Daily Treasure

“…Praise the Lord who has given you a family redeemer today…”  (Ruth 4:14 NLT).

I know, I know, the King James Version refers to Boaz, in the account of Ruth, as a kinsman redeemer—but I sure like the sound and thoughts behind this translation’s choice of words.

Are you praising the Lord for providing a family Redeemer for your household today?

Are you fully aware of the blessings this Redeemer brings into your lives—present, and most certainly, future?

Are you consistent, persistent and committed to making sure generations of your family learn to love, worship and serve this Redeemer?

You do know Him personally, don’t you?

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for new believers in Christ, especially those in mission churches. Pray that they will faithfully attend worship services and develop meaningful relationships within the body of Christ as they grow in their relationship with Christ.

“So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him.  May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit”  (Romans 15:13 NLT).

Know why most of us aren’t infecting the world like we’re supposed to?  It’s due to a deficit in our own hope and peace.

Know why our churches are struggling, families are falling apart and sin runs rampant?  It’s one reason and one reason only:  Few of us Christians have enough hope, real hope, in our hearts to spur us on—let alone enough to overflow into the lives of others.

I will not influence another for Christ if I’m barely getting by.  I will not point others to God if I allow external circumstances to rule my emotions, attitude and write my testimony.  I cannot “go into all the world” if I’m scarcely able to take a stand in my own home.

Just like our government, we’re running on a deficit account—not enough for us and none whatsoever to share.

Paul knew. God has enough to fill you to the top and overflowing with peace, joy and hope.  God is capable of changing your life by what He will pour into it—and change the lives of others by the extra that spills out.

So, are you dealing with profit or deficit in your own life?

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for your WAC District officers today as they plan spring meetings and events.

“Then the King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and Mordecai, the Jew, Behold I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him have they hanged upon the gallows, because he had laid his hands upon the Jews.  Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring: for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse” (Esther 8:7-8).

In today’s verses, we find two people who have risen to prominence. One is a Jewish orphan girl crowned queen. The other is her guardian made prime minister of the king.  God’s hand was upon the lives of Esther and Mordecai.  Mordecai’s first edict was to make a new decree to counter the previous one.  This new decree gave Jews the right to defend themselves against those who would try to harm them.

The old hymn, “It is No Secret What God Can Do” resounds through the story of an orphan girl named Esther.  Other words of that song are “what He’s done for others He’ll do for you.”  He is still in control and can work in your life just as He did in Esther’s life.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray creativity and ample meeting times for brainstorming groups assisting with content for the 2013-2014 Program and Plan Book.

“Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is: If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said”  (Esther 5:7-8).

I think the longest walk Esther ever made was when she approached the throne of the king.  If the king had not lowered the golden scepter for her to speak, she could have been put to death. I imagine Esther whispered a prayer as she came closer to the throne. God heard and the scepter was lowered. She weighed her words and made her request simple. She wanted to make a  private banquet for the king and Haman.  (Actually there were two feasts.) As proud as Haman felt concerning this special invitation, he still wanted to get rid of Mordecai, who now sat at the king’s gate. Earlier, the king had rewarded Mordecai for his seemingly unknown and long forgotten efforts in overturning an assassination plot on the king’s life. Haman decided to build a gallows and then go to the king to get permission to hang Mordecai.  At the second feast, Esther spoke of Haman’s sinister plot against her and her people. The angry king ordered Haman to be hanged on the gallows he had built for Mordecai.  God is in control and horrible plots are overturned.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Christians in Kazakhstan facing greater governmental pressure and resistance as the result of tighter registration laws enacted almost a year ago.

“….And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14b).

Between yesterday’s text and today verse, several events have taken place—the primary one being Haman is now prime minister. He abuses his power and plots to have all the Jews killed. He presents his case to the king, making him think the Jews deserve to die. Mordecai gets word to the now Queen Esther. He pleads with her to go to the king to have the evil Haman’s decree overturned.  Knowing the great risk she would take to go to the king without being summoned Esther is willing to take this risk to save her people. God had placed her in the kingdom “for such a time as this.”  He would watch over and protect her. In the meantime, Esther asks for prayer and fasting from the Jews.

God’s hand was upon Esther. It was no coincidence that she ended up in the palace. God placed her there.  Never question the plan of God for your life. Be ready to be used wherever He places you.  Tomorrow we learn about a banquet that ends with a hanging.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for midweek service workers at your church who juggle jobs, home responsibilities and family activities, while often battling end of the day fatigue in order to be part of this ministry. Ask God to give them added strength and blessings as they attend and serve.

“And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti” ((Esther 2:17).

In spite of Esther’s nationality and background, the king fell in love with her. Mordecai had instructed Esther not to reveal her heritage. I’m not so sure it would have mattered that she was a poor Jewish orphan. The king was charmed by her beauty. Our verse says, “…she obtained grace and favor in his sight.”  Esther was going to be his new queen—probably every young Persian girl’s fantasy.  For Esther this would soon be reality. Why was this happening to her? Stay tuned throughout this week for the rest of the story.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Chaplain’s wife Mona Austin is experiencing complications from a pain pump inserted last year; she possibly faces more surgery. Pray healing for this situation.

“And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter” (Esther 2:7).

I would challenge you to read the book of Esther sometime this week.  It is a beautiful story of God’s protection and provision for His people.  Though God is not mentioned in this book, you can see the imprint of His hand on every page. God is in control as He uses a Jewish orphan girl to save the children of Israel from mass destruction.

Today’s verse shows the compassion of a man named Mordecai who, more or less, adopted Esther. He became her guardian after her parents died.  He loved her as if she was his own daughter.

If you are familiar with the story of Esther, you know about the dethroning of Queen Vashti. Young maidens were taken to the palace for the selection of a new queen.  Esther was one of those maidens. Though he couldn’t be with her, Mordecai watched over her from a distance. Tomorrow we will see how a beautiful Jewish orphan captures the eye and heart of a king.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for FWBIM missionaries Jonathan and Amy Postlewaite who left yesterday for Bulgaria.