Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV)
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay
up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and
where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.
There is a story about three cowboys crossing the desert
on horseback by night. Suddenly, as they reached a rocky spot, a voice came
from heaven and commanded them: "Friends, pick up some pebbles, put them
in your pockets and do not look at them till morning." The men looked at
each other in astonishment and began to do as they were told. The voice went on
to promise that if they obeyed, they would be both glad and sad. The perplexed
men put a few pebbles each in their pockets and went on their way.
As the very first sign of dawn arrived, the cowboys
pulled out their pebbles. To their amazement, the ordinary pebbles they had
picked up the night before, had all been transformed into diamonds, rubies, and
other precious gems. At that moment, they realized the significance of the
promise that they would be both glad and sad. They were happy to see their
beautiful treasure, but sorry -- oh so sorry -- that they had not collected
more.
All of us were once ordinary looking pebbles -- shabby,
discolored pebbles among many others of the like -- seemingly nothing special.
But we were so mercifully picked out of the dust and gently placed for
safekeeping into the pocket of the faithful saints who loved us or prayed for
us or shared the Gospel with us and took us along on their journey. And God
continues to refine us that we would become precious gems when morning comes.
Thank God for His great mercy!
It is yet dark -- and the pebbles are many. We still have
a little more time to pocket as many as we can. But morning is drawing near! We
don't want to regret that we didn't get more! Love, share, pray in faith!
Dear Lord, help us along the way to fill our pockets with
the pebbles along the way. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment