Daily Devotional

It is not uncommon for loved ones to save boxes of some of the most seemingly worthless things:

• A tattered baby blanket with the smooth edges worn off.
• Hand-crafted greeting cards with silhouettes of toddler’s hands.            
• Parts of a child’s crib mobile now made into Christmas ornaments.
• Letters from loved ones no longer with us.

In fifty years of global ministry it is not surprising that we also have boxes filled with collectibles from around the world:

• Wooden artifacts and figurines of every sort.
• Glassware, cups, spoons and ancient pottery.  
• Tribal musical instruments and artwork.            
• Swords, knives, spears, bows and arrows.            
• U.S. flags from various periods of American history.          
• World flags and local banners.           
• Police and military hats along with badges and gear.            
• Plaques and citations from churches and para-church institutions.           
• Letters and notes from people who have been encouraged by our ministry.            
• Books and bibles in many languages and dialects.

This is my precious collection of memories that may possibly be sold for pennies at a rummage sale. Whereas these items may not be valuable; their stories are. To me, they represent the testimonies of family, friends, ministry partners, fellow soldiers of the cross, and ambassadors of Jesus Christ. Someday these boxes may be emptied of their contents but my heart will be forever filled with the true collectibles—the sweet memories of the things I have most treasured—the love they represent. Reflecting on my greatest treasures, my mind rushes to two of the most valuable collectibles in my life.

• My Greatest Heavenly Treasure: The Word of God that has nourished me from within. I feel the way Job felt as he considered the value of God’s revelation. The Bible records his public declaration:  
  • Job 23:12 “I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words  of His mouth more than my necessary food.”

• My Greatest Earthly Treasure: The people in my life who have responded to Jesus Christ. I feel the way Mary felt as she watched people respond favorably to her Son. The Bible records her inner thoughts:
  • Luke 2:19 “…Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart” (cf. Luke        2:51)

Give all of my earthly collectibles away. Sell them at a rummage sale. Toss them in a junk pile. However, you will never be able to remove these treasures worth keeping in my “museum of memories.” I will forever treasure and ponder them in my heart.

New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.