©Dee Dee Hall-2001

           Ephesians 2:7 speaks of the unsearchable riches of Christ. Our greatest treasure is found in Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. This connects with 11 Co. 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels ... The most important thing I have ever done in my life was to accept Jesus as my savior. The God of creation became my own redeemer and now lives inside of me. Awesome! Jesus not only gave me salvation, but also gave me purpose and peace. For me to live is Christ! Here is a side tunnel off the word vessel, II Tim. 2:20-21 reads But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and same to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Ro. 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory.

        Col. 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding ... Another gem that we find is full assurance. It is wonderful to have assurance of your salvation. I was not saved in a church that taught eternal security. What a blessing and relief I felt when I found out through God's word, that my salvation was secure - not because of anything done on my part, but because of what Christ had done for me! This knowledge did not cause me to want to go out and sin, but on the contrary, caused me to appreciate and want to please my Lord even more.

         Eph. 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Oh what a jewel is grace. It is the balm for all our wounds and pains of life, It was the instrument that taught my heart to fear. It comes to me in my weakest moments and gives me courage to face another day. It's amazing! The grace that God gives to us through our troubles and trials is a testimony to a lost and dying world, It gives them hope that there is a living God. And in eternity to come, the Lord will display us as his trophies of grace, Eph. 2:4 But God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) ... One definition of mercy is kindness in excess of what may be expected or demanded by fairness. I should be in Hell with my back broken; instead God has graciously saved me from Hell, and given me a wonderful life in Him. So many times I deserve a good thrashing, and He shows me tenderness and kindness instead. His goodness often leads me to repentance. What price can we put on mercy?

          Jesus paid the price for mercy, 11 Co. 8:9 says for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. Pr. 10:22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich. and he addeth no sorrow with it.

        Pr. 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. and loving favour rather than silver and gold. A good testimony is priceless. It is something that we should guard and treasure - more than any material thing we might possess. If in life we are blessed with a loving family, we are rich. If we don't have a Christian family, but have Christian friends, then we are still on the wealthy side. if we feel we have no friends, we still will always have the friend that sticketh closer than any brother. Loving favor is of great value in our lives. Our daughter had to have two open- heart surgeries. Because my husband is an evangalist, we have the blessing of knowing many Christians all over this country. The value of having loving favor of these many praying friends can never be told. The days of her heart operations there were dear friends from all over the country holding her name up before our Lord. During her last operation, my mother found her way to the chapel in the hospital to pray for Carrie. While praying there a nurse came in and fell to her knees in prayer. When she was done, my mother asked her whom she was praying for. She told Mom that she had been in surgery all morning and that her shift was over, but she came in to pray for the little girl having surgery before she went home. The little girl was our daughter! How can a price be placed on that? This is a poem the Lord gave me concerning riches in Christ.

Two Rich Men

Two rich men - their stories I know quite well Of the choices they made in their lives I do tell. One chose the world, with its wealth and its fame, The other chose the Lord, and a ministry came.

Down through the years, their bank accounts grew, Investments were made; withdrawals were few. "How successful he is!" they said of the banker, They knew not his gold and silver would canker.

"That preacher is poor, his life seems a waste," Of riches and wealth they found not a trace. But deposits were made and interest too, His bank was in heaven; his treasure was true.

 Then came a day they both faced with fear, In a hospital room with a child loved so dear. Each child faced the knife of a surgeon that day. The banker just sat. The preacher did pray.

All through his life Christian friends he had made. Not for the world's wealth their prayers would he trade. Friends he had in the North and the South, More prayers were sent up, as from mouth to mouth,

Their friends told their friends, and so they prayed too. A prayer chain was formed by loved ones not few. Brothers and sisters, in the East and the West, And as prayers went up, how wonderfully blessed

He felt, as he sat, with the banker that day Priceless treasures were his - prayers that could sway-The heart of God, as a fragrance He smelt, The prayers of His saints; sincere and heart-felt.

"Good news," said the surgeon, "Your child will be fine." The preacher's prayers were worth a gold mine. 'I'm sorry," he said to the banker that day. "We did all we could, but there was no way."

These two men a great trial did face, One had silver; the other had grace. The riches of the banker no comfort could bring, But the wealth of the preacher was worth everything.

And so this story now is through This question - I shall leave to you. Heaven's bank or earth's bank, which is best, When troubles come and you face the test?

-Dee Dee Hall

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