Daily Treasure

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you”  (Matthew 6:14).

In reading the background of this verse, I discovered the Jews were more about revenge than forgiveness.  Knowing this, Jesus tried to help them resolve conflicts. He first told them (and us, today) the importance of forgiveness. He impressed on them (and us) that no matter what the offense in word or deed, we should find it in our hearts to forgive. Not only are we to forgive, but we must also forget.  We must be willing to never bring up past trespasses again.  A forgiving spirit will lead people toward Christ instead of away from Him.

s this process easy?  If it were, we would experience world peace. To encourage us to forgive others, Christ adds the second part of this verse.  It’s a conditional promise. Wouldn’t it be nice if it just read, “God, in mercy, has forgiven you, so you should desire to forgive others.”  However, God wants us to understand that if we forgive others, He stands continuously ready to forgive us. On the flip side, if we can’t forgive others, how can we expect the Father to forgive us?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for children in your church who are attending church camps this summer.

“I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.  And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life” (Philippians 4:2-3).

Today’s verses deal with two Christian women in conflict.  According to various commentaries, both Euodias and Syntyche were energetic in the work of the Lord.  However, they had some non-doctrinal issues that had gone on for some time. Paul didn’t take sides but admonished those in the church to help these women resolve their conflict.  Since Paul couldn’t always be there to minister to every need of the church, it was good he had brethren to help him.  He had men like Syzygus (in some translations)  and Clement he considered “yokefellows” and “fellowlabourers.”  He turned to these men, asking them to help Euodias and Syntyche settle their differences once and for all.  Often times it takes someone to act as an intermediary to help two parties resolve matters.

Sadly, when both parties feel they are right and refuse to budge, this can cause a ripple effect in the church. It takes the willingness of one of the two (along with prayer and confrontation) to initiate a  reconciliation.  Maybe the confrontation factor is why some conflicts lasts so long.  Sitting face to face to work things out is needful, but often difficult.

One 70s movie ended with this line: “Love is never having to say you’re sorry.”  I beg to differ.  Even in the best of relationships, you will have your share of differences. Avoiding apologies will only keep the conflict brewing.  Conflicts will never be resolved unless someone steps up and asks forgiveness.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for home missionaries Heath and Amanda Webb as they labor to plant a church in Boise, Idaho.

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…” (Luke 23:34a).

Some of us are familiar with the last words of Jesus from the cross.  All of them revolved around the needs of others.  The fact He was hanging there in our place, dying to take away our sins, filled our greatest need.  Picture for a moment the scene at the cross.  Imagine the shame and suffering the sinless Lamb of God endured to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Yet He prayed today’s verse.  If there ever was a portrait of true forgiveness, it was found at the cross.

Our sins, like the veil in the Temple, had separated us from a holy God. We needed a way to reconcile.  Christ death on the cross provided that for us.  When we repent, He stands ready to forgive.  That veil is rent in two.   The broken relationship is mended.

How many times have people said or done things to hurt us? Does that mean our relationship with them is irretrievably broken?  Only through forgiveness can we fix conflict.  It seems appropriate that our study should end with the one thing that can cure “spiritual muscle tension.”

If you have problems in the area of forgiveness, look first to the cross.  Since His glorious resurrection, He continues to be the greatest example of forgiveness.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Joe Wilson, former Hanna Project Director as he transitions back into the pastorate.

“I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from your slavery in Egypt.  You have no God but me, for there is no other savior.  I took care of you in the wilderness, in that dry and thirsty land.  But when you had eaten and were satisfied, then you became proud and forgot me”  (Hosea 13:4-6 NLT).

You’ve not forgotten God, have you?

We all heard you crying out for Him in the midst of your valley.

We overheard your sobs as you climbed the mountain in your path.

We were there with you at the altar as you begged Him for help, for relief, for salvation.

And He heard you, didn’t He?

Have you forgotten Him now that things are rosey?  Is church no longer needed now that your situation is calming?  Are Christian friends not as cool to be around, now that the emergency has passed.  The altar, well, has it been used since that need?

You’ve been given a drink in His name.  Your belly is full from His blessings.  The skies above are blue.  The sun’s out.  And you?  Have you forgotten your Savior?

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Free Will Baptist believers in Uruguay as they meet for worship today.

“My gifts are better than the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver!”  (Proverbs 8:19 NLT).

A gentleman recently interviewed on the radio, spoke of the time in his family when anything purchased had to pass the “table top test.”  Before buying things, they would place the electronic or digital device or whatever object was up for purchase upon the table and knock it off.  If  the object survived the fall unscathed, the family would go ahead and buy.
You see, at the time, they had a 3 year-old, a 2 year-old, a newly adopted 18 month-old—and a new puppy.  Everything had to be indestructible.  Everything had to stand the table top test.

A wise Christian will use the table top test, too. Will your faith stand being dropped from lofty heights to the gutter in one bad choice, one insincere act or due to a string of words unlovingly placed together?  Will what you believe in remain intact and sustainable when you feel as though God’s scooted you off the side of a cliff?  Will your peace be evident as you flail wildly in the air on your way to a testing point in your life?

Your faith will be tested, mark it down.  You have the opportunity today to decide how it will test out.  Your commitments to Bible reading and prayer time are determining the outcome of your testing and the depth of your trust in the Lord.

You’re in one of three places right now:
1.  Sitting peacefully on the table, minding your own business.
2.  Flattened on the floor, possibly shaken, possibly broken, probably having had the wind knocked out of you.
3.  Mid-air.

What will you score?  Pass or fail?  Strong or weak?

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Ruth Bivens as she prepares to speak at the WNAC Luncheon in Memphis on July 17.

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19).

If we would all apply today’s verse, this would be amazing. Think how many conflicts we could resolve. The phrase “slow to speak” seems to indicate a chance to think about what we have just heard. Also it gives us a chance to pray before we act.  Many times we fail to process what we hear. This usually leads to anger. We don’t usually slow down and count to 10 before acting or reacting. If we don’t control the anger, it will control us. Then our muscles will tighten and our lips will become loose.

It’s wonderful when we can sit down and dialogue with other believers who can discern when to talk and when to listen.  When we don’t know how to put something into words verbally, we can put those words into a letter. Yes, a letter.  Not an e-mail, not a Facebook post, not a text or a Tweet, but a hand written note or letter. However, nothing will replace being able to sit down and talk face to face.

Let’s weigh our words before speaking them, lest they lead to conflict.  By speaking words of encouragement and taking time to patiently listen, we avert having to do damage control.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for creative access teachers who have completed their calendar school years and will soon be returning to the states for summer break.

“Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6).

Barnes Notes on the Bible offers some insight on today’s verse. Many times when we listen to someone talk, even for just a few minutes, we can guess which part of this verse characterizes the person’s life. Barnes states “It (love) does not rejoice in the ‘vices,’ but in the ‘virtues’ of others.”  As Christians, we should never be happy when others fall off the straight and narrow path.

By giving encouragement instead of criticism we can help others get back on track. Sadly, however, some would rather spread gossip than lift up the fallen.   I don’t agree with the saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”   Broken bones will heal, but when words hurt, that pain tends to last much longer. I’ve learned to forgive, which basically gives me closure. Be careful for the happiness of those we call brothers or sisters in Christ.  An old saying states this well: “May my words be sweet. Tomorrow I may have to eat them.”  Think before we speak and lean toward  “rejoicing in the truth.”

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Ohio Women Active for Christ as they convene for their annual meeting today.