FINDING YOUR CONTAINER
Return, faithless Israel....Only acknowledge your guilt. Jer. 3:12, 13, R.S.V.
There's nothing more frustrating than preparing school lunches only to find the supply of lunch sacks depleted. Or to be at the ocean, hands full of shells and other treasures, knowing that there is no way to get them home. Or worse yet, to have the container in which you are bringing home ripe plums rupture just in time to leave your car the recipient of a soggy mess.
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field" (Matt. 13:44, R.S.V.). Treasure! How can we obtain it? Listen: "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32, R.S.V.).
We ourselves are the containers for this treasure. "We have this treasure in earthen vessels" (2 Cor. 4:7, R.S.V.). The preceding verses explain what this treasure is: It is the truth of who God the Father is, as revealed in the life of Christ.
Since Eden we have been hiding from God. Hiding because we are afraid. We do not need to hide! Our fears have been based on the false report of the deceiver of men. Through Christ we have seen the character of God and how He relates to fallen mankind. We've seen His love for us, His acceptance of us. And this truth is the treasure that God desires to freely give us. He wants to fill our lives with His friendship.
It is up to us to give God our containers. And we won't give them to Him until we realize that they are empty, so horribly empty. "Only admit you need My treasure," pleads the Father, "so that I can give it to you!"
What is your response? If it is one of denial, then He is forced to help us deal with the reality. Ever so carefully He begins to explain to us our condition. At first we think He's caught us in the bushes. But as we stand shaking in our nakedness before Him He just covers us, with His own robe, His own perfectly loving life. "Here, He offers, "this will make you more comfortable."
And it does. Before long we are more than warm; we are reconciled! It is then that He begins to fill our vessels with the treasure of who He is. Let us quickly acknowledge that we are empty, for empty containers are just what we need in order to get the treasure home?
Return, faithless Israel....Only acknowledge your guilt. Jer. 3:12, 13, R.S.V.
There's nothing more frustrating than preparing school lunches only to find the supply of lunch sacks depleted. Or to be at the ocean, hands full of shells and other treasures, knowing that there is no way to get them home. Or worse yet, to have the container in which you are bringing home ripe plums rupture just in time to leave your car the recipient of a soggy mess.
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field" (Matt. 13:44, R.S.V.). Treasure! How can we obtain it? Listen: "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32, R.S.V.).
We ourselves are the containers for this treasure. "We have this treasure in earthen vessels" (2 Cor. 4:7, R.S.V.). The preceding verses explain what this treasure is: It is the truth of who God the Father is, as revealed in the life of Christ.
Since Eden we have been hiding from God. Hiding because we are afraid. We do not need to hide! Our fears have been based on the false report of the deceiver of men. Through Christ we have seen the character of God and how He relates to fallen mankind. We've seen His love for us, His acceptance of us. And this truth is the treasure that God desires to freely give us. He wants to fill our lives with His friendship.
It is up to us to give God our containers. And we won't give them to Him until we realize that they are empty, so horribly empty. "Only admit you need My treasure," pleads the Father, "so that I can give it to you!"
What is your response? If it is one of denial, then He is forced to help us deal with the reality. Ever so carefully He begins to explain to us our condition. At first we think He's caught us in the bushes. But as we stand shaking in our nakedness before Him He just covers us, with His own robe, His own perfectly loving life. "Here, He offers, "this will make you more comfortable."
And it does. Before long we are more than warm; we are reconciled! It is then that He begins to fill our vessels with the treasure of who He is. Let us quickly acknowledge that we are empty, for empty containers are just what we need in order to get the treasure home?
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