Our children are treasures. Our sons are a treasure. They are the fruit of abundance of prayers in a deep heart’s desire to be a mom. What a gift we have been given by God – children. Family. We are saved by grace. “I am a great sinner, Christ is a great Savior”. We continue to seek God desperately for all that He still desires to purge from our lives, to prepare us for His Kingdom that awaits.
We are thankful for our forever treasure, our promised Imperishable Crown – Christ Jesus our Lord.
No greater joy do I have to know that my children walk in the truth. Today, and all the way into eternity with Jesus.
We live on this earth, but this is not our forever home. We all die. Either hell or heaven awaits. We all live on in one or the other. Torment or perfect joy and peace. He loves so much to give free will. He calls, will we listen and obey? One day, the bible says, Jesus is coming again to set up a new earthly Kingdom for all those who call upon Him as Lord and Savior from a pure heart.
Last night I had the privilege to hear our son’s Karate teacher give a small devotional to wrap up class. I jotted the quick notes and decided to use them today as our home schooling devotion and add to it a bit.
JESUS’ WARNING – TO do and what NOT to do.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
What not to do-what does not matter-
“do NOT store up for yourself treasures on earth” – things end in vain. Nothing. Perished and gone.
Do not make the things of this earth greater than God. Including one’s self.
What we should do and what DOES matter – “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven”
we are storing up treasures in heaven when we use our time, energy, gifts, talents, whole life to share with others, and point to the One Who it all belongs to: God.
As our sons journaled today:
God loves me and has given all these things to me to share. He has also given me everlasting life, and I should not keep this to myself, but share this with others, so that they too may enjoy the treasures of heaven. As I love God and others I am sharing what He has given to me. Love in Jesus name and truth – and all His gifts are treasures that will last forever in eternity.
“for where your treasure is, there you heart will be”
When God is the treasure of our hearts, our desires will be placed on thinking about God, doing what God wants me to do. My heart knows that this earth is only a temporary living situation, and my heart will be living now, more and more, for the ultimate future in mind in every choice I make – onward to forever with Jesus.
My sons are such a treasure. A gift from God. I am grateful to share Jesus with them everyday. I am grateful to share with them what God has graciously given. He gave His son – Jesus to save sinners. And we are all sinners in need of this Salvation.
As I teach them each day, my focus is pointing them to treasures in heaven. God the Father so desires relationship with them now and into eternity, with each of our children. My heart is God’s heart for my children. They need Jesus. They need Him more than anyone or anything. They need His help, His guidance, His WORD continually guiding them. The Father wants all to come and share in the joy of Salvation. We are not keep to ourselves, but to share daily in a thousand ways. But we must share all that God says. A sinner’s heart will not treasure all God’s Word. A thankful heart, who sees what a wretch we are, and what a gracious God He is – will cherish EVERY WORD of GOD – even when it stings and calls us to deny ourselves and follow Him. “He loves so much He gave His only Son, that whosoever Believes in Him, will not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
I want them to know how much God loves them. How He yearns for their hearts to go His way. How He calls them to “come”. I want them to know Jesus. Jesus who lovingly says: “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near” I want them to know repentance, turning from sin and themselves and turning to God. I want them to know forgiveness, mercy, grace of God, as well as his instruction, and commandments that are for their best interest and all for love. I want them to know that the discipline and boundaries in God’s Word, His commandments, are love and beautiful freedom. Free from self and sin and free to walk in newness of life with a faithful Father who will never leave them or forsake them.
I want them to know of Christ’s power. That no matter what we face in this life, that Jesus may be magnified as the One Who saves now and for eternity. It is to Him we owe it all – HIS NAME to be declared and praised! His name to share with the world, not our fame, HIS GREAT NAME! “whatever we eat drink, whatever we do, do ALL to the glory of God” 1 Cor. 10:31
ALL TO JESUS! Not to US, not even a smidget, but to HIM be the glory!
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.”
2 Cor. 7:4-10