Devotional:
Our theme verse, Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field.” I want to consider the hidden treasure within us. The Treasure of God’s presence has been deposited within us, His children. 1 John 4:13 “And God has given us His Spirit as proof that we live in Him and He in us.” God has filled us with His Spirit, not just to bless us, but that He might flow through us, transform us and those around us. We have this valuable treasure of the presence of God in us. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”II Corinthians 4:7 The glorious presence and power of the All Mighty one is in us. 1 Corinthians 3:16 “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” But here is the problem. The Great Treasure can remain all boxed in and boxed up.For His glory to be seen, this container, this clay pot must be broken for the river to flow, for the light to be seen. Like Joshua and the Army as they marched around Jericho. The light was not seen; the power was not released until the pot was broken. The Treasure box does not release the valuable contents until broken. The container of our hearts, unbroken, simply hoards and stifles God’s presence until pressure is applied and the vessel begins to crack. Here, and only here can the riches of the treasure begin to be made manifest for the intended purpose of transformation. Or another way to say it, is that the degree of our brokenness will be the measure of the God’s Spirit released. Fasting and prayer is a wonderful time to allow God’s Spirit to draw us, deal with us to, as we heard earlier “To shape our desires and aligns us with His will.” The pressure of denying our flesh is good for us, not to destroy us but to expose what is hidden inside that needs to be broken and surrendered that the breaking will bring a greater release of God’s Spirit and power both in and through our lives. The pressure reveals His presence. In this season of prayer and fasting, God may simply give us a way to pursue Him in the days to come that will lead us to greater brokenness. He may point out something that is blocking that flow or He may take off the blinders to see an area of spiritual blindness. Well praise God! Joshua and the army needed to learn to first be quiet. They had to learn to quiet themselves. No complaining, no reasoning, no fearful or proud talk. Fasting is so good to quiet our hearts and still our soul. This season of quiet lead next to breaking and only then was the praise and power released. First we must learn to be quiet, listening, dependent, surrendered, broken and then allow the work of God through magnifying God. Joshua and the Israelites gave a shout of praise! The woman with the alabaster box didn’t regard her box, her life’s value, as something to be hoarded and held back. She could have been so aware of the value of the box that she didn’t want to crush it. Think of yourself as a treasure box. It is not the box, but the treasure inside that must be found by being released. The treasure is released by being broken. The box is broken open through humility, surrender and worship. Just like the woman with the Alabaster box. The treasure within you is not waiting for perfection, but surrender. It is a beautiful time to come into agreement with what God is doing. Let’s allow the box holding the treasure to be broken. So that the True Great Treasure can flow through our lives.
Questions:
1. Do I treasure the beauty of my box, my life, more than be broken?
2. Is there an area of my life where I am resisting brokenness?
3. Are pressures allowing cracks that I would prefer to seal back up?
4. Do I trust that when my weakness and failures are revealed , that His grace and His glory will be enough?
5. In what ways might others encounter the Lord more clearly through my surrender than through my strength?
Prayer:
Lord, break what must be broken so that You can more freely and clearly flow though my life. Holy Spirit help me live with my heart, arms and hands wide open. Help me to pour my life out, gracefully broken. I want to be and live surrendered. Strong when I am weak. I want to live free in you Jesus. Amen
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