Hidden Treasure, Overlooked Truth

     

Imagine going to a garage sale and finding a unique item and buying for a few bucks only to later find out what you bought was not just some worthless item but one that was worth far more than you paid for it. That is one of the things I love about watching shows like the Antique Roadshow. I love hearing individuals who have found some item for a few dollars, thinking it was worth very little. Then learning that what they had in there possessions was museum worthy. 

    That’s precisely what happened to a man by the name of  Donald Scheer. He purchased a picture for a mere four dollars. He was drawn by the attractiveness of the frame and really did not care much for the picture that it held. Little did he know, tucked away inside, was an original copy of the Declaration of Independence. Of the approximately 300 copies made on July 5, 1776, only 24 remain today. Donald's discovery was one of them, eventually selling at auction for a staggering 2.42 million dollars. Can you imagine what that must have been like to make this kind of discovery. How would you feel if you held in your possession an very important historical document worth millions? 

    This story can serve as a powerful reminder that we often overlook things of incredible value in our lives. Sometimes we miss out on the value of certain things in our lives. Sadly, this is especially true for how we sometimes treat the Word of God. We often fail to give the Bible the profound importance and significance it truly deserves.

    Consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 13:9 (ESV): "He who has ears, let him hear."

    This seemingly simple phrase is quoted by Jesus almost 20 times across the four Gospels. Yet, how many times have we read or heard these words without truly pondering their weight? If you like me sometimes you read passages like that and simply pass them by  without ever giving them a second thought. Or you might think that it applies to the people Jesus was talking to but not to me. 

    If you take the time and allow your self to hear what Jesus is saying. You will find that this isn't just a casual suggestion; it’s a stern warning. Jesus is essentially saying, "Those of you who have the capacity to hear, better listen up! You better take My words seriously." He implies that if you have the ability to hear, if you have the incredible opportunity to listen to what God has to say, you must seize it. Don't take His Word for granted. Pay attention to passages of scripture that you read or a sermon that you hear or a bible study that you are attending.

    You may be asking your self the same question my kids ask "Yeah but Why?" Well instead of telling you what I tell my Kids ("Because I told you to") let me try to explain why.  We need to pay attention to God's Word because God's Word is not some insignificant letter or a minuscule manuscript. It is vastly more important than any document that has ever been written. The Bible is the living, breathing Word of God, holding infinitely more importance than even foundational documents like the Constitution. It contains truths about God and the creation that He created. It teaches us about how we should care for one another. It holds truths about our lives and how you and I should live. Finally and more importantly the Word of God is what helps us understand the gospel. It's through the Word that we are able to have faith "Faith comes by Hearing and Hearing by the Word of God".

    In essence, your ear has no greater purpose than to hear the message of God. This profound truth should compel us to:

• Take reading the Word of God more seriously.

• Pay closer attention to the sermons we hear.

• Spend more time meditating on the devotionals we read.

    What ultimate value is there in hearing all the wondrous sounds of creation—the joyful barking of a dog, the melodic songs of birds, the rhythmic chirping of crickets on a crisp autumn evening? What great worth is it to savor the harmonious sounds of music, or to cherish the voices of our children and loved ones? What does it profit us to experience all that the ear might hear in a lifetime, yet fail to hear the life-transforming message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, to fail to listen to and understand God's purpose for your life today and for your life in eternity?

    So, how can we truly tune our ears to be more receptive to the Word of God? Here are a few practical steps that I think can help:

1. Pray Before You Dive In: Before you begin a devotional, open your Bible, or attend a church service to hear a sermon, take a moment to pray. Humbly ask the Lord to speak to you through His Word. Ask Him to open your heart and mind to what He wants you to hear and understand. Remember it is GOD'S WORD, so don't it make since to ask Him to help you hear it?

2. Immerse Yourself in God's Word: You cannot hear from God through His Word if you don't expose yourself to it. The vast majority of people who struggle to hear God's voice simply aren't spending time in the Bible. Make it a priority to regularly read Scripture. Start with a Gospel like John, or a book of wisdom like Proverbs.

3. Meditate and Study: While simply reading through the Bible is valuable, don't rush through it. Spend time in specific passages. Don't focus on quantity but instead focus on the quality of your reading. You may only read a passage of scripture and that is ok as long as you are allowing that passage to penetrate your mind and heart. Allow the words to sink in throughout your day. Look up words or concepts you don't understand, use a study Bible, or consult a trusted commentary to deepen your comprehension. Engage your mind and heart with the text.

4. Act on What You Hear (Apply It): The goal of hearing God's Word is not just intellectual understanding, but life transformation. As you read, ask yourself: Is there something God is telling me to stop doing? Is there something He wants me to begin doing? Look for concrete ways to apply the truths you are learning to your daily life. This is where faith becomes active and real.

    The ultimate reason God speaks through His Word is to draw us into a relationship with Himself. The "greater purpose" of your ear is to hear the good news that God, in His infinite love, sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to rescue us from the eternal consequences of our sin. Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross as a substitute for us, and rose again, conquering sin and death. He invites everyone to "hear" His call to repentance and faith, to turn from their own way and trust in Him for salvation and new life. To truly hear God's Word is to hear this incredible invitation and respond to it.

It is my earnest hope that this week, you will intentionally set aside time to dive into the Word of God and truly listen to what He is saying to you. Your life, both now and eternally, depends on it