Chocolate Stash
Oh, you know who you are. You, the mom or other woman who surreptitiously buys chocolate "for work," or "for small group," or even better (and by better, I mean less believable) "stocking up for Valentine's/Easter/Halloween/Christmas...because it's a good deal."
My mom was one of these people. For decades, she had a stash. A chocolate stash. The actual stash location moved over the years, but I knew at any given time, there was a bag of chocolate or graham cracker cookies coated in chocolate or chocolate minis SOMEWHERE in her house. To her credit, my mom was forever trying to lose those pesky THREE pounds she "needed" to lose.
Once, while putting some laundry away in the cavernous closet she had, I heard the unmistakable crinkle of a plastic bag containing chocolate. Like a jungle cat on the prowl, I started looking, aware I had unearthed the new stash location. Under hanging clothes, in a bag, were some chocolate miniature bars.
For this chocolate-lovin’ chick, that was alllllllllll it took. I ate a few, and then carefully put them back, knowing that I could come back to that stash, as long as I kept it secret, meaning, don't tell the kids.
I am so fortunate that God is not like me! When He says, "And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness—secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name," He is promising to take his stash of amazing and share it with me openly, without wanting to hold some back for later on!
The next, and coolest thing, in my humble opinion, is that He does this, not because He values treasure and secret riches (or secret stashes of chocolate), but because He wants me to know how personally He loves me. This is so mind-blowing! Jehovah Elohim, the term used here, means Lord God Almighty, nothing else being greater than him. A deity so important with all authority and sovereignty wants to call ME, a chick that falls for chocolate like 4000 dominoes, by NAME and He wants to give me treasure, riches-- not just convention-hall swag with his name imprinted on it.
So here it is -- I am so highly valued by the God of the Universe. I truly am made for more than Poptarts. Or chocolate. I am made to be the recipient of treasure. Riches. That makes me not only want to seek God out more, but to stand up straight and be confident in my role as a child of God.
Stash? Don't want it. God's Treasure? Seeking it. Won't you join with me?
Let’s pray:
God, thank you for loving us like crazy. We do not deserve it, but you don’t operate on the idea of “fair.” You planned to redeem us before the universe was formed and you sing over us with joyful songs and write our name on the palm of your hand. Engrave it in our minds that you love us and you want us to seek you not just to give you a laundry list of things we want, but because we love you and want to spend time with you, Help us to know your character more. Shine a light on how your character and your love works in our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Reflection Questions
When you think about God, what comes to mind ? Write down how you really feel. Is he a Santa Clause for stuff you want, is praying a to-do on a checklist to check off, or have you walked with him through really hard stuff and you have felt his comfort and peace? Or somewhere in between?
Verse study: Isaiah 49:16, Zephaniah 3:17, Psalm 139:14 - Write these verses out and then in your own words, what do you take away from these?
How does your role as a child of God empower you to use your gifts and talents? What can you do today to walk confidently as a child of God?
