1 Timothy 6:17-19
Command those who are rich in this present world not
to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to
put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our
enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be
generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for
themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold
of the life that is truly life.
Romans 8:28
We know that in all things God works for the good of
those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Proverbs 18:21
(NIV)
"The tongue has the power of life and death, and
those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Quest For Stolen Treasure
By Joe Stowell
Read:
Matthew 4:18-22
[Jesus] said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of
men.” —Matthew 4:19
Bible
in a Year:
2
Chronicles 7-9; John 11:1-29
In
J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, the dwarfs gathered to go up against Smaug, the
fierce dragon, to retrieve their stolen treasure. In spite of the dangerously
frightening quest, Balin, the dwarfs’ second-in-command, expressed confidence
in Thorin: “There is one I could follow. There is one I could call King.” His
commitment to the mission, as dangerous as it was, was empowered by his
confidence in his leader.
At
the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry, He gathered a group around Him that
would join Him in the kingdom task of rescuing the treasure of lost souls from
our enemy, Satan. When He called them, He said, “Follow Me” (Matt. 4:19). For
them, following Jesus would mean a radical transition from catching fish to the
enterprise of being fishers of men and women who were lost in the grip of sin.
But the task would not always be easy; Jesus referred to the quest as taking up
our cross to follow Him (see Matt. 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23).
How
do we stay engaged in the battle to reclaim Christ’s lost treasures when it
seems intimidating or awkward? By keeping our eye on our Leader. He indeed is
worthy—One we can follow, the One we call King!
Lord, in the face of intimidation and fear
when
seeking to engage others with the gospel,
remind
me that they are Your lost treasures. I
count it
a privilege to follow You into others’
lives.
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