O
Matthew*
(25:29) For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.*
Luke 12:19-21
(12:19) And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.*
(12:20) But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?*
(12:21) So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.*
James 5:1-3
(5:1) Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.*
(5:2) Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.*
(5:3) Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.*
Matthew 6:19-21
(6:19) *Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:*
(6:20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
*(6:21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 12:35
(12:35) A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.*
Colossians 2:2-3
(2:2) That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
(2:3) In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.*
2Corinthians 4:3-7
(4:3) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:*
(4:4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.*
(4:5) For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.*
(4:6) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.*
(4:7) *But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.*
"A Pen, A Piece of Paper, A Penny"
How many times a day does it happen to me? I need to write something down and what do I find? It sure isn't a pen. A simple device that can leave a mark that can be refered to later. A simple device so common we don't even think about how valuable it becomes when we see the need to write something down.*
OK so finally found a pen, GREAT!!, what good is a pen if you don't have something to write on. So here we go again, search for a simple piece of paper so we can jot down that note for future reference. At this point if your any thing like me, your probably on the phone with someone trying to take down a phone number for someone else. And just as you get those materials you were looking for....lost signal, dropped call, YEP, it's going to be another wonderful day!!!! Frustration at its finest!
So we go through our day taking care of those "instant items of importance" and at the end of our day guess what, I would be willing to bet, that pen,the one we spent that time looking for, was left the last place we used it. And I would also bet that we can't even remember where that place is. How about that personal note that we took that time looking for that paper. OK I know I put it in my pocket... But which pocket? The one I probably put everything else in. And through the day I would bet one of two things happened with all the other things in and out of that pocket it is either laying on the floor or is crumpled and wadded in the deepest recess of that pocket. That hurriedly scribbled note has now been reduced to a barely legible mass reduced almost to the base fiber used to make paper.*
Our feelings about what is important and that importance sure is effected by what we can do with that thing at the moment. Those hastily dropped things. That have again lost their value to us. If we took the care to find a way to keep them available. Easy to reach, easy to use what could be done with them?
A Penny, something that in today's world really has less value than the material it is made of almost. Most people even consider the common penny a nuisance at times. Very few people seeing a penny would bend over and pick it up. But there are some that seeing that penny not only would they pick it up, they can use that penny, in the middle of a mall parking lot to open a conversation with a complete stranger. MAN!!!! Some of my wifes abilities are simply awe inspiring. Understand this, in order to witness to a stranger, you must first start a conversation.*
A discarded penny suddenly becomes valuable enough to net eternal treasure. A seed sown. That pen and paper could be used to jot a note of encouragement had we not left it, where ever that may be. Seemingly unimportant items yet all could be used to share the gospel. And at that point they become more valuable than Gold!
Those were pretty small things to actually consider as something we could easily see as valuable. So why not take a look at what we do see as valuable. There is something that most of us carry that all of us would say is important and valuable. I would wager that most of us have one on us right now. How many of us right now could hold up our cell-phone? If you can't that probably means that you don't own one. Those who do own one another wager I would place is that rarely are you far from it unless placed in that situation due to extenuating circumstances. Like when we are at camp or other similar activities. You quite simply do not want to be without your phone. We have placed a high personal value on a device, that has become very common the cell phone.*
Any one who has been in my JR High class are probably going to groan about my next statement. Time for the "Hot Seat"
Centuries ago God sent the first "text message". Just like our cell phones, we can receive that text *all it takes is the device that delivers that text to us. So how many of us right now could hold up that device? Who has their Bible, that right now should be just as easy if not easier to get ahold of!
Why would we treat a fragile electronic device like it is more important than Gods communication device that has been proven to be able to deliver His words even centuries after they were sent. All those text messages as far as they can go cant hold a candle to the one God sent and any one can still read.
There have been many who have tried to delete that message. All have met with failure. That message is as permanent as the one that sent it. It doesn't lie to you. It doesn't talk about you behind your back. Doesn't try to talk you into things that are wrong. It tells you how much the sender loves you. How much he wants to be with you. The greatest text message ever sent!
The one "device" in this world that is truly a priceless treasure. And yet when we neglect to keep it available we have reduced it to being no more valuable than that misplaced pen or that barely legible scribbled note.*
When we treat our Bible like the treasure that it is we will begin to see those text messages that God wants us to read. We can receive so much from all the treasure available from Gods word. Priceless, timeless treasure.*
"The word of God:*
--feeds me when I am hungry! --comforts me when I am
lonely! --corrects me when I am wrong --refreshes me when I am tired!
--satisfies me when I am thirsty! --lifts me when I am low! --challenges me
when I am indifferent! --sustains me when I am afraid! --directs me when I
am confused! --motivates me when I am discouraged! --soothes me when I am
dying!
No wonder the scriptures declare, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a
light unto my path." No wonder the song writer wrote, "Hide your word in myheart Oh God."
If you hide me in your word, it will: --Bless me when I'm burdened --Cheer
me when I'm sad --Strengthen me when I'm weak --Calm me when I'm troubled
--Revive me when I'm weary!
Hide your word in my heart oh God! "-Author Unknown
Here is a challenge for you. Pick up your Bible and look at it. Does it still look like it did the day you got it. Is it actually brand new or has it been neglected.*
Is the cover a little worn but The pages have no rough edges the gold embossing on the edges of the pages barely a fingerprint on it. Must be this is your display Bible.*
Is the cover loose, the pages have some edges folded. Maybe a little tear here and there. A section or two perhaps not quite totally connected to the binding. Yes this is getting closer to the way this treasure was meant to be seen. One that shows the signs of appreciation.*
I submit to you that here is how God really wants the treasure of his word to be seen. The cover can almost be removed. It has been opened so many times. The edges of the pages are scalloped the gold embossing gone from being turned so many times. Individual pages can be removed they have been open to so many times. This treasure has almost reached its full potential. The value of this treasure to its holder is such that they have actually taken this treasure from God and placed it where they can take it with them wherever they go. Even into the physical presence of God. This shows the results of truly "hiding" Gods word in their heart. A place from which it can never be taken from. A place safe for eternity.*
That's how I want people to see my treasure. What about you?
God gave us his word in printed form for a reason. It is solid. *It can be accessed easily. The cover may wear out and the pages get folded and torn. But God put a power in it that doesn't require a battery. It will never run out of it's "charge".*
No matter what technology man comes up with it will fall short of what God can give us. The Bible has been around for thousands of years. Never once has the battery went dead! It will never let you down because it can't give you what you need. It is as permanent and all powerful as our God is. God gave us his word because he is his word.*
As much as I enjoy the ease of technology. As much as I enjoy the convienience of the access of all the reference material. There is just no real substitute for Gods preserved and printed word.*
My most cherished possesion is my grandfathers well worn copy of the KJV bible. The things of this world are just to temporary, to susceptible *to the flaws of being temporary. I refuse to be caught in a position that I can't get to God through his word. My God loved me enough to make it accessable, I should love him enough to keep it accessible!
I will part with my bible when they pry it from my cold dead fingers!!*
(25:29) For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.*
Luke 12:19-21
(12:19) And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.*
(12:20) But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?*
(12:21) So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.*
James 5:1-3
(5:1) Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.*
(5:2) Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.*
(5:3) Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.*
Matthew 6:19-21
(6:19) *Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:*
(6:20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
*(6:21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 12:35
(12:35) A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.*
Colossians 2:2-3
(2:2) That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
(2:3) In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.*
2Corinthians 4:3-7
(4:3) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:*
(4:4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.*
(4:5) For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.*
(4:6) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.*
(4:7) *But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.*
"A Pen, A Piece of Paper, A Penny"
How many times a day does it happen to me? I need to write something down and what do I find? It sure isn't a pen. A simple device that can leave a mark that can be refered to later. A simple device so common we don't even think about how valuable it becomes when we see the need to write something down.*
OK so finally found a pen, GREAT!!, what good is a pen if you don't have something to write on. So here we go again, search for a simple piece of paper so we can jot down that note for future reference. At this point if your any thing like me, your probably on the phone with someone trying to take down a phone number for someone else. And just as you get those materials you were looking for....lost signal, dropped call, YEP, it's going to be another wonderful day!!!! Frustration at its finest!
So we go through our day taking care of those "instant items of importance" and at the end of our day guess what, I would be willing to bet, that pen,the one we spent that time looking for, was left the last place we used it. And I would also bet that we can't even remember where that place is. How about that personal note that we took that time looking for that paper. OK I know I put it in my pocket... But which pocket? The one I probably put everything else in. And through the day I would bet one of two things happened with all the other things in and out of that pocket it is either laying on the floor or is crumpled and wadded in the deepest recess of that pocket. That hurriedly scribbled note has now been reduced to a barely legible mass reduced almost to the base fiber used to make paper.*
Our feelings about what is important and that importance sure is effected by what we can do with that thing at the moment. Those hastily dropped things. That have again lost their value to us. If we took the care to find a way to keep them available. Easy to reach, easy to use what could be done with them?
A Penny, something that in today's world really has less value than the material it is made of almost. Most people even consider the common penny a nuisance at times. Very few people seeing a penny would bend over and pick it up. But there are some that seeing that penny not only would they pick it up, they can use that penny, in the middle of a mall parking lot to open a conversation with a complete stranger. MAN!!!! Some of my wifes abilities are simply awe inspiring. Understand this, in order to witness to a stranger, you must first start a conversation.*
A discarded penny suddenly becomes valuable enough to net eternal treasure. A seed sown. That pen and paper could be used to jot a note of encouragement had we not left it, where ever that may be. Seemingly unimportant items yet all could be used to share the gospel. And at that point they become more valuable than Gold!
Those were pretty small things to actually consider as something we could easily see as valuable. So why not take a look at what we do see as valuable. There is something that most of us carry that all of us would say is important and valuable. I would wager that most of us have one on us right now. How many of us right now could hold up our cell-phone? If you can't that probably means that you don't own one. Those who do own one another wager I would place is that rarely are you far from it unless placed in that situation due to extenuating circumstances. Like when we are at camp or other similar activities. You quite simply do not want to be without your phone. We have placed a high personal value on a device, that has become very common the cell phone.*
Any one who has been in my JR High class are probably going to groan about my next statement. Time for the "Hot Seat"
Centuries ago God sent the first "text message". Just like our cell phones, we can receive that text *all it takes is the device that delivers that text to us. So how many of us right now could hold up that device? Who has their Bible, that right now should be just as easy if not easier to get ahold of!
Why would we treat a fragile electronic device like it is more important than Gods communication device that has been proven to be able to deliver His words even centuries after they were sent. All those text messages as far as they can go cant hold a candle to the one God sent and any one can still read.
There have been many who have tried to delete that message. All have met with failure. That message is as permanent as the one that sent it. It doesn't lie to you. It doesn't talk about you behind your back. Doesn't try to talk you into things that are wrong. It tells you how much the sender loves you. How much he wants to be with you. The greatest text message ever sent!
The one "device" in this world that is truly a priceless treasure. And yet when we neglect to keep it available we have reduced it to being no more valuable than that misplaced pen or that barely legible scribbled note.*
When we treat our Bible like the treasure that it is we will begin to see those text messages that God wants us to read. We can receive so much from all the treasure available from Gods word. Priceless, timeless treasure.*
"The word of God:*
--feeds me when I am hungry! --comforts me when I am
lonely! --corrects me when I am wrong --refreshes me when I am tired!
--satisfies me when I am thirsty! --lifts me when I am low! --challenges me
when I am indifferent! --sustains me when I am afraid! --directs me when I
am confused! --motivates me when I am discouraged! --soothes me when I am
dying!
No wonder the scriptures declare, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a
light unto my path." No wonder the song writer wrote, "Hide your word in myheart Oh God."
If you hide me in your word, it will: --Bless me when I'm burdened --Cheer
me when I'm sad --Strengthen me when I'm weak --Calm me when I'm troubled
--Revive me when I'm weary!
Hide your word in my heart oh God! "-Author Unknown
Here is a challenge for you. Pick up your Bible and look at it. Does it still look like it did the day you got it. Is it actually brand new or has it been neglected.*
Is the cover a little worn but The pages have no rough edges the gold embossing on the edges of the pages barely a fingerprint on it. Must be this is your display Bible.*
Is the cover loose, the pages have some edges folded. Maybe a little tear here and there. A section or two perhaps not quite totally connected to the binding. Yes this is getting closer to the way this treasure was meant to be seen. One that shows the signs of appreciation.*
I submit to you that here is how God really wants the treasure of his word to be seen. The cover can almost be removed. It has been opened so many times. The edges of the pages are scalloped the gold embossing gone from being turned so many times. Individual pages can be removed they have been open to so many times. This treasure has almost reached its full potential. The value of this treasure to its holder is such that they have actually taken this treasure from God and placed it where they can take it with them wherever they go. Even into the physical presence of God. This shows the results of truly "hiding" Gods word in their heart. A place from which it can never be taken from. A place safe for eternity.*
That's how I want people to see my treasure. What about you?
God gave us his word in printed form for a reason. It is solid. *It can be accessed easily. The cover may wear out and the pages get folded and torn. But God put a power in it that doesn't require a battery. It will never run out of it's "charge".*
No matter what technology man comes up with it will fall short of what God can give us. The Bible has been around for thousands of years. Never once has the battery went dead! It will never let you down because it can't give you what you need. It is as permanent and all powerful as our God is. God gave us his word because he is his word.*
As much as I enjoy the ease of technology. As much as I enjoy the convienience of the access of all the reference material. There is just no real substitute for Gods preserved and printed word.*
My most cherished possesion is my grandfathers well worn copy of the KJV bible. The things of this world are just to temporary, to susceptible *to the flaws of being temporary. I refuse to be caught in a position that I can't get to God through his word. My God loved me enough to make it accessable, I should love him enough to keep it accessible!
I will part with my bible when they pry it from my cold dead fingers!!*