Daily Treasure

“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4).

Whether we want to admit it or not, we have some kind of influence in this world.  As true children of God, our walk and talk must match.  If they don’t, we are living a lie.  We send a confusing message to those around us.  Be aware of the fact, God is not the author of confusion. (1 Corinthians 14:33a)  If we are going to shine in truth, we must make up our minds whose side we are on.  We must also shine in obedience.  The gospel message we give and live must always be clear and plain, far from distorted.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Do you anticipate more people at the altar because of your witness and prayers this week? Pray for the lost in your community.

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar and the father of it”  (John 8:44).

Our study for August is titled, “Shine in Truth.”  Today’s verse reminds us that we must first acquaint ourselves with the one who always stands ready to distort the truth.  The devil is a master of disguises.  He twists the truth so we may not recognize it.  He even knows Scripture, but, he will always take it out of context.

The only way we will ever shine in truth is to do as James 4:7 instructs, “Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  A right relationship with God and time spent in His Word will help you fight against the father of all lies.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: As you pay bills this month, pray for persons who will open or receipt them. Consider including a Scripture verse or tract.

“In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave or free, Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us”  (Colossians 3:11 NLT).

Too many of us  (including myself) are living lives that are not placing Christ in the position of importance He deserves.  We fill Him and His work into slots of time that are open and are a comfortable fit amidst the other ten thousand things we’ve scheduled to do.

Doesn’t matter who we are, Scripture says Christ is all that matters.

Does your schedule for the week point to Christ?  Are you busied with things of eternal consequence?  Do you make a mark for Christ in what you’re doing?

Christ is all that matters.

Are your reasons for attending church this morning centered around Him?  Are you going to worship the Creator or are you going to be seen by the masses?  Are you desiring to be in His presence or to make your presence known in the community of believers?  Are you going to commune in spirit and truth with other Christians or are you intending to make a good impression with how you’re dressed or in which pew you sit? Christ is all that matters.

Is He all that matters in your life?  At the end of the day, does the way you’ve lived offer evidence?

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Send a card/letter sharing the good news with an unsaved friend. Pray your words are well received.

“Watch out!  Don’t let me find you living in careless ease and drunkenness, and filled with the worries of this life”  (Luke 21:34 NLT).

If Christ were to come back today, what would He find you doing?  No, let’s go another route–what would He find you thinking?  Would He find you amazed by all His blessings, His gift of grace or busy about His business, or filled with dread and worry about tomorrow?

Does what you don’t know consume your thoughts?  Is your day spent fretting over what might be, what has been or what didn’t come to pass?

Are your alotted twenty-fours hours filled with anticipation and excitement or doubts and fear?

If He were to come back today, what would He find you thinking?

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Have you verbally witnessed this week? Pray for the person God brings to mind.

“And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.  And the angel departed from her”  (Luke 1:38).

Last, but certainly not least, is the example of another woman who was willing to shine in obedience.  Mary, the mother of Jesus, was just a young Jewish girl who was willing to be used of God.  She never intended to be elevated to a place of prominence. We know her story and how an angel visited her.  She may not have understood, at first, the significance of  the news that was shared, but, she accepted it by faith.  She, in obedience to the will of God, uttered today’s verse.

You may not be called by God through some miraculous event, but when you feel He is calling you through His Spirit, will you be able to answer just as Mary did?   Will you shine for Him in obedience?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Weather disasters? God sometimes uses an extra large font to write His message; He’s coming again. Are we ready?

“By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace”  (Hebrews 11:31).

Today we will focus on Rahab.  She was a harlot, a prostitute.  You notice I said was.  We first meet her in Joshua 2.  Joshua had sent out two spies out of  Shittim to view the land—even Jericho. These men ventured out, putting their lives at risk. They came to the house of Rahab. They would have been in grave danger if Rahab had chosen not to hide them.  The king of Jericho and his men came to Rahab’s house asking if she had seen two men who were spies. She told them they had been there but had left at dusk.

In actuality, she had hidden them on the roof under some flax that was drying there.  The spies made a deal to keep Rahab’s family safe in exchange for her silence.  They sealed it with a scarlet cord.  Rahab knew enough about God to understand why the spies had been in Jericho. Although she had lived a life of shame, Rahab had enough faith to help God’s men.  Because of her faith, she and her family were spared from the destruction of Jericho.

We never find Rahab turning again to her old way of life.  She became a portrait of God’s grace.  Her name is mentioned in the hall of faith. as we see in today’s verse.  Her name would no longer be one of reproach.   More important she has the dignity of being mentioned in the lineage of our Savior. (Matthew 1:5)

As we can see, God is no respector of persons when it comes to light bearers.  God can use anyone willing to shine in obedience.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: My how time flies. Pray to redeem the time today.

“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season”  (Hebrews 11:24-25).

Shining in obedience will, at times, demand sacrifices and suffering. Most of us are familiar with the story of Moses. He could have lived in the lap of luxury as the son of Pharaoh’s’ daughter.  However, he refused that lifestyle. He loved the Lord and His people. He was willing to shine in obedience, even if it meant forsaking the so-called good life.  Moses centered his life on the eternal instead of the temporal.

Are we willing to choose whatever it takes to do God’s will?  Are we willing to shine with eternity in mind?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: hank God for vision/hearing/ability to walk. Especially thank God for those with 20/20 spiritual vision.