Daily Treasure

“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink” (Matthew 25:37).

Today and tomorrow we will turn our thoughts to groups of people who need more than a prayer or a tract.  It is really difficult to listen to a gospel message or embrace one’s testimony when you are poor, hungry, thirsty or all three.  It’s tough for people to understand God’s love when they look around and see that Christians really don’t care about them.

The verse for today reminds us that when we do help the needy, we don’t always realize this as service to God.  We will go more into that in tomorrow’s devotion.

Can you stand at your doorstep and ignore those in need around you? Helping the less fortunate is not just a holiday event.  We often think the needy are found in primitive areas of third world countries. In our land of plenty, many are homeless and often go to sleep hungry.

We must empty ourselves of apathy to see what lies within a person. Beyond the circumstance lies a soul with a deep need for salvation.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the pastors of all Free Will Baptist churches worldwide.

“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:35).

This week we will look at missions and the changing view from our doorstep.  Not every Christian feels the call of God to go and labor in a faraway place.  However, from your doorstep, you may see  internationals walking down your street; some may live in your neighborhood. You have a responsibility to witness to them.  Sadly, we seem to have become very complacent in our little corner of the world.  If there are going to be changes for the better, we must enlarge our vision and enlarge that corner.  There are many who live around us that have other needs other than to be saved.  The latter is the most important but we must consider helping with their secondary needs before we lead them to Christ.

You may wonder where exactly you should start.  Basically you begin by surrendering to God’s will and stepping outside your front door.  Find a need and fill it. Find a lost soul; you’ve found your field.  Time is fleeting.  As the end times draw ever nearer, let’s get busy “look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest.”

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the directors and staffs of Free Will Baptist Family Ministries and all Free Will Baptist children‘s homes.

“Then the King will say to those on the right, Come you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry, and you fed me.  I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink.  I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.  I was naked, and you gave me clothing.  I was sick, and you cared for me.  I was in prison, and you visited me.  Then the righteous will reply, Lord when did we ever see you hungry or feed you?  Or thirsty and gave you something to drink?  Or a stranger and show you hospitality?  Or naked and gave you clothing?  When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?  And the King will tell them, I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brethren and sisters, you were doing it to me”  (Matthew 25:34:40 NLT)

The least of these, Lord?

Not the pastor?  Not the senior saint I helped from the car to the church house doors?  Not the regular attender who needed a get well card, and I sent it?

You’re referring to the others I meet each day, aren’t you?  The inconsiderate teenager at the convenience store?  The unpleasant customer I was forced to wait on?  The sharp-tongued elderly woman in front of me at the grocery store?  Was it the young man who has just returned from prison, the one I was afraid to speak to?

I’m going to look harder, Lord, for the least of these—my brothers and sisters.  I’m going to attempt to feed more hungering, give a drink to those thirsting, clothes, soothe and welcome those needing to see you in this dark, ugly world.

Why?  Well, to be quite honest, it’s because I want all you have in store for me, every single blessing.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the presidents and staffs of all Free Will Baptist Bible colleges.

“Then Jacob said to Joseph, I never thought I would see you again, but now God has let me see your children, too”  (Genesis 38:11 NLT).
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  The big three of early Christiandom.  The fathers of God’s people.  The roots of a Christian’s family tree.  Strong men.  Men who endured, believed and stayed true to God.  Men upon whose faith the church was built.

And here Jacob said, “I never thought….”  He had no clue as to the immensity of God’s promises.  He was surprised by the overwhelming love, blessing and grace of God.  He was touched that God actually remembered him and chose to give him the desires of his heart.

Shouldn’t he have known?  Couldn’t a giant of the faith, have realized the potential?  Don’t you think, after such a excitement-filled ancestry, he wouldn’t have been surprised?

But we are, aren’t we?

The greatest testimonies I’ve ever heard begin with the words, “I prayed and believed, but I never thought….” Or, “I know God heard me, but I never thought He’d answer in such a huge way.”  Or my favorite, “I never thought He’d do so much for me—me.”

Friend, in your wildest dreams, your most vivid of imaginations and your grandest of hopes, you cannot fathom what God has in store for you.  You cannot fully grasp the love He intends for you to experience in His presence.  You are not capable of understanding the peace and joy He can bring into your heart.  You will always, and I repeat, always be stunned by His greatness and touch in your life.

Expect to be amazed as you follow Him. Pray with the heartfelt knowledge that He’s going to answer—and His answers will surpass your grandest expectations.  Because?  Well, because we serve the God of the “I never thought….”

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the presidents and staffs of all Free Will Baptist Bible colleges.

“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:38)

The changing paradigm of missions accentuates the need for more workers. As Free Will Baptists, we have made great strides in our missions programs. However, considering the “ripe for harvest” fields and the magnitude of people groups still unreached, will we have those ready to meet those challenges?

As much as economy also affects change, the greatest need will always be for people to come away from God’s table and go to work in His field, the world.  God is counting on us to carry the gospel.  Can He count on you?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the director and staff of the Free Will Baptist Foundation.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”  (2 Timothy 2:15).

With the changing paradigm of missions, there is an even greater need for all Christians to immerse themselves in daily prayer and Bible study. Missions comes with definite marching orders. Our sense of direction is found only in the Word.  There is no other handbook.  God says, “Go.”  We say, “How?”  He smiles and assures us He will go with us (Matthew 28:20b).  We step out on faith and go with His blessing.

Yes, we must trust Him completely, but we should do that anyway.  If you are a willing workman, He will equip you.  Equipped by God, you won’t ever be ashamed of your work.

No matter how things continue to change in spreading the gospel, we must continue to reach the lost of the world.  Pray, study  and go.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the director and staff of the Free Will Baptist Board of Retirement.

“…and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  Amen” (Matthew 28:b).

The Great Commission ends with a promise.  It’s a promise missionaries everywhere take with them as they preach, teach, and baptize. Knowing God is with us as we share the gospel helps us not to give up when the going gets tough.  A missionary’s earthly reward is seeing spiritual children assume leadership role or watching them grow up in the Lord.  They may have to still rely on the missionary but the missionary must step back and allow them to apply the things they have been taught. I can only imagine how missionaries must feel knowing they had a part of leading these people to the Lord and discipling them.  I think we can relate when those we’ve won and taught, spread their wings to fly.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the director and staff of Free Will Baptist North America Missions.