Daily Treasure

“Beloved now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:2-3).

As children of God we must accept the truth of His Word. We have the hope and confidence that one day we will “see him as he is.”  We are overwhelmed now because we don’t see the total picture clearly. What we don’t understand, we must accept by faith. We should want to follow Christ’s example by striving to be pure “even as He is pure.”

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for strength to tell the wondrous story to someone today. Reaffirm your commitment by singing “I Will Sing of My Redeemer.”

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).

What is this verse saying? Putting it briefly, happy is the person with a pure heart because he or she has the promise he or she will one day see God in His purity.

God looks on the heart.  May we pray as David did, “create in me a clean heart, O God…” (Psalm 51:10).

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for eagerness and vigor for doing God’s work as you meditate on the words of  “I Am Resolved.”

“When any of the people become aware of their guilt in any of these ways, they must confess their sin…” (Leviticus 5:5-6).

How’s it make you feel to be convicted of a sin in your life? To find out something you’ve been doing, or something you’ve been failing to do, creates a distance between you and the Lord?

Sickened? Disgusted? Embarrassed? Maybe indifferent? Uncaring?

What do you do with the information? Do you kneel in confession? Do you ask for strength to change? Do you own up to the sins darkening your heart?

How we feel about sin in our lives is very important. What we do with those sins is even more important.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: How’s your walk with the Lord? Pray to follow Christ in all things as you meditate upon the words of the song,  “Footsteps of Jesus.”

“I am not sending you to some foreign people whose language you cannot understand.  No, I am  not sending you to people with strange and difficult speech.  If I did, they would listen!  I am sending you to the people of Israel, but they won’t listen to you any more than they listen to me!  For the whole lot of them are hard-hearted and stubborn.  But look, I have made you as hard and stubborn as they are.  I have made you as hard as a rock!  So don’t be afraid of them or fear their angry looks, even though they are such rebels”  (Ezekiel 3:5-9).

Who immediately came to you mind when you read about the hard-hearted and stubborn people God was sending Ezekiel out to witness to?  Did a co-worker’s face pop into your head?  Did that dreaded customer show up on the screen of your heart?  Was it a neighbor?  A family member?

Someone who has a way of intimidating, consistently criticizing, embarrassing or unnerving you?  Someone whose very presence wipes all Christian thoughts and feelings from your heart?  Someone who you believe Billy Graham himself couldn’t affect for the Lord?

Will you come in contact with them today?  No, this is not an attempt to ruin your day with the thought of them, but an effort to encourage you with God’s Word.

God has made you stronger and more stubborn than the other guy.  Now some of you are not surprised in the least to find that the stubborn streak you’ve noticed in yourself has been noticed by the Lord.  Thrilled to find out He could use that characteristic, but not surprised that it’s been noticed.

But some of you aren’t really sure–of mice and men, you tend to be the ‘squeakier’ of the species.  Your temperament is shall we say–demure, shy, quiet, laid back, unimposing?  You don’t rock the boat, you aren’t noticed among the crowd, rarely if ever will you be seen up front–and certainly not heard.  News flash:  You are not exempt from proclaiming His truths to the world.

He has written in His Word encouragement for His children.  He is wanting you to know that what He has called us to do (testify to his greatness and His saving power), He has enabled us to do—even among the most hard-hearted and stubborn people we know.

He knows the opposition you’ll face on a daily basis, some from outside and some from within, but He has equipped you for the task!  So, go and tell.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Intercede for someone who is hurting; share this song of encouragement: “God Will Take Care of You.”

“I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first”  (Revelation 2:19).

In the early chapters of Revelation, we find the letters to the seven churches.  Could we compare our church to any of them?   God first commended them.  However, some areas needed rebuke.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be a part of a church that had today’s commendation? At one time many churches were known for the traits in today’s verse.

There is a great need for folks to answer the call to purity.  Will you stand out in your church by surrendering to that call?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray to share your story—His praise—today. Prepare your heart by singing, “Blessed Assurance.”

“Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols” (Revelation 2:20).

Our verse speaks of the evil Jezebel and her influence on others. Churches today are in need of purging the evil influences within them.  We need revival.

Whether we want to admit it or not, we have an influence—either for good or evil.  What is your influence in your local church?  Think on this old phrase, “What would my church be, if every member were just like me?”  Are you willing to shine in purity within your local church?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Sing unto the Lord, thanking God today for His “Amazing Grace.”

“But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things offered unto idols, and to commit fornication” (Revelation 2:14).

Just as in the time of the writing of today’s verse, there are people in our world today who are stumblingblocks.  It only takes one person to influence many. We find an example of this in the Old Testament account of Balaam. Swayed by the treasures and talk of King Balak, he tried to curse God’s people and lead the children of Israel astray.  Sadly, in many churches today there are those among its members doing the same. Maybe the tactics are different, but, the results are the same.  If we are going to shine in purity, we must live our life as a stepping stone to Christ.  We must know, without a doubt, the truth of God’s Word so we won’t be swayed by “every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14).

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Make this your earnest prayer today: “Nearer My God to Thee.”