The uncovered treasure.

Joy comes in many forms, but everlasting joy comes with Jesus.  

Psalms chapter 81 verses 11 and 12. 

But no, My people won't listen. Israel does not want Me around. So I am letting them go their blind and stubborn way, living according to their own desires. 

Are you someone who has had their life changed by God? For those who have not, it is hard to understand what the draw is. Let alone believe that it is only through Jesus that we can come to have a life with God. 

   In most cases it was a healing of some sort that brought you to believe in the power of God. You may have never thought about God or put any interest in knowing who God is. But for some reason you prayed seeking God's help. And that simple prayer changed everything. 

   You never felt this way before. Even in the desire of love with other people, nothing was comparing to what you feel for God. It's strange, you're not sure about it but you know your prayer was answered. You question what happened. You have always been the one who made the plans for healing what ails you, but this time you were at your wits end and decided what could it hurt to pray to an unseen God. You were not keeping your hopes up, because you never had any reason to expect that God could help. 

   All you did was a simple prayer. A prayer in anguish, a sincere prayer, with a little hope for some type of outcome. What happened was more than you expected and now you want to test and understand that what happened the first time was truly a blessing from, dare to say, God. 

   Up to now you have lived without Him and it's all been fun and games with the occasional financial issues, relationship troubles or unwanted thoughts of addiction. You don't know why you thought about God, He would have been the furthest thought from your mind, but you did think of Him and now look where you are. Filled with feelings of joy at the treasure you just uncovered. 

   In John chapter 6, Jesus has been talking about God and making statements about Himself that seem confusing to those around Him. Some of the people knew the Scriptures and yet they are not believing the claims Jesus is making. Others want the Messiah to be true but are doubtful of who Jesus is. They see the miracles, they hear His claims, yet they don't understand. In verse 39, Jesus says, "You search the Scriptures, for you believe they give you eternal life. And the Scriptures point to Me! Yet you won't come to Me so that I can give you this life eternal!"  

   In Luke chapter 24, Jesus has come back to life and is suddenly standing there among the disciples. They were frightened, unsure of what they were seeing and He tried to reassure them by telling them to touch His body, see the wounds and know that He is not a ghost! Still they were undecided, filled with joy and doubt. Then He asked them for something to eat, and they gave Him a piece of broiled fish and watched as He ate it. 

    Looking at them standing there dumbfounded, Jesus asks them if they remember Him talking about Moses, the prophets and the Psalms? How they talked about Him and that they must all come true. Verses 45 to 47 say, "Then He opened their minds to understand at last these many Scriptures! And He said, Yes it is written long ago that the Messiah must suffer and die and rise again from the dead on the third day; and that this message of salvation should be taken from Jerusalem to all the nations: There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me." 

   Things are happening to you that you want to tell others about, but are a little hesitant to talk to those who you know might laugh at you or try to lead you away from what you know to be true. This is a big step. Your family may not understand, your closest friends and co-workers have their varying opinions and views regarding Jesus and God. 

   You hold onto what is happening, separating yourself from the old ways and healing yourself of old habits. Your friends invite you out but what was once a hooting good time is now not sitting right with you. You are feeling good about the changes. It's just what you need and you know that it is not some quick fix that is going to over soon. 

   You're not resisting or even questioning, all you feel is thankfulness and joy. Jesus was surrounded by people who did not understand. And because they did not understand they rejected His claims. He knew who He was and that His strength and power were from God. He did not doubt or question. And the same happens to those who now understand. 

   God's love is with those who love Him. It does not make you any better than anyone else, but it does give you a place to focus on. God is not an idol or figment of your imagination, He has touched your life and you cannot deny His presence.  

   Thank You Father for Jesus. He is the treasure that we did not see before, but now He is there right in front of us. You smile, you have found it. 😊   

          

John chapter 12 verse 40.
God had blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts so that they can neither see nor understand nor turn to Him (Jesus) to heal them. 

John chapter 12 verses 29 and 30.

When the crowd heard the voice, some of them thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to Jesus. 

Psalms chapter 77 verse 19.

Your road led by a pathway through the sea---a pathway no one knew was there!

Exodus chapter 9 verse 12.

But Jehovah hardened Pharaoh in his stubbornness, so that he refused to listen, just as the Lord had predicted to Moses. 

Romans chapter 6 verse 23.

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 

Romans chapter 8 verses 28 and 29.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For from the beginning God knew who would come to Him and become like His Son so that His Son would be the first of many brothers.  

Jeremiah chapter 31 verse 17.

"There is hope for your future," says the Lord. "And your children shall return to their own land."