April 25th, 2022

​Week 17, Day 1
April 25, 2022
Scripture: Matthew 13
 
““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. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:44–46)
 
We spend a lot of time being inundated with a message of what we need to achieve, pursue, and own. It doesn’t take long, and at the start of your day you will already be told that you need to look a certain way, own a certain item, and have a life insurance plan to compliment your worth and protect your family.
 
Thousands of messages each day, teaching us, shaping us to look at the world through what we don’t have and what we do.
 
The merchant finds a beautiful pearl, sells everything he had a bought it. 
 
The man found a great treasure in a field and goes all in to buy the field.
 
All that they acquired up to that point in their life, paled in comparison to the pearl and treasure.
 
When we find Jesus and His kingdom, we discover that all we have acquired, all that we own, all that we’ve pursued – it’s worthless by comparison. The greatest treasure is the Kingdom of God. It’s worth everything.
 
The Kingdom is worth everything. When we discover that, the behavior of the merchant and man doesn’t seem that crazy. We can keep pursuing everything in the world. We can find our value and worth in the acquisition of the world. But the kingdom, is worth everything.
 
I need this reminder. I get caught up in the rat race. I get shaped by the message. I feel like my worth is tied to the things I own, the money I have and the accolades achieved. The merchant is our inspiration. Seek the kingdom, and when you find it, lay it all down. Sell everything you have. Burn the bridges, throw away the nets, - go all in with Jesus.