Treasure On The Mountainside

Day 39

Treasure On The Mountainside

 

As you sit here on this mountainside, lingering one last time over Jesus’ words which we’ve explored together over these last 39 days, what has moved you? What has alarmed you? What has caused you to take a breath in wonder? As you engaged (to whatever extent you were able) with Jesus’ teaching what have you discovered that you want to hold close and dear like treasure, until it becomes part of who you are?

Tomorrow is the last day, the final hike down the rocky mountainside, leaving behind this moment of sitting with Jesus, listening to His Sermon, His sermon which is really an invitation, His invitation which is really His call, and His call which is really His command. 

My words are not important, but every word of Jesus is gold and silver. As you linger on the mountainside one last moment with Him, perhaps this moment is now a listening moment. A time to hear from Him- to sense which of the treasures He’s revealed to you in this journey He want you to build with first?

“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.  If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.” 1 Corinthians 3:10-14

Remember…Jewish people viewed their written story, their Covenant Law as something to be enjoyed and loved… like treasure. Jesus’ invitation now is for us to engage with His new covenant, this invitation on the mountainside,  not as a bunch of rules to follow but as the treasure He intends it to be for us. Like a foundation in a storm, a root system delving deep, a rock that won’t be shaken. A treasure to build our lives on.

Treasure given to us on the mountainside.

 

 

Journaling The Journey 

Reflect. What foundations is your life built on? What are the beliefs and practices that sit under everything else? Are these all Biblical? Good? Healthy?

Jesus’ calls us to ‘do’ His words, to live them and ‘put them into practice’. He calls us to build the foundation of our lives on them.

Look back over the Sermon on the mount. Which of Jesus’ words are you already living?

Which of His words is He calling you to build more fully into your life?

Reflect on a time when you chose not to build your life on God’s word. What impact did it have on yourself and others around you? 

Is there anything right now that you have built into your life that you need to repent of and demolish?

Reflect on a time when you chose not to build your life on God’s word. What impact did it have on yourself and others around you? 

Is there anything right now that you have built into your life that you need to repent of and demolish?

 

Today’s Mountainside photograph was taken at Sugarloaf Mountain in Wales, UK.