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Matthew 13:44–46
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matt. 13:44).
The Israelites were quick to promise covenant obedience to God (Josh. 24:24) and, as we have seen, they made a good start in the era after Joshua’s death. But their willingness to obey waned as they were tempted by the practices of their pagan neighbors, and they soon fell into patterns of behavior that were not pleasing to God at all.
Like the Israelites, we are called to obedience. Jesus put it succinctly: “ ‘If you love Me, keep My commandments’ ” (John 14:15). He was saying, in essence, “If you want to please Me, do what I have commanded.” This involves bringing every area of life under submission to God’s will, living coram Deo, or “before the face of God,” as the Reformers put it. They meant, as Martin Luther explained, that we are to live consciously in God’s presence, under His authority, and for His glory. But like the Israelites, we tend to make a good start, promising devotion but soon fading in our zeal so that we begin to live as if God is absent, we are our own authority, and our goal is our own glory.
Why does this happen to us? And more important, how can we learn to live for God in the long run? In this week’s studies, we will depart from Judges to seek answers to these questions with the help of Dr. R.C. Sproul’s teaching series Pleasing God.
Did you take piano lessons as a child? You may have started quite well, displaying enthusiasm and aptitude. But you probably are not a concert pianist today. Why? You encountered techniques or pieces of music that were difficult to master, and soon gave up. Only those who persevere are able to master the piano. So it is with the Christian life. The first days, weeks, or even months may be easy, filled with growth, joy, and love for God. But trials and temptations soon come. Obeying God means pressing through those moments when we are paralyzed and frustrated with our Christian growth. The effort to please God requires such diligent, dogged pursuit. That’s why Jesus calls us to “ ‘seek first the kingdom of God’ ” (Matt. 6:33a). That’s why He says “ ‘the violent take [the kingdom] by force’ ” (Matt. 11:12), pursuing it like warriors determined to take a castle. It is, after all, a “treasure,” a “pearl of great price,” which is worth all we have and much more.
We please God by spending our lives seeking His kingdom. This is what it means to be a disciple.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
If you could track your devotion to God on graph paper, what would the line look like? Would it be steadily rising? Or would it be filled with peaks and valleys? Think today about what causes the valleys in your obedience. Study the verses below and ask God to help you to persevere in your obedience through trials and temptations.
for further study
- Psalm 78:37
- John 8:29
- Ephesians 4:14
- James 1:6
- Revelation 14:4