The best marriages that I have observed are characterized by each person regarding their spouse as a precious treasure. It is enviable. Don’t we ALL desire to know we are treasured?? I sure do! When someone demonstrates that I am highly valued by them—not because of anything I do for them but because of who I am—there are simply no words to describe what it does in the depths of my soul. We crave to be valued. Our secular culture is making crazy amounts of money by capitalizing on this desire. All you need to do is look at our advertisements to see you are NOT—beautiful enough, strong enough, rich enough, powerful enough, athletic enough, famous enough…to be treasured.
Our culture shouts: You are not treasured; thus, you must improve yourself so someone will treasure you—Right?
Did you know it is possible to find someone who will fully treasure you for who you are? Jesus treasured us so much that He thought you were worth experiencing unimaginable suffering and death.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
When we are born again, we are made a part of the family of God. There is no Father who loves who we are like God. He made us who we are! Maybe your parents or spouse never made you feel treasured. This is likely because they never experienced it themselves. Thus, they don’t have the first clue how to treasure someone else. Their best efforts will always be inadequate to meet your need to feel treasured.
God has a plan for you to experience your value!
After we are born again, God’s Word directs us to be baptized and join ourselves to a true New Testament Church. There, we enter into the special covenant associated with being part of the Bride of Christ.
Historically, God’s special covenant has been with two groups of people—Israel and His church.
“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.”
Exodus 19:5
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”
I Peter 2:9-10
Maybe you are both born again AND a member of a church, but still don’t feel treasured by anyone—not even God. I have been there. I get it. What I did NOT get for many years though, is that in order to EXPERIENCE being treasured by God, I needed to make HIM the greatest treasure of MY heart!
The first and greatest commandment in BOTH the Old Testament and New Testament is to love God with ALL our heart, soul and mind. If our greatest love [what we think about most and passionately pursue] is something less than God, then it is from—that thing or person— we are seeking to find our value. It never worked for me. It won’t work for you either because we were not created to be satisfied by anything or anyone less than God.
Jesus said:
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21
When our heart belongs to God, He fills us with the great treasure of His presence!
We would love to hear your thoughts about this devotional. Did God speak to you or challenge your daily walk with him? Or is there a topic that you would like Kimberly to cover or expound on? Please share with us in the comments below.
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2 Responses
I am born again and a member of a Bible preaching church but, I don’t feel I love God first or enough and that is the desire of my heart. I’m not sure how to make Him first
Love is a process. It takes work. The more we get to know God, the more we experience the immense goodness of His presence. Sometimes I even pray and ask God to help me love Him better. 😜 God understands our weaknesses and He desires to give Himself to us. We get closer to Him through reading His Word, praying, being active in a church that teaches His Word, etc. Hope this helps!