Luke 12:32-34
[Jesus said] “Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not become old, a treasure in the heavens that will not fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Dear Heavenly Father,
We hear Jesus’ words and your love for us; so that all who know, believe, and trust in you have nothing to fear as we witness you care for us. Forgive us when the world’s problems pull our attention from you, and we worry about our fears. Send us your Holy Spirit to instill in us a faith that is confident in you so that our hearts will be focused on you so that we confidently know our treasure is in heaven. When this life is completed, we will be with you where there are no more tears, trials, or sin to divide us from you; as Jesus said, it will never fail, cannot be stolen, and cannot be destroyed by pesky critters.
Despite all our sins and worrying, this gift comes to us because of your love for us. Our sins separate us from you, and the world’s sins cause everything on this earth to break down and be destroyed over time, in contrast to faith’s money bag, which holds heaven’s treasure, which will never wear out. This treasure came to us from your Son, Jesus, who came to this earth and took all our sins into himself when he went to the cross; he suffered our punishment. He was your sinless Son, who willingly came to this earth to suffer in our place so that we are delivered from death to life by believing in him. By believing in Jesus, our sins are removed, we are restored to you, and our souls will be with you in heaven forever when this temporal life ends.
Grant us a solid faith to trust in Jesus’ forgiveness so that we are willing to share the good news of heaven’s treasure with those who do not know you. In conveying that good news, we pray that others will also believe and trust in you and be delivered from death to eternal life; they, too, will have a money bag that never wears out. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
Everything on this earth eventually wears out, even our bodies; they grow old and return to the ground. While the treasure of heaven—knowing and trusting in Jesus’ work and words—will never run out but will continue into everlasting life.