Daily Treasure

“But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31).

The church at Corinth needed to resolve their problems concerning spiritual gifts. In the midst of trying to attain them, they lost sight of what was really important.  Having many gifts was more about status than sincere service. It wasn’t wrong to desire “the best gifts,” but, they needed hearts filled with love.  Then they could effectively serve God and be better body builders, because their service to the Body of Christ would be motivated by love.

The better way Paul is mentioning (in the context of exercising our spiritual gifts) is the way of love.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Today is Day 16 of 40 days of Prayer and Fasting with International Missions. Pray that denominational leaders will lead with vision, wisdom, and integrity. Pray they will be dedicated to seeking God and His will. Ask Him to give them strength and good health.

“Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly” (Hebrews 13:18).

“And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:28).

Today’s verse is simply a short list of spiritual gifts. We must not think God is ranking the gifts the Spirit bestows.  Just  as we are all unique, there are more gifts than just the ones mentioned in our verse.  Somewhere on that exhaustive list of gifts there is one that has your name on it.  God has a purpose for your life. Ask Him to reveal what it is, and use it for His glory.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Today is Day 15 of 40 days of Prayer and Fasting with International Missions. Pray for a spirit of encouragement and strong community in your church. Ask God to help you see each believer with His eyes of grace and love. Pray the love the members of your congregation show to one another will be noted in your city and that people will know your church is truly Christ-like.  

“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us whether prophecy, let us prophesy, according to the proportion of faith;  Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering:  or he that teacheth, on teaching;  Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:6-8).

Once you feel you know what your gift is, be ready to put it to use.  The website commentary “Christ Notes” states:  “We must not say, I am nothing therefore I will sit still, and do nothing; but, I am nothing in myself, and therefore I will lay out myself to the utmost, in the strength of the grace of Christ. Whatever our gifts or situations may be, let us try to employ ourselves humbly, diligently, cheerfully, and in simplicity; not seeking our own credit or profit, but the good of many, for this world and that which is to come.”

We cannot use the excuse that we aren’t capable to do much in service to God.  I’ve heard this phrase used many times: “God doesn’t look at your capability, just your availability.”

God just wants you to do your best and leave the rest to Him.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Today is Day 14 of 40 days of Prayer and Fasting with International Missions. As people are saved, ask God to help your church welcome new believers wholeheartedly. Pray for the discipleship of these new believers, asking God to help them to grow strong in their newfound faith, to increase their understanding and application of the Word in their lives, and to share what they learn with others.

“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also”  (2 Timothy 2:2).

“Then the man said, Let me go, for it is dawn.  But Jacob panted, I will not let you go unless you bless me”  (Genesis 32:26).

How badly are you wanting God’s blessing?  How desperate are you to obtain all He has planned for you?  How far will you go, how long will you fight, how much of yourself will you give in order to receive His best?

Most of us, and I’m including myself in this crowd, never want to break a sweat when it comes to God’s blessings.  We’d like the benefits, sure enough, but get dirty?  No, thanks.  We like to call ourselves Christians, but haven’t paid the dues in time, sweat, blood or prayers.  We take the easy route.  We claim what’s freely available.  We look for the simple paths that lead to holiness.

I’m tired, very tired actually, of settling for less than an oversized blessing.  I’m ready for all He has to offer me.  And to insure I’ll get what He has planned for me, to make sure I won’t let go until I receive those blessings.  Well, I’m setting up a tag team.

Tag teams are fellow fighters wanting the same goal.  They are teammates who are willing to step in when another becomes exhausted in the fight.  In some circles they’re referred to as prayer circles, fellow soldiers or Christian mentors.  But me?  I like the term tag team.

I’ve set myself into a circle of ladies to whom I can go when the fighting gets too tough, the beatings are coming too frequently and the sweat is getting in my eyes.  They lace up their gloves, step into the ring with satan and fight for me.  Their prayers hit home.  Their encouragement heals and strengthens me.  Their cheers bolster my spirit and give me the boost needed to complete the fight.  These gals are more than willing to go to the mat for me to obtain God’s blessings.

Got a tag team?  You need one.  There will be days when you want to let go and give up—don’t. There will be times when you’re too tired to keep up, too bruised to take another step.  That’s when your tag team offers to take hold and not let go until that blessing is received.

Look around your church.  Is there a prayer warrior you want to sign up for your team?  Is the pastor’s wife a godly woman who knows how to get hold of God?  Got a deacon’s wife or a Sunday school teacher who you’ve seen stare down satan and walk away the victor?

Today’s the day to get your tag team organized and in place.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Today is Day 13 of 40 days of Prayer and Fasting with International Missions. When people intentionally share the gospel, people are confronted with their need for salvation. Pray for God to grant fruit for your labors and to add new converts to your church.

“Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47).

“I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners to find and punish those who sit contented in their sins, indifferent to the Lord, thinking he will do nothing at all to them”  (Zephaniah 1:12 NLT).

I’ve never been to Jerusalem, but I’m pretty sure the city has some dark alleys and abandoned places where folks could hide.  Even in Bible times, there would have been places where people would have congregated out of public view to carry out sins or to hide from punishment.  I’m pretty sure old Jerusalem was enough like modern day “hometown America” to state there were people content in their sins.  Comfortable, one might say.  Folks who have assumed they have gotten away with it all.

I don’t know about Jerusalem’s darkest corners—but I know about my own.  I can’t tell you I’m capable of reading minds or that I’d dare to judge another’s relationship with God—but I am well aware of how content with sin I can become.  I’m here to testify of times I’ve held to the lie of having slipped a sin under God’s nose undetected.  I know all about it…

The places in my heart where I have held grudges.  Hurts I’d sooner hold on to than give to Him.  Old arguments  I keep stoked up in my head and heart.  Corners of my heart I think are unseen by God.  The anger, bitterness and hatred.  The issues I stuff behind my mask of service.  Issues that are festering and raw—needing His attention.

I have tried to perfume the stench caused by me, trying to sit on top of my sins like nothing’s going on.  I have personally felt the acid building in my stomach as I refuse to confess my sins before God.  I’ve walked into church harboring evil thoughts and carried on as if nothing were amiss.

And I think He doesn’t notice?  There are no dark corners…in Jerusalem or in my heart.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Today is Day 12 of 40 days of Prayer and Fasting with International Missions. As a burden for the lost in the community grows, pray for God to direct your church to be intentional about sharing your faith. Ask for an awareness of opportunity and sensitivity to the Spirit’s leading. 

“For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard” (Acts 22:15).

“But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (1 Corinthians 12:11).

If you’ve lately read these posts or ever studied spiritual gifts,  you’ve learned the Spirit distributes all spiritual gifts. No matter how we try to list or rank them, they originate with the Holy Spirit. He determines who gets what gift.  We must be content with it and use it to be a body builder.  God  knows exactly where we are needed and will supply us with everything we will need to carry out His will.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Today is Day 11 of 40 days of Prayer and Fasting with International Missions. Pray that those who seek to share the gospel with people who have never heard it, will be able to clearly communicate the concepts of personal sin, God’s provision, and salvation. Pray for clarity of thought and leading from the Holy Spirit. Ask God to help them use culturally relevant concepts to explain eternal truth.    

“Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak” (Colossians 4:3-4).

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.  For as we have many members in one body, and all members one of another” (Romans 12:3-4).

If you read yesterday’s post, you may have thought about yourself and the church through which you serve. It’s easy to judge and compare our congregation with other churches and their members.  However, we cannot become arrogant in our service to Him.  All believers are blended into the Body of Christ.

The church at Corinth developed a prideful attitude as they flaunted their spiritual gifts. When using your God-given gifts, drop your ego for the good of the Body.  The Christian life is not all about you, it’s all about Him. Serve Him with humility.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Today is Day 10 of 40 days of Prayer and Fasting with International Missions. Pray for renewed passion within the denomination to reach the lost with the gospel. 

“Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:35).