How to Pray for My School - a Guide for Students (Teens)Sample

Devotion

In The Parable told by Jesus, He shows two people (a merchant and another man) finding something of extreme value, and to acquire it, they sell everything they have to buy that treasure. The man who found a great treasure sold everything so that he could buy the field in which the prize resided. The same with the merchant who diligently (carefully) searched for fine pearls, but he soon discovered a very valuable pearl. And his response was that he sold everything he possessed and bought that one valuable pearl.

I have read these parables quite a few times, but I have mostly come to skim them over. The two parables are literally three verses combined, and what can one really learn in three verses, right? They’re similar sounding, and if you’ve caught the principle once, why a second, third, or fourth time? I think many of us have barely caught it the first time, especially considering how our actions seem to contradict what we proclaim. The heart of these parables seems simple at first, but the implications and effect of truly grasping them are enormous and radically life-changing.

The first Parable (though it applies to parable two as well) tells of a man who discovered a treasure (Christ) in a field (the kingdom of heaven). After grasping the significance of the unmatched worth of this treasure, he sold everything he had and bought the field in which the treasure was hidden. Please don’t misinterpret this story as proof that one can buy your place in heaven; that’s not the case. This parable teaches us that the value of that single treasure (Christ) is greater than anything he has ever owned or ever will own. It is of such great value that he is willing to give away everything he has to focus on just the treasure.

The Scripture explicitly says, “in his joy he goes and sells.” Joy is a significant word in this parable. This man truly found a treasure and joyously sells what he has. That’s the true response to the Kingdom of Heaven. The moment you give your heart to Christ, you have found THE TREASURE - but so many of us don’t realize it! Do you realize that the treasure you have is not a get-out-of-hell-free card? It’s so much more. It’s God’s will! It’s God’s heart! It’s God’s presence! It’s God’s Love! It’s God’s Goodness! It’s eternal satisfaction in Him! Nothing will ever compare with the satisfaction, joy, or abundance that comes our way through intimacy with God! If people truly grasped (understood) what they had (or lacked), they would live radically different lives! They would no longer find satisfaction in making much of themselves (honoring/glorifying/flaunting/bragging/bullying). They would only wish to sing the praises and glory of our God, our exalted King, our Creator, Deliverer, Savior, Justifier, Friend, First and Last Love. That’s the outflow of this discovery. You can’t wait to tell everybody, let alone praise Him!

When you meet someone (the love of your life), you sing their praises, tell them about their unmatched beauty and their other-worldly personality, and show them that they have all your attention. This is the natural response to discovering God and truly coming face to face with the Lord of heaven and earth. I believe we’ll see schools radically transform from professional institutions to institutions where people serve each other, where our greatest glory is in the Lord. Our greatest joy is an everlasting covenant relationship with Jesus, the Lord of All.

When you pray, pray that:

-All – including you – will discover this great treasure.

-People who suffer from depression will meet God and truly find everlasting joy and satisfaction.

-Those who experience rejection will know that the most valuable pearl is indeed theirs!