Daily Treasure

“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible”  (Matthew 19:26).

God had just spoken to a rich man who sadly walked away because he wasn’t willing to  turn his back on his riches to follow Jesus. Today’s verse follows Jesus’ statement about it being easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven.  This statement puzzled the disciples. They wondered who, then, could be saved.  Jesus proceeded to answer with the words of today’s verse.  All things are possible with the Lord.  There was a chorus that contained the words:
“God can do anything but fail.”  As far back as Genesis, God has proved there is “nothing too hard for Him.”  Sarah could verify that when she conceived a son in her old age.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Josh and Ashley Bennett, home missionaries working in the Springs Church in Marana, AZ. Pray for Josh as he disciples men, and pray for a healthy pregnancy for Ashley who is expecting their second child in the spring of 2014.

“But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not; for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be withthee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shal not be burned: neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” (Isaiah 43:1-2).

I like the key thought for this week of study: “We can trust God’s sovereign plan for healing in our lives.” Today’s verses should convince us to trust in the One Who formed us, redeemed us, knows everything about us—including our name—and protects us in all circumstances.

Why should we fear?  Right. There is absolutely no reason to fear.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Ron Callaway and David O. as they minister in Cuba this week. David will teach at the Cedars of Lebanon Seminary and Ron will interpret. Pray students will be attuned to hear and understand all that is taught and David will clearly communicate theological principles. (SOURCE: FWBIM hotline)

“But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I called to my God for help.  He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears”  (2 Samuel 22:7 NLT).

He hears, grieving heart in your crisis.
He hears, broken heart alone in a great big house.
He hears, sick one lying on the bathroom floor or in a hospital bed.
He hears, tired one nursing another’s body and spirit with your last ounce of strength.
He hears, flustered one in the midst of chaos and questions.
He hears, saint of God still praying for that one lost soul.
He hears, new believer, new brother or sister in Christ.
Yes, God hears.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Today is the final day of JCrois, in Nantes, France. Ask God to move mightily in teens’ hearts, drawing them to Him. Pray that young lives changed this weekend would seek discipleship and continue to grow in the Lord.

“Though our hearts are filled with sins, you forgave them all.  What joy for those you choose to bring near, those who live in your holy courts”  (Psalm 65:3-4 NLT).

I’m reminded of the fact that this relationship I have with the Lord of Lords is by invitation only.

I sought Him out, only after He placed a desire for Him in my heart.

I found Him, only after He lovingly revealed Himself to me.

I accepted His gift of salvation, a gift that cost Him plenty.  A gift given in love and sacrifice.

I draw near to Him, only because He chooses to open His arms and welcome me into His presence and onto His lap.

“He sought me and He bought me,” the old song says.  Ashamedly, I forget that important part of our story—His and mine.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for J’Crois, an annual youth event in Nantes, France, designed to encourage and strengthen Christian young people in their faith, The three-day event which began yesterday, draws both unbelievers and Christians, challenging them to accept the truth of the gospel, incorporate it into their lives, defend their faith, and share it with others. Ask God to confirm the faith of young people who are struggling and to bring other young adults to Himself.

“But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour” (Matthew 9:22).

No matter which Gospel account you choose to read, wouldn’t you have loved to witness the event described in today’s verses?  What a thrill to hear the Savior say the words that resulted in her compllete healing!
Let’s end this week of study, meditating on words from the old hymn, “Break Thou the Bread of Life.”
Oh, send Thy Spirit, Lord,
 
Now unto me,

That He may touch my eyes,
 
And make me see;

Show me the truth concealed

Within Thy Word,

And in Thy Book revealed
 
I see the Lord.

Bless Thou the truth, dear Lord,
 
To me, to me,

As Thou didst bless the bread
 
By Galilee;

Then shall all bondage cease,   
 
All fetters fall,

And I shall find my peace,
 
My All in all.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the Jaraguá Mission Church in Uberlândia, Brazil, as they meet together today and tomorrow to officially organize as a church. Pray this congregation will grow and mature. Ask God to bless the work of Lay Pastor Sérgio Lira.

Read Luke 7:1-10

I will always be a loyal fan of the King James Version of the Bible.  However, I do lean on other versions to help me gain new insights fromHis Word.  Perhaps the easiest to understand for our Scripture text today is this paraphrase from The Living Bible.  “When Jesus had finished his sermon he went back into the city of Capernaum. Just at that time the highly prized slave of a Roman army captain was sick and near death. When the captain heard about Jesus, he sent some respected Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his slave. So they began pleading earnestly with Jesus to come with them and help the man.  They told him what a wonderful person the captain was. ‘If anyone deserves your help, it is he,’ they said, ‘for he loves the Jews and even paid personally to build us a synagogue!’  Jesus went with them, but just before arriving at the house, the captain sent some friends to say, ‘Sir,don’t inconvenience yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of any such honor or even to come and meet you.  Just speak a word from where you are, and my servant boy will be healed! I know, because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my men.  I only need to say Go! and they go; or Come! and they come; and to my slave, Do this or that, and he does it. So just say, Be healed! and my servant will be well again!’  Jesus was amazed.  Turning to the crowd he said, ‘Never among all the Jews in Israel have I met a man with faith like this.’  And when the captain’s friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed.”
How strong is your faith?  Do you believe that all it takes for our sovereign God to do is to simply speak the word and you can be made complete?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for campus ministries such as CRU, (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) and the Navigators, as they seek to win souls and disciple young men and women on college and university campuses.

“When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses” (Matthew 8:16-17).
John Gill states this about verse 16: “ And healed all that were sick; whoever they were, without any respect of persons, of whatsoever disease attended them: the most stubborn, inveterate (chronic) ootherwise incurable disorder, was not too hard for him, which he cured without the help of medicine, and where that could be of no use, and either by speaking, or touching, or some such like means.”

The fulfillment of Isaiah 53:4 proved that the words of verse 17 were true. By faith trust in God and know everything in His Word is true.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for nursery and preschool ministries within your church. Ask God to supply strength for volunteers and keep babies and toddlers safe while in their care.