Matthew 13:44 "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.

1. Religion is all about __________ pursuing _________.

2. Christianity is all about __________ pursuing __________.

3. We are ____________ by Jesus because He __________ us.

Scripture Readings
Deuteronomy 7:6-9
Romans 8:28-39
Matthew 13:44-52

Take It With You!

Here we will offer thoughts and meditations on the message to help us as we contemplate and discuss and wrestle with what we are hearing.

"But don't you know, sir, what it means to be a believer?" [Said the young pastor Fridfeldt].

"That is a word which can stand for things that differ greatly, my boy. I ask only what it is that you believe in."

"In Jesus, of course," answered Fridfeldt, raising his voice. "I mean - I mean that I have given him my heart..."

"Do you consider that something to give him?"

By this time Fridfeldt was almost in tears.

"But sir, if you do not give your heart to Jesus, you cannot be saved."

"You are right, my boy. And it is just as true that, if you think you are saved because you give Jesus your heart, you will not be saved. You see, my boy," he continued, reassuringly, as he continued to look at the young pastor's face, in which uncertainty and resentment were shown in a struggle for the upper hand, "it is one thing to choose Jesus as one's Lord and Savior, to give him one's heart and commit oneself to him, and that he now accepts one into his little flock; it is a very different thing to believe on him as a Redeemer of sinners, of whom one is chief. One does not choose a Redeemer for oneself, you understand, nor give one's heart to him. The heart is a rusty old can on a junk heap. A fine birthday gift, indeed! But a wonderful Lord passes by, and has mercy on the wretched tin can, sticks his walking cane through it, and takes it home with him. That is how it is."

Bo Giertz, The Hammer of God