What Jesus Did! 'Just for Joy' — Matthew 13:44

Thursday, July 3, 2025

[Jesus continued teaching about the Kingdom:] "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field."
— Matthew 13:44 NLT

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. I know that my surrender to the lordship of Christ and the rule of his Kingdom can come with difficulties, my joy at being in Christ far exceeds those difficulties.

Today's Prayer

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.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

5 Related Resources by Heartlight

Dig Deeper Where You Are
Article by Rubel Shelly
Do you know where your buried treasure is hidden? Sometimes our greatest treasures are right under our noses at home.
An Amazing Find
Article by Russ Lawson
Finding more than we are looking for! Russ Lawson talks about the origin of the word serendipity and asks how we will use these blessings in our lives?
Treasure Hunters
Article by Patrick D. Odum
What are you searching for? Patrick Odum writes about Alaska, Skagway, gold, searching, treasure, and the Kingdom of God.
Finding Joy in Sacrifice
Article by Alan Smith
How much joy do you get out of sacrifice? Sacrifices that allow us to share in the life of God should bring us joy.
See All 5 Related Resources about Matthew 13:44

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 13:44 NLT — "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Thursday, July 3, 2025

Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Colossians 2:6
"If we have received Christ himself in our inmost hearts, our new life will manifest its intimate acquaintance with him by a walk of faith in him...."
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Good Spouses' (Ep. 5:25-33)
"Dear Father, Help me to be the good husband that you want me to be. Help me to love my wife even as Christ loves his church, being willing to give..."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'All Whose Hearts are Pure!' (Ps. 32:11)
"So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!"
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
Isaiah 1:18
""Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they..."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!