Matthew 13:44 (Amplified Bible) The kingdom of heaven is like something precious buried in a field, which a man found and hid again; then in his joy he goes and sells all he has and buys that field.

Matthew 13:44 (New Living Translation) “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.

Value is defined as: the worth, importance, or usefulness of something. The verb is definded as: to rate something according to its perceived worth, importance, or usefulness.

Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:21) We follow what we value. We are going in the direction of what we value. We make our choices based on the value we place on things and people. We are driven by value, or the worth, importance, or usefulness of things natural and spiritual.

Read Full Post »

Life brings many challenges and rewards. As people that follow Jesus Christ, we are a part of God’s kingdom, or the King’s domain. At the same time we are part of this present world with all of its possibilities and pitfalls. As people of God, we are not exempt from temptation and challenge. But we have God-given position, power and privilege that enables us to overcome negative circumstances. We also the power to avoid the counterfeit and embrace the genuine

The parable of the Wheat and the Tares shows us the power of challenge. Challenge is defined: A situation that tests somebody’s abilities.

When it is all said and done, we will be those that Jesus identifies in Matthew 13:43, Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Read Full Post »