I love to shop. In fact, I am good at it. What I mean is that I know how to find bargains. You see, it’s not really when you are looking for something specific that you find them. Browsing in a store, walking by clearance tables or sidewalk sales, and being aware of the goods around you are the best time to find them. And out of season. Never buy in season unless you absolutely have to.
A good example is the rug at my cabin in the mountains. I looked at it for a year at Lowe’s Home Store before purchasing it. It was originally $325. Then months later, it was marked down to $225. Then one day I went by for some hardware and happened to walk by the rugs and it was missing. That’s when I discovered it lying on the floor rolled up in a bag. A price of $175 was marked in red on the sticker. After talking with the manager, she agreed to let it go for $125. Wow! I actually purchased the rug at 60% off. If we have the patience, we can find gold nuggets most anywhere.
In Matthew 7:7 and Luke 11:9, we are instructed to “ask and it will be given to us; seek and we will find; knock and the door will be opened to us.” It’s really a simple test of faith. A 1-2-3 kind of faith. But the answers are before us. (1) Ask and we receive, (2) seek and we find, (3) knock and the door is opened. This is how we find our gold nuggets in our spiritual walk and answers to life issues.
The Lord desires a close relationship with us. He wants us to ask Him for the desires of our hearts. And His word proclaims that he will give it to us. In Psalm 37:4, we are to "Delight ourselves in the Lord and he will give us the desires of our heart." The scriptures say that if we commit to Him and trust in Him, he will make our righteousness shine, and if we are patient and have hope in the Lord – then we will inherit the land (the gold nuggets). Now my paraphrase of that is…If we are patient and trust in Him, He will give us good things.
So where do we seek? If we are in the world, we will seek material possessions and pleasures. But if we are a child of God, we should be seeking in His word. Hebrews 4:12 says “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword…” Brothers and sisters, there is simply nothing else on the earth that speaks truth and love more accurately than scripture. We must not only read the word, but we must act on it. James 1:22 reminds us that we “do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive ourselves. Do what it says.” When we take the word of God to heart and live by it, we have a much clearer path and the peace that passes understanding.
And how do we knock? First, we acknowledge Christ as our Lord and Savior. This may involve some repentance. In 2nd Chronicles 7:14 the Lord spoke to Solomon at night and said, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” The Lord is telling us to repent and He will bless us. The doors will be opened. The gold nuggets will be our rewards for being faithful and seeking His face.
It’s as simple as 1-2-3. Ask and we receive, seek and we find, and knock and the door is opened. Even a child can find these gold nuggets!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Gold Nuggets by Ann Wayne
Posted by Crossroads Communicators at 1:14 PM
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1 comments:
Ann, I love to shop too--bargain shop that is! And yes, it is even more wonderful to find God's gold nuggets. Thanks for sharing this story. Gail
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