To raise some cash while also letting go of things collected that we no longer need, we had garage sales. What a lot of work! What we considered throwaways were deemed treasures by those who would come to browse. To those in real need, the price came down quickly. However, there were those who cruised garage sales for a living and were not the nicest people to do business with. I would rather give to someone who really needed it than barter with those who complained about what you had along with the price. Seriously, how do you lower the price of something you priced at a quarter anyway? Garage sales bring out the worst and best in people.
After teaching for many years, God called both Randy and I into even more intense full time ministry in a different state. That meant letting go of stuff. I had collected, created, and bought a plethora of teaching aids and supplies with my own cash. (It’s what teachers do.) So, we had a giant garage sale, selling not only things we didn’t want to move but of my teaching supplies. Many “dealers” didn’t see the treasure of these supplies and said so as they tried to “take it off my hands” for a low price. I will confess, their words hurt my heart because of the memories these hard-earned supplies meant to me. So, I prayed. God, you know my heart, help me to let go of these treasures to a person who really needs them, sees the value, and will use them for their work. Send someone, please.
God answered that prayer that day! A young teacher who was the daughter of a teacher friend who I hadn’t seen in years, pulled up in the driveway. She had heard of the sale by a teacher. She walked quickly over to the tables of teaching materials and said, “Oh, I want it all!” Then she told her story. She recently answered the call to be a missionary to Russia and would be teaching English as a second language. She related that my first grade teaching aids would be perfect! Her story took my breath away! We loaded her car to the brim with materials and books. When she asked the price while loading, I told her, “Your faith and testimony has paid the price.” We both shed a few tears of joy with hugs and prayers for each of our journeys.
Matthew 13, The Message
The Curtain of History
36 Jesus dismissed the congregation and went into the house. His disciples came in and said, “Explain to us that story of the thistles in the field.”
37-39 So he explained. “The farmer who sows the pure seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the pure seeds are subjects of the kingdom, the thistles are subjects of the Devil, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, the curtain of history. The harvest hands are angels.
40-43 “The picture of thistles pulled up and burned is a scene from the final act. The Son of Man will send his angels, weed out the thistles from his kingdom, pitch them in the trash, and be done with them. They are going to complain to high heaven, but nobody is going to listen. At the same time, ripe, holy lives will mature and adorn the kingdom of their Father.
“Are you listening to this? Really listening?
44 “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.
45-46 “Or, God’s kingdom is like a jewel merchant on the hunt for exquisite pearls. Finding one that is flawless, he immediately sells everything and buys it.
47-50 “Or, God’s kingdom is like a fishnet cast into the sea, catching all kinds of fish. When it is full, it is hauled onto the beach. The good fish are picked out and put in a tub; those unfit to eat are thrown away. That’s how it will be when the curtain comes down on history. The angels will come and cull the bad fish and throw them in the garbage. There will be a lot of desperate complaining, but it won’t do any good.”
51 Jesus asked, “Are you starting to get a handle on all this?”
They answered, “Yes.”
52 He said, “Then you see how every student well-trained in God’s kingdom is like the owner of a general store who can put his hands on anything you need, old or new, exactly when you need it.”
53-57 When Jesus finished telling these stories, he left there, returned to his hometown, and gave a lecture in the meetinghouse. He stole the show, impressing everyone. “We had no idea he was this good!” they said. “How did he get so wise, get such ability?” But in the next breath they were cutting him down: “We’ve known him since he was a kid; he’s the carpenter’s son. We know his mother, Mary. We know his brothers James and Joseph, Simon and Judas. All his sisters live here. Who does he think he is?” They got all bent out of shape.
58 But Jesus said, “A prophet is taken for granted in his hometown and his family.” He didn’t do many miracles there because of their hostile indifference.
WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?
Throwaway or treasure? It’s our choice who we want to be. I want to be God’s treasure. How about you?
God guides us to His treasure of salvation that is priceless because His Son has already paid the price. The “price” we give is in our believing, really believing that Jesus is not only is our Savior but the Lord of our lives. When we find Jesus, we have found the treasure we have been seeking all along.
God wants us. God loves us. God wants us to love Him back completely and unreservedly. Jesus is the only Way to God. Jesus is the Truth, He cannot lie for He is also God. We live in world where lying is a second language and it hard to tell truth from lies. Jesus is Truth. Jesus is Life. Believing in Jesus, asking for forgiveness, trusting and obeying what He says with hearts fully committed to Him, gives eternal life. We give all we have for a treasured relationship with the One who is worthy and loves us most and will never stop loving us. God gave His Son to die in our place for our sins so that we will not perish but have everlasting Life! Priceless!
Jesus’ followers asked him to explain the deeper meaning to the stories He had been telling over the past few days. His disciples were learners which is the real meaning of the word disciple—”one who learns.” As an educator, I love that! May we continue to learn as His disciples! Be still and know God. Be still and know. Be still. Be.
“Are you listening to this? Really listening?” says Jesus. Listen to God’s voice as we seek what He has to say with hearts ready to obey. Let go, throwaway, what is not of God and cling to what we really need—Jesus! Allow the Holy Spirit to teach us as we read His Word—priceless treasure! There are many facets to the Treasure that we seek!
Jesus will always take the time to answer our questions…don’t you love that about Him? Nothing is hidden—when we seek, we will find.
So, our response? “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” –Jesus, Matthew 7:7-8
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” –Jesus, Matthew 6:33
Lord,
You are the Master Teacher. You are Savior and Lord! You are all I need to be and do all you want me to be and do with joy unspeakable and full of your glory! May we continue to walk in the unforced rhythms of your grace. You are the pearl of great price, the bright and Morning Star, the lover of my soul and the provider of all I need. All I am and all I have is yours.
In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen
And we’re singing… “You Are My All in All” by Dennis Jernigan
You are my Strength when I am weak.
You are the Treasure that I seek.
You are my All in all.
Seeking You as a precious Jewel,
Lord to give up I’d be a fool.
You are my All in all!
Jesus, Lamb of God,
worthy is Your Name.
Jesus, Lamb of God,
worthy is Your Name.
Taking my cross my sin my shame,
Rising again I praise Your Name.
You are my All in all.
When I fall down You lift me up.
When I am dry You fill my cup.
You are my All in all.
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 