Hidden Worth
I am still reeling from the way God met me recently in a place I didn't even know I needed Him. Don't you love it when He does that? I'm reading a devotional book called The Heart of God by Lloyd John Ogilvie. It's my second time around, but somehow I missed some incredible things the first time. I was reading about Matthew 13 where Jesus is sharing various parables, one of which is the parable of the treasure hidden in a field. Here it is for your reference:
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
I've read this parable many times, heard sermons preached about it and even taught it myself. Every time I've heard or taught about it, the person in the parables represented us, believers. We emphasize how the kingdom of God is worth selling and losing everything for. That is true. However, as we look at the patterns of the previous parables and parables in other places we find an opposite effect. Let me explain:
In the parable of the lost sheep, who is the one who is lost? Who is the one who goes out, searches and leaves all others to find the lost one? Who is the one who rejoices when he finds the lost sheep? Jesus is the shepherd who searches and rejoices when He finds us. We are the lost sheep.
In the parable of the prodigal son, who is lost and who rejoices when the son is found?
In the parable of woman who lost her marriage coin, again, who is the one that searches for what is lost? Who is the one who rejoices when they find it? We are the ones who are found, and it is heaven who finds and rejoices.
In the parable of the seed sown on the different kinds of soil, we are the seed sown.
In the parable of the weeds in the harvest, God is the farmer, and we are the weeds or wheat planted in the field. (37 "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is kthe sons of the kingdom. The weeds are lthe sons of the evil one. Mt.13:37-38")
Right after Jesus explains the parable of the weeds and harvest He gives the parable of the man who finds the treasure in a field. Based on the patterns already established, who do you think is the man in this parable, and who is the hidden treasure he sells everything to have? WHAAAAAAAAAAT????
When I read this I literally had a moment of shock. My mind went blank, and I felt like my world had just been turned upside down. My body went cold and hot all at the same time. Could it be true? Could it really be that this is how God feels about me? I started going through every parable I knew. I went to all the texts. Though this is not the pattern 100% of the time, it definitely is in this chapter and in all the parables where something is lost, then found, and rejoiced over. I couldn't get the image out of my head of this chubby farmer, tilling the soil when "clunk!" he hits something hard. He digs down into the dirt expecting a rock, only to find a treasure box full of jewels and coins. His face turns from exhaustion to pure surprise, joy and excitement.
I felt Jesus looking at ME this way... pure delight, pure joy, worth selling everything for. I am worth selling everything for... and He did. He gave up heaven, perfect unity with the Father, endured the loss of all things, endured death, pain, loneliness, ridicule, rejection "for the joy set before him." Me. You. We are worth this much to Him??? Yes!
Like the woman who lost the coin and then found it. Like the shepherd looking for the sheep. Like the father of the prodigal son. He is always the one looking, searching, finding, delighting. People are what are planted, found, caught, harvested. We are the treasure that the farmer sells everything for. The treasure did nothing but be found. That is the kingdom of God. The King sacrifices himself for His people, His treasure, His special possession, His inheritance. He endured the cross for the sake of the joy set before him. That kind of love humbles us... Can you see Him looking at you that way? Can you take that in? Can you believe you are worth what He thinks you are? If you can, it will turn your world upside down. You will find that the more you know His exuberant, reckless, limitless love for you, and how much He has given up just to have you, the more you give up everything just to have Him. That is how it works. Love spurs on love. Delight creates delight. Sacrifice inspires sacrifice between those who love. Oh, this is good.
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
I've read this parable many times, heard sermons preached about it and even taught it myself. Every time I've heard or taught about it, the person in the parables represented us, believers. We emphasize how the kingdom of God is worth selling and losing everything for. That is true. However, as we look at the patterns of the previous parables and parables in other places we find an opposite effect. Let me explain:
In the parable of the lost sheep, who is the one who is lost? Who is the one who goes out, searches and leaves all others to find the lost one? Who is the one who rejoices when he finds the lost sheep? Jesus is the shepherd who searches and rejoices when He finds us. We are the lost sheep.
In the parable of the prodigal son, who is lost and who rejoices when the son is found?
In the parable of woman who lost her marriage coin, again, who is the one that searches for what is lost? Who is the one who rejoices when they find it? We are the ones who are found, and it is heaven who finds and rejoices.
In the parable of the seed sown on the different kinds of soil, we are the seed sown.
In the parable of the weeds in the harvest, God is the farmer, and we are the weeds or wheat planted in the field. (37 "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is kthe sons of the kingdom. The weeds are lthe sons of the evil one. Mt.13:37-38")
Right after Jesus explains the parable of the weeds and harvest He gives the parable of the man who finds the treasure in a field. Based on the patterns already established, who do you think is the man in this parable, and who is the hidden treasure he sells everything to have? WHAAAAAAAAAAT????
When I read this I literally had a moment of shock. My mind went blank, and I felt like my world had just been turned upside down. My body went cold and hot all at the same time. Could it be true? Could it really be that this is how God feels about me? I started going through every parable I knew. I went to all the texts. Though this is not the pattern 100% of the time, it definitely is in this chapter and in all the parables where something is lost, then found, and rejoiced over. I couldn't get the image out of my head of this chubby farmer, tilling the soil when "clunk!" he hits something hard. He digs down into the dirt expecting a rock, only to find a treasure box full of jewels and coins. His face turns from exhaustion to pure surprise, joy and excitement.
I felt Jesus looking at ME this way... pure delight, pure joy, worth selling everything for. I am worth selling everything for... and He did. He gave up heaven, perfect unity with the Father, endured the loss of all things, endured death, pain, loneliness, ridicule, rejection "for the joy set before him." Me. You. We are worth this much to Him??? Yes!
Like the woman who lost the coin and then found it. Like the shepherd looking for the sheep. Like the father of the prodigal son. He is always the one looking, searching, finding, delighting. People are what are planted, found, caught, harvested. We are the treasure that the farmer sells everything for. The treasure did nothing but be found. That is the kingdom of God. The King sacrifices himself for His people, His treasure, His special possession, His inheritance. He endured the cross for the sake of the joy set before him. That kind of love humbles us... Can you see Him looking at you that way? Can you take that in? Can you believe you are worth what He thinks you are? If you can, it will turn your world upside down. You will find that the more you know His exuberant, reckless, limitless love for you, and how much He has given up just to have you, the more you give up everything just to have Him. That is how it works. Love spurs on love. Delight creates delight. Sacrifice inspires sacrifice between those who love. Oh, this is good.
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