Daily Treasure

“Charity suffereth long and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.  Doth not behave itself unseemingly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth”  (1 Corinthians 13:4-6).

Our verses contrast what love is and what it is not.  Matthew Henry states “Charity is an utter enemy to selfishness; it does not desire or seek its own praise, or profit, or pleasure.”  I found the following statements in an old Living Bible: “Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It is never glad about injustice , but rejoices whenever truth wins out.”

We often struggle with the negative traits of love.  Let the love of God light your way to overcoming the things love is not.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Witnessing should be natural—like breathing. What’s your heart rate today?

Special request: Pray for those who have suffered great losses ones in recent storms. Pray for continued Master’s Men DRT efforts.

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

This week will serve as a prelude to our May study, “Shine in Love.”  As reflectors of the True Light, we must understand the need to love like Him. The Corinthian church had its share of problems. One of them concerned spiritual gifts. Paul tried to help them understand that, even if they possessed all the gifts, without love these would be meaningless. Anything we do as bearers of His Light will profit us nothing without love. First Corinthians 13 is just as relevant today as it was back then. What motivates us to do what we do for God?  How deep is our love for Him and others? As we share this week, let’s consider the traits of pure love so we can prepare ourselves to shine for Him in love.

Pure love is more than being charitable.  It stems from the love we have for God, though we cannot outlove God.  It is seeing others as though we were looking at them through the eyes of God.  It is more than just reaching out with our hands. It is opening our hearts while we open our hands. Today’s verses confirm that all our works and even enormous faith are worthless without love. If, when we are doing good, we sense our heart just isn’t in it, we may need this study as much as the Corinthians did.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Read Exodus 4:2. What’s in your hand? How are you using it for the Lord?

Special requests: Continue Pray for all who have suffered great losses through recent storms. Pray for FWB congregations who have suffered damages to their church buildings.

“One day an expert of religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question:  Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?  Jesus replied, What does the law of Moses say?  How do you read it?  The man answered, You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all your mind.  And love your neighbor as yourself.  Right!  Jesus told him, Do this and you will live”  (Luke 10:25-28).

Loving God with all that’s in you?  Hard to do?  Close to impossible?  Keeping your heart, your soul, your strength and mind on Him at all times—does this sound like a tall order?

It’s not.

Trouble comes when we try to do it like someone else is doing it.  We fret over how we’re living for Christ when we place our walks up against another’s—and that’s not what He’s called us to do.

You’ll never worship Him like someone else does.  You’re not made to.  Your Christian walk will not look like anyone else’s.  It can’t.  The purpose-filled life He has in store for you, is just that—for you.

I honestly think it’s time we all began loving Him with all that’s in us.  And then?  Well, then we’ll really start living.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: New flowers—new opportunities. Have you prayed about how you can assist more in new areas at your local church? You’ve been planted…are you blooming?with whom you often come in contact. Pray for this person today.

Special requests: Pray for those who have suffered great losses in the past week’s storms. Pray for Master’s Men’s DRT as volunteers assist in cleanup efforts.

“O God, don’t stay away…”  (Psalm 71:12 NLT).

You’ve prayed it, too?  You’ve been overwhelmed, exhausted, inundated, surrounded, alone and hurting, and the same words have flowed from your mouth—am I right?

It’s an assurance to me that God is never far, even when I cannot see His hands at work or feel the Holy Spirit soothing my heart.  But there are the days when I’ve cried out and gotten no response.  There are the valleys I’ve walked through, and felt no one’s hand upon my shoulder.  There are the storms during which I’ve battled my umbrella, fallen in puddles and cringed at the booming thunder—and not heard His voice speak peace to the winds.

And I’ve spoken the same words.  I’ve yelled them.  I’ve pleaded.  I’ve sobbed.  I’ve petitioned the God of the universe that He please, oh please, not stay away.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Father we desire that our lives bring only praises to your holy name. Today, may all our attempts align with your purposes.

Special requests: Please remember in prayer all those who have suffered losses through the storms—homes, churches, communities—and especially those who have lost loved ones. Pray also for believers throughout the region involved in response, care, and cleanup.

“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” (1 John 3:2).

As children of God, we should have already tasted the joy only Christ can give—even in this present world.  In spite of anything we have faced in this life, God has given us so many blessings.  We really should be the happiest people on earth.  Does our countenance always show that? Often times it doesn’t.  Think about the near future.  The joy and blessings that will be ours supercedes anything in this life.  It will begin when we see our Savior face to face.  We have caught a glimpse of Heaven through His Word.  Writers have written books that try to help us picture it.  However, humanly we cannot imagine words to convey our feelings one day when we see Christ.  He will outshine all the beauty of Heaven. This beautiful song by Gordon Jensen appropriately ends today’s devotional.

JESUS WILL OUTSHINE THEM ALL

Oh, what glory awaits me in heaven’s bright city,
When I get there such sights I’ll behold!
A million scenes of rare beauty will demand that I view them,
Still Jesus will outshine them all!

Mansions will glisten on the hills of glory.
Happy reunions on streets of gold.
Angel choirs singing glad praises forever
But Jesus will outshine them all.

The sparkling river is flowing, happy faces all glowing
Land of splendor where night never falls;
The golden glass gives reflection to that city’s perfection,
Still Jesus will outshine them all.

“Jesus Will Outshine Them All” by Gordon Jensen. Copyright @ 1972 by John T. Benson Publishing Company.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Exalt His name.

Special request: Pray for those who have lost loved ones in recent storms. Pray for Mississippi Free Will Baptists involved in clean up efforts today.

“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:20-21).

“As we patiently await our Savior’s return,” our study writer states, “we should invest in the eternally important.  Our stuff is not going to matter in Heaven.”  We’ve all probably heard the saying, “You can’t take it with you.”

A beautiful poem written by  missionary, C. T. Studd, contains these words,  “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”  Does your present life reflect where your heart is?  Do you live as if He could come back today?  Think about your priorities and relationships.  Do they reflect that Jesus is the light of your life?  My mind drifts to the words of an old hymn, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from Heaven’s open door, and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.” For now we live in this present world, but, as a child of God, our citizenship is in Heaven. We have a desire to be with Jesus, but, our mission on earth is not finished.

Another song asks the question, “Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown?” We have a message of hope to share with a sin-darkened world.  Can others count on you to leave your light on until Christ’s return?  If they can, you will be laying up treasures in heaven.  Everything you will ever do for the cause of Christ will count for eternity.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: “My life, my love, my all I give to Christ who died for me.” Is this your prayer?

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also”  (John 14:3).

Our verse today contains another promise.  He’s coming back.  To borrow words from an old song, “Jesus will be what makes it Heaven for me.”  He’s preparing a magnificent place for us in Heaven.  As much as we are longing to see Him, He’s also looking forward to coming and taking us to live with Him.  I can’t find the words to describe how that makes my heart feel. (I don’t know if there’s a word that combines humbling and exciting.)

Some have grown weary of the wait and wandered back into darkness. We must continue to let His light guide our steps. That Light one day will lead us safely Home.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Can you name your local/district/state/national WAC officers? Have you prayed for any of them today? Please do.