A quick look at what you post on social media gives an idea of what you value the most. Some people fill their social media with pictures of children or grandchildren and their activities.
Other people post pictures of prized possessions or awards they have received. Still, others post pictures of themselves.
One refreshing thing is seeing people post pictures of Bible verses or sermons that especially touch them.
Whether you use social media to express your values or choose to refrain, we can all agree that there are certain things, people, or ideas we hold dear.
Jesus told two parables to highlight the value of what should be the most precious thing in our lives.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and reburied; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:44-46).
All In
In today’s YouTube video, I share the story of my friend, Josh Monk. Josh experienced a dramatic conversion and, on the day he gave his life to Christ, he promised the Lord, “I will stand on serving You.”
In his former life, “standing on something” meant making a commitment worth fighting for, even at the risk of his life. When he told the Lord he would stand for Him, he did so wholeheartedly.
Later on, as televised poker grew in popularity and the phrase “all in” became widely known, Josh had those words tattooed on his leg to symbolize his wholehearted commitment to the Lord.
Josh practiced a spiritual discipline that we would all do well to emulate. Every morning, he spent about an hour reading the Bible, and at night, his wife would read the Bible to him until he fell asleep.
But this was only a part of his deep commitment to his faith.
I had the privilege of being with Josh during some very difficult times. In one particularly challenging situation, he said something that became emblematic of his life. Reflecting on his past ways of living, he remarked, “I know I can fix this, but I can’t disrespect Jesus.”
Several years ago, Josh died from a brain tumor. The last time he spoke at Maywood Baptist, he said, “God doesn’t owe me anything.”
It was as if he had weighed the cost of discipleship against the treasure and the pearl of great value that he had found in the kingdom of God.
There was no doubt that, despite the difficult times he faced, Jesus remained the most important thing in his life. For Josh, Jesus was the ultimate treasure, above all else.
Half-Stepping
A phrase I learned from Josh and his friends was “half-stepping.” As the term suggests, to “half-step” means to only go partway in our commitment. Josh, however, went all in.
In contrast, many of us only “half-step” with God. As one of my pastor friends once put it, we settle for just enough—like a little aftershave—but what we truly need is to go all in with the Lord.
Experiencing God
Most people come to know God one step at a time. Josh, however, had a powerful and dramatic experience, as if it happened all at once.
For the rest of us, the journey often unfolds gradually, little by little.
Josh’s spiritual practice can guide us in discovering the true treasure that God is. By spending time getting to know Him, living in His presence, surrendering our lives to Him, and obeying Him—even when it’s difficult—we will come to see that the kingdom of God truly is the pearl of great price and the treasure hidden in the field.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It’s on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 