Bible

Bible

I rejoice in your word like one who finds a great treasure.

Psalm 119:162

Of all the birthday parties our sons were invited to, I think the most creative one involved a treasure hunt. After the boys arrived at the Howards’ home and got settled, Mr. Howard read them their first clue in the form of a riddle. The first riddle helped the kids figure out where to look for the second clue (in a copy of Treasure Island at the public library), and so on. Some of the subsequent locations were the Popcorn Shop, Dairy Queen, the baseball card shop, and one or two others. Each destination seemed more exciting than the last. The very last riddle led the boys back to the Howards’ house, where they spied a huge treasure chest, overflowing with candy and prizes for everyone!

The image of a treasure hunt is a good way to describe my love for the Bible, which has grown over the years. It began with Bible stories I heard from my parents and Sunday school teachers as a child. My youth leaders and pastors continued opening up God’s Word to me, and then three of my college years were spent studying at Moody Bible Institute. But my most meaningful times in the Bible have been and continue to be the quiet moments I spend each day “panning for gold”—and I always find some. “Truly, I love your commands more than gold, even the finest gold” (Psalm 119:127).

As good as the stops are along the way, the final destination of the “hunt” in the Bible—the treasure—is Christ. “In [Christ] lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).

Father,

Thank you for the treasure of your Word. Thank you that you sent Jesus—your treasure—to die for us. In Christ’s name, amen.