The Cold Storage

“And he said, Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.”

Matthew 13:52

My daughter and I were out to lunch the other day, and she asked me a question: Mom, how would you like to do a Bible class once a week with my kids? 

Now, if you know me, you know I love to teach, especially God’s word!  However, a bit of doubt came momentarily into my mind. I love to teach God’s word to… WOMEN …but four boys with an age range of 6-13 years! Hmmm?

OF COURSE, I will be signing up for this fantastic opportunity, but what it will look like is yet to be seen.  

As I spent time this morning in God’s word, several things seemed to pop out at me. One idea led me to another, and soon, the Holy Spirit was taking me from Scripture to Scripture. I love mornings in the Word when that happens, don’t you?

So here is one thing God reminded me of this morning: Jesus said in Matthew 13:52, “Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.”

The beauty of living a long time in a relationship with Jesus is that the storeroom of gems is full—full of Old Testament and New Testament truths. Having spent time in the Word, under much teaching, and having traversed many trials of life, MANY truths have been learned and stored away. Learning wasn’t always easy, but the fruit was stored! 

When I was growing up, my dad owned a fruit farm.  It produced lots of fruit.  Acres of peaches, apples, and cherrie trees, planted in rows, filled the farm’s rich soil.  I can still remember my dad, at harvest time, loading up his truck with bushels of apples and taking the produce to be sold.  He sold lots of fruit.  But he often had more fruit than he could sell in any season, so he eventually built a cold storage in our big white barn.  

The cold storage was ample and could store lots of fruit at just the perfect temperature for a long time.  It kept the freshly picked fruit fresh and ripe until it could be sold.  For months after the harvest had come and gone, folks would stop by the farm, honking their horns, to buy a bushel of apples.  My dad would go to the cold storage and bring out whatever fruit was needed.  This cold storage was a perfect addition to the farm.  Fruit was available long past its regular season.  Everyone benefited from the cold storage design and use.  I can imagine the delicious smell of apple pie wafting through some lady’s kitchen in the winter months because my dad shared what was in his cold storage. YUM…

Our lives are much like that cold storage.  As we walk with Jesus, we become storerooms of truths—old gems from years of learning and new gems learned daily.  The Bible’s truths are stored but ready to be brought out and used as needed.  

Wouldn’t it be a shame if all we did was store all that truth, never using it or sharing it with others? Wouldn’t it be a missed opportunity to distribute what we have learned?  

I love teaching, but I know teaching isn’t for everyone. Maybe instructing a gaggle of busy boys isn’t in your future, but I know God wants to use you. He wants you to share those gems of truth you have stored.   

Those hard-earned gems can be shared in many ways. 

Take a minute and ask the Lord how you might share the gems of truth you have stored.  

Is there a card you have been meaning to send to someone? Could you add some of those gems you have stored away? 

Is there a friend or family member you have been meaning to encourage?  What about asking God to bring to mind some of those stored gems to share with them today?  Think about what gems of truth your spouse, kids, or grandkids might need to learn from you today.  

Maybe today you are going to the store. Is the Lord asking you to share a gem with them?  Or with your neighbor, small group member, or hairdresser?

Our enemy loves for us to forget about the storehouse of gems God has given us.  He also loves for us to think the storehouse is empty.  Don’t let him win this battle.  The opportunities are plentiful- the gems are in the storehouse.

Who might God have put in your path to share all those years of stored-up gems of truth?