Sunday 08:18:13

Matthew 13:44 The kingdom of God - not a physical kingdom or realm, but The rule and reign of God. When we think of someone ruling over us, what do we think of? An oppressive government? The English crown over the American colonies? We think of someone ruling over us, telling us what to do, but with no real concern for us. But what does Gods rule over us look like? Jesus said His yoke is easy and his burden is light. His rule over us is the defeat of sin and death and salvation, righteousness, and peace coming into my life. Gods rule over me looks like salvation, redemption, mercy, grace. Gods kingdom is treasure Jesus is saying that Gods rule, specifically in the context of the gospel, is treasure. It is of supreme value. His reign is present in part right now, but will be complete at the second coming of Christ. The blessings we have now in Christ are great (forgiveness, righteousness, acceptance with the Father, no condemnation, the fellowship of Jesus by his Spirit in our lives, progressive transformation into his likeness, gifts of the Spirit, usefulness in ministry, all things working together for our good, etc.). But the fullness of our inheritance awaits the coming of Christ—no more sinning, no more sickness, nor more injury or trouble, no more depression or spiritual warfare, no more racism, no more war, no more death. All that will come with the final consummation of the kingdom. In His joy, he sold everything The man who found the treasure was convinced: The treasure was worth more than everything else he had. He gladly - in joy - sold everything he had to obtain the treasure. It was worth everything he had to get it. This is the same idea Paul had in mind in... Philippians 3:7-8 In the parable the man sells everything he has so that he can have the kingdom. In Philippians 3:8, Paul suffers the loss of all things that he may gain Christ. The point in Matthew 13:44 and in Philippians 3:8 is that People who receive the kingdom treasure it more than everything else. Struggling to let go Isn't that where we struggle? Don't we all wonder if having Jesus is really enough? There are two ways I'd ask for you to consider these verses today. Clinging to idols First, we all struggle to let go of things that get in the way of our relationship with God. A relationship that we know does not honor God, A fear that we cannot really trust him, A sin that we cling. We all struggle with clinging to idols, things that make us feel significant, secure, or give us comfort. Jonah 2:8 Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. Is there something interfering with your relationship with God? Give it over to him. Give it up. Trade it off because He's worth it. To have a closer relationship with God, - to get rid of that thing that stands between you and God - He's worth it. We can lose everything with joy if we gain Christ. I will hope in Him The next thing to consider is when we feel like we've already lost something. A husband or wife, a marriage, a son or daughter, a dream of how we wanted life to be. This verse says that it's worth it. That can either be painful for you to hear in the midst of your struggle Or it can be words of hope. It's either a struggle for you, that you feel like God has taken something from you Or it's hope that having Jesus, you'll make it. After Job had lost so much and was in the midst of confusion about why all this should happen, he said, Job 13:15a Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him. It is when we have walked through some of the grief of our loss and tried to reconcile Gods sovereignty and his love and mercy for me. He allowed this loss, maybe even orchestrated it, but He is still my only hope. When you face a loss like that's of a loved one, or of one of your life's dreams, it is often a struggle to believe that having Jesus without that other person or dream is enough. Our faith doesn't get any harder than that. But one day, your faith, which is being refined, will help you say, He is enough. Though he slay me, yet I will hope in him. Though You Slay Me - Shane & Shane I come, God, I come I return to the Lord The one who’s broken The one who’s torn me apart You strike down to bind me up You say you do it all in love That I might know you in your suffering Though you slay me Yet I will praise you Though you take from me I will bless your name Though you ruin me Still I will worship Sing a song to the one who’s all I need My heart and flesh may fail The earth below give way But with my eyes, with my eyes I’ll see the Lord Lifted high on that day Behold, the Lamb that was slain And I’ll know every tear was worth it all Though you slay me Yet I will praise you Though you take from me I will bless your name Though you ruin me Still I will worship Sing a song to the one who’s all I need Though tonight I’m crying out Let this cup pass from me now You’re still more than I need You’re enough for me You’re enough for me Though you slay me Yet I will praise you Though you take from me I will bless your name Though you ruin me Still I will worship Sing a song to the one who’s all I need Sing a song to the one who’s all I need