treasures...

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." --Colossians 2:2-3

So my class has been out. of. control. Like serious 10 commandment crazy. Stealing. Killing. Lying. Lack of respect for authority. So after taking 2 days of seriously stepping back and me becoming for a moment a preacher, not a teacher, we have started to spend about 5 minutes each morning after saying the pledges to do a class devotion. I bought a couple resources at 1/2 Price this summer after realizing we were now going to be responsible for teaching Bible...with no curriculum...anyways I digress.

This verse from Colossians was our scripture. We also talked about how much God treasures us, as HIS children, how he promised Israel that he treasured them for doing what was right. I don't remember what that scripture was...sorry. But I asked them, "What does it feel like to be something that God treasures? Think about how special a treasure is? How does that make you feel that the LORD of the universe treasures you?"

"Sweet."

"Beautiful."

"Powerful."

They were answering, with such seriousness, then it happened. My heart melted and I was paid more than I've ever deserved but all the reward ever needed.

One of the little boys who's been really the most out of control, who is the second of the family to be in my class in the past 5 years, and who with his brother has probably contributed to my rising blood pressure, increase in gray hairs, and at the end of the day building my character and reliance on God. He said, "It makes me feel the way that I feel when I come to school."

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-20

I love getting to spend time with these treasures, hidden away in the most surprising places just waiting to be dug out of the rough, shined, and displayed for the world to see. I pray for their future, for them to live as the treasures they are. I am most encouraged and also scared when I think of all they have to give and what we will lose if they don't grab ahold of God and use their gifts for HIS glory. If you have a second, just pray they would continue to seek first the kingdom and would have some people to lean on and look toward as they grow up seeing so much that is not from HIS kingdom.