Thorns and Treasures

Thorns and treasures. In a nutshell, that's pretty much a picture of our lives. And if you think about it, every great movie has these two elements. Even Disney movies. My oldest grand daughter realized this at age 2. Toy Story seems innocuous enough, but no, there are thorns there too! So, she basically banned all movies and at the ripe old age of 5 1/2, she has 2 or maybe 3 that she will watch (if we fast forward over the bad parts).

 We can't escape the thorns and we can't control them either. Look at the rose...such beauty, delicacy, velvety softness...but don't get carried away because if you slide your finger away from the stunning bud...you might draw blood. Oh life, you are complicated! I can sort of control the treasures in my life. I can sow into what is important to me. Faith, family, friends, work, ministry. But the thorns, just come along and protrude into my life. No control there. I have a thorn I am dealing with right now. It just won't go away. I've tried to pray, give it to the Lord, leave it with the Lord, forget about it...and it just rears its ugly head again and again. Ugh. But today He addressed my thorn by taking me to Mathew 13, where He talks about the kingdom of God.

Psalm 16:11 says "in the Presence of the Lord, there is fullness of joy", I think there is a correlation with the kingdom of God and his joy. (Luke 17:21 says the kingdom of God is within you). In Mat. 13 Jesus talks a lot about our ears. Listening. Tuning in. Not missing out on the life-giving understanding that comes from Him. But I have a choice, whether I will tune in or not. Is the soil of my heart tender and open to the seeds of His words?  Or is it hardened and rocky, swayed by winds and rain and people and cares? If I'm honest, it probably changes on any given day.

I have a choice whether I believe the kingdom is in me like Jesus said. What does that mean anyway? I have always struggled with it, "the kingdom of God is within you", "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done", "the kingdom of God is at hand". Treasure. The kingdom of God is a vast, bottomless treasure that exists in you and in me. We can't even begin to comprehend how vast it is. It is the height of love, joy, fulfillment, peace, all that is good, right and holy...it is Jesus himself. And He is here...in my heart, in your heart. 'At His right hand are pleasures forevermore'. 

So what about the thorns? How do I navigate through and around them...all the while living out of my heart...where His spirit dwells? Tenacity, persistence, continuity with my Lord. Seeking Him first. Verses 18-52 talk of the thorns and treasures around kingdom living. Thorns represent the cares of the world, the things that derail me from belief. The things that seem too big for God because I am looking at them instead of Him. v.22 says,  "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and he becomes unfruitful." Hmm. Yeah, I have been that person. Oh, have I been that person. I am even there today. Focusing on my thorn. Ouch, (pardon the pun). Unfruitful...that is a biggie. How fruitful I am might be the flag waving in my face saying...Yoo Hoo, time to refocus!

But what about the treasure? The passage says the kingdom of heaven is like: "a hidden mustard seed, hidden yeast in bread, treasure hidden in a field, a sought after pearl finally found and purchased at great expense". I am seeing a pattern here. Hidden treasure must be sought after. It's not in plain sight. But it's there. It's in you and me. It is there. As sure as I am sitting in this chair looking at my computer screen, the hidden treasure is there because Jesus is there, and He is the kingdom of God within me. It consists of little miracles everyday, sweet little encounters with the God of the universe, a passage to comfort me, a worship song to connect me, His spirit to guide me, nudge me, lead me, use me. Spending time with Him isn't a chore, something I can cross off of my to-do list it is a search for the hidden treasures of Christ in me, the hope of glory! It is the most exciting adventure I will ever take. It is new every morning. Every day He has manna waiting to feed me, personally, tailor-made for my day, my needs, my thorns. 

Lord, you know my thorn today. Thank you, that you are enough. I don't want the cares of my life to be bigger than you are. Forgive my wrong focus, give me ears to hear you! 

"eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Cor. 2:9