Strengthened by Graceਨਮੂਨਾ

Our Heart Is Where Our Treasure Is

Everyone guards what they treasure. Do you treasure the gospel? Truly treasure it?

The story of the Bible is the love of God in the gospel. In His mercy, He sent His Son to rescue and redeem us and bring us to Himself. This is the true and ultimate treasure.

The more we meditate upon all God has done for us in the gospel—understand it, believe it, take it to heart, and treasure it—the more we will guard it.

Our treasure is where our heart is, and vice versa. The eyes of our hearts can be easily drawn to security, stuff, position, power, or physical beauty—"the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the boastful pride of life" (1 Jn. 2:15-17 ESV). We think that we can have divided hearts, with little compartments for our cherishables, just as long as we make a bigger compartment for Jesus. All of us are vulnerable to becoming distracted, deceived, or diverted from keeping our eyes on Christ. We cannot guard the gospel if we get caught up, distracted, and absorbed by the things of this world and lose sight of the gospel.

There will always be the temptation to grab onto anything and everything but the gospel. Daily, we will be tempted to put our hope and our trust in our possessions, accomplishments, psychology, human efforts, knowledge, financial security, or position more than the Lord. Worry and fear can consume our thoughts and energies. The priority we place on various “important” activities crowds our schedules so much so that there is really little or no time for meditating on the gospel or for sharing it with others. We are all tempted in some form or another. But, God!

When Jesus sent the disciples out to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom and to heal the sick, He instructed them, “Take nothing for your journey” (Lk. 9:3 ESV). We must ask the Lord to help us unload the “baggage" we carry with us that we think is so precious and important. We must unzip all the pockets, check every compartment, and shake everything out.

Would you grant the Lord the warrant (that He does not need) to turn your heart and mind inside out? May He give you eyes to see, confess, and repent of anything or anyone you cling to—only Jesus can grant the strength you need. Journal what He reveals to you.