The Joy of Yahweh is our Strength.

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it."

The Bible is really quite easy to understand if only we were willing to actually live up to what Jesus taught. Here are a couple of parables that we looked at this morning in an adult Sunday school that we visited this morning. These verses are easy to understand for those that can see how great a value the kingdom of heaven is and yet difficult for people to understand who can not.

Joel and I try to teach people that in order to gain a new life in Christ you must be willing to lose your old life, sacrifice your comforts, pick up a cross and follow Jesus on the road of suffering. The majority are simply unable to grasp this. They try to wiggle and squirm out from under the word of God and try to re-imagine Jesus in what to them is an easier saviour.

The reality is though that Jesus' burden is light when we keep our eyes fixed on heaven. It is a joy to sell all that we have and give it to he "least of the brother's of Jesus" when we see what a great value the treasure before us is. It is even a joy to be persecuted as our Lord was persecuted when we consider the reward that awaits us in heaven (Luke 6:22,23).

This is an offense to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles but it is pure gospel truth. You can take it or leave it but you can't change it.