Daily Treasure

“But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn’t sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their deaths.  They will die in their sins, but I hold the watchman accountable.  Now, son of man, I am making you a watchman for the people…”  (Ezekiel 33:6-7 NLT).

A watchmen for the people? In my life, that includes the little people I teach each week at my church. As a watchman, there’s no way in the world I could possibly hold back what I know about Jesus’s saving power from the children God has placed in my life.

As a watchman, how could I not tell these little ones how to receive eternal life?

As a watchman, there’s no way I could sleep at night knowing I didn’t introduce them to the One they’ll need as they grow into men and women.

As a watchman, I’m accountable to God for making sure the children who pass (even only once) through the doors of my church hear the Good News.

As a watchman, well let’s be honest here, as a watchman—I’m signed up for a terribly wonderful job.

But I’m not the only one.  Nope, anyone who has Christ as Savior of their lives, is a watchman, too.  Our shifts are 24/7.  Our pay is most times underscale.  Our expenses are sometime monumentous, unless compared to Christ’s.  Our value is unfathomable.  And our benefits?  The benefits for a job well done…priceless.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray peace for Christians in the path of Hurricane Isaac and opportunities to share this peace with others during this time of impending danger.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).

There comes a time when we must allow God to give our minds a spiritual charge. Maybe we’ve lost your mind set. Maybe we’ve let things of the world slip in where qualities mentioned in Philippians 4:8  should have been.

I like what The Living Bible says about today’s verse. “Don’t copy the behavior and the customs of this world, but be a new and different  person with a fresh newness in all you do and think.”  Sounds like a great way to combat atrophy of the mind.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for unsaved friends and relatives. Ask God for new and fresh opportunities to share the gospel with them.

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us”  (Ephesians 3:20).

As we work our minds to avoid atrophy, we must think big. According to today’s verse, it seems God does. We put a limit on what He is willing to do when we aren’t specific in our prayers. When we ask anything, in His will, it’s ours.  However, when we hesitate and forget the words of this verse, we are not trusting in God who wants to give us beyond what we ask  or deserve.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for continued giving to International Missions, as missionaries recently sidelined due to finances now return to their fields of service.

“Thou wilt keep him  in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3).

Many things are accomplished for the glory of God when people possess a determined mindset.  They don’t allow anything or anyone to deter them from what they want to achieve.

Today’s verse contains a promise for those who work hard at avoiding atrophy of the mind. Being kept in perfect peace is a reward for steadfastly trusting in God. Don’t let atrophy slip in because you failed to develop this proper mindset. Trust God to help you stay strong in Him.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Elizabeth Hodges as she shares with coworkers today in the NAFWB building’s employee chapel.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).

We are familiar with the letters WWJD, (What Would Jesus Do?).  When faced with difficult circumstances, do we stop and consider this question?   Do we take it a step further and think how Jesus would solve a given situation?  Are we walking so close to the Savior, that we begin to think like Him? These questions are not so puzzling when we are in a right relationship with Him.

Many of us act on impulse, failing to think twice before we say or do anything.  This hinders our “thought movement.”  Don’t let spiritual atrophy wreak havoc with your mind. Strive to have a mind just like His.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for MKs adjusting to new schooling situations this year.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

Our study writer begins with these words: “Avoiding atrophy as Christians requires conquering our minds.”  The mind is like a control center. We must commit it over to the Lord so it won’t get out of control.  If we focus our thoughts on doing what is right, we won’t be apt to let other areas of our life become weak.

Today’s verse is quite familiar. It is one that allows us to keep a guard on our mind.  If we fill our minds with right thinking, negative things like doubt, fear and worry find no room.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Remember Carolyn Michael, Alabama State WAC president in prayer as she writes WNAC’s monthly facilitator’s guide and participates in her aunt’s elder care. Pray that God would add strength to her days and give clarity to her thoughts.

“He said to them, You are the leaders of the Levite families. You must purify yourselves and all your fellow Levites, so you can bring the Ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it” (1 Chronicles 15:12 NLT).

I could probably say without disagreement that each and every one of us are waiting for people we know and love to turn to God and clean up their acts.  We anticipate the day they wash their hands of sin and give their hearts and lives over to Christ.  We pray to that end.  But are we expecting miracles without a little hard work on our parts?

What are we trying to carry? The love of God to a dark world? The Good News to the hurting? The gift of salvation to the unsaved? The Christian way of life to the dying?

Are we cleaned up and ready for the job? Are our hands washed of wrongdoings? Our minds cleansed of all unlovely thoughts? Our hearts purified of sin?

The preparation we make for taking the gift of salvation to the world is directly proportional to the importance we place on our job.

Who are we taking it to? Strangers? Neighbors? Extended family? Our own children? Aren’t they worth our whole-hearted effort?

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Spend focused time in prayer for unsaved loved ones. Ask God to speak in a new and fresh way to their hearts.