Daily Treasure

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son, to be the propitiation for our sins”  (1 John 4:10)

If you were to take a poll on the question, “What is love?” you would most likely receive a variety of answers. From a spiritual point of view, we know the exact answer. God is love. He gave His only Son as an atonement for our sins.  The Living Bible states “In this act we see what real love is: it is not our love for God, but his love for us when he sent his Son to satisfy God’s anger against sin.”  We know the hope of eternal life because God defines the word love.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray today for FWBHM board members: Randy Wright, Matt Upton, Jerry Atwell, and Earl Hanna.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

Yesterday’s devotional emphasized that God’s love is the greatest love. We won’t ever find a greater love. We all have friends and family we love dearly.  We can express our love for them in so many words. However, how much do we prove that love? Jesus more than proved His love through His sacrificial death.

It was His love for mankind that caused Him to give His life, so we would no longer be slaves to sin. We were made free because He laid down His life. We deserved to die, but with love, He took our place.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray continued recovery for Lynette Morgan, wife of FWBIM General Director Clint Morgan.

“For God so loved the world, that h gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”  (John 3:16).

The last of our spiritual body building core values is love. It would be difficult to share joy and encouragement without love.  The title for the February study is “Love is a Verb.”  As we look into our study and God’s Word, our core training will seem aerobic because it will be great for our hearts.

When we think of February, we often think of Valentine’s Day.  It has become a day of great profits for card, flower and candy merchants. It’s a day set aside to express love. However, that type of love is translated from the Greek word philia—a friendly or brotherly love, or eros —a more intense passionate love.  However, love from a spiritual perspective holds a much different meaning. God’s love is translated from the Greek word agape. This agape love—the love God has for mankind–is the love referred to in today’s verse. It is a love that made it possible for us to be saved from eternal punishment. The fact is, there is no greater love than the love of God.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray today for Gabriela Hernandez Martinez, one of this year’s recipients of the Cleo Pursell Foreign Student Scholarship, as she completes her studies at the Seminary of the Cross in Reynosa, Mexico. Pray also for her family—husband Uziel Martinez Camacho, also a seminary student, and their young daughter Regina.
Regina, daughter

“…When he comes to receive glory and praise from his holy people.  And you will be among those praising him on that day, for you believed what we testified about him”  (2 Thessalonians 1:10 NLT).

I’m not an outgoing person. Oh, I can yell and holler, but I rarely do. I can belly laugh and snort, but I usually chuckle. I have it in me to be the life of the party and the attention-getting promoter of projects, but usually, well usually, I’m on the sidelines cheering softly or on the back row writing out a card to drop in the mailbox. What I’m feeling you can usually tell by the look on my face.

I’m of the quieter type—pretty laid back. I get excited about a lot of things, but overly excited? Hardly ever.

I’d like to think I’m saving it up. Yes, saving it up.  I’m saving it up for when Christ returns and I get to pull up a box, get everyone’s attention and praise from the top of my lungs: HE DID JUST WHAT HE SAID HE’D DO!

You see, I’m a believer.  I believe each and every promise He’s made in the Bible.  I believe He can be trusted with my heart’s deepest desires and most petty wants.  I believe He’s coming back for His own, that I am one of them and a mansion awaits me.

For that, I’ll stand and shout.  At that moment, the loudest among you will be quieted by my hooping and hollering.  As I stand before my Lord and King receiving entrance in to the Holy City, everyone in heaven will hear my excitement.

But today my praises will be of a lower key.  Oh, they’ll still be given, but in a softer voice and in a quieter manner.  I’m praising Him, but I’m also saving up energy required to one day shout from the rooftop of my heavenly home: I MADE IT, BY GOD’S GRACE, I REALLY MADE IT!  THANK YOU, LORD!

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray encouragement and God’s protection for Asian believers meetings today in house churches.

“My child, listen to me and treasure my instructions” (Proverbs 2:1).

On a daily basis I speak to people who ask me to pray concerning what God wants them to do. They tell me they want God’s direction, His guidance and His answer regarding some big things and some not so big things in their lives.

Thing is? Well, the thing is, for most of what we’re asking God’s instructions, He’s already provided answers. Deep down in a Christian’s heart lies a guiding force. Within in the pages of His Word (which is where He instructs us to be) are His directions.

But what do we do with what He’s telling us? Do we treasure His leadings? Do we hold ever so dear His nudges? When He speaks to our hearts, do we honor His voice with immediate and grateful actions?

Do we treasure His words of guidance? Or do we know the value of it?

I have things around the house I treasure: my old china with the yellow roses on it, a few rings, favorite books and photos. These things merit special places. I either display or put them away to keep these treasures from being worn, bumped or used. I pull them out on special occasions. I drag them out to reminisce. I have them wrapped so gingerly that it takes effort on my part to exhume them from their vaults.

I also have things lying around, tucked into corners and hidden in cabinets that I place little value in: the old t-shirt I mow in, my kitchen broom and the dish towel I use only for sopping up spilled coffee. The mowing clothes lie in a semi-wrinkled mass in the bottom dresser drawer. The kitchen broom stands sentinel in the corner by the trashcan. The dish towel? The dish towel usually lies underneath the sink, unless it’s dripping with coffee. Then it’s placed in the hamper on the back porch.

So, what do I do with His instruction? When I feel the nudge to do something I believe He’s leading me to do—am I excited? Do I immediately act upon it with enthusiasm and zeal? Does thrill that the Savior has spoken to my heart fill my being?

Or do I shrug it off? Do I ignore His voice? Do I postpone what my heart’s telling me to do until a more convenient time? Do I treasure instruction from the Lord at all? How about you?

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Women Active for Christ in Myanmar as they face extreme challenges.

“Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

When we read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, we should feel a sense of hope and peace. Those around us may be facing trials that may make them feel helpless and hopeless. We have good news to share—a message of great comfort and joy. As we reach out with encouragement, this will encourage our heart as well.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Carol Reid, (writer of February’s Treasure Bible studies) as she ministers to students at Free Will Baptist Bible College today.

“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Be body builders: that’s the basic gist of today’s verse. Build the body of Christ through comfort and encouraging words, and if you’re already doing this, continue. There are so many ways we can build one another up in the faith. Be careful of one another’s feelings. Seek to build up, not tear down.

An encouraging word, a hug, or a smile are things you enjoy. Why not pass these things along to others?  Sometimes it’s those little things that make a big difference in people’s lives.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray encouragement today for a missionary or international worker. Now email this person an encouraging message or send them an ecard of encouragement.