Daily Treasure

“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:15-16).

I recently read an interesting article titled, “Vital Signs of a Healthy Body” written by Steven J. Cole.  I don’t often share thoughts or quotes from writers I know little about, but he did make some valid points that go with today’s verses.  When we go to the doctor, one of the first things the nurse checks is our vital signs.  Our temperature, blood pressure and pulse rate can indicate problems within the body. Drawing a spiritual parallel, certain tests also provide  indicators of  problems within churches—problems within the body. A healthy body will have the following vital signs of good health: “doctrinal discernment,”  “practicing truth balanced with love,”  “growing toward Christlikeness by submission to His lordship in all areas” and “every member contributing to the growth of the whole.”   To accomplish these vital signs, the body must be close so it can grow.  As I continued to read, I wondered about the condition of today’s churches and their members.  Are we walking in truth under the direction of the Head of the Body? It’s time to evaluate our strengths and weaknesses so we can be vital to the growth of the Body.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Today is Day 9 of 40 days of Prayer and Fasting with International Missions. Pray for your church, pastor, and leaders to be burdened to reach the lost in your community. Ask God to provide new opportunities for outreach.

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12).

This Scripture establishes two reasons for spiritual gifts. The first is to equip us as believers for service to God and the other is so we could become body builders in the church.  We are all portraits of God’s grace. However, we are each given a varied measure of grace.  As we serve the Lord, we need one another, each contributing their gifts for equipping us for service or rebuilding us in the faith. Depend on one another, no matter what title or gift the Spirit bestows. We are all in one body for the common good of all.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Today is Day 8 of 40 days of Prayer and Fasting with International Missions. Pray for God to break your heart for those who are lost. Ask Him to give you eyes that see those you encounter today as people who need Him. Pray for boldness to share the gospel with them.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16) .

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ”(Ephesians 4:7).

If anything should unite a church, it is the grace of God. God gave us all grace when He saved us. However, that grace didn’t stop after salvation. He gives special gifts to help us serve Him.  He knows our strengths and weaknesses, so He distributes these gifts as He sees fit.

He also knows what the Body of Christ on this earth needs to carry out His mission. God administers gifts for the mutual good of those in the church. He uses them to bind together believers who desire to serve Him and one another.PRAY TOGETHER: Today is Day 3 of 40 days of Prayer and Fasting with International Missions. Pray for the Spirit of God to move mightily in your church. Pray the Word and God’s wisdom will impact every program and effort of the congregation. Ask God to give each Christian boldness to share the gospel.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Today is Day 7 of 40 days of Prayer and Fasting with International Missions. Pray for God to give you a deeper desire to know Him and for Him to reveal Himself to you. Ask Him to help you put your relationship with Him first in your life.
“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, when no water is; to see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary” (Psalm 63:1-2).

“And Solomon, my son, get to know the God of your ancestors. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and with a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and understands and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. So take this seriously. The Lord has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong and do the work” (2 Chronicles 28:9-10 NLT).
…King David’s parting words to his son.
…King David’s life lessons presented in a short lecture.
…King David’s heartfelt desire for his son—the prince.

David did not assume his love for God would be inherited by his son. He did not conclude, because young Solomon had watched him worship, that his son knew, deep down, the reason and the exhilaration of worshiping himself. David did not assume the family would continue in godliness. He never took for granted that personal relationships with Yahweh would be carried on with the family name. David knew, and thus instructed; a relationship with God was not instinctive. He knew the drawing, the luring, the pull of the flesh.

So he made the effort to mention it to his son. He took the time to present the facts and push for the outcome he so desperately prayed for. He didn’t mind stepping on toes and pushing the envelope in an effort to instill godliness in his son.

And us? We need to heed the same advice:
…get to know God.
…worship Him with all you’ve got.
…serve him with all you can.
…understand He knows all about you.
…look for Him and expect to find Him.
…leave Him and you’ll lose.
…take a relationship with God seriously.
…you’ve been chosen to build yourself as a temple for Him to indwell.
…be strong.
…do the work.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Today is Day 6 of 40 days of Prayer and Fasting with International Missions. Ask God to strengthen our Free Will Baptist churches around the world. Pray the fruit of the Spirit will be manifest in individual lives. Pray for discernment, purity, and honesty in every aspect of their lives. Ask God to make each congregation a lighthouse of His glory and grace.
“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God” (Phillippians 1:9-10).

“The Lord is good.  When trouble comes, he is a strong refuge.  And he knows everyone who trusts him”  (Nahum 1:7 NLT).

Ever just needed a little reminder to get you up and going?  A small tidbit of fact that can encourage?  A little piece of information that pushes you in the right direction?

Not a theology lesson.  Not a hellfire and brimstone sermon.  Not a dissertation on religion.  Not a twelve-part lecture series.

Just a little reminder…

“The Lord is good.  When trouble comes, he is a strong refuge.  And he knows everyone who trusts him.”

Aaah, how’s that for starting your day?  Getting your mind on the right track?  Giving a small boost to your faith?

…and straight from the Word of God.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER:  Today is Day 5 of 40 days of Prayer and Fasting with International Missions. Ask God to grant a genuine spirit of unity among the people within our denomination and our leaders.
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).”

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal” (1 Corinthians 12:7).

Writing to the Corinthians, Paul was dealing with a church in turmoil.  The website called “Family Times” gives these comments concerning today’s verse: “Paul continues his discussion of the subject of irregularities in the worship of the Corinthian church. There was a self-indulgent spirit in the area of spiritual gifts that produced selfishness, disunity and apparent chaos in the assembly (12:7,25). Unfortunately, the members were grieving the Holy Spirit by the carnal ways in which they were using spiritual gifts.”

Obviously, what they were doing with their spiritual gifts produced no evidence of good. Our spiritual gifts should always build up one another in the church. Using them in the right way will always profit the whole body of believers. It all boils down to this: Are we using our gifts for our own glory or for God’s glory?  If the latter is true, we won’t be guilty of grieving the Spirit.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Today is Day 4 of 40 days of Prayer and Fasting with International Missions. Ask God to renew marriages and families within your church. Pray for greater commitment to loving and honoring one another within marriages. Ask God to heal fractured relationships and to restore families. Pray children will resist ungodly influences.
“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:18-21).

“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and forever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11).

Whatever the gift or gifts bestowed upon you, use them for His glory. Remove self from the equation so God can work through you.  In this way,  in whatever form you minister, He will be glorified. Without Him you can do nothing (John 15:5b).  God will always furnish what you need to accomplish His will.  Is your life filled with gifts and blessings bringing honor to the One who graciously bestows them?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Today is Day 3 of 40 days of Prayer and Fasting with International Missions. Pray for the Spirit of God to move mightily in your church. Pray the Word and God’s wisdom will impact every program and effort of the congregation. Ask God to give each Christian boldness to share the gospel.
“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).