Daily Treasure

“Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”  (1 John 3:16).

There’s no doubt how much God loved the world. He gave His only begotten Son to die for us.  This was agape love.  As hard as we try to love as Christ did, are we willing to “lay down our lives for the brethren?”  God’s love was real and selfless, a pattern for us today.  Shining in love means we are willing to die, if necessary, for Him or for His people.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Only one life—only what’s done for Christ will last. As another month ends, pray to be counted among the faithful.

“We know we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.  He that loveth not his brother abideth in death”  (1 John 3:14).

When we are saved, we die to sin and rise to new life in Christ.  Our trademark as a Christian should be our love for the brethren.  Those who do not love the brethren remain dead in their sins. Where do you stand?  Are you known for your love for God and others?  Many years ago, someone posed this question, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”  Your testimony will live on if you are known for your love.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Freedoms not used can be taken away. Pray for workers in restricted access areas.

“O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you.  My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water”  (Psalm 63:1 NLT).

If you ask me, there’s no more beautiful place than southern Illinois.  Within a short drive, I can observe all the wonders this area of the world holds—amazing rock formations, gorgeous lakes, woodlands, prairies, old churches, quaint towns and super people.  I’ve been a few places, but home is where I always love to return.

As lovely as it is, it’s still a tough, cold, wearying place to live.  This orb called Earth is not a comfortable fit for any of us.  It’s a place where encouragement is a well-sought-after commodity, peace is elusive, fear is rampant and normal is no longer that. With success determined by current events, the fullness of our wallet and the size of our body, enough is never enough. In the land of plenty we still hunger and thirst for what we don’t have—but yearn for.

If you’re like me,  you’re looking for a getaway from it all, a place to relax, a quiet spot to recuperate from the culture’s attacks. Well, I’ve found it—right here in this wonderful verse.

“O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you.  My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water”  (Psalm 63:1 NLT).

The world’s not going to offer you anything lasting, fulfilling or of worth.  God will.
The society at large is not interested in your well-being.  God is.
The human race cannot offer a sacrifice for your sins, a refuge for your soul or an eternal hope.  God has.

No matter what it is you’re looking for, waiting on or hoping to see happen—if you’re not looking to God, you’re wasting your time.  Seek Him.  Look for Him.  Trust in Him.  Cling to Him.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Praise God for the freedom we have to share Christ.

“Then Huram cast a large round tank, 15 feet across from rim to rim, it was called the Sea.  It was 7-1/2 feet deep and about 45 feet in circumference”  (1 Kings 7:23).

A great big pool.  Appropriate, don’t you think?  This weekend marks the day set aside for memorializing those who have passed and the big day for pool owners across our nation.  A day of inflating floaties and rafts, pulling lawn chairs from garages and setting them beside decks, digging for swimsuits in the bottom of dresser drawers and stringing beach towels across railings to dry in the summer sun.

You do know the meaning of the Sea, don’t you?  It was the basin of water used by the priests to cleanse themselves in before ministering in the Temple.  The Sea is where they carried out ritualistic cleansing ceremonies to make themselves pure enough to enter the holier parts.

But, this huge pool, wasn’t near big enough. To tell you the truth, as I think of my sins alone, an ocean wouldn’t have sufficed, either.  We needed something bigger, something purer, something with the capability to wash away sins. So God sent Christ.

Through Him our sins can be forgiven.  By His blood the darkest of hearts can be washed white as snow.  Because of His sacrifice, washing our hands in a certain manner is not necessary in order to serve Him.

If you celebrate by the pool this weekend…or anytime this summer, think of what He’s done.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Invite someone to join you tomorrow for church and then for a meal. Pray for this person and for your church body today.

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.  He that feareth is not made perfect in love”  (1 John 4:18).

If  “perfect love casteth out fear,” we need to come to terms with the word fear.  Is fearing the Lord mean being afraid of Him?  We must have a reverential fear of God.  However, knowing His love for us is perfect and unconditional should cast out any doubt and fear we have of Him. Our love for God and others is far from perfect when it involves doubt and fear. We can be so suspicious and untrusting at times that our loving is almost painful.  We must learn to let go of anything that would hinder our love for God and others. This includes giving over our doubt, worry and fear to the One who loves us perfectly.  By removing those things, we make room for His love to fill and thrill us.  We can shine in love without fear.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Have you verbally witnessed to someone today? This week? Pray for strength and courage to share your faith.

“For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another” (1 John 3:11).

When John penned today’s verse, he didn’t write anything new. The message then and now remains the same, “Love one another.”   Shining in love shows the world we belong to God.  We are walking in His light and obeying His commands.  The world can’t help but notice the difference.  We may be the only Bible some may ever read.  If our life presents the light of God’s love, we may be the means of leading them to Christ.  We need not worry what to say; the message stays the same.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray that upcoming state WAC meetings would honor the Lord.

“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”  (1  John 2:15).

We are pilgrims in this evil world, and it has nothing of eternal value to offer us. When we allow ourselves to embrace things of this world, we show the world we really don’t love God.  As citizens of Heaven, we should allow no room in our heart for the pleasures of this life that last but for a season.  We cannot shine in love when our walk and talk do not match.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Does your church have midweek services? Will you attend? Pray.