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July 11, 2018 |
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (NASB)
A rock collector named Rob once went on a dig and found a rock he described as "purdy and big." He tried unsuccessfully to sell it, and when that failed, he kept the rock in his closet in the dark.
Rob guessed the blue chunk of rock could bring as much as $500, but he would have taken less if something urgent came up like paying his power bill. That’s how close he came to selling for a few hundred dollars what turned out to be the largest, most valuable sapphire ever found. The blue rock that Rob Cutshaw had abandoned to the darkness of a closet two decades ago — now known as "The Star of David" sapphire — weighs nearly a pound, and could easily sell for $2.75 million.
How many of us have a treasure hidden in the darkness of our lives, unaware of its immense value? God wants nothing more than for you and me to have full access to all the blessings and rewards He’s already laid aside for us to have.
It’s easy to live life unaware that God has set aside this treasure to have. I can often live in desperation, wondering when I’m going to get a break, questioning when God’s going to finally come through.
So, how do we discover this fantastic treasure and let God take care of our needs?
Sometimes, in order for God to meet our need, we must first plant a seed.
Many years ago, our church ministry was about to be kicked out of a school where we’d been meeting for Sunday service. While we had no idea what would happen, we continued to teach the Word and take care of each other like brothers and sisters in Christ should.
I was still at Dallas Seminary, and one day I walked by a staff member there who casually said to me, “Oh, by the way, did you know that that small church on Camp Wisdom Road is getting ready to move, and they’re looking to sell?” Before the year was done, we moved to our permanent church home.
Because we stayed diligent in fulfilling our calling as a ministry, teaching the Word and caring for each other, God revealed a wonderful treasure that was mere blocks from the school we had been occupying.
God has called you to a mighty work as well. The hardships we face can be distracting, even paralyzing sometimes. But God wants to know whether our focus is on Him or on our hardships. When we stay diligent with what He’s given us, God will fill us to overflowing … with even more down the road.
Consider this example. If you wanted to purchase a particular amount of rice, the person behind the counter would pour that rice into a measuring pot or scale of some kind. But they would not fill it to the precise measure straight away; they would only go three quarters of the way up and then shake the pot and press on the rice. The reason for shaking is to both level out the rice and fill in any gaps that formed underneath. In other words, because of the shaking and the pressing, you get more rice.
That’s what God can do in the midst of your trouble; He lets life press down so He can “fill in the gaps.” Second Corinthians 4:8 reads, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing.” Most often, it’s in life’s darkness that God prepares us for His best.
Lord, I ask You to give me Your peace, so I might weather the storms and relax in dark times, knowing You are with me. Fill me with a greater measure of Your courage, that I might stand boldly against the enemy’s attacks. Finally, I ask for patience as I wait for Your great treasures, both here and in the life to come. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Isaiah 33:6, “And He will be the stability of your times, a wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; The fear of the LORD is his treasure.” (NASB)
RELATED RESOURCES:
If you find yourself plagued with a lifetime of struggle, sickness or heartache, you’ve likely cried out to God for help. When it seems like He’s not answering, what do you do? God’s great reward is often found in the darker places of your life. Learn how to take your eyes off your circumstances and place them on the Lord so you can get back to living in service for Him and His kingdom. Get your copy of Dr. Tony Evans’ Treasures in the Darkness CD series today.
CONNECT:
To experience more of Dr. Evans’ teachings, books and ministry, stop by tonyevans.org.
How’d you like to win a copy of Treasures in the Darkness by Dr. Tony Evans? To celebrate this new series, The Urban Alternative will give away 5 CDs! Leave a comment on our website today, and we'll randomly select 5 winners. {We’ll notify each winner in the comment section by Monday, July 16, 2018.}
REFLECT AND RESPOND:
What are some dark places you’ve been in recently? What’s one step you can take to move away from the darkness toward God’s intended treasure?
© 2018 by Dr. Tony Evans. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries thanks The Urban Alternative for their sponsorship of today’s devotion.
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Proverbs 31 Ministries
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Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org
Originally published Wednesday, 11 July 2018.
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