THAT WHICH WE TREASURED MOST

How many of us equate blessings with material gifts and financial provision? It is natural to equate, isn’t it? And I am not denying the fact that the blessings of the Lord have to do with his provision; it has to do with material blessings, financial provision, healing and divine health. And I am glad and blessed to know that God has been good to me and my family all these years, and more so the last two years!

But I would like to see the blessings of the Lord as his divine strength and enablement to serve him and glorify his name. It is an awesome thing to be able to partner with God in the fulfilment of his grand story – to build the City of God, to establish the Kingdom of God, and to usher in the glory of the Majesty on High. I count it an honour and a privilege to have received the call of God about 38 years ago – a call to serve him, a call to partner with him, and a call to journey with him. It has been an adventurous journey of faith – a journey full of surprises but also a journey of faith, hope and love. It has not always been easy. It has not always gone the way I anticipated it to be. It has also not gone the way God wanted me to walk, and the many times that he has to redirect me back to his ways.

Such blessing cannot be quantified. Such blessing is far better than silver or gold. To know that God had a plan and a purpose for your life and that you are walking in it is the greatest blessing a man could ever asked for. Looking back at my life I can come to a simple conclusion: there are things that are more important to keep and to treasure than what the world has to offer – all the grandeur, and all the accolades, and all the so-called success!

Let me list some of the things that I am beginning to treasure –

ONE: PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS - family who walks with me throughout life’s journey – my wife and my children, my brothers and sisters, and the extended family. Relationship becomes precious. There has been times that I took for granted my relationship with my wife; couldn’t see her beyond a helpmate (or house maid!), a spouse (waiting on you – washing, cooking, and cleaning) BUT my very own flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone! Just recently….just recently (you know what I mean…). Never again will I take my wife and children for granted! Never again will I take my friends, brothers and sisters in the Lord for granted!

TWO: PRESENCE OF GOD - the glimpse of the glory of God through my daily devotion, through my daily obedience, and through my daily task of serving him – the King of kings and the Lord of lords. It has been an awesome 28 years of full-time service and still going. I must admit that there were many times I had thoughts that crossed my mind about quitting BUT the strength in going on for him is the glory of God that shines through those depressing moments.

What are those moments? It was those times when I saw lives been changed and transformed by the power of God. It was those times when I saw the miraculous hand of God working out the impossible things. It was those times when I was able to gazed into his presence and felt his love and warm embrace. It was those times when I experienced the grace of God in the midst of depression, sickness, and suffering. It was those times when I saw the mercies of God displayed without restrained when I fell into sin –pride, rebellion, and independence – and failed him!

Never again will I take for granted the presence of God! Never again will I make the grace of God a thing to be trampled upon! Never again will I make the mercies of God cheap! I will not take for granted the glory of God – the light of his love – and be careful how I walk and how I live!

THREE: PRECIOUS WORD OF GOD. Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. We need the Word- Jesus, the Living Word. We need the Word – the Scriptures, the written Word of God. Let’s see what the Word of God can do for us!!

Psalm 119:1-8 - Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! 2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, 3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! 4 You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. 5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! 6 Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. 7 I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules.  8 I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!

In this text we can learn THREE important principles about the Word of God: (1) Seeking His Word (Verses 1-3). We are encouraged to walk blamelessly in the law of the Lord, to keep our testimonies as a follower of Christ, and to seek God with our whole heart. (2) Keeping His word (Verses 4-6). What must we do to keep his Word? We must keep it with diligence. We must keep it with steadfastness. We must keep it in focus. (3) Learning His Word (Verses 7-8). We are called to learn the righteous rules of God, and his statutes.