Jesus, my treasure

One aspect of my salvation has been especially hard for me: Jesus as my treasure. John Piper makes a big deal of this: “A nontreasured Christ is a nonsaving Christ. Faith has in it this element of valuing, embracing, prizing, relishing Christ,” and, “…we are converted when Christ becomes for us a Treasure Chest of holy joy…”

How is it that I missed such a vital part of my salvation? I grew up in church, and I thought I knew all the basics and quite a bit more. But to miss this incredibly important aspect of my faith??? How did this happen? And now that I’m 20 years old and finally realizing that Jesus must be my most valued “possession”, I don’t know how to live it out. It’s such a foreign concept to me that it easily gets overlooked. I can spend weeks and even months without stopping to truly value him.

I can be grateful for his gifts and blessings. I can recognize my need for him. I can praise him for his great works. These are all good things. But what about placing a higher value on him than anything else? I don’t mean prizing his gifts, support, or miracles. I mean truly viewing him as my treasure–the ultimate treasure for which I would give anything to possess. Do I value Jesus, all his works aside? Do I prize him as a “person”?

Jesus, I know that I have truly failed to recognize how great a treasure you are. Many of us probably have. Forgive us for not valuing you as we should. Reveal your infinite worth to us. Inspire us daily to see you as the only treasure worth pursuing.