How much is it worth to me?

Am I ecstatic about what I have found in God’s new plan? Am I prepared / willing to sell everything I own to follow Jesus? What is so precious in my life that I won’t give it up for Jesus? Questions that Jesus asks that demand an answer.

A small thing to note in this story that Jesus tells us. The man who found the treasure was a trespasser. He didn’t belong there but he used the knowledge he had to get the property. Even though a trespasser, he became the owner. Why? He knew something the owner didn’t. The owner didn’t know what his property was worth. The trespasser did.

God’s world is a treasure. I will give up everything for it.

“God’s kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then accidentally found by a trespasser. The finder is ecstatic—what a find!—and proceeds to sell everything he owns to raise money and buy that field.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 13:44)

Do whatever Jesus tells you

This is pretty good advise. It came from a woman who knew Jesus very well. His mother knew who he was and what He could do. And so it was pretty simple. “Do whatever he tells you.”

Now the “whatever” wasn’t going to make any sense to them. They needed wine. He told them to put water into some jars. But, she advised them to do whatever He asked. And so, the rest of the story is pretty simple as well. They did!!

May I do whatever He tells me.

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, John 2:5-8 TNIV

“Let’s go to the rest of the villages so I can proclaim the good news there also. This is why I’ve come.” ~~Jesus

Jesus knows why He is here. He is on a mission. He has good news to tell everyone. He is urgent about His focus. Knowing the “why” is huge. God gives us that confidence. We know “why”.

Jesus wants us to be the same way. He wants us to get moving. No need to linger.

“Let’s go to the rest of the villages so I can proclaim the good news there also. This is why I’ve come.” ~~Jesus (Mark 1:38-39 The Message)

Do I have a heart after God?

Clearly God wants us to be people after his own heart. I read it time and time again. And so I am thinking about this a lot. What does it mean to have a heart that is far (Matthew 15:8) from God? How can I fully commit my heart to our Father?

I am thinking that it has a lot to do with my emotional engagement with God. No matter what, is my innermost desire to please Him, to love Him, to do what He wants? Do I have a passion for Him that won’t stop or go away?

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deut. 6:5)

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. (1 Sam. 16:7)

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:34)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. (Prov. 3:5)

Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. (Ps. 119:11 NASB)

These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. (Matt 15:8)

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (2 Chron. 16:9)

“When you’re kind to others, you help yourself; when you’re cruel to others, you hurt yourself.” ~~King Solomon

Who do we think we are hurting? Cruelty is intended to hurt someone else. It actually backfires and hurts us. The reverse is also very true. Being kind to others helps me build the right God-like values in my life.

Jesus knew this. Solomon knew this. Kindness is the cornerstone of a loving life.

“When you’re kind to others, you help yourself; when you’re cruel to others, you hurt yourself.” ~~King Solomon (Proverbs 11:17)

“It’s urgent that you get this right.” ~~Jesus

Jesus expects us to have a sense of urgency. His passion for doing God’s will right now is overwhelming. He knows what God’s “mission for this moment” is.

He demands that we follow God’s new plan. It is an urgency to do the right thing now which is God’s thing.

But it is not do just anything. God has something in mind. He will reveal it to us. Our job is to do it and not ignore it.

“It’s urgent that you get this right.” ~~Jesus  (John 5:25-27 The Message)

A lot of small things

We are called to love by our Master Jesus. That is an every moment kind of calling. It is a lot of little things. Of course, in God’s world, that adds up to a lot.

In this life we cannot always do great things. But we can do small things with great love. -Mother Teresa