Daily Treasure

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies” (Proverbs 31:10).

If  I were to put another spin on this week, I might call it “The Proverbs 31 Woman Meets Today’s ‘Ruby’.” Though we will be featuring a few of our home missionary wives, I would like to give tribute to all of them as they display the qualities found in Proverbs 31:10-31.
In times past we have encountered the Proverbs 31 woman we affectionately call “Ruby.” Putting that aside, let us first look at some of the qualities of the ruby gem. Its durability is second only to the diamond. It varies in color from pink to red. Placing the jewel in the fire only heightens its red hue. Shining a light upon it reveals more of its luster. (I hope you can see where I’m going with this—as we think about our missionary wives.) Note these comparisons.
Missionary wives must be durable with strength to face many challenges. The blood of Jesus, applied to their lives, will always be evident when they face adversity. As the light of Jesus shines through them, it will help point others to the true Light.

Today’s ruby is Pam Jones who serves with her husband, Tom in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. She is not only a treasure to her husband, but, she also is one to God.

Through this week of prayer, may we better understand the need to pray for these “priceless rubies” as they labor for souls in their fields. May we strive to follow their example as we labor in ours.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray that God would shower peace on home missionary wives who are moving or transitioning into a new role.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you.  The people can go out each day and pick up as much as they need for that day.  I will test them in this to see whether they will follow my instructions.  Tell them to pick up twice as much on the sixth day of the week”  (Exodus 16:4-5 NLT).

Instructions given:  Gather enough food for the day.  Do not gather more than you need.  On the sixth day, gather twice as much.  Don’t look for any to show up on the day of rest.

Can you say simple?  And the Lord intended this to be a test. I think I’d call it a quiz; how about you?

And yet?  Yes, we turn the simplest quizzes of faith into examinations of our core beliefs on a daily basis, don’t we?

He asks us to simply trust…we doubt, we ponder, we fear, we worry.

He asks us to tell…we think about it, we study over what to say, we don’t want to impose.

He asks us to obey…we stray, we re-work the mission, we ignore His request.

It’s not the big tests of faith dragging down our godliness scores—it’s the quizzes.  The opportunities to be examined for the simplest of things are tripping us up.  The review lessons are finding our minds centered and focused on things of little value and even less importance.

The quizzes are coming.  Take them boldly.  Use what you know, not what you feel, in responding to the questions you’ll be presented.  Don’t sweat the small stuff. He’s made it just easy enough so He knows you’ll pass.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Rejoice today in the abundant provisions of God. Ask God to keep you from the snares of  riches.

“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken.  We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit.  We are hunted down, but God never abandons us.  We get knocked down but we get up and keep going.  Through suffering, these bodies of our constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10 NLT).

Tough week. Illness, bad news, impatience, a stinky attitude and annoying situations I’ve found myself in—some because of my own doing and some out of no part of mine.  A week- long wrestling match with discouragement, a battle for my mind, a change in our schedule (those of you who know me know full well I don’t like anything messing with my planner) and a heavy burden for a sister in Christ.

Something had to be done.  I couldn’t live life to its fullest in a fetal position, hiding from life and casting fiery darts with my each and every look and word.  So I did it…

I stood up straight and tall, cleared my throat and read aloud the following verses.  Not sure if it was for my sake or the sake of the enemy, doesn’t really matter—it worked.

“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken.  We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit.  We are hunted down, but God never abandons us.  We get knocked down but we get up and keep going.  Through suffering, these bodies of our constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies” ( 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 NLT).

Get off the couch.  Get out of bed.  Say it in your pit if you must, but know where you are is only temporary.  Stand tall and proud when you speak the words.  If you’re living, like me, the front half of each verse, it’s now time to take hold of the second half.  It’s intended for you.  It’s meant for you.  It’s promised to you.  Claim it!

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for November study writer Diane Bridgman as she coordinates North Carolina’s WAC.

“And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee…So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person” (1 Samuel 25:32-35).

The crisis now past,  Abigail accomplished what she had set out to do.  David couldn’t thank her enough for her actions. He sent her on her way in peace with gratitude.

As Abigail headed for home, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief.  However, now came the hard part.  She would face her husband and share what she had done  to save her household.

He wouldn’t be happy about this.  No telling how this unpleasant man would deal with her.

Next week we will break for some PreThanksgiving Week of Prayer thoughts.

We will find more “rubies” as we learn about some of our home missionary wives.

We will return to our study the following week as we learn about Abigail’s confrontation with Nabal. You won’t want to miss how God intervenes in behalf of our special “ruby.”

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Read 1 Timothy 6:8. Take a look in your pantry. Now look in your closet. Are you content? Pray about this today.

“Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling. And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel; That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid”
(1 Samuel 25:29-31).

As Abigail continued speaking with David, he couldn’t help but notice her humility. She respected David.  Even though she had more material possessions than he did at the time, she showed him honor.  He surely admired her willingness to make herself accountable for those of her household.

Abigail demonstrates her God-given wisdom to appeal to David’s love of God and righteousness.  It was beneath David to respond so harshly to Nabal’s offense. One of the commentaries I read stated,  “she pointed out if he was to carry out his plan, he would be taking the responsibility of vengeance away from God and putting it on himself.”  She made him stop and think how he would feel later. He would have to live with the guilt of murdering Nabal and his household for their lack of hospitality. God should be the one to avenge the wrongs done to us and be made free of the guilt of revenge.

Not once did Abigail plead with David for her own interests. She never mentioned the fact, if he carried out his plan, she would be without a husband and a means of support. She could have anticpated the end of her plight—she would be free of her awful husband. However she only wanted to do what was right by intervening in her husband’s behalf and for the best interests of David. What a priceless gem we find in Abigail.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Ask God to grant strength and comfort to military families who have recently lost loved ones.

“Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send. Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord. I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days (1 Samuel 25:25-28).

Though we may question why, Abigail faced David to intervene in behalf of her evil and foolish husband.  Abigail didn’t learn until after the fact about Nabal’s stupidity.  Nabal wasn’t worthy of Abigail’s loyalty. She, more or less, took the blame.  She asked forgiveness, noting  that she hadn’t seen David’s men the day they were asking for help. Nabal would have been too proud to say he was sorry about what had happened. In contrast, Abigail humbly took responsibility for something that wasn’t her fault.

The fact David listened to what she had to say made it easier for Abigail to finish her confrontation with him. Tomorrow we will see how Abigail presented the rest of her plea to David.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Young Woman Active for Christ groups meeting this month.

“Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs…And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal…And when Abigail saw David, she…fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid” ( 1 Samuel 25:18-24).*

Abigail had faith and a plan. Now it was time to get busy.  She loaded up vast provisions beyond what David had originally requested.  Try to picture this scenario as she bravely approaches David and his army. As she confronts David and begins to make her appeal, I imagine her heart racing and lips quivering as she begins to speak.  However, I think once she started speaking, God calmed her nerves. Out of her mouth poured words of wisdom and kindness.

During those times when you feel you don’t have the appropriate words to share, God will give you the strength and wisdom to handle any crisis.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Ask God to help you make wise family choices today.