It seems that God has us on a journey the past month or so learning how to better discern and perceive Him and what He is doing in our lives.  Last week, Annette brought us a fresh and new perspective on the significance and the power of the blood of Jesus.

She provided historical and cultural context that helped bring a new level of depth of understanding that helped us to more fully perceive why Jesus shed His blood to establish a new covenant with us.  Though this event happened thousands of years ago, it still boldly declares the value that the Heavenly Father has placed in our lives here and now today.  After all, we are not our own, we were bought at a price!

This morning, we’re going back yet again to Matthew 13.  In this chapter is recorded several parables that Jesus spoke, which lead His disciples to ask:

Matthew 13:10-12

10 … “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;

    though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

Prayerfully, we will choose to be ones who see and perceive what God is doing and ones who hear and understand what God is speaking.  Knowledge of the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven have been hidden for us to seek after.  They are just waiting to be revealed to us as we seek after them!  In fact, Jesus said that those who seek will find.

Jesus gave a few parables that emphasize the rich reward waiting for those who seek after the treasures of the Kingdom of Heaven in just a few simple sentences.

Matthew 13:44-45;52

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

I love, love, love this picture that Jesus paints of the Kingdom of Heaven.  It’s like a house that we own.  As we explore that house, we find storerooms of treasures.  Some are new to us.  Some are old and familiar.  However, everything in the kingdom is always new and fresh!  Last week, Annette brought back out the treasure of the blood of Jesus, that old, old story that we are all very familiar with. 

However, we saw it from a new and fresh perspective and a whole new revelation came forth to us!  God’s wisdom is manifold.  There’s always a different way of looking at things and a new perspective to be gained for those who seek to see and listen to hear.  Paul explained it this way as he brought out the old, written word of God.  He received the grace of God that enabled him to see and experience a truth that was hidden within that same word that was passed down from generation to generation that they never saw.

Ephesians 3:2-12

2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me throu