Do you believe that Christ is worth our joyful surrender?
God has hidden a treasure in this world: His presence and His kingdom. Some of us find this treasure accidentally without looking for it, and some of us find it after investing effort and time to look for it. This is the treasure of having access to the Living God, being reconciled with Him, and developing an intimate, close relationship with Him that lasts for eternity.
In the parable of the treasure hidden in the field, Jesus illustrates the immense value of the kingdom of heaven and the readiness to sacrifice everything to obtain it.
God has hidden a treasure in this world: His presence and His kingdom. #Biblestudy #faith #trustGod Share on XThe Treasure of God’s Presence and His Kingdom
The “kingdom of heaven” is a phrase used 32 times in the Gospel of Matthew. The other Gospels use the term “kingdom of God”. Both terms denote the rule and reign of God. The kingdom represents righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
There is a period in the kingdom when the King is absent from the earth, but the kingdom of heaven is in the hearts of His followers, and this is exactly the period described in the parables in Matthew 13. To illustrate that His kingdom is the greatest treasure worthy of losing everything else, Jesus tells the parable of the treasure hidden in the field.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Matthew 13:44, ESV)
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Five Stages of the Kingdom of Heaven
We can trace five stages of the kingdom of heaven in the Bible. First, it has been prophesied in the Old Testament (Daniel 2:44), and then John the Baptist and Jesus Himself announced it as “approaching” and “arrived” (Matthew 12:28; Luke 17:21). The third stage of the kingdom of heaven denotes a period of temporal absence of the King from Earth. This is the period we are living in.
Today, while the King is not on the earth, the kingdom of heaven exists in the hearts of all who accept His rule, laws, and commands. The last two stages are the manifestation of the kingdom or the time of the Millennium (Matthew 8:11, 17:1-8), and the period of the eternal kingdom (2 Peter 1:11).
Christ Is Worth Our Joyful Surrender
Having the kingdom of God, which means having Christ as Savior and Lord, is so valuable that if a man loses everything on earth, it is still a win. Having God’s reign in our hearts and lives is the source of immense joy that makes all sacrifices and losses pale in comparison.
The person in the parable is full of joy, and for him to give everything he has is a joyful sacrifice. God’s kingdom deserves everything. As the Apostle Paul, we can count everything as a loss and rubbish only to obtain Christ and be found in Christ (Philippians 3:7-8).
Our Hearts Are Where Our Treasure Is
The worth of having God’s presence and rulership in our lives is the most valuable thing because it is the most important in life. If we have Christ, we have everything for this world and for the next. He and His kingdom are the greatest treasure to which we can tether our hearts.
Selling everything we have is a matter of the heart. It shows what the greatest longing and priorities are. Our hearts are truly where our treasure is (Matthew 6:21). We can joyfully lose everything if we gain Christ.
Ready to Give Up Everything
To gain Christ, we are ready to buy the whole field and take the whole package. We don’t just get the blessings but all the hardships and the trials that come with being followers of Christ. God has hidden a treasure in the world and in our hearts: His presence and His kingdom among us and in us.
Are we ready and eager to give up everything to have Him? Are we ready to live in joyful surrender every single day?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, You and Your Kingdom are our greatest treasure. Help us to live every day in joyful surrender, seeking You above all else. In Jesus’ name, amen.
What Does It Mean to Live Every Day in Joyful Surrender
For me, living every day in joyful surrender is putting Christ first. I start with Him first thing in the morning with a simple prayer. I love spending my mornings reading Scripture and journaling. But perhaps the most tangible way to surrender is in prayer. I tell the Lord about my problems, needs, and dilemmas, asking for His guidance and help.
But most of all, I surrender everything to His will. Going through many hardships and painful experiences, I have learned to surrender my suffering and pain to Him, too.
Gaining Christ and His kingdom is worth our joyful surrender. #Biblestudy #encouragement #trustGod Share on XMore Encouragement for You
If you need more resources, encouragement, and comfort to help you draw near and surrender to God, I highly recommend these books. Check them out.
Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings by Hadassah Treu
Uprooting Anger by Robert D. Jones
Trusting God in All the Things: 90 Devotions for Finding Peace in Your Every Day by Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk
Make Up Your Mind: Unlock Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life by Denise Dubois Pass and Michelle Nietert
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero
Life Can Be Good Again by Lisa Appelo
It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lisa Terkeurst
Hope When Life Unravels: Finding God When It Hurts by Adam Dooley
Restoration Year – a 365 Days Devotional by John Eldredge
All Things New by John Eldredge
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Your Turn
How can you live in joyful surrender every day? Share in the comments and on social media if you found this article helpful. Thank you!
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Such great encouragement as always Hadassah!
Thanks so much, friend! I am happy it encouraged you. Blessings!
Embracing God can be worded as Joyful Surrender. Just a different way of viewing it. 🙂 This was a well written post.
Thanks, Mary Ann. I like your definition of joyful surrender! 🙂 Blessings to you!
Thank you for sharing such a meaningful post that Christ is worth our joyful surrender. I appreciate that you shared how you begin the day with Him with a simple morning prayer as well as read Scripture and journal.
Thanks, Debbie! I am glad the post encouraged and inspired you. Blessings to you!