After Ricky took our breakfast orders and went to tell Cook what we wanted, Stan said, “Have you ever noticed that Ricky never writes down what we want?”
“I have noticed that,” I replied.”He seems to be able to remember. I wonder how he does that.”
“I asked him that once,” Stan said. “He told me that he makes a connection between the person and what is ordered so he is able to remember without having to write it down.”
“I have a hard time remembering a lot of things,” I replied. “If I don’t write everything down, there’s not much chance I will remember, but there’s also the problem of remembering where I wrote it down!”
“I can certainly relate to that,” Stan said. “In fact, that’s one of the reasons I journal about what God is showing and telling me. Writing it down helps me remember.”
“However,” he continued, “there is a way that helps me remember certain Bible verses and what God has to say without having to write it down.”
“That sounds like something that might be helpful,” I replied. “What is it?”
“Let me give you a simple example,” Stan said. “The other day I was looking at a verse in Luke’s gospel and realized there’s an easy way for me to remember the importance of what Jesus said about treasure and what I value.”
“Simple and easy,” I commented. “I like the sound of that!”
“Me, too,” Stan replied. “Let’s take a look at what Jesus said about treasure. He said that where my treasure is, that’s where my heart will be also.”
“Yeah,” I responded. “A big truth. What I value most is my treasure. What I spend the most time and money on is what I treasure, and often what I treasure is not what God wants me to treasure. I would like it if there was a simple way for me to keep the focus of what I treasure in line with what God has for me to treasure.”
“How about ‘1, 2, 3, 4’?” Stan replied with a smile.
“What do you mean?”
“The verse is Luke 12:34,”
“So?”
“Look at it,” Stan said. “Verse 12:34. That’s 1, 2, 3, 4. I can remember that. Every time there’s a question about what I’m treasuring, I simply say to myself, ‘1, 2, 3, 4,’ and I quickly remember what Jesus said on the subject.”
“1, 2, 3, 4,” I repeated. “I can remember that!”
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Bible verses to consider:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Luke 12:34.
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:19-21.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your free and gracious provision of life eternally with you through the cross of Christ. Thank you, too, that you want me to lay up treasure in heaven by being who and doing what you intend while you keep me on this side of eternity. I confess that too often what I value is not what you want for me to value — that my heart is in the wrong place concerning what I value. Please help me follow every step of your lead so what I do value, what I do treasure, is in line with your will for me. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Is your treasure in heaven in the sense that you have accepted God’s free and gracious provision of life eternally with Him, beginning here and continuing forever? If no, why do you want to remain separated from God? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with what you treasure while you remain here? If you sense the need for change in any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
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