Daily Treasure

“While they promise them liberty,they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage” (2 Peter 2:19).

The NIV Study Bible looks at today’s verse in this manner: “They (false teachers) promise them (new converts) freedom. Probably freedom from moral restraint. The very ones who promise freedom from bondage to rules and regulations are themselves slaves of depravity.  Freedom from law resulted in bondage to sin, and liberty was turned into license.” Don’t be deceived by believing those the devil uses to spread his lies.  Only through Christ, the One who promises are always true, can we find true freedom (John 8:32).

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray today for creativity and maximum productivity for WNAC editor Sarah Fletcher as she works to finish the fall issue of Treasure.

“Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them in error” (2 Peter 2:14, 18).

We see in today’s verses those who are easy prey for false teachers. William Barclay shares these comments: “They have eyes full of adultery, eyes which can never gaze their fill on sin.  They entrap souls which are not firmly founded in the faith.  They have a heart which is trained in unbridled ambition for the things they have no right to have.” The Living Bible states this about verse 18: They proudly boast about their sins and conquests, and using lust as bait, they lure back into sin those who have just escaped from such wicked living.”  I see in these verses the need for us to disciple new converts.  I am eternally grateful for those who helped disciple and mentor me in my early years as a Christian. They kept me from becoming a target for false teachers. If you have been growing in knowledge and truth, ask God to lead you to someone you can disciple and mentor.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for David Crowe as he prepares to assume leadership as the new General Director of Free Will Baptist Home Missions.

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:2-3).

Our first week of this study we will focus on our title “Grow” in terms of “knowledge and truth.”  Just as in Peter’s day, there are false teachers lurking about trying to distort the truth of God’s Word.  If we don’t grow in knowledge and truth, we can easily get caught up in their web of lies.

To combat this, we must do what our study writer suggests: “Our best defense is saturating ourselves in the Word. As we read it in context and meditate on its teachings, the Holy Spirit promises to guide us into all truth.”

Growth happens as we obtain knowledge of God’s grace through His Word.  It also occurs when we, in turn, show that grace to others. Throughout this study I will be using various quotes from William Barclay’s book, The Letters of James and Peter.  “In verse two of our scriptures, Peter uses the Greek word epignosis for knowledge.  Epignosis can mean increasing knowledge. Gnosis meaning knowledge is preceded by the preposition epi  which means toward in the direction of.   Epignosis then could be interpreted as knowledge which is moving further in the direction of that which it seeks to know. Grace and peace are multiplied to the Christian as he comes to know Jesus Christ better and better.”

The Living Bible  states this about verse three: “For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us.”

Unless you are daily growing in knowledge of God and His Word, you may not be able to discern between truth and lies. You don’t want to be a person who is swept away by “every wind of doctrine.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Praise God for the safe arrival of Leah Audrey Speer, born this morning to Daniel and Katie Speer, new FWBIM appointees to Japan. Donnie and Ruth McDonald, longtime missionaries to Japan, are the proud grandparents.

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  To him be glory both now and forever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).

Our heart’s desire should be to know and show the grace “of our Lord and Savior Christ. Yet, Peter concludes his writings with an admonition—another aspect of grace we should live and practice.Grow. We will learn more about  growing in grace throughout this month. We are all a work in progress until Christ’s return.  It would be sad if we didn’t desire to “grow in grace.”  We would be spiritually dwarfed if we remained “babes in Christ.”  Many are content to feed only on the “sincere milk of the Word.”  By His grace may we resolve to gain more knowledge of Him. To do so is to graduate to the “meat of the Word.”  Combine prayer and praise to Him Who saved you by His grace.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Examine your grace growth chart. Are you where you should be? Pray about any changes or recommitments you need to make in order for you to properly grow in grace.

“That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:7).

As a child I heard this explanation of the term justified: “ By God’s grace I was made to be just as if I had never sinned.”   I gratefully have carried that truth for over fifty years.  By grace through faith, we will one day spend eternity with our Savior and Redeemer.  We have so much waiting for us because of His grace.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: It’s a brand new month. How will you share the grace you’ve known and received with others? Ask God to reveal ways and give you courage to seize opportunities.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast”  (Ephesians 2:8-9).

I am so grateful for these familiar verses. Salvation was never meant to be complicated.  God offers us His grace. We didn’t earn or deserve it.  It is not given as a reward for  anything good we have done.  We just had to muster the faith to unwrap “the gift of God.”

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray that unsaved individuals connected with your church would clearly come to understand and experience grace through faith unto salvation.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness…” (2 Corinthians 12:9a).

Today’s verse has a special meaning for all of us who are coping with physical or spiritual problems.  Paul was given a “thorn in the flesh.” He asked God three times to remove it. God answered him with the comforting assurance of today’s verse.  Whatever circumstances we face and even when we feel we can’t go on,  we can claim the grace He offers and press on.

I know from experience that His Grace has been and always will be sufficient for every need. I also know from the example of Paul’s life how, by God’s grace, he accomplished extraordinary things in spite of his “thorn.”  If what we experience keeps us humble and dependent on God, a “thorn” can actually be a good thing.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray all-sufficient grace upon FWBHM staff and personnel as they experience transition in leadership.