Treasured

Based on Ezekiel 27-29, 1 Peter 3

"These were thy merchants in all sorts of things, in blue clothes, and broidered work, and in chests of rich apparel, bound with cords, and made of cedar, among thy merchandise. The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas." Ezekiel 27:24‭-‬25

What does it mean to be treasured? Does it mean to be spoiled by our significant other? Does it mean to be "decked out" in the latest trends? As we start decking the halls & entering into the Christmas season, let's remember that "treasured" means a lot more than the "treasures" we receive as gifts!

"Thy riches, and thy fairs, thy merchandise, thy mariners, and thy pilots, thy calkers, and the occupiers of thy merchandise, and all thy men of war, that are in thee, and in all thy company which is in the midst of thee, shall fall into the midst of the seas in the day of thy ruin."

Ezekiel 27:27

All of the things we own will wear & tear over time. Those things will not last! Heaven & earth will pass, but God's Word stands FOREVER! No matter how much went into building an earthly kingdom, or how much goes into making us feel "treasured," we can never feel more treasured than when we are in the arms of God! That's because "treasured" means "loved!" And since God is love (1 John 4:8), He knows how to treasure us most! And He IS the ultimate Treasure to be treasured!

"by thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God; behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness." Ezekiel 28:5‭-‬7

We can try to "shine" with the gold & flashiness of self-adornment, but honestly, it's all just self-absorption compared to the way we can feel treasured by Jesus! When we take the attention off of us & treasure our God, we will be truly beautiful, and most importantly, be loved!

"but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."

1 Peter 3:4

True treasure shines from within! If we're flashy & flaunting on the outside, we are just covering up that beautiful, godly glow!!