Daily Treasure

“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).

We were all once in darkness.  In 2 Peter 2:9b we find these words, “that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous  light.” This should be more than enough to motivate us to shine.  In thankfulness to Him we should “walk as children of light.”  The world needs to see there is a difference between darkness and light.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Smile.  Radiate God’s love as you SHINE! today.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God.  Renew a right spirit within me”  (Psalm 51:10)

What amazes me is what I learn in teaching the little ones at our church.  In attempting to make the Bible accounts come alive, in language they understand, I gain much deeper insights into what God is really trying to teach me.

Like the lesson we had on God creating the world.

To help them grasp the grand scope of what God did, we learned together that to “create” is to make something out of nothing.  God did not re-work the world.  God did not gather up bits and pieces of worlds that had previously existed.  God did not need to use things manufactured or produced by anyone else.  What He creates, He does out of His divine abilities.

Webster uses other words to define create:  “To bring into existence or to produce through imaginative skill.”

I still grasp the concept of Him making something out of nothing…and today’s verse backs that definition up with concrete and steel.

You see, in regards to my heart, He had to make something out of nothing.  He had nothing of any value to work with.  He couldn’t use a piece of my heart.  He provided me with a new heart.  He had to re-wire me in order for this new heart to function in my body.  He is constantly training me in the workings of this new creation He has placed within me.

The Bible tells us all was void before He created the world; blackness was all around.  The same was true of my heart before He entered in.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: January is almost gone. Has your life honored God this month?  Talk to the Lord concerning what needs to change.

“Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now” (1 Corinthians 13:12) NLT.

Do I see the power of the resurrection as clearly as it is? Do I view the cross, the sacrifice, the death of a spotless Lamb with 20/20 vision? Or is my gaze alltered by the world—a Fun House of Mirrors through which Satan would prefer I view?

Will it be in Heaven that I see my name written in Jesus’ blood? To finally understand that without the cross it would not have been there at all?

Will it be my eternal delight to view the Father looking at the Son in love, and then, only then, realize the immensity of the sacrifice made?

Will it be as He leads me from mansion to mansion and I feel the nail prints in his hand? Will it be then that I become fully aware of the pain He endured, the pain I caused?

Will it be the whiteness of His presence, the glory of His presence, the brilliance of His presence that brings me to understand the blackness of my sins?

Will I grasp the extent of His love for me when I hear the words, “Enter in,”…knowing I have no right, am not worthy, could not possibly have done enough/said enough/been enough?

I do not believe I see things clearly now. I cannot fathom, cannot grasp, cannot understand completely the overwhelming nature of the cross.

But one day I will. One day He will reveal it all to me, and I will stand amazed once again that it was for me He died.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Praise God for the joys and  privilege of coming before HIM together in prayer.

“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (Revelation 21:23).

We have previously noted that God’s creation of the world began with light.  Creativity and light seem to intermingle.  However, a time will soon come when there will be no need of light to live or work by.  Heaven will be illuminated by the glory of God with the Lamb as its Lamp.

One of the best parts will be that nothing relating to darkness will enter there.

Our lives should put forth the glow of His marvelous light.  As His light radiates through us, we can shine. In this new year, let us resolve to be a beacon for the Lord.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray about a living will. Would God have you assist WNAC or other Free Will Baptist ministries even after you’re gone?

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another. And the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7) .

The prior verse confirms: our walk and talk with God must match. We can’t ride the fence. If we think we can have fellowship with Him and dabble in darkness, the “truth is not in us.”  Today’s verse tells if we are living in the light of God’s presence, just like His Son does, we are going to have sweet fellowship with one another.  We will never be sinless, but walking in step with Christ, will help us to sin less. The Spirit will convict us to repent and have fellowship restored.  First John 1:9 was not written for sinners but for believers—those who desire to walk in His light.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Can you pray without making request? Try just praising God.  AMEN!

“…..he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Take hold the hand of Jesus and walk out of the darkness.  He is the Light that will light the way of life. You need not worry about stumbling around in the dark as you allow His Light to guide you. Tomorrow’s verse will admonish you to continue to walk in His Light. With enlightenment from His Word and days hemmed in prayer you aren’t apt to fall back into darkness.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Today when someone shares a need with you—pray immediately.

“…..and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).

John was a great one to make this declaration.   From what he had heard and seen, he knew in his heart and mind that Jesus was indeed the Light.  Jesus dispelled the darkness—He was good, holy, and true. These attributes stand in stark contrast to darkness.

You will never find any trace of darkness in our blessed Creator.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Fill prayers today with confession and praises as well as requests.