Kingdom Parable#6 -- Treasures new and old
| He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old." (Matthew13:52) |
This is the last of the parables of the Kingdom that we will be looking at for the Month of Mission, and it is beautiful! Martin Luther's story embodies this parable beautifully...
He was a teacher of the law but deeply and hopelessly aware of his failures and sinfulness. He served a church that was the custodian of a beautiful treasure - the gospel - but had locked it behind the walls of church tradition, indulgences, politics and legalism.
Luther discovered the truth of the Kingdom of God:
He rediscovered old treasures (some of them so long forgotten that they were like new):
- Salvation by grace. (Sola Gratia)
- A King who gave His life for us. (Solus Christos)
- Justification by faith. (Sola Fide)
- The Word of God. (Sola Scriptura)
- The sovereignty and glory of God. (Soli Deo Gloria)
- The Bible becomes exciting to read.
- The celebration of Easter becomes a glorious celebration of Christ as King over all
- Faith becomes a journey of hope, trust and relationship
- Grace becomes a well-spring of gratitude
- Our lives have purpose in bringing glory to God.
The Kingdom - that God come near in Christ - is the key that unlocks the glorious treasure of our faith. It blows the cobwebs off dusty religion and offers abundant life!
Soli Deo Gloria!
If you want to receive these devotions in email, sign up at http://eepurl.com/cgVDBb.
