Daily Treasure

“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth” (1 John 1:6).

There may be times we drift back in darkness, unaware we have become unplugged from the Source. We could compare this to a lamp. It just won’t work until weu plug it in and turn on its light.  We may think we have fellowship with Christ.  Then one day wefind ourselves drifting back into darkness.  We are lying if we think we haven’t come unplugged from the Source of True Light.  It’s time to repent and allow Him to fill us with His Light and truth.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Will your WAC be represented at the WNAC Convention? Pray about attending or helping someone in your group go as delegate.

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all”  (1 John 1:5).

This week we will be sharing thoughts concerning “The Source of Light.”  If we are going to shine in obedience, Christ must be the center of our lives.  Everything must revolve around Him. He is our all in all,  and He is only a prayer away.  When we feel overwhelmed with the cares of this life, we often forget how many times He has come to our rescue. No one and no thing will ever be able to sustain us like Jesus.  He admonishes us to come to Him, (Matthew 11:28) and cast our burdens upon Him. (1 Peter 5:7).  In other words, come to the Source, He leaves His light on.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Will your pastor’s family attend the National Association of Free Will Baptists, July 17-20? Pray to make this happen.

“Turn us again to yourself, O God Almighty.  Make your face to shine upon us.  Only then will we be saved.”  (Psalm 80:3; 80:19 NLT).

The highway running through my small town is currently overloaded with traffic—jams and slowed traffic all day long.  The reason?  Construction work on the interstate running parallel to our main thoroughfare has detoured traffic to a usually slower paced road—supposedly to create shorter delays.  Folks are catching a glimpse of a village they’d have sped past at 65 mph without that change in their plans.

God does the same things sometimes, doesn’t He?

Ever had your plans rerouted?  Your goals upended?  Your hopes and dreams detoured?

And in most every instance, hasn’t what He’s provided gone over and above what you’d imagined?

Ask Him to reroute you—according to His will, into His presence following His plan for your future.  I really think you’ll enjoy the journey.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray God would grant divine wisdom and direction to FWBIM interim director Clint Morgan.

“So Jesus used this illustration, If you had one hundred sheep, and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine others to go and search for the lost one until you found it?”  (Luke 15:3-4 NLT).

Would you make it as a shepherd?  Counting your flock each day?  Watching the sheep every moment they’re awake?  Constantly being aware of lurking enemies?  Trudging through briars, mud and thunderstorms to find the one who didn’t return to the barn?

Well, would you?  Okay, how about this:  Are you?

Are you sending out notes to those that are still lost in sin’s wilderness?  Does God hear their names lifted up to Him, by you, each day?  Ever lost sleep over the 100th little lamb?

Simply put, our flocks are lacking.  We have room for many, many more.  God did not create us for the world’s wiles and temptations. He is not willing that any should be lost.

Would you be a good shepherd?  Are you being a good shepherd?

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Free Will Baptist Bible College serves as a training center for many young lives. Pray for increased enrollment this fall.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth  forever”  (1 John 2:15,17).

Concerning today’s verse, The NIV Study Bible offers this definition of the world: “Not the world of people or the created world, but the world, or realm of sin, which is controlled by Satan and organized against righteousness.”

Where are our affections?  Time for a priority check—what or who do we love more?  Do we love the world and its things? Do we go for the physical or material over the spiritual? Our choices hold eternal consequences.  Only those who do the will of God will live forever.

Let’s look back at the titles of this week’s devotionals: Wear the Armor; Reflect God’s Light; Keep His Commandments; Shine by Example; Love Not the World. In summary, if we willingly obey each of these principles, we can’t help but reflect the True Light.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: FWBHM depends upon your prayers. Intercede for Home Missions Department leaders and support staff today.

“He that saith he abideth in him also so to walk, even as he walked” (1  John 2:6).

As Christians, we know the greatest example of One who shines in obedience.  Our verse simply states if we are desiring to be all we can be in Christ, we’re going to have to walk, “even as he walked.”  God’s love and grace should move us to acts of obedience. If not, maybe we need to draw closer to His Light.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Ask God to bless FWB Foundation employees David Brown, Richard Davis and Dotty Moore as they assist individuals and ministries through financial investments and estate planning.

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments” (1 John 2:3).

If our lives are characterized by obedience, those around us will be convinced of our love and loyalty to God.  Better yet, we will have the assurance of what God wants us to do. We also have the assurance that if we disobey, we can go to Him for forgiveness. Praise God today for His wonderful mercy and grace.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for print media ministries of Randall House Publications.