Key Thought

Some things are so precious that we cannot find them; they find us. While we may not have been looking for salvation -- either because we grew up around it in our families or because a friend or acquaintance shared it with us -- that does not lessen the fact that when we understood its glory, we gave up everything for the sheer joy of being included in God's Kingdom by his grace. Grace motivates with joy. While I may know I surrender to the Lordship of Christ and the rule of his Kingdom because he is worthy, my sense of joy at being included in the Kingdom and adopted into the family so far outruns obligation that I forget it is a difficult challenge to follow.

Today's Prayer

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Holy and kind Father, thank you for bringing me into your Kingdom. I know that my salvation, my being a part of your family, is the work of your grace and sacrifice. Thank you for making me yours. Through your Spirit, reawaken my joy of salvation each day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. One day a man found the treasure. The man was very happy to find the treasure. He hid the treasure in the field again. The man went and sold everything that he owned to buy that field. "Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a salesman looking for fine pearls. One day the salesman found a very fine pearl. The salesman went and sold everything he had to buy that pearl. "Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was put into the lake. The net caught many different kinds of fish. The net became full, so the fishermen pulled the net to the shore. The fishermen sat down and put all the good fish in baskets. Then they threw away the bad fish. It will be the same at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the evil people from the good people. The angels will throw the evil people into the place of fire. In that place the people will cry and grind their teeth {with pain}." {Then Jesus asked his followers,} "Do you understand all these things?" The followers said, "Yes, we understand." Then Jesus said to the followers, "So every teacher of the law who has been taught {the new things} about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house. He has new things and old things saved in that house. And he brings out those new things with the old things."

— Matthew 13:44-52 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.