Our Treasure

 

Our Treasure

In his classic allegorical work Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan writes about Christian’s journey to the Celestial City. It is a fascinating narrative chronicling the life of a believer. Early in the story, shortly after Christian enters the narrow path through the wicket gate, he comes to a man named Interpreter. Interpreter shows Christian seven different scenes to help prepare him for the journey ahead.

            In one of the rooms that Interpreter shows Christian, two children sit in chairs; their governor has told them that they will get “his best things” at the beginning of the next year. The older child, Passion, is unwilling to wait and pouts until he is given a bag of treasures with which he plays. The other child, whose name is Patience, is mocked by Passion who is busy with his new toys; nonetheless, Patience waits with endurance for his reward. Meanwhile, Passion’s treasures quickly turn to rags.

            Interpreter explains to Christian that Passion is like the people of this world; they must have their treasures now. We see this as we look around, don’t we? It’s the seeking after wealth, fame, acceptance, beauty. It’s measuring success in life by how the world does. It’s looking with envy at our friend’s large and well-decorated home, buying all the latest beauty gadgets to hold age at bay, or frantically pursuing all the options for our children to be exceptionally successful in the eyes of the world. It’s a focus on the here and now – setting our affections, time, and energy on things that won’t last.

            Meanwhile Patience in the story understands that the best is yet to come. He can wait with endurance, even while he sees Passion with all his treasures. Interpreter explains that in the end, Patience will have the treasure that far outweighs Passion’s, and where Passion’s didn’t last, the riches that Patience will receive will last forever. Interpreter says, “He who has his inheritance first, uses it and spends it; but he who has his portion last, has it forever.” In I. Peter 1:4-7, Peter writes of an inheritance that is “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,” and that the knowledge of this future treasure can give us joy in the present, even in suffering.

            We also recognize though that we have been so very blessed even here on the earth, but at the same time, we understand that the blessings we have received are gifts we steward, not things or people in which we seek fulfillment and joy. We hold them loosely, understanding that all we have is ultimately the Lord’s. We see our blessings as they relate to eternity and furthering God’s kingdom rather than how they enhance our own well-being.

            As we steward well that which the Lord has entrusted to us and choose not to run after the things of this world, we “set our mind on things above” (Col. 3:1) and run with patience the race that is set before us (Heb. 12:1). For we know that our true inheritance is not in this world, but in the next, and that the experience of seeing our Lord will be the greatest treasure of all.

-- Amy O'Rear

JOY

 

As every new year begins, people all over the world assess the previous year and set new goals for the coming year.  All over social media, you see people post about the number of books they have read in graphs by genre. Some post about their health journey; others find something else to assess and post. Not only do we see people posting about their goals and resolutions; many of us share our word or slogan for the coming year. Yes, I’m guilty!

As I was thinking about this new year, I had chosen the word “grow” as my word for the year. My focus was growing more in my love for God and His Word.  Over the Christmas break, I was privileged to spend a week and a half with family and during that time, I attended several church services. The Sunday before I left, my son’s pastor spoke on the passage in Psalm 73:25-26 (ESV): “Whom have I in heaven but you?  And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” He shared 4 points:  Nothing other than Jesus satisfies; Nothing other than Jesus stays constant; Nothing other than Jesus gives true purpose; Nothing other than Jesus and those things that are related to Him are forever.

What struck me most about his message were two visuals he shared. The first visual was that of an oval inside a black box.  Inside the oval in large letters was the word “ME." On the outskirt of the oval were the words “Jesus” in medium print and “world” in small print.  This image represented a horizontal focus on life.  It represented less Jesus, more drama, more selfishness, more complaining, more bitterness, more gossip, more pride, more anger and MORE ME!

The second visual was similar to the first, except there was no box, and the image was a white circle. Inside the circle in large letters was the word “JESUS.” On the outside of the circle were the words “community, church, friends, family, and work.”  This image represented the vertical focus on life.  It represented MORE JESUS, less drama, less selfishness, less bitterness, less gossip, less pride, less anger, less of me. 

These visuals reminded me of a song I used to sing with my students and children’s church kids: 

Jesus and others and you, what a wonderful way to spell joy.

Jesus and others and you, in the heart of each girl and each boy

J is for Jesus, for he has first place.

O is for others you meet face to face.

Y is for you and whatever you do.

Put yourself third and spell JOY!

I find myself singing this chorus a lot. Circumstances arise each day that cause us to focus on what is happening around us and take our focus off of Christ.  When these circumstances arise, we need to remember that only God can satisfy. Only God has true purpose. Only God remains constant and consistent. Only God is for eternity.

My goal this year is to focus more on Jesus and less on me, so that I can not only grow in the Lord, but I can also enjoy “the joy of the Lord, which is my strength.”  As you go through this coming year, keep your focus on God and the needs of others around you.  Only then will you will be able to enjoy the blessing of Joy in your life.

Have a blessed New Year in the Lord!

 

--Bonnie King

Mary, Did You Know?

 

I do realize that Christmas season is over. However, the birth of Jesus leads to the life of Jesus, then death and resurrection and the never-ending story of the King. So I’m circling back to Bethlehem, but with the mindset that as we begin our New Year, we head in the direction of Easter where we will honor the worst and best days of history.        

I read this poem around Christmas this year in a collection of other poetry and pieces pulled from L. M. Montgomery’s works. Think Anne of Green Gables when Matthew gives her a dress with puffed sleeves. *cue all the tears* This poem is reminiscent of the “Mary Did You Know” song we all hear one-thousand times around the holidays. It’s unique in the juxtaposition of grief and joy Mary would have felt as a mother. 

Mary did know that her baby was the Great I Am. That He was the promised Messiah, would fulfill prophecies, and save His people from their sins. She likely didn’t know all of the details of this or the specific picture that would play out. I love how this poem speaks of His mercy and healing and hope, while also describing His pain and agony and fatigue. Fully God, fully man. I hope this poem reminds us of the great things Jesus has done for us as it presents itself in a beautifully worded imagining of His mother, Mary.

 

If Mary Had Known
           L.M. Montgomery

If Mary had known
When she held her Babe’s hands in her own
Little hands that were tender and white as a rose,
All dented with dimples from finger to wrist,
Such as mothers have kissed
That one day they must feel the fierce blows
Of a hatred insane,
Must redden with holiest stain,
And grasp as their guerdon the boon of the bitterest pain,
Oh, I think that her sweet, brooding face
Must have blanched with its anguish of knowledge above her embrace.

 

But if Mary had known,
As she held her Babe’s hands in her own,
What a treasure of gifts to the world they would bring;
With healing and hope to the hearts that must ache,
And without him must break;
Had she known they would pluck forth death’s sting
And set open the door
Of the close, jealous grave evermore,
Making free who were captives in sorrow and darkness before,
Oh, I think that a gracious sunrise
Of rapture had broken across the despair of her eyes!

 

If Mary had known
As she sat with her baby alone,
And guided so gently his bare little feet
To take their first steps from the throne of her knee,
How weary must be
The path that for them should be meet;
And how it must lead
To the cross of humanity’s need,
Giving hissing and shame, giving blame and reproach for its meed,
Oh I think that her tears would have dewed
Those dear feet that must walk such a hard, starless way to the Rood!

 

But if Mary had known,
As she sat with her Baby alone,
On what errands of mercy and peace they would go,
How those footsteps would ring through the years of all time
With an echo sublime,
Making holy the land of their woe,
That the pathway they trod
Would guide the world back to its God,
And lead ever upward away from the grasp of the clod,
She had surely forgot to be sad
And only remembered to be most immortally glad!

 

If Mary had known
As she held him so closely, her own,
Cradling his shining, fair head on her breast,
Sunned over with ringlets as bright as the morn,
That a garland of thorn
On that tender brow would be pressed
Till the red drops would fall
Into the eyes that looked out upon all,
Abrim with a pity divine over clamor and brawl,
Oh, I think that her lullaby song
Would have died on her lips into wailing impassioned and long!

 

But if Mary had known,
As she held him so closely, her own,
That over the darkness and pain he would be
The Conqueror hailed in all oncoming days,
The world’s hope and praise,
And the garland of thorn,
The symbol of mocking and scorn
Would be a victorious diadem royally worn,
Oh, I think that ineffable joy
Must have flooded her soul as she bent o’er her wonderful Boy!

 

--Sandy Gromacki

Happy New Year!

 Happy New Year!  So what Is your word for 2026?    I think that choosing a word has replaced making resolutions. It has been years since I made a list of resolutions, but I want to focus on my spiritual growth.  In February I will celebrate my seventy-third spiritual birthday.  When I was a child I visited a home where a child had grown physically, but not in any other way.  Though he was six or seven years old, he lay in a playpen, was fed through a bottle and had his diaper changed. What a tragedy it would be if in these seventy-three years I had never grown. 

I am choosing to focus on peace.  I need specific instructions on how to produce peace in my life.  Colossians 3:15 tells me to let the peace of Christ rule in my heart.  How do I do that?

First, Isaiah 26:3-4 says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusts in thee.  Trust ye in the Lord forever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength."  I must keep my mind centered on the Lord, claiming peace.

Second, Philippians 4:6-7 tells me to pray.  "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  I must keep the lines of communication with God open.

Third, I must keep my communication from God open.  Psalm 119:165 says, "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."  I want Him to talk to me.  If I love Him, I must love what He says to me.

Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruits of the spirit.  The third fruit is peace.  If I am showing spiritual fruit, peace will be evidence of that.  

Psalm 34:14b says I am to seek peace, and pursue it.  Whatever you are choosing to focus on, seek peace. Pursue it.

                                                                ~~Faith Himes Lamb