Weather report from heaven: Sunny and bright with an abundance of light, and lots of singing and rejoicing.
Scripture- “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” Deuteronomy 7:6
“On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”- Malachi 3:17-18
Insight: Thanksgiving is a special holiday, unique to America, but it is in peril of being over run by all the relentless consumerism that drives our world. However, we as individuals have a choice to make. We can participate in the franticness of Black Friday by rushing through Thanksgiving to get back into the false belief that we can consume ourselves to happiness, or we can use this special week and Thanksgiving Day itself for a time of deep reflection and gratitude. We can pause and be introspective about our lives, and remember all of the blessings and give thanks to the One who is worthy of all of our praise. We can thank God for our freedoms and the liberty we have in America. We can give thanks to those who serve to keep us free, so we can honor God in our own special way. God’s love is the treasure of this life that can sustain and hold us together. It is an eternal treasure, above any price tag. It is not fickle and ever changing like the latest consumer trend or hot item that is riddled with false hope. God’s love for us is the treasure that never fails and never fades, and it is the only thing in this life full of real joy and hope.
I was searching the word “treasure” in the Bible to begin writing on it from a few different vantage points, when I came across the scriptures above, and many more, that really caused me great joy because they redirected my thoughts to simply resting in God’s love as His priceless treasure. He paid it all for us, so we are priceless. Do you know that you are God’s cherished treasure? Have you ever stopped to ponder how much you mean to God and how deeply you are loved? I mean amidst the brokenness and pain, the hurriedness and confusion of life, it can be hard to find time to pull away and ponder such things. But the Bible assures us that we are God’s cherished treasure, and that He went to unimaginable lengths to reconcile us back to Him through His Son. In fact, when God looked throughout the entire Universe to find who He loved so much that He would send His Son to die for, he chose you and me. God handpicked you and me! All we had to do was say “yes” to His invitation. Isn’t that amazing? We are His priceless treasure, His priceless gift of love to His Son. So, always remember that fact during the storms of life , and the chaos of the Holidays, because although our circumstances are always changing, His love for us never does. It is there every day for us, it is eternal, and we can see it on the Cross of Calvary. The depths of His love could not be held back. May that gird you when the storms of life smash into your peace, and the trials seem overwhelming. You are His treasure, and nothing can ever separate you from that love!
Prayer: Father God, it is overwhelming at times to consider the depth of your love for us. We are sinners who deserve far worse for our sins, yet your love was so great that you went to enormous depths to reconcile us back to you through Your Son Jesus who took the weight of our sins upon His back so that we could be called your Sons and Daughters. We are humbled and full of gratitude. Amen!
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