Lost Treasure

READ: Isaiah 33:2-6

Few things were more devastating to the ancient Israelites than a swarm of locusts. Farmers who had invested months of labor and spent many evenings gazing upon their fields at what was certain to be an abundant harvest were in moments brought to tears as they watched their toil come to nothing, their families reduced to poverty and probable starvation. 

This is what will become of the treasures of the kingdoms of this world when the God of justice makes his power known.

Will you be among those suffering great loss on that day?

Seriously, consider it. 1 Corinthians 3 says that those who build on the foundation of Christ will have their work tested by fire. Build wisely, receive a reward; build foolishly, suffer great loss. Yes, all in Christ will pass into life, but some as ones escaping through the flames.

In Luke 12:15, Jesus warns us, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” He goes on to tell a parable about a rich man who stored up his wealth thinking he would have many years of leisure to enjoy it only for God to prematurely take his life, separating him forever from the fruit of his labors.

I too once lived like this man, working hard to earn more and more money, saving and investing, only to see much of my wealth wiped out by a sudden reverse in the stock market. My efforts felt so futile then, but I learned the wisdom in Christ’s instruction: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” (Matthew 6:19-20)

God Saves His Firstborn

Being the first to do something is typically quite an accomplishment.


Edmund Hillary was the first to reach the top of Mt. Everest. Amelia Earhart was the first women to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the moon. Roger Bannister was the first to run a mile in under four minutes.

Leif Ericson was the first European to sail to America. Ferdinand Magellan was the first to sail around the world. Roald Amundsen was the first to travel to the South Pole.

 

History remembers people who are first and we have a name for some of them: Pioneers.

 

Pioneers pave the way for others to do what they did. Pioneers, for whatever reason, are history’s “favorite”.

 

Today’s reading is Exodus 11:1-10, the story of the last plague God imposes on the Egyptians.

 

The Israelites were captive to Pharaoh. God, through Moses, told Pharaoh to “Let my people go” nine previous times. Each time Pharaoh disobeyed, and each time God delivered a plague on the land.

 

The tenth plague is the plague of the firstborn, where all the firstborn children (and animals) are put to death.

 

A harsh punishment to be sure, but the wages of sin are death.

 

Earlier, God told Moses that, “Israel is my firstborn son” (Exodus 4:22). Today’s reading is also a story of redemption: God saved Israel, his firstborn son! He saved Israel not only from the Plague of the Firstborn, but also from the slavery of Pharaoh.

 

Through Jesus Christ’s atoning death, we too, as believers, are also God’s firstborn. God saved us from eternal damnation and freed us from the slavery of sin. We are God’s favorite, his selected people to carry on the “family name” and carry out his Will.

 

Tonight and tomorrow we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

 

While we go through the gifts in our stockings, while we open our presents, while we eat our dinner and while we visit with relatives and friends, let’s pause a minute or two and thank God for making us his firstborn.

 

Have a blessed Christmas!

 

Now That I Have Your Attention... Joel 1:13:20

Yesterday we saw how the appearance of pests gets our attention. In the book of Joel, God is getting the attention of the people of Israel through locusts. No one likes to have their lives disturbed, but God dislikes how we allow our lives to disturb His plan. So often when things are going smoothly we drift off the path God has set out and He sends a wake-up call.

Today we see a way out of the trials that come from our wandering. Fast, pray, mourn! It seems simple, but when we wander it is hard to get back on track. God does not take our wandering or our returning lightly. Our Heavenly father simply wants us to mourn our sin, pray for forgiveness and healing, and to remove any obstacles that may hinder our focus from Him.

Our passage today says that the people of Israel said, “LORD, help us! The fire has consumed the wilderness pastures, and flames have burned up all the trees.” The people of God call out to God for help. And as we will see later God will hear.

Is there an area of your life where God is trying to get your attention? Try doing what Joel suggests. Mourn the sin if you can identify it. Pray for healing and fast from things that distract from what God is doing.

Read today's passage at Biblegateway Joel 1:13-20

Joel 1:1-12

The presence of bugs will usually cause us to change our ways.  If I see ants in the kitchen all I have to do is look and most likely some of the dog's food spilled over onto the floor and drew the ants inside for a meal.  If I suddenly notice an abundance of mosquitoes buzzing through the house there is most likely a window open or a screen torn somewhere allowing their entrance.  Bugs are a nuisance and we do everything we can to avoid living with them.

The text for today is about locusts, which were very prevalent in Biblical times.  According to National Geographic they occur in many parts of the world, but today locusts are most destructive in sustenance farming regions of Africa. The story of the swarming locusts in the Book of Joel is factual, and also a prophecy from God to His people.  Joel was warning his people to turn to God and stop their sinful behavior or something even worse than locusts would befall them.

Where are the swarming locusts in your life? What is threatening your well-being and very future? Is there sin permeating your happiness and robbing you of joy? A question posed in the Serendipity Study Bible I find worth pondering. Is this plague a punishment for sin, or a test of faith?

Read Joel 1:1-12 text here.