DAY 1 – May 25, 2009
TITLE: “WE HAVE THIS TREASURE”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” II Corinthians 4:7
I remember one time when I was a little boy I decided to run away. I was mad at my father and thought I could do better elsewhere. Though I have forgotten the reason I was upset, I do remember some details. I packed a bag that consisted of my favorite cereal at the time. I believe it was Captain Crunch cereal. In addition I took my favorite toy which at the time was a little silver toy gun. In addition, I took an orange. I may have taken other supplies or things with me, but those are the three things I remember packing in my bag. I went to my father and told him I was going to run away. He said okay, but he said I could not leave the yard. I ran away for a few moments, but it did not last long since I was not allowed to leave our yard. His authority put a lot of limitations on my plans.
As I reflect back, I am intrigued by what I treasured at the time. This was seen in what I packed to take with me when I left home. I took a little silver toy gun that is now long gone. The orange I took would only last for a few moments, and as I remember it left my hands sticky. The box of Captain Crunch cereal I took would not be a cereal I would choose to eat during this point of my life when easting healthy is important. In other words, the things I treasured then would not be treasures for me today.
The Apostle Paul is writing about a treasure above all treasures. It is a treasure that will never lose its value or meaning in my life. He is speaking about the treasure of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He is speaking about the name that is above every name. Paul wrote to the Philippians, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11. Paul is speaking about the one who is the pearl of great price. No other treasure can compare to the wonderful treasure of Jesus.
The amazing thing that catches my attention today is that we can have this treasure. We can never earn this treasure, but we can have it. We can never deserve this treasure, but we can receive it. This treasure is a gift of God’s grace freely given to all who will believe and receive it by faith.
There are a lot of treasures I will never have or possess. There are riches of today and treasures of the ages that I will never see, let alone own. However, I can say with Paul, I have this treasure. Yes, you can say with Paul today, we have this treasure. Regardless of what is going on in my life or the world around me, we have this treasure.
“Take the name of
Jesus with you, Child of sorrow and of woe.
It will joy and comfort give you; take it, then, wherever you go.
Precious name, oh, how
sweet! Hope of earth and joy of heaven!
Precious name, oh, how
sweet! Hope of earth and joy of heaven.”
DAY 2 – May 26, 2009
TITLE: “GOD CAN USE YOU”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” II Corinthians 4:7
On June 23, 2001, the Boeing company finished a labor of
love—the complete restoration of the last existing 307. It was the world's first pressurized
commercial airliner. A
Most of us are aware that we are people with potential to fail. We can falter, let people down, and fail to measure up many times. We are fragile and easily broken. Yet we are people with great potential because of the treasure of Christ. This precious treasure has been given to us to reveal that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from ourselves. We are fragile, but the treasure in us is not. As earthen vessels we are weak, but the treasure we have is strong. We are finite, but the treasure is infinite. The treasure we have is unchanging, but we are changeable. Yet God chooses to use us so that He can reveal His power in us and through us. God can fill and use you today.
“If You
can use anything Lord, You can use me.
If You can use anything Lord, You can use me.
Take my hands, Lord and my feet,
Touch my heart, Lord speak through me.
If You can use anything Lord, You can use me.
Lord, you called Moses from the wilderness,
And You put a rod in his hand. You used him to lead Your
people
Over to the Promised Land, Lord, I'm willing to trust in You.
So take my life Lord, and use it too.
Yes, if You can use anything Lord, Come on and use me.
When David fought Goliath, and that mighty giant fell,
He proved to his people, that God was alive in
Lord, I'm available to You, and I'm waiting to be used.
Yes I am, Lord, if You can use anything Lord
Come on and use me. Take my hands and my feet
Touch my heart, speak through me.” Ron
Kenoly
DAY 3 – May 27, 2009
TITLE: “HE GIVETH GRACE”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” II Corinthians 4:15
Paul faced some real challenges in his ministry. Yet he was able to focus on the good in the difficult. In the midst of the challenges, he was very aware of the grace and goodness of God. He found God’s grace was sufficient, so though he was hard pressed, he was not crushed, in despair, abandoned, or destroyed.
Scott is a professional golfer who plays often at the Masters Golf Tournament, hosted by the Augusta National Golf Club. Augusta National is to golfers what the Smithsonian is to history buffs; the ultimate experience. The course explodes in beauty. You would think you’d walked into an oil painting. Groomers manicure the course as if she’s a wedding day bride. In describing the perfection to his caddie, Scott commented, “You won’t see a single weed all week.” Imagine Scott’s surprise when, on Sunday, after five days of walking the course, his caddie pointed to the ground and announced to Scott, “I found one!”
Sometimes, I wonder if we do the very same thing. We live in
a
The apostle Paul took his eyes off the weeds of difficulties and focused on the grace of God. He knew that amidst all that was going on, God was at work. The Lord was being revealed in time through the difficult times. He said that death was at work in us, but life is at work in you. Paul could see the grass of God’s grace, for he was not looking for the weeds.
Today is a day to major on God’s grace and purpose. Let’s not focus on the difficulties, but delight in the Lord and His call and grace. Don’t spend your time on the hard times, but on the help you receive each day from the Lord of all grace. When you focus on the grace of God, like Paul, you discover that His grace is sufficient.
“He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater;
He sendeth
more strength when the labors increase.
To added affliction He
addeth His mercy;
To multiplied trials,
His multiplied peace.
His love has no limit;
His grace has not measure;
His power has no
boundary known unto men.
For out of His
infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!” Annie Johnson Flint
DAY 4 – May 28, 2009
TITLE: “THE ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweigh them all.” II Corinthians 4:17
Paul did not lose heart because of the perspective that he had. By faith, he looked past the outward things and focused on the inward. From his perspective the problems of the day were light and momentary. He had a perspective that enabled him to look at what was taking place from the eternal perspective.
Your perspective will impact what you see and how you see it. As a kid, I remember being asked the question, “Why did the chicken cross the road?” It really does depend upon whom you are asking and the perspective they have. Someone pointed that out with the comments. Why did the chicken cross the road?
Ralph Nader
“The chicken’s habitat on the original side of the road had been polluted by unchecked industrialist greed. The chicken did not reach the unspoiled habitat on the other side of the road because it was crushed by the wheels of a gas-guzzling SUV.”
Dr. Seuss
“Did the chicken cross the road?
Did he cross it with a toad?
Yes, the chicken crossed the road,
But why it crossed, I’ve not been told!”
Ernest Hemingway
“To die. In the rain. Alone.”
Grandpa
“In my day, we didn’t ask why the chicken crossed the road. Someone told us that the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough for us. Since you asked about crossing the road, did I ever tell you that, when I was young, I had to cross a road that was covered with seven feet of snow just to get to school?”
Aristotle
“It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.”
The above comments remind us again of the importance of perspective. Do you have a perspective that keeps you from losing heart? The eternal perspective can keep you from focusing on the outward circumstances. Do you have a perspective that sees the trouble light and momentary for they are achieving an eternal glory that far outweighs them all? Ask God to help you have the eternal perspective.
DAY 5 – May 29, 2009
TITLE: “THE FAITH PERSPECTIVE”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” II Corinthians 4:18
Yesterday we talked briefly about perspective. Today we will
continue to focus on that theme. To have the right perspective you must focus
your eyes on the right things. Paul said that we fix our eyes not on what is
seen, but on what is unseen. Paul had the faith perspective. He saw what is
only seen by faith. He did not focus on the temporary things that will pass
away, but on the eternal. Paul was writing to help the church at
Woman of Faith Conferences, have been held in a variety of places and have impacted many women for Christ. This great organization fills arenas with women, and women with hope. The President, Mary Graham, tells of one particular weekend in which a shortage of space tested everyone’s patience.
The floor had 150 fewer seats than needed. The arena staff tried to solve the problem by using narrow chairs. As a result, every woman had a place to sit, but everyone was crowded. Complaints contaminated like feedlot fragrance. Mary asked Joni Eareckson Tada, a speaker for the evening, if she could calm the crowd. Joni was perfectly qualified to do so. A childhood diving accident had left her wheelchair-bound. The attendants rolled her onto the platform, and Joni addressed the unhappy crowd. “I understand some of you don’t like the chair in which you are sitting. Neither do I. But I have about a thousand handicapped friends who would gladly trade places with you in an instant.”
The grumbling ceased. A different perspective changed what they saw.
The faith perspective changes what we see. By faith, we can
look past the circumstances and things of this world to what is eternal. Only through faith can the eternal be seen.
Hebrews 11 is centered on the faith perspective. Speaking of Moses, Hebrews
11:26 says, “He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ
as of greater value than the treasures of
When reporters interviewed soldiers who landed on the shores
of