Today’s Meditation;

Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

Welcoming Guests and Announcements – Pastor Ross

Hymn Sing – Congregational Hymn Pick

Prayer Concerns – Pastor Ross

Pastoral Prayer – Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer, Lord’s Prayer

Scripture Reading – Matthew 13:44-46 (NLT) – Pastor Ross

Message – The Treasure Hunt

Communion – Pastor Linda, Ross

Benediction – Pastor Linda

Matthew 13:44-46 – New Living Translation

Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

⁴⁴ “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.

⁴⁵ “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls.

⁴⁶ When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!

The first two parables in this selection form a pair and say essentially the same thing from two perspectives: God’s coming Reign is like a treasure or rare jewel that is so invaluable that it is worth total sacrifice. Matthew’s message in recording these two parables was probably an indirect exhortation to his contemporary Church to accept self-sacrifice willingly.

Jesus’ parables about the Kingdom of God tell us that God’s Kingdom is to be prized and can improve human lives here and now. Our happiness and joy in our lives is within us; it is not found in external circumstances or others.  Our happiness occurs when we yield control of our lives to God and put our full trust in God to guide us all our days.