What Have You Found?

What a Friend I have in Jesus!  I owe Him all.

Text for Today – Matthew 13:44 – Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field

Yesterday we caught a glimpse of how highly treasured you are to the Lord as a possession for which He would sacrifice everything in order to make it His own.  Today, let’s turn that scenario around.  What is there for which you would suffer the loss of everything you possess?

I can honestly say that I would give up my own life for my wife, my children, my grandchildren, and for many I know who follow me in ministry.   I cannot, however, say I would give up all I possess that is needful for the well-being of my wife, children, or grandchildren for those who follow me.  These are heavy words, I know, but I am required to speak truth.   You see, I have priorities, and first on that list is the Lord, and then my family. 

But I can also make this next statement unequivocally.  There is nothing more important to me than my relationship with the Lord.  I didn’t find Him; He found me.  I did not love Him first; He first loved me.  I did not die for Him; He died for me.  I did not suffer for Him; He suffered for me.  I did not purchase Him; He purchased me.  I did not cleanse Him from sin; He cleansed me.  I did not heal Him; He healed me.  I did not supply His needs; He supplied mine.  I did not deliver Him; He delivered me.

When I consider all that He has done for me, not counting all He has done for those I love, I have no choice but to speak as Paul the Apostle in Philippians 3, and “count all things loss.”  When He found me, I was without hope; now He is my Hope.  When He found me, I had no access to God; now He is my Access to God.  When He found me, I was a fool in the darkness; now He is my Righteousness and the Light of my salvation.  Surely, for Him, I can easily “count all things loss.”

How about you, today?  What have you found in Him?  What has Jesus done for you?  What has He wrought in your life?  How often and in how many ways has He manifested His great salvation power in your life?  How can you do anything but to “count all things loss?”  Surely the treasure of Jesus in your heart is worth whatever it may cost to hold fast to it.  Surely the treasure of Jesus in your heart is worthy of giving due attention to your walk, your talk, and your lifestyle, including the way you look after yourself.  After all, you are the temple of Holy Ghost.  I can say that I have found everything I can desire and all I need in His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Manna for Today – 1 Corinthians 13; John 15:13-17; Philippians 3:1-16