On Christmas Eve I preached a brief message on Matthew 13:44-46. I titled it, “Treasuring Jesus as Your Greatest Treasure”. We all desire fulfillment, satisfaction, acceptance, approval, peace and joy that endures and lasts longer than the average Mariner’s winning streak. If this is our goal, that which brings these things is of great, even greatest, value. Whatever that is that’s what we treasure. Treasure¸ as a noun, is something of great value or worth. As a verb, “to treasure’ means to hold or keep as most valuable, to cherish or to prize. So, given that, what do you treasure? What is it that you hold as most valuable? What would those closest to you say?

The parables in Mt 13:44-46 have the same end in mind, namely the incomparable worth and value of Jesus Christ and what our response will be when we discover who he is and what he offers. The “kingdom of heaven’ is simply the rule and reign of Jesus (who offers forgiveness of sin, diversion of his wrath due to us because of our rebellion against him, adoption as sons and daughters, sealing with the Holy Spirit, reconciliation of our relationship with our Creator, and gradual restoration as image bearers of God, and much more). So, finding the kingdom is finding Jesus and joyfully letting go of everything in order to have him, to use the language of this passage, to treasure him as the greatest treasure.

Listen here for the full message.

P.S. For those of you looking for the video of the children’s choir on Christmas Eve it’s on the way.