Search For the Treasure: A Devotional- Part 1
Hey family! I’m going to take you through some thoughts that my family goes through for evening devotionals. This time we studied “Christ’s Object Lessons” (COL) Chapter 8: Hidden Treasure, specifically the subsection “Search for the treasure”. This starts on page 110. As a reminder, when reading any book that is not the Bible, always have the Bible right beside and study them together! The writings of inspiration only ever expound on the truths already shown in the Bible. With that said, let’s dive right in!
“The word of God is to be our study”
We are not to just “read” the word of God, but to study the word of God (see 2 Timothy 2:15). What…. or who is the word of God?
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 1:1-4
Two points here:
And the Word was God— John further clarifies in verse 14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” That word is in fact, Jesus Christ.
For further confirmation we see Jesus declaring He is “the way, the truth and the LIFE" (John 14:6)
We are to study the life of Christ.
Continuing on:
We are to educate our children in the truths found therein. It is an inexhaustible treasure; but men fail to find this treasure because they do not search until it is within their possession. Very many are content with a supposition in regard to the truth. They are content with a surface work, taking for granted that they have all that is essential. They take the sayings of others for truth, being too indolent to put themselves to diligent, earnest labor, represented in the word as digging for hidden treasure. But man's inventions are not only unreliable, they are dangerous; for they place man where God should be. They place the sayings of men where a “Thus saith the Lord” should be.
109.1
There’s a lot to unpack here. Speaking to the parents, how often do we educate our children on the life of Christ, and the truths that are exemplified within His earthly life? His life is an “inexhaustible treasure”! That means there is always something new to be found, we will never come to a point where we’re like “Okay, I’ve got it all”. Too often we are content with the theories of men rather than putting our minds to work by studying for ourselves. This can mean listening to family members, church members, even your church pastor (respectfully) and not taking every word and testing it with the word of God. Don’t base decisions and beliefs on what others say. Base everything off of the Bible and the Bible alone!
We mustn’t be indolent, or lazy, when it comes to receiving the truth. She says “men fail to find this treasure” being the Bible truths, being Christ, because of this dangerous laziness to studying the Bible for ourselves.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
When we look to study for ourselves, God will THEN be able to use us to share with others. Isn’t that our mission while on this earth? To vindicate Gods character and to be a light unto this world? Are we able to answer questions that non believers have from the Bible? Or do we point them to our pastor? If we aren’t looking to share the knowledge of truth with those whom have never been introduced, we are not living for God, but for ourselves.
Continuing On:
Christ is the truth. His words are truth, and they have a deeper significance than appears on the surface. All the sayings of Christ have a value beyond their unpretending appearance. Minds that are quickened by the Holy Spirit will discern the value of these sayings. They will discern the precious gems of truth, though these may be buried treasures.
–COL 110.1
We have evidence that Christ is the truth in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life”. When Jesus says he is the truth, they have a far deeper meaning than the surface. For Jesus is the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) The truth that we are reading in the Bible is a reflection of Christ!! His love, His life, His Character. Jesus is what we’re brought to when we are studying our Bible!
What does she mean when she says “Minds that are quickened by the Holy Spirit”? To be quickened means to stimulate, to give, or restore life to— If we give our minds to the Holy Spirit, then will we be able to understand fully the Bible. (1 Corinthians 2:14)
An understanding of the Bible is not just a collection of stories, It is an understanding of Christ in every story. Jesus said “search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39)
Jesus IS the hidden treasure.
If you’ve noticed, we only went through the first 2 paragraphs of this subsection. This will be continued!
Be blessed,
xx
