Daily Treasure

“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14).

As we seek to defend the truth, we must put on the whole armor of God.  The NIV Study Bible states this about “girding our loins”: “the belt of truth is the symbolic clothing of the Messiah.  Character, not brute force, wins the battle, just as in the case of the Messiah.”

Every part of the armor is vital.  Leaving off any portion , we won’t be able to withstand the “fiery darts of the wicked one.”  Follow the order the scripture says to put it on.

Truth and righteousness must come first.  We will shine in truth and when the battles are over, we will still be standing.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Autumn approaches. Pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into the fields.

“And we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ.  This is the true God, and eternal life”  (1 John 5:20).

We don’t have to guess about the truth when we belong to Jesus.  We can be confident, knowing we love and serve the one true God.  We should be willing to defend our belief in Him and His Word.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Your influence in a child’s life may determine future character. Pray for children within your circle of influence.

“Study to show thyself approved unto God…” (2 Timothy 2:15a).

I must reinforce the need to take time and do more than read the Word.  How can we defend the truth when we are confronted with questions?  Can we face others with confidence in what webelieve?  Or would we have to hang our heads in shame? Would we be prepared to give an answer of the hope within us (1 Peter 3:15)?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Are your valuables in a rust-and-robber-proof place? Have you told your two-legged valuables how much you love them? Pray for spiritual growth and unity among family members today.

“And I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News.  For everyone here, including all the soldiers in the palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ”  (Phillipians 1:13-14 NLT).

Oh, I know you could give me an earful about your life.  The ups, the downs, the good, the bad, the most precious—and the ugly.  We could spend an afternoon chatting about what’s happened to you up to this point.  I could hold back chuckles, I could attempt to keep my jaw from hitting the floor, I might be able to stop the tears from flowing (very doubtful).  I could sit beside you as you reminisce, as you fume, as you struggle with spilling your guts.

I could sit while you detail happenings that have made you into who you are today.  I might struggle to understand how you’d made it this far.  I might possibly pat you on the arm and console you over misdeeds done to you as a child.  I could shake my head over your particularly sad childhood, dysfunctional family or horrible tragedy.  I could pass tissue after tissue as you bare your soul.

And in the end?  In the end, I’m going to ask…

How has God used your life as a spotlight on His grace?  You see, it’s not about what’s happened to you, how you overcame or who you are on this side of the tragedies, traumas or testings—it’s all, ALL, about Him.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Intercede today for a Christian educator in your local public school.

“One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit.  She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight.  When Jesus saw her, he called her over to him and said, Woman, you are healed of your sickness!  Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight.  How she praised and thanked God”  (Luke 13:10-13 NLT).

As I reread the story of this gal, a story I’ve read a thousand times, heard preached about a couple of hundred times and have written on a few times, I’m feeling God press a new question into my heart.  A little something to ponder…

Am I standing straight and tall?

Am I holding my head up high in regards to what He’s done in my life?  Oh no, you’re right, I don’t deserve an ounce of the mercy He’s shown. But am I walking tall in this privilege—He chose me to receive it?

Am I standing up strongly, or do I still allow the weight of burdens and past choices to double me over?  He’s taken all I’ve given Him.  He’s provided enough grace to more than cover any and all of my sins, am I allowing Him to carry the weight?

Does my posture, my face, my countenance, my life honor Him?  Does how I carry myself, on mountaintops and in valleys, reveal to others how much He’s done in my life?

Am I standing straight and tall?  Are you?

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Praise God for government leaders. Pray each may seek His way.

Read these scriptures and seek to commit them to memory.

” For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”(Romans 10:9-10).
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

Our study writer states: “These verses provide a clear explanation of the need for salvation and chart the pathway for believing truth.”

Many of us are familiar with the Romans Road.  However, many others have never used it to lead someone to Christ.  When was the last time you led a soul to Christ?  We have the truth and the path to receive it.  Is your light shining so others can ask you for directions?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Dear Jesus, help me shine: I had a basket over my head yesterday. “Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m gonna let it shine.”

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”  (2 Timothy 2:15).

If we desire to shine in truth, we must spend time daily in the Word.  How can we begin to impart to others what we, ourselves, don’t know or understand?  It’s important to know what the Word says and means.  We have the awesome privilege to share the truths of God’s Word.

We must be careful to divide those truths correctly.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Dear Jesus, shine through me in what I do, how I talk and how I react today.