Daily Treasure

“I will live among you, and I will not despise you”  (Leviticus 26:11 NLT).

Do God’s promises ever simply amaze you?  Ever thought deeply about what He’s said He’d do, and scratch your head wondering how in the world He could follow through? Does what He’s promised seem far beyond what’s possible or probable?

Never thought about it?  Well, today’s your day.  Just look again at today’s verse—at the promise He’s made and think through it with me.

“I will live among you, and I will not despise you.”

Just ask those living in your home how easy it would be for God to live with you and not learn to dislike you—at least a little bit.

…when you first get out of bed in the morning, even before the first cup of coffee?

…before you make it to the bathroom to brush your teeth?

…during the sections of the month when hormones rage, bills pile up and your attitude stinks?

…when someone cuts you off in traffic?

…when your plans are changed?

…when you’ve overextended yourself?

…when dinner burns?

…when the real you shines through?

Imagine God living among you and loving you wholeheartedly the whole time?  The very thought overwhelms me.  I cannot see it as doable.  Even I don’t like myself at all times; how in the world could He?

But He does.  His love for His children never changes, never fades, never passes.

What about our love for Him?

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Laurie Horne, North Carolina pastor’s wife and former WAC state officer, as she faces brain cancer.

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).

Biblical commentator Matthew Henry wrote these words in regards to today’s verse. He stated, “A man may do some service to two masters, but he can devote himself to the service of no more than one. God requires the whole heart, and will not share it with the world.  When two masters oppose each other, no man can serve both. He who holds to the world and loves it, must despise God; he who love God, must give up the friendship of the world.”

None of us can straddle the fence.  We must make a choice.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Executive Committee member Jonda Patton as she undergoes treatment for cancer.

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God”    ( Romans 1:1).

Our verse today paints a different picture of slavery.  Paul was called to be “a servant of Jesus Christ.”  I like how that phrase is defined at the website: www.biblestudytools.com:

“The word here rendered “servant” means  “bond-servant,” or one subject to the will and wholly at the disposal of another.”

That was the apostle Paul and his relationship with Jesus. God took his stony heart and changed it into a servant’s heart. We wouldn’t have much of our New Testament if Paul hadn’t been willing to be the servant.  Reading of all the adversity he faced, it is evident this “bond-servant” had the hands of God upon his life.

Paul could have risen to places of prominence, but instead chose to let God be His Master. We have observed the hand of God working on or in the lives of the biblical characters previously mentioned this week. Tomorrow we will ask a vital question: Whom do you serve?  Your answer may determine who your master is today.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for missionary efforts and Christians ministering in Mindanao (southern Philippines region) in the wake of Typhoon Bopha, which has already claimed the lives of nearly 100 people.

“And the Syrians had gone out by companies and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife.  And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.  And one went in, and told his lord, thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel” (2 Kings 5:2-4).

Naaman, in spite of his being captain of the host of the king of Syria and a mighty man of valor, had contracted leprosy.  Within his household was a young slave who waited on his wife. Though we may not know how she knew about Elisha, she wasn’t afraid to speak about him to Naaman’s wife.  This young maid was concerned about the welfare of her master. Her words did not fall on deaf ears. Because of her bravery, Naaman was able to recover from his leprosy.

Often we think we are so insignificant it wouldn’t really matter what we would say or do.

God doesn’t view you that way.  He has a plan and purpose for all of us.  He freed us from the slavery of sin. That should be enough motivation to serve Him until He returns.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: The FWBHM board meets this week in Nashville, TN. Pray that members would “dwell together in unity” and that decisions made would bring glory to God

“And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband to be his wife.  And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes” (Genesis 16:3-4).

The title of the December study is “In His Hands.”  I have found this to be true: no matter what our circumstances or lot in life, we can know no safer or warmer place than in God’s Hands.

Our writer  introduces the study this way: “The least of the least. Widows. Orphans. Slaves. Foreigners.  In the society of Old Testament times, these were the disenfranchised, the welfare cases, the poverty-stricken, the despised, the losers.”  In spite of this, we find a merciful God reaching out His Hand to show mercy and grace to these same people.

Our study begins with the story of Hagar, an Egyptian slave. Abram was a very rich man and had possibly bought her to be a handmaid for Sarai while they were in Egypt. Hagar had nothing else going for her. She was nothing more than a piece of property.  Hagar’s life changed when Sarai decided to run ahead of God and give her to Abram. Sarai was barren and she knew God’s covenant promise needed an heir. She gave Hagar to Abram to wife. It was a title in name only.  What happens next causes Sarai to feel contempt for Hagar.   She conceived and would bare Abram a son.  Read Genesis 16 for the entire story.  It was not God’s plan. We will later learn how God will intervene in Hagar’s life in spite of that fact. Tomorrow we will learn about a young maiden slave who helped her master in his time of need.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the annual FWB Leadership Conference that begins this afternoon in Nashville, TN.

“There are secret things that belong to the Lord our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our descendants forever, so that we may obey these words of the law”  (Deuteronomy 29:29 NLT).

So many things about God we do not understand, cannot fathom or will never be able to grasp hold of with our finite minds.  His choices.  His ways.  His timing.

And those things?  Those are the things He doesn’t intend us to worry over, fret about or spend too much of our time questioning.

Why?

Because He floods our lives with the revealed things.  Miracles seen with our very own eyes.  Circumstances turned around and left with God-sized fingerprints.  Hearts and lives changed.  Fear, worry and doubt exchanged for love, peace and joy.

Focus on the revealed things and live victoriously.   Focus on the revealed things so that a godly heritage will be instilled in your family.  Focus on the revealed things so that you may live fully, wonderfully and obediently.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Praise God in worship today for the revealed things of God in your life. Pray for brothers and sisters worshiping God today in the midst of persecution—at great risk and personal cost.

“But I have this complaint against you.  You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!”  (Revelation 2:4 NLT).

If it weren’t written in red, I might not have taken it as personally as I have.

If it weren’t in the living, breathing Word of God, I might have dismissed it.

If it weren’t the truth, I might not have this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach like I have now.

You see, I’ve been cheating on God.  My attention has been divided.  I’ve not been giving Him my heart, soul, mind and strength.  I’ve had wandering eyes and questionable tendencies.

He’s right; I probably don’t love Him or you, as I did when I first fell in love with Him.

Sure, I could place blame—you aren’t so easy to love. I’m only human. Life happens. Spiritual maturity sets in and the rose-colored glasses come off.

But Him?  He hasn’t changed.  He’s never failed me.  He’s stayed true and faithful to our relationship.

I’ve waivered in my commitment to Him.

His only complaint against me?  Surely He’s just being gracious, because there are so many more. Maybe it’s just that this is my biggest offense.

But, enough about me. What about you?

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Elizabeth Hodges and other Free Will Baptist leaders who will be attending the annual Leadership Conference in Nashville, TN,  this coming week.