Daily Treasure

“Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her” (Proverbs 31:28).

In previous devotions we became acquainted with “Ruby,” the ideal woman.

You remember the woman who set the standard we can only hope to achieve.  She was very fortunate to be the ultimate stay-at-home wife and mother. Though she had the skills to manage many tasks, could she have added a job outside the home to the mix?  Knowing “Ruby,” she probably could have.

Those who are trusting God to give them the strength to handle it all are blessed with a happy home.  It takes patience, the ability to delegate when necessary, and the wisdom to prioritize.

“Ruby” valued her family and her relationship with God.  She probably had days when she felt overworked and under appreciated, but our verse shares how her family felt about her.

If you share her values, your family will notice and they, too, will give you praise for all you do.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Rusty and Brenda Carney as they study Japanese. Pray for Randall House Publications as they assess damage and begin clean up from flooding over the past weekend.

“Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised” (Hebrews 11:11).

If you have ever done an in depth study on the life of Sarah, you found she wasn’t always the perfect model of godly grace and meekness.  One account I read of her life said she was something of a “pampered princess.”  Even in her old age she was considered quite a beauty.

For all her advantages, Sarah lacked one thing.  She was barren.  Back in Bible times it was almost a curse for a woman not to have children.  How she longed to give her husband a child.

When she learned of God’s promise to make Abraham the father of many nations, she figured  if she couldn’t be the mother, she was going to use a surrogate to set the covenant in motion.

Yes, she ran ahead of God.  We’ve never done that, have we?

In defense of Sarah, she did have one thing in her favor.  She had enough faith to trust God when He did promise her and Abraham a son. Sure, this older couple laughed when they got the news, but, it was more like them saying, “Lord, you have got to be kidding.”

Sarah’s faith enabled her to survive her pregnancy and become a first-time mom at the ripe old age of 90. God not only kept His promise, but, in the process worked a miracle for her and Abraham. I can’t even imagine how difficult all this was for this older mom. However, I do know she couldn’t have been happier as the dream of becoming a mom became a reality.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the Atwood family as they grieve the death of Brian Atwood, father of Brooke Turnbough (FWBIM)  and brother of Richard Atwood, (FWBHM). Pray also for those affected by the weekend floodings in Tennessee.

“Are you not the same today, the one who dried up the sea, making a path of escape when you saved your people”  (Isaiah 51:10 NLT).

Things change.  A few cases in point…

Tried locating your favorite song on record, 8-track or cassette lately?

Finally realized that the world wide web is not a mammoth arachnid’s masterpiece?

Things certainly change.  At times our heads spin at the thoughts of what once was, what is no longer and what is to come.

I have good news for you.  God has not changed.

Governments have not diminished His power.  Daniel’s night in the lion’s den was not the last time God shut Satan’s mouth, shackled his hands or refused to let him act in the life of a believer.  Politicians have not separated God from the state of this country’s affairs, kept prayer out of schools or okayed the killing of babies by passing bills or laws.  Misfit religions serving idols, men or godless acts have not taken over His sovereignty.

Television preachers have not ruined His name.  People are still being drawn to Him.  Friends are still carrying their friends to the Savior’s feet on mats, tearing off the roof when needed and believing wholeheartedly that healing is available.  Women still carry their issues to Him and leave without them.  Blind people are finding sight in His presence.  Lame legs are being set about on paths of righteousness.

History has not diluted His saving grace.  On a daily basis, men and women are experiencing the same life-changing salvation Paul received on the road to Damascus.  Doctors, professors nor researchers have come up with anything to fill the void in human hearts like Jesus does.  Souls are still being rescued from hell, preserved for Heaven and set for serving with intensity and joy.

Things have certainly changed—but God has not.  You can still trust Him.  You can still believe in Him.  You can still count on Him to make a path through your sea.  Because?  Well, because amidst all that’s changed, He cannot and will not.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for those affected by the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. Special thanks to the Master’s Men for their relief effort in Haiti.

“Forgive the rebellious sins of my youth; look instead through the eyes of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord”  (Psalm 25:7 NLT).

If you and I were to look through the eyes of His unfailing love today, what would we see differently?

More blue skies than gray?

More peace than bloodshed and war?

More good than bad?

More people in need of our love and compassion than those deserving just what they’ve got?

I have to tell you, I’m so glad Christ looked at me through eyes of love instead of eyes of condemnation, contempt and discipline.  I lift my hands to think He saw me through eyes of mercy rather than through eyes of judgment, justice and vengeance.  I stand before you as one covered by grace, above and beyond what I deserved!

Now?  Well, now it’s up to me to pay it forward.  I’ll never in a million lifetimes be able to repay my Savior, but He gives me the opportunity every day to display love, mercy and grace to ones made in His image.  The ones in my home.  The ones I work with.  The ones I pass in the store.  The ones I worship beside.  The ones, small and tall, to which I mirror His image.  The ones that make it easy, and especially the ones that make it hard.

Knowing how He looked at me and saw potential makes me want to see differently…I desire my instinct to be that I look through the eyes of His love.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Be sure to read the May study entitled,  “Something Old.” Hold on to some old things but pray about embracing some new things.

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9-10).

I chose these verses to close our special missions emphasis study because I thrill to think how wonderful this vision will be when it becomes a reality.  Seeing people from every tribe and nation gathered and praising God brings tears of joy to my eyes.  All those who were saved because of  the tireless efforts of God’s missionaries as well as those we were instrumental in leading to the Lord will share eternity.  They are the stars in the crowns we will cast at Jesus’ feet when this great multitude gathers around the throne of God. Glory to God!

May this vision motivate us to do all we can, while we can, to take the gospel around the world.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray daily for one another, especially all who read this blog.

“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

As you teach others, you are passing on the gospel message—a message they will one day teach to others. It is the paradigm of missions.  It’s not complicated and was never meant to be.  A deacon, an ardent soul winner in a church I used to attend has always used this phrase, “We are simply beggars telling other beggars where to find the bread.”  As we wrap up this missions study, we must continue to use every tool and resource we possess to win the lost of the world. Even if we must change strategies or methods, the Great Commission remains our mission.  As our title states, the greatest plan to evangelize the world requires that we simply “pass it on.”

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for public school teachers who will be the only gospel light some students see.

“And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way  of God more perfectly” (Acts 18:26).

Priscilla and Aquila were New Testament workers who helped Paul in his ministry. They were missionaries and church planters, too.  One phase of their work was teaching new converts.

Our verse speaks of a very zealous convert named Apollos.  As one commentary put it, “Apollos had previously been in Egypt when someone told him about John the Baptist and his teachings about Jesus.  That’s all he knew at that point but he went with what he knew about Jesus.  He just needed to hear the rest of the story that Jesus was the Messiah.”

In Ephesus, Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos preach a dynamic message. However afterwards they, in love, took Apollo aside to fill in the blanks of what had happened to Jesus since John the Baptist.  Obviously, what they shared only added to Apollos’ boldness in spreading the gospel.  Apollos was encouraged by others to keep preaching.

As we work with others, we must be willing to forbear with others as they learn the truths of God’s Word.  You didn’t learn what you now know overnight.  Your patience will be rewarded as you see those you teach mature in the Lord. Patient teaching is not a new concept in missions work. What is new is that Christians aren’t practicing this as in times past. Where would you be in the work of the Lord if someone hadn’t taught you?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for college students as they prepare to begin a new phase of their life.