NO!

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Psalm 37: 5-6. This chapter ends with these words. The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them because they take refuge in Him. Psalm 39-40.

How can we begin this journey of delight and commitment? Again, we turn to His word, John 3:16-18. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because He has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

A life of believing and trusting brings us to thankfulness and His Joy in Being His! And above all these, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:14-16.

Sharing the Good News with others becomes our mission, according to the Great Commission. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.

The last sentence is the promise of Hope. The Presence of Jesus is always with us. How can we share the love of Jesus? By the example of our lives and how we react to people and situations around us. We share by the purity of the words we use, and our lives of joy and thanksgiving, and loving one another.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” John 14:6-7.