God is a Treasure... so we value Him more than anything

​Hey, Bridge Family, I hope you are all doing well as always. I have to say, we’ve had some wonderful times of worship with the kids over the past couple of weeks. Let me encourage you to take a week and come to a Bridge Service and worship with us. No strings attached, but I believe it will give you a chance to see what and how your kids are learning, which will better prepare you to talk with them during the week. Also, it will show your child how much you treasure their relationship with God. This ties into the biblical point of our message this past Sunday: God is a Treasure—so we value Him more than anything.
 
Our story comes from the Book of Matthew, chapter 13, where Jesus shares two parables that provide a right-hearted view of the Kingdom of Heaven. The main point is that the Kingdom is priceless and worth any cost. In other words, God’s Kingdom is more valuable than anything else. We need to recognize what we value and how it appears in our lives, because our children will value what we value. As Christians, we hope to raise our children to focus on eternal things rather than earthly ones. This can be hard as parents because children often find it easier to value what they see than an unseen God. Let’s face it, that’s a tricky concept for adults, too. So, before expecting our children to believe that God is more valuable than anything else, we first need to examine ourselves to see if that truth lives within us. 
 
A good practice, regardless of how long we’ve been followers of Jesus, is to set aside time for self-reflection, allowing God to reveal that our true treasure is, for wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be (v. 6:21 NLT). This may be a more difficult practice than we often like to admit. However, if done effectively, God may often reveal to us something very different from what we expect or think. If we genuinely want to teach our children that God is a treasure, we must first demonstrate it in our own lives. Here are some questions I’ve found that are helpful to ask yourself.
 

• What is the first thing I think about when I wake in the morning? My spouse? My job? God?
• What holds my mental attention? The ballgame? My kids? My iPhone?
• What would others say I value?

 
Remember, it’s never too late to engage. As long as your child is at home, you have an excellent opportunity to share the Bible and explore it together, making faith an exciting and meaningful adventure. God Bless, and hope to see your family on Sunday.
 
Pastor Bob