Surviving Chaos

COMMUNION MEDITATION: SEEKING THE KINGDOM LIKE A TREASURE

One of our favorite things to do on the weekend is go to garage sales. Now, I know some of you are right there with me. You understand the thrill of the hunt. But for my wife, MJ, and me, garage sales are more than just sifting through other people’s discarded items—they are a treasure-seeking mission.

In fact, we even went garage sale hunting on our honeymoon. We spent a week in Ottawa, Canada, at a beautiful bed and breakfast, taking in the sights and enjoying our time together. And wouldn’t you know it—the town we were staying in was hosting a community-wide garage sale. So, early that Saturday morning, we did what we do best. We got up and went treasure hunting.

That day, we found something special—our very first Christmas tree. Now, this wasn’t some grand, magnificent tree. It wasn’t pre-lit, flocked, or perfectly symmetrical. It was a small, simple tree. But to us, it was a treasure. We paid just 25 cents for it, and that tree lasted us five years. Every Christmas, as we decorated it, we’d relive the adventure of that day—the excitement of the find, the joy of the moment, and the value we placed on something others might have overlooked.

In Matthew 13:45-46, Jesus tells a parable about a treasure hunt of a different kind:

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!”

That man recognized the value of what he had found, and he was willing to give up everything to make it his.

And that brings us to this moment of communion. I want to ask you: Do you seek after the Kingdom of God with the same passion? Do you recognize the worth of what we’ve been given? Or do we approach this time like a routine—just a piece of bread, just a cup of juice?

Because to some, communion may feel like just another ritual, just another moment in the service. But to those who are truly seeking the Kingdom of Heaven, it is so much more. It is a reminder of the greatest treasure ever given: Jesus Christ, who sacrificed everything to redeem us. It is a call to reflect, repent, and realign our hearts with Him.

Paul gives us this challenge in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26:

“On the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.’ For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.”

And then he gives us this warning:

“That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself.” (1 Corinthians 11:28-29)

So today, as we prepare to take communion, I want to encourage you: Don’t just go through the motions. See this moment for what it truly is—a reminder of the price Jesus paid and the treasure we have in Him. Take this time to reflect, to seek, and to treasure the grace, mercy, and forgiveness that He has given us.

Let’s pray.

“Father, we come before You today with hearts full of gratitude. Thank You for the incredible gift of Jesus, for His sacrifice, and for the new life we have through Him. Help us to never take this moment for granted but to always approach it with reverence, reflection, and joy. As we take the bread and the cup, may we remember the cost of our salvation and the treasure we have in Your Kingdom. Draw our hearts closer to You, renew our spirits, and help us to seek after You with everything we have. We love You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”