Daily Treasure

“And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.  For with God nothing shall be impossible.  And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her” (Luke 1:36-38).

Our December study is entitled “My Name is Favor.”  During this season when we commemorate the birth of Christ, it seems appropriate that we take a look at the “handmaid of the Lord”  named Mary.  In each week of study, we will see qualities she possessed that we should possess as well.

Today’s verses mention two women who loved God enough to take Him at His word.  Elisabeth was older and had been barren. Mary was a young virgin. God worked through both women to accomplish His will.  Two miracles happened because both women had the faith to believe nothing is impossible with God.

This week we will focus on Mary’s surrender of her own will and acceptance of God’s will. I like these statements: “First and foremost, to be of any use to God, Mary had to surrender herself unconditionally: her body, her emotions, her future, her reputation, her everything.”  Have we been willing, as Mary, to say, “…be it unto me according to thy word…”?  This admission is the beginning of living up to the name of Favor.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for three young men in São Paulo, Brazil—Daniel, Hattus and José—as they prepare for their ordination into the gospel ministry by the end of this year.

“I wait quietly before God, for my salvation comes from him”  (Psalm 62:1 NLT)
“I wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him”  (Psalm 62:5 NLT).

For a talker like me, these verses present quite a challenge. I yap.  I flap my jaws.  I yammer.  I speak. I spill from my word hole.

But to sit quietly waiting? Without commentary.  Without suggestion.  Without whining.  Without opinion.  Without promoting an easier plan.  Without presenting what I’ve pondered.

Trusting that He knows.  Believing, down deep, that’s it is all in His control.  Knowing what He has planned will bring Him glory and does not hinge on what I may say.

Quietly, huh?

“Spend your time in nothing which you know must be repented of; in nothing on which you might not pray for the blessing of God; in nothing which you could not review with a quiet conscience on your dying bed; in nothing which you might not safely and properly be found doing if death should surprise you in the act.”         —Richard Baxter

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Today is the first Sunday of the Advent season. Prepare your heart for the Christmas season and the anticipation of His second coming as you pray for your worship services today.

“When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers–the moon and the stars you have set in place–what are mere mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us?”  (Psalm 8:3-4 NLT).

I’ve not been left to fend for myself, rummaging for scraps that have fallen from Your table.  You have prepared a place for me to sit.  You have given me robes worthy of Your child.  You have cleaned me, inside and out, and washed me white as snow.

I’ve not been left to fend for myself, sparring against my enemies.  You have armed me with Your Word.  You have given me Your Spirit as a guide, a comforter and a blanket of protection.  You have bestowed upon me Your power and might.  You have provided me weapons that defeat the darkest and strongest foes–of this world and beyond.

I’ve not been left to fend for myself in a dark world.  I need not fumble for a Light, for You have placed it within me.  I have the choice to make as to whether or not I walk a path that has been laid straight and narrow by Your hands, or a well-traveled path of least resistance and lesser reward.  I have been blessed with a crowd of witnesses, here and there, to spur me on and cheer me towards the finish line.

I’ve not been left to reason that this is all there is.  I have the promise of Heaven.  The hope of seeing You.  The belief, in the very core of my being, that this is but a brief respite to be enjoyed and evangelized until I am called home.  I have the urgency to do what I can here in anticipation for receiving your accolades upon arrival at the foot of Your throne.

Who am I that you would do all this for me?

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Praise God for His work in your life, in your church and around the world today.

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope”  (Romans 15:4).

The NIV reads this way: “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
If I had not believed today’s verse, I never would have found John 14: 1-3. Let’s close this week and this study with the words of hope found in these three verses:
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will  come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Today is Black Friday when shoppers form long lines at store entrances in hopes of securing a special. Pray that believers would garner the same excitement and enthusiasm for entering the house of the Lord this coming Sunday in hopes of securing a blessing.

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God”  (Psalm 43:5).

The Living Bible renders this verse, “O my soul, why be so gloomy and discouraged?  Trust in God!  I shall again praise him for his wondrous help; he will make me smile again.”
There are times when we may feel depressed.  We don’t have to stay that way. Our hope is in God.  Read the precious promises of His Word.  I can guarantee that your countenance will change.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: On this Thanksgiving Day, offer thanks for the hope you have in Christ and for His many provisions.

“How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea sweeter than honey to my mouth” (Psalm 119:103).

According to today’s verse, how does the Word taste to you?  It depends on how much time
you feed on it.  Prayer and time spent in God’s Word  are the Christian’s dialogue.  In other words, prayer is you talking with God, and, time in His Word is God speaking to you.  You need both as you live from day to day.  Life’s circumstances can make you feel bitter.  When that happens, reach for His Word and taste its sweetness.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray safety for college students traveling home for the Thanksgiving holiday. For students who cannot go home, pray that God would provide a place for them to spend this special day of remembering and extolling God’s blessings.

“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil”  (Hebrews 5:12-14).
Comments on today’s verse come from The Living Bible.  As you read, ask yourself: “Am I still a baby Christian?”
“You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others, but instead you have dropped back to the place where you need someone to teach you all over again the very first principles of God’s Word.  You are like babies who can only drink milk, not old enough for solid food.  And when a person is still living on milk it shows he isn’t very far along in the Christian life, and doesn’t  know much about the difference between right and wrong.  He is still a baby Christian!  You will never be able to eat solid spiritual food and understand the deeper things of God’s Word until you become better Christians and learn right from wrong by practicing doing right.”

Many have seen their Christian growth stunted because they haven’t graduated from milk to meat. So what is it going to be for you—milk or meat?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Praise God for the safe delivery of Micah Sawyer, born last Wednesday to Jason and Holly Weaver, FWBHM church planters in Winchester, Virginia.