A Discipleship Journey Through the Lens of Treasure
Raimer Rojas
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.” - Matthew 13:44 (NLT)
“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” - Matthew 6:21 (NLT)
“What you say flows from what is in your heart.” - Luke 6:45 (NLT)
In John Steinbeck’s "The Pearl," a poor pearl diver named Kino finds what he believes is the "Pearl of the World"—a gem so magnificent it promises wealth, freedom, and a better future. But as Kino fights to protect his pearl from the envy of others, he clings more tightly to the pearl of his dreams, and it begins to reshape him. The treasure he once thought would bless his life slowly distorts it. Fear, pride, and obsession grow. In the end, the pearl reveals not only its worth—but Kino’s heart.
This haunting story captures a biblical reality: we become what we most treasure. As Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). In other words, discipleship is not first about discipline—it’s about desire. And the transformation of our desires begins not with behavior modification, but with a reordering of what we treasure. In a world full of treasures that offer only empty promises, God invites us to see Jesus as our Greatest Treasure—and to let that vision reshape our desires, our direction, and our way of life.
Through the Practicing the Way journey—Being with Jesus, Becoming like Jesus, and Doing as Jesus Did—our hearts are rewired by love. The counterfeit treasures of the world lose their pull as the beauty of the true Treasure—Christ—takes hold of our affections and forms our lives from the inside out, repositioning our lives from duty to delight.
This is where desire begins—by seeing and savoring the worth of Christ.
Behold Jesus – As we fix our eyes on His beauty, our affections are awakened. Desire is born in worship.
Abide in Jesus – As we walk with Him in daily communion, we enjoy the nearness of the Treasure Himself. His desires become ours.
Rest in Jesus – As we trust in His sufficiency, we release false treasures and find soul-satisfaction in Him alone.
In His presence, we discover the surpassing worth of Christ—and our desire begins to be re-formed around what is truly valuable.
God doesn’t just show us the Treasure—He makes us more like Him. Formation is the Spirit’s work of reordering our loves.
Renew the Mind – The truth of who Jesus is displaces the lies of lesser treasures. We begin to think like those who value what is eternal.
Transform the Heart – God doesn’t merely correct behavior; He reshapes affections. The old desires lose power as our hearts are re-ordered around the beauty of Christ.
Train the Body – Spiritual disciplines anchor our whole selves in the reality of the Treasure. Habits are formed that reinforce holy desire.
To become like Jesus is to become someone who treasures what He treasures—and increasingly reflects His beauty from the inside out.
The Treasure we’ve come to love can’t stay hidden—it overflows into how we live, serve, and speak.
Make Space for the Gospel (Hospitality) – We welcome those whom God treasures. We create space for others to encounter the joy of the Treasure we’ve found.
Proclaim the Gospel – We speak from delight, not just duty. We testify of the One we treasure most.
Demonstrate the Gospel – Through justice, mercy, healing touch, and sacrificial love, we embody the life of the Treasure we follow.
Mission is the natural outflow of a re-treasured life. As we do what Jesus did, we reveal what we truly treasure—and invite others to treasure Him too.
God transforms our desires by awakening us to the surpassing worth of Jesus. As we embrace Him, reflect Him, and embody Him, our affections are re-formed, our habits are re-shaped, and our lives become a living testimony to the One who is our greatest Treasure.