Friday March 1, 2024

Today is Friday, March 1 and we are learning what the Bible says about generosity.

As I enter a time of prayer, I pause and become still. I calm my thoughts and silence my mind. I breathe deeply and slowly, and focus myself on God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Pause and Pray

Holy and loving God, I long to experience your abiding presence. Through the power of your Holy Spirit, enable me to hear the message you have for me today. Speak to my heart and mind in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

I rejoice in God’s generous provision and abundant love. I praise him with the words of Psalm 68.

You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance. Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, God, you provided for the poor. Psalm 68:9-10

Pause and Pray

The kingdom of heaven is difficult for humans to comprehend. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tried to explain the kingdom using parables of everyday earthly images. The kingdom of heaven is like discovering hidden treasure, finding valuable pearls and throwing a large net into the sea. Jesus knew these timeless metaphors of discovery would be the perfect example to explain God’s truths for generations. Each person found something of great value and sold all he had in order to make it his own. The discovery made all other possessions trivial by comparison. They did not think twice about trading it all in.

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. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. Matthew 13:44-48

I consider the important truths Jesus revealed about the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom is hidden, valuable and finding it brings great joy. The treasure is hidden in the field, the pearl is hidden among ordinary pearls, the net is hidden in the depths of the sea. The kingdom is not something readily apparent to the eye, it is below the surface of things, waiting to be noticed, discovered and claimed. God’s kingdom is not obvious and most people overlook it. The kingdom of heaven is extremely valuable. There is only one great pearl, there is only one great hoard of treasure and everything else amounts to nothing beside it.

Ask: Have I found the kingdom of heaven Jesus is talking about? Have I made his treasure my own?

Pause and Pray

Holy Lord Jesus, the kingdom you offer is beyond my human comprehension and imagination. Help me recognize your kingdom in my midst and claim it for my own. What God provides is hidden and valuable, yet available and destined for me. Remind me every day of the priceless gift you have given me, an eternal treasure, an inheritance that will never diminish or fade. I read the words from Matthew again and listen for the message you have for me.

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. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. Matthew 13:44-48

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

The kingdom of heaven brings great joy. The man who stumbled upon the treasure in the field was so overjoyed by the discovery that he eagerly surrendered everything he had in order to gain the treasure. The merchant found the pearl of great price after long diligent searching and the discovery brought overwhelming joy. Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a fishing net drawn through the waters catching a variety of fish. Sometimes we don’t discover the kingdom, sometimes it finds us and hauls us into the light to be sorted out. Regardless, the kingdom is realized individually. The kingdom is for me. When I believe in Jesus, proclaim him as Lord, repent of my sin and give my life to him – the treasure of the kingdom is mine. Eternally.

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, help me fully realize the treasure of God’s kingdom in my life. Show me the places where I have yet to discover God’s love. Grant me perseverance to continue searching for what I have yet to find. Help me pay attention to the places where I am overlooking the kingdom in my midst. Wake me up and haul me onto the shoreline of your great love. Give me grace to be included among God’s children and dwell with you for eternity. Amen.

Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” Luke 17:20-21

I leave this time of prayer as an heir to the kingdom of God. I go to generously share the love and joy of the kingdom with others.

Amen