Daily Treasure

“When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away.  The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing”  (Acts 8:39 NLT).

Imagine the scene.  A new convert dripping wet from baptism.  Still learning the Christian lingo.  Not even sure which pew is his at the local synagogue.  Ink still wet on the church roll.  Weary workers in the church watching him like vultures watch a carcass, ready for replacements.

And he’s all alone.

His mentor, his fellow sojourner on the Romans Road, his pastor, his possibly only Christian friend—gone.

And did you catch what he did?  He went on his way rejoicing.

Would you have done it?  How would you have reacted?  Where would you be today if  your Christian journey began this way?

Would you still be gazing at the sky?  Would you be scratching your head?  Would you still be enrolled in the Beginner’s Class at church?  Still feeding on milk?

Okay, let’s get a little more personal. What have you done since seeing and hearing your pastor speak from the Word last Sunday?

Have you grown?  Have you gone your way rejoicing?  Have you opened the Bible for yourself?  Have you continued walking towards godliness?

No sermon. Just asking you what He asked me this morning.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for continued interest and increased subscriptions for Treasure. Not a subscriber? Make that a matter of prayer as well.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good.  Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God:  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

Don’t these verses describe a world full of people wrapped up in themselves? It’s not just a world, it’s our world.  If you have a pride problem, do you see (from today’s verses) with whom you are sharing company?  We are living in the last days. Sin is running rampant. Our world and especially our nation need revival.  We must not be too proud to ask that it begin in us.

In the introduction of next week’s study, Jan Clay writes, “Our fleshly nature pulls us toward pride, making it an easy trap for the enemy to maneuver.” Stay tuned as we explore “The Origin of  Pride” next week.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray that God’s hand would move mightily among West Virginia Women Active for Christ as they retreat together tonight and tomorrow.

“And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:  All these evil things come from within, and defile the man”  (Mark 7:20-23).

Is there any wonder why man needs the Lord?  As much as He loves the sinner, He hates sin. As a holy God, He cannot and will not condone it.  Did you notice the word “pride” in the midst of the list in today’s verses?  Maybe we don’t think it is as bad as all other sins. God doesn’t place sin in categories.  James 4:17 states “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”   The remedy for everything that defiles (and that includes pride) is to be washed in the blood of the Lamb. Christ cleanses from the inside out.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for your pastor today. Ask God to encourage him and guard his heart from pride as well as other sins.

“These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief. A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among the brethren” (Proverbs 6:16-19).

Our verses today are not an exhaustive list of all  God hates.  This passage does, however, contain something about pride that we will look at today.  A “proud look” is one that is hard to overlook.  God doesn’t, or else He never would have listed it in Scripture.  It’s tough enough to overlook arrogance out in the world, but, it’s worse when you see it in churches.  It is bound to have an effect on non-believers.  We must ask ourselves, “Have we ever been judgmental of others and flashed them a proud look?”  We need to wipe off that look. God regards it as an abomination.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray today for FWBIM office staff, as they take care of administrative details, enabling missionaries to serve effectively throughout the world.

“The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts”  (Psalm 10:4).

As a companion to today’s Scripture, we see in Psalm 14:1a, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.”  These verses definitely illustrate people wrapped up in themselves. These persons have a pride problem.  Of course they may not even be aware of it.  Maybe at one time in your life, this described you.

Someone proud would definitely not want the label “fool.”  How sad when people are so self-absorbed, they don’t see the need for God. Even sadder is the thought that they may have to be brought down before they will ever look up. Then and only then will they seek God.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Arizona district leader Linda Harvey as she serves the Lord, her family and the people of North Valley FWB Church.

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate” (Proverbs 8:13).

Our September study is titled, “Wrapped Up In Me.” For our first week we will be focusing on “The Pride Problem.”  Now you may be asking. “Why must we deal with this issue?”  And you may be thinking. “This surely doesn’t apply to me.”  I would say. ” I rest my case,” but, at one time or another, we all have had to deal with pride.  Our writer states, “Humility is absolutely vital if we desire to become an effective follower and laborer of Christ.”  Even as believers, we must be willing to let go of pride. Our writer also states,  “If  we ourselves do not take measures to root out the nuisance of pride, God will use His humbling hand to lead (or drag) us out of this prideful pit.”

Today’s verse declares that if we respect and honor God, we must hate evil. Along with hating evil we find the words, “pride and arrogancy.”  If, per chance, you are asking why, the answer is simple. God hates pride and arrogancy.  He always has and will.

As we look this week at what pride is all about, let us pray God will convict our hearts. Jesus is still the answer for every problem we face. Being all wrapped in ourselves with pride is no exception.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Thank God for jobs and laborers—His methods and means of provision for us and for His Kingdom work.

“But when Rehoboam was firmly established and strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all Israel followed him in this sin” (2 Chronicles 12:1 NLT).

We made it. A seven-mile winding drive. A cliff-top parking lot. A strong breeze. A paved, but very steep, path. A half-mile trek.

Clingman’s Dome was a sight to behold, or would have been had it not been for the heavy cloud cover resting over the top of the mountain. The highest point we’d ever been. The greatest altitude we’d ever experienced. The hardest hike we’d ever panted through.

And then?  Well, then it hit us—we had to hike back. Sure, down is easier than up, but it’s still tough when you’re lacking mountain-goat characteristics.

Life’s like that, too. We’re not intended for mountain-top residency. The top of the heap is not where we can do the most ministering. Above the clouds is not necessarily closer to God. Higher doesn’t always make like easier.

Mountains are places where we must remain most on guard. The highest of heights require that we be careful—very, very careful.

Where are you right now? Struggling? Keep praying. Holding your own? Sorry to hear it, but keep praying. Celebrating on a mountaintop? Yeah for you and God—but continue in prayer.

Pray that you remain committed to Him, dependent upon Him, trusting in Him. And pray for those you’re leading up or down the mountain.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray strength and growth for new believers in Home Missions churches throughout North America.