God Speaking

“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.”

(Matthew 13: 44)

Jesus was telling this parable to his disciples who at first were bewildered why so much of his teaching to the crowds was in the form of parables, but he was really teaching his followers that the cost of entering the kingdom of heaven and becoming a citizen did come with a cost. In the book of Proverbs, we read 

“Wisdom is supreme, therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4: 7)

Wisdom is understanding we worship a mighty God and following his commands is worth every effort we put into it, in fact it is the life the Heavenly Father designed for us to live, in the same chapter of Proverbs we read, 

“Hold on to instruction, do not let it go. Guard it well for it is your life.” (Proverbs 4: 13)

Following Jesus brings us great joy and knowing the Holy Spirit dwells with us, surrounding us with love and compassion gives us the courage and strength to survive whatever problems arise in our lives, but we owe it to our Savior. Sometimes we feel that cost when we struggle to follow all the commands that we know will please the Heavenly Father and enrich our lives and others around us. Loving your neighbour is not always easy and even putting up let alone loving that annoying fellow worker is difficult to do. Living with others, poses all sorts of problems, and sometimes we want to cry out to God and say surely you don’t expect me to love that cranky old lady who lives on our street and never has a kind word to say about anybody, but the surprising thing I have discovered the longer I walk with Jesus is the overwhelming benefit I have received by not thinking of myself first and loving the unlovable.

Just recently I had a falling out with a friend over different opinions and felt our friendship needed to end and vowed not to call her again, but just after that, after my prayer time in the morning, I felt the Lord urging me to reconsider and apologize to her and to listen to her without condemning, after I had called her I was filled with a beautiful feeling of peace and my angry thoughts disappeared leaving me to enjoy my days again without ugly thoughts spoiling the day 

The commands of God are not to restrict us, but they are designed to give us life. In Proverbs 4: 13 we are told to hold on to instruction and that is what God’s word is. God has designed us to walk in his footsteps and when we follow his instructions we are on the right path of life and just like the man in the parable who did not count the cost, we find what a treasure it is being one of God’s precious children.