He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” (Matthew 13:52, NIV)
Learning a new shot in golf is always exciting. For one, it’s a signal that we understand enough about the game that we see the value in being able to hit different kinds of shots. In the beginning, you just hope you can get it airborne every time. Now you’re learning to curve it right in the same way you curve it left, and this addition to your game is a wonder.
Now we’ve landed in the time of year when TV and radio ads remind us that a principal value of the world is the accumulation of stuff. From shavers to perfumes all the way up to automobiles, you’ll find countless goodies to fill your cupboards, closets, garage, and yes, your golf bag.
“You need this!” the ads declare in all their sensory attractiveness. But have you ever noticed that when an advertiser tells you to “get a little something for yourself,” the something isn’t so little? Funny how that works!
You might be surprised to discover that Jesus wasn’t opposed to treasure—as long as it was the right kind. And a treasure he emphasized was the treasure of God’s truth.
You had a background in religion, but it never meant much to you. Then came Jesus, and your heart sprang to life.Throughout his public ministry, Jesus spoke regularly of the kingdom of heaven (or, alternatively, the kingdom of God). He described the nature of the kingdom through a variety of parables—from a healthy tree to yeast in dough to a net full of fish. What Jesus was invariably describing was the fullness of new life. When a person steps into the kingdom of heaven by way of salvation, that soul has entered a thriving existence. Here Jesus’ words become real: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
Some of you are like the teacher of the law in Jesus’ statement from Matthew 13 that we see before us today. You had a background in religion, but it never meant much to you. Then came Jesus, and your heart sprang to life. It’s a bit like joining a golf club only to be told 10 years later that there is another nine—the best of the bunch—that you didn’t even know was there for the playing. You had no idea what you’d been missing.
Here in Matthew 13, Jesus noted that when the old dusty religion you knew—which may actually have included some decent Bible training and a canon of hymns that circled around in your brain from time to time—becomes animated by true kingdom living, you are doubly blessed. Even if you aren’t a teacher yet but only a learner, the storeroom of your heart contains old treasures and new. You have so much to share, so much to give—all because of what Christ has given to you!
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Jeff Hopper
December 3, 2019
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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