Hidden Treasure

Have you ever chased after a hidden treasure? Have you gone on a scavenger hunt? Have you played a game that requires you to put clues together to solve a problem or mystery? While playing one of these games, have you been deceived to throw you off track?

I’m guessing not many of us have gone after a hidden treasure. After all, how many of us have found a map where “X” marks the spot? Yet, many of us have gone on scavenger hunts. They are often fun games for kids of all ages. They may even include pretty significant prizes for the winners.

There are a variety of games that require obtaining clues and solving a mystery. They range from board games to physical locations. A popular one among young and middle-aged adults is the escape room. I remember playing the board game Clue when I was a kid. I’m sure you can remember other such games you have played.

We see in today’s passage that all the treasures of wisdom are hidden in Christ. That means we must know Christ to gain the treasures of wisdom. We need to know all we can about Him. To get to know Him, we need to interact and experience Him, just like we do in our human relationships. Isn’t that how we get to know the people we know?

The Apostle Paul tells us how to know the mystery of God, which means gaining access to the treasures of wisdom. It includes being encouraged in heart and united in love. Seems simple, right? Yet, I see problems with both among fellow Christians.

First, being encouraged in heart means encouraging one another. Not simply to achieve a worldly goal but hit them in the heart. Lift their spirits. Give them a boost of confidence. Provide positive reinforcement. Challenging them to stretch their faith.

Second, being united in love. This one is tough and likely the biggest problem we face as Christians. We allow worldly concerns to separate us. It doesn’t matter if it is political disagreements, whether we use real wine or grape juice for communion, or high school rivalries. We allow our differences to cause dissention and discord. We do not unite in love. Specifically, we do not unite in the love of Christ and for Christ. We have forgotten how to disagree and remain united.

I pray we all encourage one another in heart. I pray we unite in the love of Christ. I pray each one of us will decide to love one another despite our differences. Encourage one another. Unite in love. Know the mystery of God. Seek the hidden treasures of wisdom.

Colossians 2:2-4 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.

Foolishness for Wisdom

Do you keep up with all the current events? Are you continually checking the news? Do you continually seek higher education? Do you go above and beyond to prove you are the smartest person in the room? Do you know it is all futile?

We all seek to keep up with current events to some degree or another. We need education to be successful in this life. Most of us must complete required training for our jobs. We often see those who are very good at their jobs, often very smart, get promoted.

Being an educated person can be very good. We need educated people in this world who can perform extremely intricate and delicate research, whether scientific or engineering. However, I’m sure we all know at least one person who is extremely intelligent yet has no common sense.

There is nothing wrong with being educated. Yet the education of this world has no bearing on our eternal life. Unless we are educated in God’s Word and accept His grace, all the education of this world is for naught.

A balance must be achieved. We need the proper education to carry out the tasks of our jobs in the here and now. We also need to know God’s Word, His instructions for life. We need to be in concert with Him, which comes by listening for the Holy Spirit to guide us.

Those who are wise in this world may succeed by outsmarting others. They may climb the corporate ladder. They may be elected to a political office. They may connive others out of money or possessions. Yet they are considered foolish when compared to God’s wisdom.

God’s wisdom exposes the foolish of man’s wisdom. His wisdom uses what men consider foolishness to shed light on His plan for salvation. Who among us would ever have planned for one man to be the perfect sacrifice for all mankind? Only in God’s wisdom would there be an opportunity to spend eternity with Him by accepting His Son as Lord and Savior. No amount of achievement in this life can buy it. It is only gained through God’s grace and our willingness to accept it.

I pray we all find balance in our lives. I pray we educate ourselves in God’s Word. I pray each one of us accepts God’s grace and choose Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Be foolish to be wise. Find balance. Give up the futile chase. Put your faith in God.

1 Corinthians 3:18-20 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”

Foolishness and Weakness

Do you feel ostracized? Do others look down on you? Do you think of yourself as being weak? Do you consider your intelligence lacking? Do you feel as though no one listens to you? Have you decided to accept God’s wisdom?

We interact with people with all types of knowledge, skills, and abilities in this life. Each person is good at some things and not so good at others. Some are athletes, others musicians. Some are strategists, others laborers. Some think logically, others think emotionally.

God has gifted each person with abilities. Those abilities may be hidden, needing to be discovered by the individual. Due to the influence of our culture, many will attempt to do something they are not skilled at. They strive for a job that is prestigious or will make them lots of money. Often, they struggle, are disappointed, and ultimately fail. They are pursuing something they are not gifted to do by God.

We may not be the smartest, most influential person in the company we work for. We may not be born into an upper-class family. We may think we cannot be used by God. Yet, God’s wisdom uses those who believe in Him and follow His Son, Jesus Christ. He works through their weakness. He grants them the knowledge and wisdom needed to accomplish His plan. He raises those who follow Him to the place He wants them to be.

Our task is to ask God for His wisdom and follow His plan. As we lean on God to provide us with what we need, we experience Him in ways the more gifted do not. We encounter God through small miracles, seeing Him provide exactly what is needed at exactly the moment it is needed.

By leaning on God to provide us with insight for making decisions, we make better decisions. We experience His guidance. Our faith increases as we experience Him. Ultimately, we experience the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10).

I pray we all recognized the abilities God has blessed us with. I pray we lean on God. I pray each one of us experiences an abundant life.  Ask God for wisdom. Recognize His blessings. Rely on God. Experience God working in your life. Trust God. Increase your faith.

1 Corinthians 1:26-27 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

A Better Understanding

Do you have a good understanding? Do you grasp new ideas easily? Do you continually seek to understand? Do you have multiple interests you seek to know more about? Would you like to understand God better?

We all have interests for which we would like to gain a better understanding. Some of those interests are very important. Others not so much. But if it is a true interest of ours, we will take time to better understand it.

There is One whose understanding we can not fathom—God. Of course, that doesn’t mean we should not make an effort to better understand. It simply means we are incapable of having the same understanding as God with our limited human brains.

Stop and think of all the questions you have heard people ask. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why did God allow my parent or sibling get this disease? Why does God make things so difficult? Why doesn’t God bless me with more?

What is the simple answer to these questions? We don’t know. We don’t understand how God works. We don’t have His understanding. We don’t see all the pieces and how they are being put together. Will we ever understand? I believe we will. When we are face-to-face with God, we will understand. I also believe it won’t matter at that point.

God knows what is happening with each person at every moment of every day. He sees all the connections. He knows that one person performing one task has an effect on multiple other people. He knows the impact, what the other person will do, and how that will affect someone else. Can you imagine? Seeing the billions of connections among billions of people, and knowing how all those interactions will play out? It is no wonder we cannot fathom God’s understanding. All the more reason to trust God.

I pray we all continue to seek a better understanding of God. I pray we ponder the wonders God is doing in this world. I pray each of us trust God, knowing He knows all. Seek understanding. Be in awe of God. Trust God knows it all. Trust Him with your whole heart.

Isaiah 40:28

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and his understanding no one can fathom.

The Perfect Gift

Do you like to receive gifts? Do you like to give gifts? Do you prefer gifts for your birthday or Christmas? What was one of the favorite gifts you ever received? What gift was the most meaningful? Do you look at yourself as a gift?

Gifts can be fun to receive. Sometimes we get exactly what we wanted. Other times, we wonder where the person ever got the idea to give us that gift. At other times, you receive the same gift more than once. Of course, that may indicate you have too much already.

Gifts can also be fun to give. Picking out just the right gift for a loved one can be a joy. On the other hand, when that loved one has everything they need, and maybe want, it can be a real challenge and frustrating.

We likely don’t look at ourselves as gifts. When we think of people who do, we might think they are arrogant or cocky. They think highly of themselves. We see them prancing around as though they own the world. We may even say of them, “They think they are God’s gift to mankind.”

Yet we are told that we are a gift from God. Our very life is a gift. Not only that, but our life through God’s Word is the most important gift. It is a perfect gift of truth given by God. It is a gift that will last forever.

We are given this gift to be a firstfruit of God. What is a firstfruit? Prior to Christ, it was the first ten percent of the crop harvested and offered to God as a sacrifice. We are told that Christ is the firstfruit of those who will rise to life in Him (1 Corinthians 15:20).

What does this mean for us? As a firstfruit, we are made holy in order to make others holy. Our holiness in Christ is within us so we may spread His holiness to others. How do we spread His holiness? By word of mouth. It is much the same as telling someone about a good service we receive. For example, we visit a restaurant, experience good service from the staff, and the food is excellent. We tell others about the restaurant. Our encounter with Christ should cause us to do the same. As a firstfruit, we are like the yeast in a loaf of bread.

I pray we all realize we are a gift from God. I pray we know our life is a gift from Him. I pray we tell others about our experience with Him and His holiness. You are a perfect gift. God has made you a firstfruit. Be like yeast for others. Be a gift for someone else.

James 1:16-18 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Wisdom Revealed

Are you looking for wisdom? Do you long to gain insights to greater things? Would you like to prove yourself smarter than the appointed leaders? Have you asked God to grant you His wisdom?

I believe most of us, if not all of us, would love to be smarter. There are many times we would love to prove to our bosses we are smarter than they give us credit. We want to be able to say, “I told you so.” Sometimes, that is warranted. At other times, we still have a lot to learn.

Perhaps the first thing we should do is define wisdom. Wisdom, or to be wise, is to have knowledge of what is right and couple it with judgment. In plain language, it means we must use knowledge with good judgment to do what is right, make good decisions, give good advice.

Where does true wisdom come from? God! Of course, God doesn’t go around speaking wisdom with a megaphone for all of us to hear. He speaks through His Word. He speaks through the writings of the Apostles. He speaks through other Christians. He speaks to us through His Holy Spirit. God speaks to us in many ways without speaking from a burning bush.

In today’s passage, Paul is telling the church in Corinth that he was speaking God’s wisdom to those who were mature and would understand what he was saying. He tells them the rulers of their present age don’t understand God’s wisdom nor is he speaking about the knowledge or wisdom of those rulers. Paul was speaking of something much higher, much more precious.

God’s wisdom, His plan for humanity, was hidden until Christ came. He provided prophecy of what was come. He provided hints to the prophets concerning His plan. But it was not fully revealed until Christ walked the earth and taught His wisdom to those who were willing to listen and absorb it.

God planned it long before we were born. In fact, He planned it before time began. That’s hard for us to wrap our mind around, isn’t it? Before God created Adam and Eve, He knew they were going to fall, and He planned the redemption of all mankind beforehand. Why? To glorify us. Imagine that! God desires to glorify us, and He does so in His wisdom.

I pray we all listen for God’s wisdom. I pray we all ask God to grant us His wisdom. I pray each one of us seeks to understand God’s wisdom. Gain knowledge. Apply knowledge with judgment. Seek God’s wisdom. Ask God to grant you wisdom. Be wise.

1 Corinthians 2:6-7 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.

Balance In Faith

Are you a person who likes to be busy working or doing something? Or are you someone who prefers to let someone else do the work? Have you truthfully looked in the mirror to determine which camp you fall into?

It is rare that we find someone who never sits down or someone who absolutely refuses to leave their bed. Yet, most of us lean more toward one of those than the other. As we evaluate our preference, we also must evaluate the work we do.

We have all used the terms lazy, couch potato, or moocher. We have also used workaholic, never sits down, or good work ethic to describe people. Most of us do not want to be identified as being in the first category. Yet, we don’t really want to be so absorbed in our work that we are considered in the second category. We strive for balance.

We also need a balance in our faith life. Our faith cannot be one that does nothing. Yet, our faith cannot cause us to be so busy we don’t pause to spend quiet time with God. We need balance. The balance comes when we are in continual conversation with God and following His guidance.

Faith does require us to work. In fact, there is a hybrid word I have heard, and perhaps you have, too, that I really like—faithworks. It means we work by and in faith. We do the works faith calls us to do. We also work with a faith that tells us God will provide. Finally, the word means faith is always at work in us. The multiple meanings of that hybrid word is both comforting and inspiring.

James tells us in today’s passage that we cannot have a faith that does not cause us to do good works. He says that faith is dead. In other words, it is merely belief and not faith. At that point, we are no better off than the demons James mentions in 2:19.

Lest we become anxious or worried about our faith, working does not mean we must feed and clothe the world, attend every event, nor be someone we are not. It does mean we are to take on doing what God has prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

God is not asking us to be so busy working for Him that we fail to spend quiet time with Him. In fact, just the opposite. God has prepared good works for us to do while leaving time for us to be quiet before Him. Unfortunately, we too often fill the quiet time with worldly noise.

I pray we all put our faith to work. I pray we go about doing the good works God has prepared for us. I pray each one of us finds balance between works and quiet time. Faithworks. Put your faith into action. Be quiet before God. Find the balance God desires for you.

James 2:26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Right Time, Right Place

Do you ever wonder if you were born at the right time? Are there times you feel out of place? Perhaps you feel you would have been more suited for the 1800’s? Is it because you already know the history? Have you spent time really thinking through it or just fantasizing?

There are people who feel out of place in today’s world. They don’t understand the new technology. They don’t care for the fast pace of life. They become anxious, afraid of failure, fearful of looking stupid.

When we question if we were born in the right time period, we question God. It demonstrates our doubt that God is in control. We are doubting He has a plan for our lives. Trusting God includes trusting He has put us where we are at the time we are put there.

Esther was not thinking in this way until her uncle, Mordecai, brought it to her attention. She was fearful when Mordecai suggested she go to the king, even though she was the queen. It was not until Mordecai questioned whether she was put there for that specific purpose and time that she agreed to take the chance to see the king.

Each of us are placed where we are at a specific time for a purpose. True, we live in a fast-paced world filled with new technology. Yes, it means there are many things we can learn and perhaps need to learn. Yet, God has confidence in us to do so or He wouldn’t have put us here and now.

How will we answer the question Mordecai put to Esther? Will we take up the challenge, face our fear, and proceed to carry out God’s plan? We can take courage in knowing God has confidence in us to carry out His plan. He can overcome our fear, knowing He is always with us. We can conquer our anxiety by spending time in prayer with God, relying on Him to quell our nerves.

When we realize God has put us here for this time and place, and we rely on Him, we start to see the opportunities He has put before us. We execute His plan for our lives. We have a positive impact on others and the world around us. Perhaps we, too, will save others from destruction.

I pray we all trust that God has put us here for a reason. I pray we rely on God to guide us. I pray each one of us goes about executing the plan God has laid out for us. You are here for a reason. Rely on God to remove your anxiety. Trust God is with you always. Execute His plan.

Esther 4:12-14 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Faith Trumps Law

Are you a legalist? Do you follow the letter of the law? Do you split hairs to nth degree? Or do you attempt to understand the spirit of the law? Are you a person who applies principles to your life rather than hard and fast rules?

A legalist doesn’t always follow the law. Yet, they are unwilling to bend from the letter of the law. They will expect everyone to follow the law, but only as they interpret it. If someone doesn’t follow the legalist’s interpretation, they are wrong.

The legalist not only has this approach to law but also their entire outlook on life. It is applied to their way of doing things. Once they learn how to perform a task, their way is the only way. They are very hard to please and rarely are satisfied.

On the other hand, a person who follows principles sees possibilities other than their own. They apply guidelines but allow room for different approaches and means of accomplishing the same task. Don’t misunderstand, they won’t compromise their principles nor quality. However, they don’t abide by the “my way or the highway” motto.

What does this have to do with our Christian walk? We may see some who are legalists in our churches. Unfortunately, legalists are doomed to fail. There is no one who can follow God’s law perfectly. Jesus is the only who has or ever will. Perhaps that is why Jesus only gave a handful of commands while He walked this earth. He wrapped up all the law and the prophets in two commands—love God and love your neighbor. These are principles. When they are used to filter every action, every spoken word, every behavior, we are following Jesus’ direction.

Notice today’s passage. Righteousness cannot be obtained through the law for the reasons stated above. It is through our faith that we obtain righteousness. Our faith in Jesus, His perfection, His love for us, His sacrifice on our behalf is how we become righteous. It is not our doing that brings it about, but what Christ has done for us and our faith in Him. As we accept His gift, we become righteous because He covers us in His righteousness.

We could sum up Paul’s message to the Romans in three simple words—faith trumps law. Our faith in Him entices us to follow His example, to pursue being more like Him. Faith accommodates other viewpoints without sacrificing principles.

I pray we all accept the gift of righteousness Jesus provides. I pray we put our trust in God. I pray each one of us follows Jesus in faith. Be like Jesus. Follow His example. Adhere to Jesus’ principles. Stop splitting hairs of the law. Accept other viewpoints. Be righteous through faith.

Romans 9:30-32 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.

Faith Gains Grace

Are you a person who looks to justify yourself to others? Do you worry about what others think of you? Do you hope people will cut you some slack when you make a mistake? Do you know your faith in God brings you into His grace?

We all want to look good in the presence of others. Some of us worry about it more than others. We desire to be accepted. When we make mistakes, we hope others don’t notice or they are willing to let them slide.

There is One we can rely on to forgive our mistakes through His grace because of our faith. Our faith in God, and His Son, Jesus Christ, gains us access to His all-encompassing grace. We are covered in it from head to toe, all day long, every day. Knowing that should bring peace and comfort into our lives.

What are we to do with this grace? We are to follow Paul’s example in faith and boast about our hope in God. Our boasting isn’t in ourselves. We can confidently say God is willing to forgive our mistakes because of His wonderful grace. We can tell others that God is full of grace and they, too, can gain access to His grace by having faith in Him.

Does this mean we continue a sinful life on purpose? No. Yet, we can live confidently in our hope in God, knowing He accepts us for who we are, even as He continues to mold us into who He wants us to be. Our confidence is not to become cockiness. It is to feed our strength and courage to continue pursue becoming more like Jesus each day, regardless of the mistakes we make along the way.

The lessons we learn and the confidence we have in God’s grace is a wonderful message to tell others. Telling others about God’s grace is a message a hurting world needs to hear. A person who feels doomed to failure, needs to know about God’s grace. A person who is battered with worry, anxiety, and fear needs to hear of God’s grace. The person who appears to have it all together but is being eaten up inside with doubt needs to hear the message of God’s grace.

Our faith in God gains us access to God’s grace and confidence in the message. Our faith provides us the strength we need to face life. Our faith encourages us to tell others of God’s wonderous grace. A grace that continually covers us, regardless of our mistakes.

I pray we all realize God’s grace covers us. I pray our faith removes our doubts. I pray each of us tells others of God’s wondrous grace, relieving them of their worries. Access God’s grace. Put your faith in God. Trust Him to forgive you. Continue to grow your faith. Tell others of God’s grace.

Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.