Daily Treasure

“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14).

Today’s  verse reads this way in the Holman Christian Standard Bible, “Then Jesus said, “Leave the children alone, and don’t try to keep them from coming to Me, because the kingdom of heaven is made up of people like this.”

Jesus adored children. They were never a bother to Him.  I love to see pictures of Jesus holding little children.  He was adamant about making sure no one hindered them from coming unto Him.

In Treasure, today’s verse was associated with children, ages 5-11. At that age they seem to be more receptive of the gospel.  Let’s let them come to Jesus.  If we fail in doing this, we are putting a target on their back for the Enemy.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Home missionaries Jose and Suhey Correa as they work to establish a school in Puerto Rico. Already nine children have enrolled for the coming year. Pray God would supply labor and finances needed for building construction and give the Correas special wisdom as they oversee this effort.

“Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his reward” (Psalm 127:3).

We move on now to the target of  “Our Families.” In the introduction to Week 2 we find these words “After the Enemy succeeds in wrecking our marriages, he goes after our children.”  I wept as I read what our study writer shared, “We pray for our children…” in our Treasure magazine. The devil is working overtime in our world today.  This enemy of our soul is wreaking havoc wherever he can. In the process, innocent little children are the ones to suffer.  Does the devil care? No, and he never will.

Our children are gifts from God. They are a sign of His favor. We do our best to raise them and keep them safe. However, along the way, they will encounter the Enemy.  Have you prepared them for that?  If you haven’t, they will be vulnerable and an easy target for him.

“Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever,”  a familiar quote affirms. We have a limited window of opportunity to raise our children in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Are we praying for them every day?  More than ever before, they desperately need our prayers.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for God to lead in International Missions’ partnerships with international organizations and national churches. Ask God to give wisdom and insight as we seek to glorify and honor Him and extend the gospel through these alliances: International Training Alliance (ITA) that offers the Leadership Matters Course (Wycliffe, OM, CMA, Tentmakers, Caleb, Global Partners, World Horizons, General Baptists); English Language Institute of China (ELIC); Bible Missions International (BMI); Baptist Union of Russia and Central Asia; Panama National Association of FWB; Cuba National Association of FWB; Cote d’Ivoire National Association of FWB; and Brazil National Association of FWB..

“…Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you”  (1 Samuel 12:24 NLT).

I’ve heard what you’re facing.
I know your prayer lists are long and added to continually.
I understand the feeling of being forgotten, set aside and impatient.
But as we’re instructed today, maybe it’s time to grab a pen and jot down all the wonderful things God has done for you.

Go ahead, make a list.  Not of what remains undone, but of all He’s accomplished, blessed with and provided. It doesn’t take the pain of want of away, but it will remind you of His faithfulness, love and grace.

Want to know what to begin with?  How about the fact that you can pick up a pen.  That you have eyes to read.  That you live in a country where words from the Lord are not something you need to hide away.  That you’ve been able to get out of bed.

The lists go on and on…

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER:  Pray pastors and missionaries around the world will remain faithful, even in the midst of great spiritual warfare. Ask God to remind them to clothe themselves in the armor of His Word, seek His will above all else, and not be distracted by Satan’s strategies. Pray pastors and missionaries will have wisdom in counseling the many people in our churches who face challenging situations. Pray God will minister through them to those who are hurting, persecuted, suffering, distressed and sin-sick. Ask Him to glorify Himself through their submission to Him.

“My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word” (Psalm 119:25).

“ I cling to the dust,” the Psalmist said. How many times have we grasped, even tightened our grip on things we believed would steady us or keep us secure, yet found them dry nothingness—dust in our hands?  And as these powdered dreams disintegrate, blown away by the slightest breeze, empty-handed, we descend to the depths. Humbled and broken by the fall, our souls melt with sorrow, godly sorrow that leads to true repentance. We discover the Mighty Hand of God, both above and beneath us. Under us, a comforting cushion of grace, redeeming us from destruction and death. Over us, a shadowing shelter of strength, protecting us from powers of darkness.

“I cling to your testimonies,” the Psalmist also declares. We reach up and hold to the only thing that’s sure. We grasp the Word—our hand now in His.

Sarah Fletcher
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for young Christians in international missions works, specifically for their involvement in future ministries. Pray especially for women, asking God to help our sisters around the world identify and utilize their God-designed roles to share the gospel—in their homes, churches, communities and world.

Read Ephesians 5:22-33.

I chose to use words from The Message today. “Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.”

“Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor—since they’re already ‘one’ in marriage.”

“No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That’s how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become “one flesh.” This is a huge mystery, and I don’t pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband.”

If you are a wife, continue to work toward a model marriage. Failure to do so will make your marriage an easy target for the Enemy.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the WNAC Executive Committee and staff as they meet with key leaders today and tomorrow concerning future ministry opportunities.

“And the Lord said, It is not good that man should be alone: I will make an help meet for him” (Genesis 2:18).

In the Creation story, we see that after each day of Creation, God said, “It is good.”  However in today’s verse, we find one thing that was not good.  The Living Bible paraphrases,  “And the Lord God said, ‘It isn’t good for man to be alone; I will make a companion for him, a helper suited to his needs.’”

When people marry they must remember that life is not just about either of them as individuals; they are “one flesh” now.  My late husband was several years older than I, but I think we completed each other.  We naturally wouldn’t always see eye to eye. You might say we “blended.”  That worked for us.  Marriage takes working out a way to complete each other. Some couples give up too easy in this pursuit.  They become a target for the Enemy. I remember reading this quote from a couple who had been married for many years. I found it very profound. “We were born in a time when if something was broken we would fix it, not throw it away.”

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for ears that clearly distinguish sounds and tongues that replicate the sounds for missionaries studying to better communicate with those in their host countries. Pray those who have completed official studies will continue to hone their language skills and possess an unusual ability to grasp the nuances of the language and culture. Ask God to give missionaries on stateside assignment opportunities to connect and converse with immigrants to help them retain their host country’s language.
Pray also for the ministry of Wycliffe Bible Translators, who are utilizing these language skills to translate the Word of God into the heart languages (mostly unwritten, spoken dialects) of the world’s unreached peoples.

“And God blessed them, and God said, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:  and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth”  (Genesis 1:28).

I found the following statement on www.biblegateway.com: “God blessed them and said, “Have many children and grow in number. Fill the earth and be its master. Rule over the fish in the sea and over the birds in the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Our verse is a kind of benediction for Adam and Eve. Everything had been created; now He turned the  care and dominion of it all over to them.  God wanted them to fill the earth with more people who would join them in enjoying all He had created.  He wanted them to prosper and be good stewards of all they had.

Can you even imagine how perfect things were in the Garden of Eden?  God wants what is best and all we have to do is to manage to stay out of His way so He can bless us. We know the Enemy stepped in and spoiled Eden’s perfection.  Don’t allow the Enemy to step in and ruin your Paradise.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the physical needs of missionaries, asking God to use their short- or long-term illnesses as a bridge to share the gospel. Ask God to grant them strength and grace for each day, ease pain, provide stamina for tasks, increase dependence on His strength, and demonstrate His hand at work in and through them. Pray doctors, techs, nurses, and staff will come to know Christ through the witness of those suffering with grace.
Pray also for physical needs within  your church leadership.