At our Little Big Church service tonight, we looked at 1 Peter 2:9 and Ex 19:5 which tell us that we are God’s special or treasured possession. The children hunted for treasure chests which contained clues to a final chest of (fake!) jewels and then decorated their own chests with stickers to take home. We were reminded that God values us so much that He sent His Son to die for us, demonstrating that we are valuable and loved by God.
Archaeologists such as Howard Carter (who discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922) or pirates searching for treasure from shipwrecks often have to show persistence and skill in finding the treasure they seek. It matters what treasure we value; Jesus reminded us that we should work towards treasure in heaven rather than on earth, as this is the only lasting treasure. (Matt 6:19-21) Just as God values us, so we should value God and put Him first in our lives.
Jesus told a parable about a merchant who dealt in pearls. (Matt 13:45-46) He was prepared to sell everything He had to get the ‘pearl of great price’, and this reminds us that if we are God’s treasured possession, He should be our treasured possession too. Knowing that we are so important to God gives us the confidence to live for Him and to treasure Him as He treasures us.