Matthew 13:44-49

44″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”.
45″Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls”.
46″When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it”.

What first came up to your mind when you read this parable? Did you see it as something that a Good Christian needs to do to PLEASE God or Did you see what Jesus has done for us?

You may have heard these parables preached so many times at churches and if you have not, perhaps just keep going and you will heard it. Praise God if you belong to a church that is so dependent on Christ and continually lifts up the name of Jesus in every meeting. There is only one Gospel which is the Gospel of Grace (Galatians 1:6-7). Paul said that there is no other Gospel except the Gospel of Christ. If you hear a sermon or a message that has got nothing to do with Jesus or does not make you know more about Jesus or makes you feel condemned because there is always something that makes you feel ‘I am not enough’, you have heard a different Gospel, which is NOT the Gospel.

We so often hear that a good Christian MUST be WILLING to GIVE A SACRIFICE FOR GOD because that is what a Good Christian supposed to do, but that is not what these parables talk about. The truth is that we are the Hidden Treasure and  the Pearl. Jesus who created the universe and everything in it willingly left the heaven where He belongs and ’sold’ everything He owns to ‘buy’ us. He is doing whatever He can to extend the ‘beloved’ family and we are the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl that He has been looking for. Can you imagine such a love that He willingly LEFT everything He’s got to redeem us?? Such perfect Love will turn around the world for good. This kind of love is what the world needs to hear and experience. I really believe that this kind of love is the ONLY love that will bring young and old generations to Christ, not the Spirit of Condemnation.

2 Corinthians 3:9-10

9“If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory”.

If we think that a condemning sermon still brings the lost to the Lord, imagize how much MORE when a sermon that brings righteousness will bring the lost to the Lord? For John says in 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love“.

In the New Testament, Paul says “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15) In today’s language the word ABBA means Daddy which pictures an intimacy between a son and a father.

May you be showered by His Grace daily.

Shalom

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