January 5

An inheritance . . . that fadeth not away. — 1 PETER i. 4.

*Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.* — MATT. xiii. 44.

IF our Lord calls the kingdom of heaven a treasure, what an unspeakable treasure it must be! In Romans 14, 17, the Holy Spirit through Paul tells us what the kingdom of heaven is. It is “righteousness, and peace, and joy, in the Holy Ghost.” Just as there is a mutual indwelling between Christ and the believer, — he dwelling in Christ and Christ dwelling in him (John vi. 56), — so the Christian dwells in the kingdom of heaven, and yet the kingdom of heaven is in him. It is a treasure of protection around him and a treasure of experience within him.

When a poor sinner finds this heavenly treasure, he gives up everything to be fully possessed of it, for all else is of no account in comparison. It is alliance with God. It is to be partaker of the divine nature (2 Peter i. 4), to be partaker of God’s holiness (Heb. xii. 10). For the “righteousness” is God’s righteousness (Romans x. 3), the “peace” is God’s peace (Phil. iv. 7), and the “joy” is the joy of the Lord Jesus Christ (John xv. 11), all given by the Holy Ghost.

Horn of the

He feeds in pastures large and fair, Of love and truth divine; O child of God, O glory’s heir, How rich a lot is thine!

LYTE.