I’m blessed to live in a nice, quiet and safe neighborhood. For nearly three decades, my family and I have been virtually immune to crime . . . that almost changed recently.
The other day, my neighbor told me his doorbell camera recorded a man leaving his property, walking on my lawn and towards my house at 4:12am. The same man can be heard on the video trying to open my front door.
Thankfully, the man never made it into my home.
I’ve since added security cameras to my property but the experience did make me stop and think “what if.” What if the man had found an unlocked window, or even worse, an unlocked door?
In the midst of my apprehension, though, I realized something . . . not one possession came to mind which I feared losing to a thief. The only treasures in my home which came to mind were my children and my mom.
And yet, as I consider how much I value and love my “treasures,” I know it’s nothing compared to His love for us. In a recent devotional, Anne Graham Lotz shares how we are God’s treasure:
When God the Father looked throughout the universe for something to give His only Son in reward for what He had accomplished on earth, the Father handpicked you! You are the Father’s treasure – His priceless gift of love to the Son!
Anne reflects on Malachi 3:17, “They will be mine,” says the Lord Almighty, “in the day when I make up my treasured possession” sharing,
As we totally yield our lives to the control of God’s Spirit within us, He uses:
the responsibilities and relationships and ridicule,
the opportunities and obstacles and obligations,
the pressures and pain and problems,
the success and sickness and solitude . . .
He uses all things to work for our ultimate good, which is increasing, progressive, glorious conformity to the image of Jesus Christ. (Rom. 8:28)
A great reminder to begin the New Year with – not only are we His most valued possession, but He uses everything in our lives to conform us to the image of Jesus and that everything in 2020 will be used for our ultimate good.
(Add either, or both, of Anne’s radio programs to your line-up: the daily :60 “Daily Light for Daily Living” or, the weekly 26:00 “Living in the Light” to share Anne’s Biblical insights with your listeners. Contact me at lee@ambaa.com for details!)
