Daily Treasure

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings”  (Jeremiah 17:9-10).

A heart without God and left to its own devices is terminally ill with the disease of sin. This heart can become so evil, we can’t even understand its capacity to be that way. Probably the best way to explain this is from a physical viewpoint.  Ugly plaque can clog the heart arteries, which leads to a heart attack or even death.  How much more serious this is from a spiritual  perspective?  Physically one can have surgery to clear out anything keeping the heart from functioning properly.  However, only God can take a black heart, apply red blood, and make that heart white again.  Early detection will always be necessary to ultimately correct any heart problem.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: “Lord, another year of school has begun here in this community.  Are you calling me to be a room mother, a reading tutor, a volunteer? Show me ways You want me to be involved in the lives of these students. Amen.”

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened”  (Matthew 7:7-8).

A person with aprideful heart will never see the need to take her problems to God.  We should know by now we can’t hide anything from God. I like what our study writer wrote. “God already knows.  He just wants us to either own up to the problem or ask Him to reveal what it is—to let us see things as He does.”

As I look at today’s verses I see a progressive way to drop the pride.  The process goes beyond just asking.  It is having the determination to go the distance to resolve the problem.

Yes, ask God to reveal what is wrong and how to fix it. However, be willing to follow His treatment plan.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Prayerfully support your local WAC or women’s ministry leadership. Go the extra mile and send them a note of appreciation.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”  (Psalm 139:23-24).

If we are going to start the process of being better body builders, we must begin with a “Heart Check.” The heart is a vital organ whether we are speaking in physical or spiritual terms.

Working with the brain, the heart is the core of our being.  If the heart is not functioning properly, serious problems will develop. From a spiritual perspective, heart issues will affect  you, your church and those around you.  With our September study and devotionals, let us evaluate our present heart condition.

If we are having heart issues, we need to pinpoint the problem. First of all, we must recognize the fact something is wrong. We will never take steps to correct a problem if we choose to ignore it.  From a physical standpoint, doing this might prove fatal.  You will need to see a doctor. The same applies spiritually. However, we will need to immediately call on the Great Physician. Applying today’s verse is like making an appointment with the Lord.  Pray He will give you a thorough examination.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Lord, help me not forget to encourage behind-the-scenes people in my church like nursery workers, bus or van drivers, ushers, etc. Show me ways to offer assistance and make their service to the Lord easier.  Amen.

“So now, with God as our witness, I give you this charge for all of Israel, the Lord’s assembly:  Be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God, so that you may possess this good land and leave it to your children as a permanent inheritance”  (1 Chronicles 28:8 NLT).

Are you being careful?

No, I’m not referring to limiting your time in the sun, lathering yourself with sunblock. I’m not talking about cutting back on saturated fats or high cholestrol foods. I’m not even referring to the scheduled exams and tests recommended to screen for pre-cancerous growths.

I’m asking, “Are you being careful to live a godly life, so those who come after you will inherit godliness?”

So?  Are you?

You’re not depending upon preachers and Sunday School teachers, are you?  A couple of hours a week? (That’s if you get up and out the door on Sunday morning, right? Ouch, I know.)  Really, do you think that’s passing on an inheritance?

You’re certainly not depending upon the government to protect our freedom of worship, are you?  Although Scripture tells us officials are there because of God’s intervention, I find few politicians who are on the Lord’s side.

You’re not resting on your laurels when it comes to making sure your children need the Lord, are you?  Thinking Grandpa’s deacon-ship is a ticket to get in the Pearly Gates? Trusting your big, dusty, family Bible as a certainty?  Depending upon your name printed on a church’s membership roll?

Neither faith nor Christian values will be genetically transferred to the next generation.
Be careful to obey God’s Word so that your children will know the peace, joy and love of serving God. Be very careful.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER:  Lord, bless my Sunday school teacher, pastor and the leadership of my local church as they serve today.

“This is what the Lord says; The people of Judah have sinned again and again, and I will not forget it.  I will not let them go unpunished any longer!  They have rejected the laws of the Lord, refusing to obey him.  They have been led astray by the same lies that deceived their ancestors”  (Amos 2:4 NLT).

Nothing new under the sun, God said all those years ago?

We all thought it would have been easier back then, didn’t we?

We assumed the straight and narrow was, well, straighter and narrower?

The enemy a little less deceitful?

The consequences of sin a little, shall I say it, less harsh?

Being that the book of Amos was written approximately 755 B.C., it’s hard to fathom those temptations to sin as tempting as they are now.

Sins are sins.  The enemy still prowls looking for someone to devour.  Maybe his tactics have been fine-tuned to match the culture. Maybe satan’s attempts to channel doubts and fear our way have upgraded from rabbit ears to the latest satellite technology.  Maybe he’s as savvy on the World Wide Web as he was on parchment scrolls.

No, nothing’s changed.  Salvation is as needed now as it was needed back then.  A closer walk, an intimate walk, is as necessary as it was necessary back in the day.  A dedication to God is as vital today as it was in Amos’ time.

It still boils down to this:  We will follow who we want to follow.

So, today, September 3, 2011, who are you choosing?

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER:  Lord, help me to plan to be prepared spiritually for worship tomorrow.  May I spend more time preparing spiritually than I do in the meal/physical preparations.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us”  (2 Corinthians 4:7).

Paul referred to the gospel as a treasure. The Living Bible states “this precious treasure—this light and power that now shine within us—is held in a perishable container, that is, in our weak bodies. Everyone can see that the glorious power within must be from God and is not our own.”

The NIV Study Bible includes this note: “It was customary to conceal treasure in clay jars, which had little value or beauty and did not attract attention to themselves and their precious contents.”  In our verse “they represent Paul’s human fraility and unworthiness. The idea that the absolute insufficiency of man reveals the total sufficiency of God pervades this letter (to the Corinthians.)”

We are like light in clay jars.  Clay doesn’t have the durability of other substances. It breaks easy. I’m reminded of the beautiful gospel song, “He Doesn’t Throw the Clay Away.”  Thank God when our earthen vessel breaks He is there to mold and shape us back together like new. Even when we are broken, the light within is still there.  Let your light keep on shining by the power of God.  Treasure the fact you have the gospel message to share to a world still in darkness.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Do I have defined goals concerning personal evangelism?  Memorizing Scriptures? “Lord, help me shine forth the light—the treasure in this clay pot you’ve given me. I know Your Word is a guiding light. Help me memorize and retain Scripture for the purpose of sharing.” Amen.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field”  (Matthew 13:44).

Preparing today’s devotional was like digging for buried treasure.  The more I dug, the treasure I found in the Word became more precious. As you might guess, the Bible is a priceless treasure to me.

Jesus taught with parables—basically earthly stories with heavenly meanings.  WE could summarize today’s passage by saying it is about a man who found a treasure hidden in a field.  You notice it doesn’t say what the treasure is. And it appears the field had belonged to someone else.  However, whatever that treasure, the man just knows it is valuable. In his excitement, he wants it no matter what the cost..  He doesn’t go to the local bank. As you know, there were none in that day.  He hides the treasure in the field, then proceeds to buy the field.  He sells all that he has and buys it.  He is overjoyed because now the treasure belongs to him. Nice story, but what does it all mean?

Here is what I have gleaned in my study.  The parable is about a man who sold all he had to possess the kingdom. We cannot put a price on the value of the Kingdom.  The treasure found is Christ and the free gift of salvation.  We can’t pay for our salvation. Christ already paid a high price for it with His life on the Cross.  However, when we find the treasure, we should be willing to do all we can do to possess and cherish it.   When we discover just how valuable the treasure is, we are overjoyed that it now belongs to us. The parable that follows about a pearl is similar to a point—but with one difference: the hidden treasure doesn’t have to take years to find.

How much do you value the treasure? Enough to submit your will to Him?  Enough to put His kingdom first in your life?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Another new month! Am I excited about ways God can work through me? “Lord, give me holy anticipation concerning Your work in my life this month. Today may I truly value You as treasure above all.” Amen.