Daily Treasure

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he have faith, and have not works?  Can faith save him?  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food. And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? (James 2:14-16).

In the process of using your spiritual gifts, you may be faced with decisions on how to best fill a need.  We know our top priority is to witness and plant seeds. Ultimately, we want to see people saved.  However, if a person is “naked and destitute of daily food,” most likely he or she won’t be too receptive to our witness. Sometimes we have to take care of secondary needs. In doing so, you  are building a bridge.  That bridge could very well be the basis for that person one day accepting Christ.  As people see you stretch beyond mere words or handing them a gospel tract, they will want what you have in your heart.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray that many groups would participate in the 2012 PreEaster Week of Prayer, April 2-6, and give generously and joyfully to the World Missions Offering, April 29.

“But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.  And if they were all one member, where were the body?  But now are they many members, yet but one body”  (1 Corinthians 12:18-20).

We understand the concept of one body, many parts from a physical standpoint. From a spiritual view, we understand how necessary it is for each of us to use our gifts. We each have a function in the whole body of believers. You know how it is when you are physically sick—your whole body seems to suffer.  (Do you see where I’m headed with this?)  When someone doesn’t use her gifts, ultimately the Body of Christ will suffer.

If you’ve completed the Treasure study on spiritual gifts and read the related Scriptures and you’re still not sure about your spiritual gift, utilize this spiritual gifts inventory.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Danny and Dawn Elliott and family as they prepare to plant a Free Will Baptist church in Quebec City, Quebec.

“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:4).

The Fall issue 2011 of Treasure featured the study of spiritual gifts. As today’s verse denotes, there are a variety of gifts, but they are given by the same Spirit.  Everyone has at least one.  We should have a burning desire to discover our gift.  As we ponder the stretch question this week, examine your list of gifts.  It will help you answer, “What Can I Offer?” By stretching into our neighborhoods and communities, using our gifts, we’ll make a positive difference in our world.  A very real question is how big is your world?

In this week’s Treasure study, writer Dana Copeland offers some excellent ideas for using gifts. There are so many ways we can use them to help others within our churches and beyond to our communities.  As Body builders, we may have to use muscles we never knew we had. However, proper stretching will ease their soreness.

Tomorrow we will look at one more verse regarding spiritual gifts. In the meantime, review these study Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:11-13.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Rusty Carney as he prepares to preach his first sermon in Japanese this coming Sunday, March 25.

“How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.  Hypocrites!  You are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence!  Blind Pharisees!  First wash the inside of the cup, and then the outside will become clean, too”  (Matthew 23:25-26 NLT).

I’ll tell you, I have to be very careful, as a mom, as a Sunday school teacher, as a leader of small children—as a Christian woman, not to be just Sunday clean when our day of worship rolls around.

The wrinkles can be pressed out of the skirt and blouse.  The jewelry can be matched to the outfit.  The hair and make-up looking better than any other day of the week.  The Bible, Sunday School book and planner gathered and carried with gracefulness under one arm…leaving one hand free for those handshakes we churchy-people so love.

The effort comes in making sure I’m Sunday clean when it’s time to worship with my Christian family in the Lord’s house.  I need to make sure what’s dirtied me through the week has been forgiven.  I need to make sure the attitudes and emotions okayed by society are filtered through Christ’s acceptance.  I need to take the extra time and place others, their needs, their burdens, ahead of mine.

I can look good on the outside—but that’s not where God will be looking when I come before His throne in praise and adoration.  I can be Sunday clean sitting on the pew—but even Sunday clean is not good enough when it comes to being worthy of entering His presence.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for retired missionary and former FWBIM communications director Don Robirds, who is currently serving again (short-term) in Brazil.

“Now stand here quietly before the Lord as I remind you of all the great things the Lord has done for you and your ancestors” (1 Samuel 12:7 NLT).

Samuel was asking his constituency to pause and reflect on the Lord’s provisions.  He asked them to stop what they were doing and recall from whence they came.  He challenged them to bring their minds to a halt as he recalled the great things of the Lord.

How often do we stop and do the same thing?

How often do we bow in reflection and not in anticipation?

How long has it been since we approached Him in thankfulness, not in solicitation?

How much of our time are we humbled by remembering His great works in our lives—not expecting anymore from Him than He’s already done?

From where He has brought us, from who we used to be, from what enemies He has rescued us, wouldn’t it serve us well to recall and praise Him again?

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray courage and strength for believers in Afghanistan. Pray  the recent massacre of innocents by an American soldier will not add to or intensify the persecution they are already experiencing.

“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Galatians 5:14).

You won’t have to stretch your imagination when you look at our verse. If we loved our neighbors as ourselves, what a wonderful world it would be.

As we end this week of devotions, if you’re wondering to whom you can stretch out your hand, look around. Maybe it’s time for you to reach out and ask, “Won’t you be my neighbor?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the Indiana State WAC Retreat today and tomorrow in Shipshewana.

“But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors” (James 2:9).

Many study Bibles provide an overview to each book of the Bible. One such entry for the Book of James states the following:  “James was much bothered by his observation that Christians were not living holy and righteous lives.  Too many of them failed to show any difference in their behavior after becoming believers.  So James insisted vigorously that faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead.  Christians must show their faith in what they do.”

James covers five areas within his letter; one of those is the issue of favoritism (James 2). Just as in Bible times, favoritism is an issue that still needs to be addressed.

We are often quick to judge people, looking at their outward appearance. God looks on the heart and is not a respecter of persons.  If we have been guilty of showing compassion in a selective manner, it’s time we stretch out our hands to God and ask His forgiveness.  Yes, forgiveness will be necessary; the words of today’s verse make this very clear.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the Georgia State WAC meeting today. Pray for Sandra Jackson, GWAC president, as she leads women toward greater service and spiritual growth.