This Month's Study | Treasure in the Bible
- June 2019 Issue
"Quartet for the End of Time" by French composer Olivier Messiaen is based on the book of Revelation. Its haunting rhythms and mysterious melodies evoke the eternity of Christ and tell us about the grace of God. But the composer found this grace in a grim place. Messiaen composed his quartet while a prisoner of war in a Nazi camp, Stalag VIII-A, near Dresden. At the premiere performance, as the prisoners sat there hungry and shivering in the cold, they were mesmerized by the music, realizing something truly special had happened. The composer gave them his treasure--his love for Christ--through the gift of music.
This month in Today in the Word we’ll study what the Bible says about treasure. We’ll ponder what it means to “store up treasures in heaven” and what treasure we have “in jars of clay.” We’ll read about people in the Bible who chose the right treasure—David and Moses—and learn from those who chose the wrong treasure—the rich young man. We’ll look into the fascinating history of Israel as God’s treasured possession. And finally, we’ll explore “the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:2–3).
We pray this month’s study will fill your heart with gratitude for all the treasures we have in Christ, and most importantly, for Christ Himself, His grace, His love for us, and our love for Him. Thank you for studying with us!
—Elena Mafter, Senior Editor
Managing Editor: Heather Moffitt; Senior Editor: Elena Mafter; Contributing Editors: Jamie Janosz, John Koessler; Writer: Brad Baurain; Art Director: Lynn Gabalec; Graphic Designers: Larry Bohlin, Rachel Hutcheson; Marketing & Production: Paul B. Currie
BY Brad Baurain
Dr. Bradley Baurain is Professor and Program Head of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) at Moody Bible Institute. Bradley has the unique privilege of holding a degree from four different universities (including Moody). He is the author of On Waiting Well. Bradley taught in China, Vietnam, the United States, and Canada. Bradley and his wife, Julia, have four children and reside in Northwest Indiana.