Matthew 6:19-21
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Sit comfortably and breathe deeply for a few seconds before you begin. As you breathe in, say the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
As we continue learning from Jesus’ teaching, read Matthew 6:19-21 keeping in mind that Jesus is describing life in the Kingdom of God throughout the Sermon on the Mount.
Think back over the past truths Jesus gave us in the Beatitudes. We contemplated our desperate need for God and we learned the Kingdom way of using power with restraint. We saw that the state of being in the Kingdom of God is shalom in which justice, mercy, and equality are the norm. We thought about what it means to be a peacemaker and we considered the fact that when we live like Kingdom citizens, we will be misunderstood at times and may even face persecution for the way we live lives of love.
Now Jesus asks us to examine our hearts and identify what we value most.
Take a moment to think about this, and then, in complete honesty, write down the five things you value most. Present this list to Jesus and get quiet. What do you believe Jesus wants to reveal to you about your list?
Read Matthew 6:19-21 again keeping all of this in mind.
Jesus makes the point in this passage that a choice to invest our “treasure” in heavenly (Kingdom) endeavors will cause our desires to change. Instead of feverishly amassing money and material things, we’ll actually want to be generous in ways that make a real, Kingdom difference. This is part of what we ask for every time we pray the prayer Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount:
“May your kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Take a moment to meditate on these words of Jesus from today’s passage:
“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
After a while, pray the words above from the Lord’s Prayer recognizing that God is inviting you to be part of the answer to this prayer by investing your treasure in Kingdom endeavors. Then get quiet for a while.
Do you sense Jesus calling you to take action today?
What will you do to follow through?
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