Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Matthew 13:44
Ashley turned the beautiful stone, over and over again, in her hand. "Are you really giving this to me?" she whispered in awe and wonder. The thought that her father would give her such a priceless diamond was almost too much for her to comprehend.
"Yes, my daughter, I am giving you this diamond. Love it, cherish it and always keep it in your thoughts." her father replied. Ashley embraced her father, she loved him so very much, she couldn't imagine her life without his love!
For the first several months after Ashley's father gave her the diamond, she guarded it as if it were her own life. She spent hours of joy, gazing upon it and she told everyone she encountered all about her father's marvelous love.
Her heart of gratitude showed in everything she did. She was loving and kind towards others, because her thoughts were focused on her father's love and kindness to her. She was always eager to serve and praise her father, because her thoughts were completely consumed with his love for her.
I wish we could stop here and say that Ashley faithfully treasured her diamond for the rest of her life and continually lived in the same joy she had in those first few weeks. But that would not be true.
Ever so gradually, Ashley began to become accustomed to the diamond she'd been given. Although, the diamond itself had never diminished in value, she stopped thinking about it throughout her days.
While she was still kind to others and told them of her father's love, she did so more from habit and duty then from gratitude and joy. Her words sounded more like hollow recitations, instead of heartfelt realities.
"Ashley, may I talk with you?" her friend Eliza asked one afternoon. "Of course," Ashley replied, wondering what Eliza could want.
"The diamond your father gave you, can you describe it for me? And, can you tell me once more just what that diamond means to you?" "Why of course I can..." said Ashley, as she stumbled through a description that sounded strangely vague even to her.
Suddenly, Ashley's encounter with Eliza awakened her sleeping conscience. I have forgotten to gaze upon the diamond my father gave me! I've forgotten to let it bring me love and joy.
Saddened at her folly, Ashley slowly walked upstairs and knocked on the door to her father's study. One look at her father's face showed Ashley, that he already knew, how she had totally neglected his treasure.
"Come my dear daughter, let's go look at the diamond together," he said as he gently wiped her tears.
With that Ashley's father led her to the special case, in which she kept the diamond. Ashley broke into tears once more when she saw the diamond. She had forgotten how beautifully it glittered and glistened in the light.
Her heart felt overwhelmed once again by the incredible gift her father had given her. "Oh, father, please help me never to forget!" she whispered, looking up in love and true admiration, into her father's face.
Ashley's diamond held unspeakable value, as do we who are call ourselves Christians. We hold in our hearts, the forgiveness of our sins, through Jesus Christ and His death upon the cross.
Though nothing can be given as a price for this salvation, much was given up for the sake of it. Do you remember the day, the hour, the very moment you accepted Jesus Christ into your life? Do you remember the love and the joy that filled your heart and soul? The change that mended and restored new life to you.
Maybe, like Ashley, you have set your salvation in a case or box. You no longer gaze upon the gift you have received from our Savior. You no longer tell the story to your friends, how once you were dead, but now you alive because of Jesus Christ!
Jesus is calling to you my friend, He wants to take your hand and lead you back to His great love for you. He is not angry, He has missed your coming and spending time with Him.
Right now, as He whispers to your heart, "Will you come?" Will you once more, come and see what He has done for you? Will you remember the peace that He brought into your life?
If so, pray and ask Him to forgive you, ask Him to help you never, ever forget His love for you!
We are not guaranteed tomorrow friend, come back while you may!
Ashley turned the beautiful stone, over and over again, in her hand. "Are you really giving this to me?" she whispered in awe and wonder. The thought that her father would give her such a priceless diamond was almost too much for her to comprehend.
"Yes, my daughter, I am giving you this diamond. Love it, cherish it and always keep it in your thoughts." her father replied. Ashley embraced her father, she loved him so very much, she couldn't imagine her life without his love!
For the first several months after Ashley's father gave her the diamond, she guarded it as if it were her own life. She spent hours of joy, gazing upon it and she told everyone she encountered all about her father's marvelous love.
Her heart of gratitude showed in everything she did. She was loving and kind towards others, because her thoughts were focused on her father's love and kindness to her. She was always eager to serve and praise her father, because her thoughts were completely consumed with his love for her.
I wish we could stop here and say that Ashley faithfully treasured her diamond for the rest of her life and continually lived in the same joy she had in those first few weeks. But that would not be true.
Ever so gradually, Ashley began to become accustomed to the diamond she'd been given. Although, the diamond itself had never diminished in value, she stopped thinking about it throughout her days.
While she was still kind to others and told them of her father's love, she did so more from habit and duty then from gratitude and joy. Her words sounded more like hollow recitations, instead of heartfelt realities.
"Ashley, may I talk with you?" her friend Eliza asked one afternoon. "Of course," Ashley replied, wondering what Eliza could want.
"The diamond your father gave you, can you describe it for me? And, can you tell me once more just what that diamond means to you?" "Why of course I can..." said Ashley, as she stumbled through a description that sounded strangely vague even to her.
Suddenly, Ashley's encounter with Eliza awakened her sleeping conscience. I have forgotten to gaze upon the diamond my father gave me! I've forgotten to let it bring me love and joy.
Saddened at her folly, Ashley slowly walked upstairs and knocked on the door to her father's study. One look at her father's face showed Ashley, that he already knew, how she had totally neglected his treasure.
"Come my dear daughter, let's go look at the diamond together," he said as he gently wiped her tears.
With that Ashley's father led her to the special case, in which she kept the diamond. Ashley broke into tears once more when she saw the diamond. She had forgotten how beautifully it glittered and glistened in the light.
Her heart felt overwhelmed once again by the incredible gift her father had given her. "Oh, father, please help me never to forget!" she whispered, looking up in love and true admiration, into her father's face.
Ashley's diamond held unspeakable value, as do we who are call ourselves Christians. We hold in our hearts, the forgiveness of our sins, through Jesus Christ and His death upon the cross.
Though nothing can be given as a price for this salvation, much was given up for the sake of it. Do you remember the day, the hour, the very moment you accepted Jesus Christ into your life? Do you remember the love and the joy that filled your heart and soul? The change that mended and restored new life to you.
Maybe, like Ashley, you have set your salvation in a case or box. You no longer gaze upon the gift you have received from our Savior. You no longer tell the story to your friends, how once you were dead, but now you alive because of Jesus Christ!
Jesus is calling to you my friend, He wants to take your hand and lead you back to His great love for you. He is not angry, He has missed your coming and spending time with Him.
Right now, as He whispers to your heart, "Will you come?" Will you once more, come and see what He has done for you? Will you remember the peace that He brought into your life?
If so, pray and ask Him to forgive you, ask Him to help you never, ever forget His love for you!
We are not guaranteed tomorrow friend, come back while you may!
RSS Feed
