Devotionals

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Treasured Pictures

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

My heart pounded and I wanted to scream at the Apple store attendant. He just accidentally reset my phone and wiped out everything on it. Everything!!! Completely gone!!! All my apps, all my information, but most importantly, all my pictures. Every single memory I had captured for the last two years had been completely deleted in less than two seconds.

My heart sank as the realization set in that I wasn’t going to be able to get my pictures back. I know it sounds silly, but I shed tears for those pictures lost. I mourned the loss of my son’s basketball photos. I wept for the loss of my daughter’s birthday memories. I even cried for the loss of our vacation photos. These were my treasures and now they were gone. I was traumatized for weeks about this catastrophic event.

Looking back now, I see how foolish my behavior truly was. I put too much emphasis on the pictures on my phone. I valued them too much. The key verse in Matthew reminds me to store up treasures that will last forever. My time is wasted if I focus on storing earthly treasures, such as my pictures, because they can be wiped away in an instant. Those things I might value on earth will have no lasting value eternally.

However, by investing my time, money, and efforts into God’s purposes and will, I have the opportunity to store up things that will last forever-things that will never be tarnished or taken away. I want my investment to last eternally for the kingdom of God.

“Lord, help me to be obedient to You. Thank you for all Your blessings and help me to seek the fulfillment of Your purposes. Create in me a desire to focus on storing up Heavenly treasures and let go of the temptations of the earth.”

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