Treasure

As we continue to ponder why we seem to have difficulty moving the mountains that Jesus assured us our faith could move, we have explored several possible reasons. This past Sunday, we learned that sometimes God’s calling leads us to actions and places that we (and our culture) consider crazy. The week before that, we discussed how God often guides us to base our actions on what is good rather than on what makes us "happy" or comfortable. Prior to that, we discovered that our attitudes significantly impact God's work in and through us. We must focus our thoughts on things that are honorable, pure, lovely, and admirable if we want to see mountains moved. This week, I want to take us in a more straightforward (but not necessarily easier) direction. Our operative question is: "Do we believe what God says about us?"

Once again, we turn to Exodus 19. Moses reminds the Hebrew people of what God has done (you might remember the song, "What He's Done"). His first words in his speech are: "You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you out of Egypt on eagle's wings and brought you to Myself!" (Exodus 19:4). Moses then states, "You will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth." My question is simple: Do you believe this?

Most of you might respond, "God said it, so I believe it!" That’s good, but let's unpack what this belief truly means. The phrase "my own" precedes the word "treasure." If you believe this—if you grasp this truth—then you are God's possession. While this sounds special, let’s remember that there are two kinds of people. There are those owned by God, just like all other things on earth. As it says, "The earth is the Lord's, and all things therein" (Psalm 24:1). This statement may not make you feel particularly special. All people are God's possession, whether they believe it or not. However, God qualifies His statement by saying, "If you obey me fully and keep my covenant, you will be my treasured possession." This is a bit harder to grasp but much clearer.

One of my favorite references to being called God's treasure is found in the parable of the buried treasure. "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field" (Matthew 13:44-46). This beautifully illustrates who we are. God (the merchant) finds a treasure (His people, His Church) and pays the ultimate price for that field, which represents the souls of His people. These are the people God says we are—His treasure, in His field, as part of His kingdom. We are called, equipped, and able to bring Jesus' kingdom "on earth as it is in heaven." Peter takes this a step further in 1 Peter 2:9, where he states that we are to "declare the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light."

So, what do you think of this? If this is God’s opinion of you, are you ready and willing to embrace what He says you are? Perhaps another way we can become mountain-moving, Spirit-filled, praising, and kingdom-bringing people is to disregard what the world says and accept what God says. Lauren Daigle expresses this beautifully in her song: "You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing. You say I am strong when I think I am weak. And you say I am held when I am falling short. And when I don't belong, you say I am Yours ... And I believe, oh, I believe, what You say of me. I believe, yes I believe!"

So, do you believe?