我们许多人都会有个盒子或抽屉来装纪念品——那些带给我们美好回忆的照片，写着亲切而有意义话语的卡片，心爱之人送给我们的小饰品，又或者是一条丝带，一个发卡，一朵被压平的小花。你的宝物盒里都有什么呢？
以色列人有被邻国侵略的历史。每当战争爆发，敌人进攻时，农夫都会把他们的贵重物品藏在地里，以防他们的房子遭到袭击。不幸的是，有些人会被侵略者掳走，他们的财宝一直隐藏着，直到多年后被人发现——通常都是在耕地或出于其它原因进行挖掘的时候。
耶稣使用了这一场景，作为有关天国比喻的背景。那人找到财宝的时候，耶稣说：“就把它藏起来，欢欢喜喜地去变卖一切所有的买这块地。”
所以天国的价值有多少呢？耶稣说，对于发现它的人来说，比他一切所有的还珍贵。
现在来思想一下：天国的价值就是你的生命，耶稣用祂的生命为你付了代价。祂找到了你这丢失的珍宝，于是就欢欢喜喜地变卖一切所有的，为的是得着你！
主耶稣，感谢你如此珍视我，用你的生命换回了我的生命。奉你的名祷告，阿们。
马太福音 13:44
44 “天国好像宝贝藏在地里，人遇见了就把它藏起来，欢欢喜喜地去变卖一切所有的，买这块地。
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” — Matthew 13:44
Many of us have a box or drawer that we keep mementos in—photographs that bring back fond memories, cards with kind and meaningful words written on them, trinkets given by a loved one, or maybe a ribbon, a lock of hair, or a pressed flower. What is in your treasure box?
The Israelites had a history of being conquered and plundered by neighboring nations. Whenever war broke out and the enemy advanced, farmers would hide their valuables in a field in case their house was raided. Often, sadly, the family was swept away by the invaders and their treasure remained hidden until someone might discover it years later—usually while plowing the field or digging for some other reason.
Jesus used that scenario as the backdrop for this parable about the kingdom. And when the man found the treasure, Jesus said, “He hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought the field.”
So what is the value of the kingdom? To the one who finds it, says Jesus, it is worth more than everything he or she has.
Now consider this: The kingdom of heaven’s value is your life, paid for by the life of Jesus. In his joy, upon finding the lost treasure that is you, Jesus went and sold all he had so that he could have you!
Lord Jesus, thank you that you treasure me so much that you gave your life for mine. In your name, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
