Before Christ vs After Christ (Boasting vs Esteeming Others)

On 2026-06-17 By Ed AlgreenIn God’s Word, All have sinned, God Cares For Us, Acknowledge God, Awesome God, Accept Jesus NOWLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read 1 Corinthians 4:7; Philippians 2:3 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the The Voice (Voice).

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

We might hear our family or friends remind us of things we did “when we were young and ignorant,” or laugh about the days “when we were young and thought we could conquer the world!” Because back then, we really believed we were ‘on top of the world’. But then, “life” happened. Troubles and circumstances came along that reminded us of just how small and powerless we really are in this great big universe.

To some degree, we were raised to think this way. Parents often encourage their kids to speak up, move to the front of the class, or tell us something like, “Don’t you ever think you are any less than that friend you are bragging about.” So naturally, we spend our lives trying to outdo our friends and prove that we are just as, or more important than they are. Maybe we even came from a family that never had to struggle for money, which can easily make a person feel superior to some who were less fortunate.

But our lesson today reminds us of who Christ is, and from whom we actually receive our life, good health, families, friends, and our resources.

The Great Equalizer

This is a good opportunity for us to look around and remind ourselves of a simple truth: when a doctor walks into a room with a serious medical report, those heavy words sound exactly the same whether a person has a large bank account or is struggling to make ends meet. All the wealth in the world cannot stop an illness from coming, and it cannot buy us one extra minute of life when our time here is up. At the end of the day, our very next breath is a gift that belongs completely to the Lord, not to our wallets.

Material goods might give us worldly boasting rights, but they do absolutely nothing for our character or our relationship with the Creator of this world. The person with material wealth and the person without it must walk the exact same road to meet Jesus. If they don’t know Him, there is only one tragic place awaiting them for eternity – Hell.

What a shame it will be to stand before God if we have nothing to show Him but worldly things. When we stand before His throne, He will not look at our material goods; He will look at the existence of a relationship we might, or might not, have with Him.

So, what do any of us really have to boast about? The Apostle Paul addresses this directly in 1 Corinthians 4:

“What makes you think you are more special than anyone else? What do you have that you didn’t receive as a gift? And if it was given to you, why do you boast as if you accomplished it on your own?” — 1 Corinthians 4:7 (The Voice)

If you know Jesus as your Savior, you are, at best, equal with the person sitting next to you who also knows Him. It doesn’t matter how much they were looked down on in school, or if you once chose not to hire someone because they weren’t dressed in fancy clothes like you. God’s Word completely uncovers wrongful boasting (and if you want to study this further, please take time to look at Jeremiah 9:23, James 4:16, and Luke 12:19).

Shifting the Spotlight

As believers in Jesus Christ, our “After Christ” life gives us a completely different reason to boast. We do have something to boast about—but it isn’t ourselves! We can be bold in boasting about the One who loved us so much that He died so that we might live eternally with Him and the Father in Heaven.

For those of us who have been redeemed, Jesus teaches us a brand-new way to treat the people around us:

“Don’t be jealous or proud but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves.” — Philippians 2:3 (CEV)

Instead of bragging about ourselves, we are to look for the good in others and boast on them. Anytime we can put our own “self” aside, we are practicing true humility. Anytime we lift someone else up, we are unselfishly seeking the value in them, celebrating their character, and noticing their likeness to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus gave us the ultimate example of this. He humbled Himself by accepting the agony of the cross at Calvary. Remember, He is the same Jesus who walked on water, healed the blind and the lame, and stood before His accusers in total silence. With that kind of divine power, there was absolutely nothing He couldn’t do! Yet, He accepted death on a cross out of pure obedience to His Father, and for the good of everyone who would put their faith and trust in Him. He paid our heavy debt so that we could go free.

How is it with you today? Have you truly surrendered your life to Him? Whether we are naturally humble or naturally proud, we only have one way into Heaven—through believing in the Lord Jesus and accepting Him as our Savior. He is our strength, and the Holy Spirit is our Guide to living an obedient, clean, and righteous life that honors God. I hope from the bottom of my heart that I can depend on you joining me around the throne one day, so we can worship our King together – for all eternity!

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Forgive me for the times I have allowed worldly success, material things, or a spirit of competition to make me feel superior to others. Remind me today that every good thing I have – my health, my family, and my resources – is a gift from You. Holy Spirit, help me to put my “self” aside. Teach me to look for the good in the people around me, to lift them up, and to esteem them more important than myself, just like Jesus did. I don’t want to boast in my own accomplishments anymore; I only want to boast in the cross of Christ and His amazing grace. Thank You for paying my debt and setting me free. In the precious and matchless name of Jesus, Amen.

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!

Before Christ vs After Christ (From Pride to Humility)

On 2026-06-16 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s WordLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Proverbs 16:5; James 4:6 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Amplified Bible (AMP).

Proverbs 16:5 (AMP)
Everyone who is proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting and exceedingly offensive to the Lord; Be assured he will not go unpunished.

James 4:6 (AMP)
But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation]. Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud and haughty, but [continually] gives [the gift of] grace to the humble [who turn away from self-righteousness].”

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

Some parents teach their children to take pride in themselves and strive to become the best person they can be. Others constantly criticize and discourage their children, leaving them feeling inadequate and unworthy. Sadly, we often see the effects of both extremes in the people we work with, those who marry into our families, and even those who serve alongside us in our churches.

But is either of these what God is referring to in the verses above? I do not believe so.

Understanding the Danger of Pride

I believe these verses clearly identify the type of pride God is warning us about.

Arrogant in heart — This needs no real explanation. We all do our absolute utmost to avoid people who are arrogant and think they are above everyone else in all things.

Disgusting and Exceedingly Offensive — A proud person often couldn’t care less about their audience. They speak unholy words and are completely insensitive to the lives of others. While some folks are careful to speak heartfelt words, others are so raw and offensive in their behavior that we wouldn’t want our mothers or our children exposed to them.

Haughty and Self-Exalting — This means setting oneself up as greater than anyone else in speech, accomplishments, or achievements. Pride closes the heart of a haughty person to God’s grace because it essentially says, “I don’t need You.”

Will be punished — Parents often warn their children about the consequences of disobedience. In a far greater way, God has clearly shown us how He desires us to live through His Son, Jesus Christ, through His Word, and through faithful and devoted believers. Therefore, God leaves no room for doubt: He makes it clear that the prideful will be punished.

The True Blessing of Humility

Thankfully, God also shows us the beautiful opposite of pride, which is humility. A humble person is simply someone who turns away from self-righteousness. According to the scriptures, a humble life receives two amazing gifts:

Given the Holy Spirit — When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, God does not leave us to walk this journey alone. He gives us the Holy Spirit to live within us, guide us, teach us, convict us, and help us grow in Christlikeness. The Holy Spirit continually works to develop the character and qualities that honor God.

The old life begins to fade away, and a new life begins. Yet while we remain in this world, we will continue to face temptations and spiritual battles. That is why the presence and power of the Holy Spirit are such precious gifts to every believer.

Given more grace — James tells us that God gives “more grace.” We need that grace every day because our old nature naturally wants to put self first. Humility is not something we achieve on our own; it is something God develops within us as we submit ourselves to Him.

The right order of our priorities — I believe a huge part of walking in humility is keeping our allegiance in the proper, biblical order. A humble heart keeps things lined up like this:

God → Family → Others → Church → Me

This order reminds us that through God’s amazing grace, and entirely above our own selfish desires, we can learn to serve others just like our Savior modeled for us.

Please remember: Before Christ, we naturally lived to exalt ourselves; After Christ, our greatest desire should be to exalt our Savior. I believe you will recognize and agree with the selfish things we all used to do before accepting Christ. My hope and heart’s desire today is that you will ask the Holy Spirit every single day to fill you with the grace needed to overcome the prideful ways of this world. Let us live a humble and sincere life patterned after Jesus Christ, until the beautiful day He calls us home to our eternal home in Heaven!.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your Word that lovingly warns us about the dangers of pride and teaches us the beauty of humility. Forgive us for the times we have trusted in ourselves more than in You, sought our own glory, or placed our desires above Your will.

Fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit and grant us the grace needed to live humble and obedient lives. Help us to keep You first in all things and to serve others with the same love and compassion that Jesus demonstrated throughout His life.

May our hearts remain soft before You, our minds surrendered to You, and our lives be a testimony of Your transforming power. Teach us daily to walk in humility so that You may be honored and glorified through us.

In the precious name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Before Christ vs After Christ (An Unforgiving Spirit vs A Forgiving Spirit)

On 2026-06-13 By Ed AlgreenIn God’s Word, All have sinned, God Cares For Us, Acknowledge God, Awesome God, Accept Jesus NOWLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Saturday, June 13, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Colossians 3:13 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the New Living Translation (NLT).

“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

The War for Our Peace

We have all heard the horror stories of what happens when human anger goes unchecked. It festers into bitterness, grows into hatred, and leads to destructive actions. Most of us easily agree that this kind of malice belongs to the devil, and that believers should have no part in it.

Yet, we must still address this today because Satan hasn’t changed his tactics. He constantly targets believers, tempting us to react, hold grudges, and operate exactly like the world does. The enemy’s ultimate goal is to keep people—both the unsaved and the body of Christ—in total turmoil and at odds with one another. It is the exact opposite of what God designed for us.

Before Christ: Standing in Turmoil

Before Christ, our default response to being offended is to withhold grace. We build walls, we nurse our wounds, and we demand that the other person pays for what they did. But Jesus drew a direct line between the forgiveness we extend and the forgiveness we receive.

Look at how clearly this is laid out in the Gospel of Mark:

“Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him [drop the issue, let it go], so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions and wrongdoings [against Him and others]. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions.” — Mark 11:25-26 (AMP)

When we feel the slightest hesitation to let something go, we have to stop and use the Word of God as our plumbline. The Savior’s standard will always look radically different from the practices of the world.

After Christ: Total Forgiveness as a Lifestyle

When you make that 180-degree turn to follow Jesus, you experience the ultimate clean slate. At the moment of salvation, God forgives you totally. He completely wipes your slate clean.

So, why does Jesus continue to talk to believers about forgiveness after we are saved?

Because if we fall back into our old, worldly patterns of harboring an unforgiving spirit, we compromise our daily fellowship with God. We are held accountable. When we approach God’s throne expecting full, unconditional, and complete mercy for our daily mistakes, we cannot simultaneously hold a debt over someone else’s head.

Consider the standard of our Holy God:

He loved us and proved it at Calvary while we were still sinners rejecting Him.

He forgives us completely without us ever earning it.

Our focal verse in Colossians teaches us a vital key: we are to forgive them immediately, not wait around for them to ask for it. When we choose to love unconditionally – loving both those who support us and those who oppose or misunderstand us – forgiveness becomes our natural reflex. Let’s make it a deliberate point to forgive exactly like Jesus teaches, rather than living by the conditional expectations of the world. God is our Judge, not culture. Drop the issue, let it go, and keep your slate clean.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the beautiful, complete, and overwhelming forgiveness You poured out on me at the cross. Thank You for wiping my slate clean when I didn’t deserve it. Forgive me for the times I have taken Your mercy for granted while holding onto grudges and offenses against others.

Holy Spirit, search my heart right now. If there is any hidden resentment, anger, or unwillingness to let go of a past hurt, I ask You to root it out. Give me the strength to obey Colossians 3:13 today. I choose to drop the issue, release the debt, and forgive those who have offended me just as You forgave me. I refuse to give the enemy a foothold of turmoil in my life. Let Your peace rule in my heart today.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Before Christ vs. After Christ (Bitterness vs The Tender Hearted)

On 2026-06-11 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s WordLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Thursday, June 11, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Hebrews 12:14-15 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Living Bible (TLB).

¹⁴ Try to stay out of all quarrels, and seek to live a clean and holy life, for one who is not holy will not see the Lord. ¹⁵ Look after each other so that not one of you will fail to find God’s best blessings. Watch out that no bitterness takes root among you, for as it springs up it causes deep trouble, hurting many in their spiritual lives.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

The Suddenness of Eternity

Isn’t it mind-blowing how quickly we rush to the bedside of someone about to depart this world? We desperately want to ensure they have made peace with God before they meet their Maker and Eternal Judge. But let’s be honest: countlessly more people wake up in the morning and never make it back to bed at night. Accidents, sudden illnesses, and unexpected tragedies take lives on the spot every single day.

If eternity is always that close, shouldn’t we always care about our spiritual condition – and our relationships with one another, rather than waiting for a finish line we might not see coming?

The writer of Hebrews is speaking directly to believers here, about living a holy life. Think about it: if we care enough about our earthly employers to act in a way that pleases them on the job every day, how much more effort should a child of the King make to avoid the pitfalls of unholiness, in order to please their Lord and Savior?

Before Christ: The Root of Bitterness

Before Christ, we are ruled by the need to have our own way. This selfishness naturally breeds quarrels. When we allow fighting to take over, we quickly default right back to the behavior of the world.

When you make that radical, 180-degree turn toward Jesus, God views you as holy. You have the Holy Spirit residing inside of you. But verse 15 issues a strict warning: Watch out for bitterness. When we let guardrails down, quarrels creep in, and bitterness takes root. Bitterness doesn’t stay quiet; it grows, turning us against our brothers, sisters, neighbors, coworkers, and relatives. When we harbor resentment, we stop representing the King and start doing the dirty work of the enemy—Satan—who desires nothing more than to steal, kill, and destroy what is holy.

After Christ: Tenderhearted and Forgiving

One of the most beautiful things about the Word of God is that it never exposes our sin without providing the remedy to stay holy. In Ephesians 4:31-32 (TLB), God gives us a clear exchange policy for our new life in Christ:

“Stop being mean, bad-tempered, and angry. Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ.”

We often joke around and tell people, “You really know exactly which buttons to push, don’t you?” While we say it with a laugh, the truth behind it is sobering. When we deliberately provoke someone, we are often trying to push them off the ledge. We intentionally try to make them lose their temper, expose their weakness, and compromise their Christian walk.

God hates this. He will hold us responsible for provoking our brothers and sisters into sin. Instead, the Bible tells us that we are called to provoke one another toward love and good works. Because you are an “After Christ” believer, the King of Love lives inside you. Choosing to be tenderhearted and forgiving isn’t an impossible standard—through the Holy Spirit, it is entirely attainable. Choose to drop the grudge today. Your willingness to forgive is the truest indication that you are a child of the King.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Thank You for reminding me today of how fragile life is and how urgent it is to live holy in the present. Forgive me for the times I have allowed bitterness to take root in my heart, and for the times I have deliberately “pushed buttons” to provoke others into anger instead of love.

Holy Spirit, uproot every trace of resentment, mean-temperedness, and malice inside me. I don’t want to do the enemy’s work by spreading division. Instead, soften my heart. Make me truly tenderhearted and quick to forgive, reflecting the massive debt of forgiveness You paid for me on the cross. Let my words and actions today protect the peace of your Kingdom and honor You as my King.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Before Christ vs. After Christ (The Mirror of Judgment)

On 2026-06-10 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s WordLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Wednesday, June 10, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Matthew 7:1-2 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the New Living Translation (NLT).

¹ “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. ² For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

We spend a lot of time trying not to worry about tomorrow, but today’s truth brings a sobering reality: Each day, we are actively laying the foundation for how we ourselves will be judged. It can be tempting to feel exempt from this rule. We might assume Jesus’ warning only applies to the ungodly or the unsaved. But let’s not alter the Word of God. Jesus delivered these words during the Sermon on the Mount, and they apply to everyone who claims to follow Him.

Why is Jesus so uncompromising here? Because human judgment is deeply flawed. Earthly judges carry personal prejudices; they might throw the maximum penalty at a crime they personally abhor, or show unearned leniency to a cause they privately support.

But Jesus is our perfect, completely unbiased Judge.

Ask yourself this critical question: If you stood before a judge today, and you knew your sentence would be based entirely on how you have judged the people around you, would your mind be at ease, or would you be terrified? Your answer reveals whether you are letting God be God, or if you are disobediently sitting in His judgment seat.

Before Christ: Pointing Fingers

Before Christ, our natural instinct is to deflect. We shift the focus away from our own flaws by magnifying the failures of others. God exposes this trap clearly through the Apostle Paul:

“Therefore you have no excuse or justification, everyone of you who [hypocritically] judges and condemns others; for in passing judgment on another person, you condemn yourself, because you who judge… are habitually practicing the very same things.” — Romans 2:1 (AMP)

When we live according to the world’s standards, we point fingers at others without realizing those same fingers point right back at our own hidden sins.

After Christ: Restoration over Condemnation

When we pass from death to life in Christ, our mandate shifts from condemnation to restoration. Our merciful God never points out a problem in us without showing us how He prefers we handle it. The Word gives us a two-step checklist for an “After Christ” mindset:

Step 1: Look Inward First. “Search me, O God, and know my heart…” (Psalm 139:23). Jesus told us to take the log out of our own eye before reaching for the speck in our neighbor’s eye. We have more than enough to manage in our own spiritual walk without policing everyone else.
Step 2: Restore with Gentleness. “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path.” (Galatians 6:1). The goal of a believer is never to execute judgment, but to help a falling brother or sister overcome evil.

A Lesson in the Lack of Perspective

I learned the danger of worldly judgment firsthand. I was leading a church committee and voiced my frustration about a member who had been completely absent from our activities. I quickly received a lesson in humility. Another member informed me that this individual was actually out serving the Lord almost daily while the rest of us were at our regular day jobs.

Because I didn’t have the full picture, I judged poorly. That experience taught me to keep my eyes on the kingdom work assigned to me. Too often, we stress over what others are or aren’t doing. But God holds us accountable for the specific work He gave us individually. Let’s leave the judging to the Only One holy enough to handle it.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father,

Your Word is a mirror, and today it challenges me deeply. Forgive me for the times I have stepped into Your seat of judgment, pointing out the specks in the lives of my brothers and sisters while ignoring the logs in my own. Forgive me for judging situations where I did not have the full picture.

Holy Spirit, search my heart today. Uproot any hidden hypocrisy, pride, or resentment. Help me to focus entirely on the unique assignment You have placed before me. When I see someone stumble, give me a heart that longs to restore them in gentleness, rather than a mind that rushes to condemn them. Teach me to give the same radical grace and mercy to others that You have so freely poured out on me.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Before Christ vs. After Christ (The Plumbline of Love)

On 2026-06-09 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s WordLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Tuesday, June 9, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read John 15:12 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Amplified Bible (AMP).

“This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you.”

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

The Great U-Turn

Before Christ, we naturally follow the currents of this world. We operate under an earthly master, chasing what society labels as “best.” But when you accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, everything changes. You make a radical, 180-degree turn away from the old life and toward the life-example and teachings of Jesus.

These are two entirely different directions, fueled by opposite belief systems and intentions. This devotional is a gentle reminder of God’s truth, designed to help you look into the mirror of the Word and ask: Am I truly demonstrating my faith, or is it time to pray for a heart change? And if at some point you made that decision to follow Jesus, but in this series of devotionals see where you have slipped back into some of the ways demonstrated by Satan, then I would encourage you to seek God’s help for a return path toward righteousness.

Before Christ: The World’s Identity

We often think of love as something that began the moment our mothers first looked into our infant eyes. That natural, human affection is beautiful—and it isn’t being second-guessed here.

If we look closely at how the world operates, where do we actually learn how to love? We piece it together from parents, neighborhood kids, school friends, and culture. As adults, we continue trying to imitate the people around us—at work, in social clubs, or even via casual religious affiliations.

But human love is conditional, and the Word sets a much higher standard:

The Warning: “The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God… for God is love.” — 1 John 4:8 (AMP)
The Reality Check: “If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates (works against) his [Christian] brother he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” — 1 John 4:20 (AMP)

Culture’s version of love is a shifting shadow. We are about to find out that our true plumbline for love is Jesus Christ. Stand by…

After Christ: The Savior’s Standard

As born-again believers, the Word of God becomes our roadmap. We no longer look to culture to define our relationships; we look to Jesus.

In our focal verse, Jesus doesn’t give a suggestion—He gives a commandment to love one another. Notice what He doesn’t say. He doesn’t say to love only if you feel like it, or only if they love you back, or only if they are kind and helpful.

Jesus loved us while we were still sinners. God proved this by sending His unique Son to die on a cross for our eternal salvation. He did it so we would recognize the depth of true sacrifice. Now, He asks us to extend that exact same, unconditional love to others.

When you show Christlike love to someone who has never experienced it, they will notice. They might even test you to see if it’s just a show, or if you truly care for your brother, your coworker, or the person on the street corner. Remember, God didn’t segregate people at Calvary. Jesus died for everyone. Because He loves us all, we are commanded to love everyone.

It’s a “God-thing.” If you know Christ personally, you are called to love unconditionally—just like He loves you.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me first, even when I was still far from You. Forgive me for the times I have dragged old, worldly baggage into my walk with You, choosing to love only when it is easy or convenient. I want my life to reflect a true 180-degree turn. A life that imitates Your example and shows evidence of obedience to Your Word.

Holy Spirit, break down any areas of resentment or conditions I’ve placed on my love for others. Give me Your eyes for my family, my coworkers, and even the strangers I pass on the street. Let Your love be perfected in me so clearly that when the world looks at my life, they don’t see a show—they see Jesus. Measure my heart by Your plumbline today.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Why Doesn’t God Always Answer Our Prayers? (Part 9): The Power of Persistence

On 2026-06-08 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s WordLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Monday, June 8, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Luke 18:1; 6-8; in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Living Bible (TLB).

¹ One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must keep praying until the answer comes.

⁶ Then the Lord said, “If even an evil judge can be worn down like that, ⁷ don’t you think that God will surely give justice to his people who plead with him day and night?⁸ Yes! He will answer them quickly! But the question is: When I, the Messiah, return, how many will I find who have faith and are praying?”

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

In the opening verses of Luke 18, Jesus shares a parable about a poor widow and a deeply corrupt, wicked judge. The widow has been wronged, and she desperately needs justice. Day after day, she knocks on the judge’s door, refusing to take no for an answer. Eventually, this godless judge caves in—not because he cares about justice, but simply because the widow’s relentless knocking is wearing him out.

Jesus uses this stark illustration to teach us a profound lesson about the nature of God. If even a wicked, uncaring judge will eventually concede to the persistence of a stranger, imagine how much more your loving, righteous Heavenly Father is ready to hear, honor, and answer the persistent prayers of His own children!

Jesus tells his disciples, and us, in the about Scripture verses about persistence in our praying, but He also reinforces in James 5:16:

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Jesus is telling us not to treat prayer like a passing fancy. He wants us to ask and keep on asking, to seek and keep on seeking. I don’t believe for a single minute that Jesus doesn’t hear us the very first time we speak. He isn’t hard of hearing!

But just as we keep a loved one on our daily prayer list until we can finally celebrate a breakthrough, continuous asking keeps our hearts tethered to our Savior. Persistence changes us, refines our desires, and eventually brings us into a deep, supernatural peace about His ultimate power and His timely response.

The Three Answers of a Sovereign God

Sometimes, God answers our prayers before the words even finish leaving our lips. We see a beautiful example of this in Genesis 24:45, when Abraham’s servant was still quietly praying in his heart, and suddenly Rebekah appeared with her water jar—the immediate answer to his petition.

However, we must be incredibly careful not to get downhearted or bitter when an answer doesn’t happen instantly or in the way we desire. We serve a completely sovereign God. He chooses to respond to our prayers in His own unique ways, and most importantly, on His perfect timeline.

When we present our requests to God, we usually have a specific outcome in mind. We know exactly what we want, and we naturally expect a “Yes.” But if we truly trust in His perfect, loving design, we must remember that every single request we make will be answered in one of three ways:

YES: Granted in His abundant grace.
NO: Denied because He sees a danger or a better path we cannot see.
IN MY TIMING: Delayed because in this season or our hearts we are not yet ready.

“No” and “Not right now” are just as valid, loving, and perfect as “Yes.” If we truly claim to trust Him, we must prepare our hearts to receive whatever His perfect response turns out to be.

Shifting Our Prayer Priorities

It is easiest to find time for prayer when we are heavily burdened by trial or sickness. But what about the good days? We need to ensure that our prayer lives continue even during days of pure celebration, worship, and contentment.

Furthermore, we need to examine what we are prioritizing when we pray. While praying for the physical wellness and comfort of our loved ones is beautiful and should always be near the top of our lists, there is something even more urgent.

I highly recommend that we place our loved ones who have yet to accept Jesus as Lord at the absolute top of our prayer priorities. There is nothing more important in this universe than a soul’s eternal destination. If the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—is not evident in their lives (Galatians 5:22-23), then we must persistently bring them to the throne of grace and ask for God’s intervention in their lives. Where Christ abides, His grace is apparent in our obedience to Him. Pray without ceasing, dear ones! Do not lose heart, and do not stop knocking. The God of this universe hears you, loves you, and will answer you perfectly.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Thank You that You are nothing like the unjust judge of this world. You are a good, loving, and attentive Father who delights in the voices of Your children. Lord, forgive me for the times I have treated prayer like a passing fancy, giving up when I didn’t see an immediate result. Teach me how to pray with holy persistence. Give me the grace to accept Your “No” and Your “Wait” just as gladly as I accept Your “Yes,” knowing Your timing is always flawless. Today, I especially lift up my lost loved ones to You. Open their hearts to receive Your salvation. Keep me knocking, keep me seeking, and keep me resting in Your perfect peace. In the persistent and powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Why Doesn’t God Always Answer Our Prayers? (Part 8): Taking the Spiritual Bypass

On 2026-06-07 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s WordLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Sunday, June 7, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Proverbs 21:13 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Contemporary English Version (CEV).

If you won’t help the poor, don’t expect to be heard when you cry out for help.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

When we walk in a true, personal relationship with the God of this universe, something wonderful happens: He begins to change us from the inside out. He opens our eyes to how we can grow in Him, learn His commands, and transform our personal attitudes so that we can faithfully share His love with a hurting world.

But a major part of that internal correction involves learning to love the very people this world considers unlovable or undeserving. To succeed at this, the Holy Spirit must teach us to look at our daily circumstances and the people we encounter through the lens of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Think about the radical way Jesus lived. Although He could have chosen the religious elite, He chose lowly fishermen to be His closest disciples. In that culture, people often looked down on fishermen because they constantly smelled of fish, and many preferred to keep their distance. Jesus also chose to eat with tax collectors, even calling one named Matthew to follow Him. Tax collectors were deeply mistrusted because they routinely took financial advantage of the poor.

Jesus spent so much time with those who rejected Him that the religious leaders complained bitterly about Him:

“And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’” — Luke 15:2

The Jewish people also harbored a deep-seated hatred for the Samaritans. To avoid them at all costs, travelers would actually use a well-known bypass road, taking a longer route just to ensure they wouldn’t have to set foot in Samaria or look a Samaritan in the eye. Yet, Jesus intentionally walked right through that territory. He went straight to a well, encountered a woman with a very colorful past, and saw her exactly for who she was: a precious soul who desperately needed a touch from the Master.

The Bypasses We Build Today

I have to wonder: who are the “fishermen” in our lives today? Who are the people we tend to look down on or avoid because we detest their smell, their clothes, or the behavior associated with their struggles? Where are the places we take a mental or emotional “bypass” just to keep our distance?

None of us are perfect, and it is natural to despise being ripped off or taken advantage of financially. But which of the modern-day “tax collectors” we cross paths with are we genuinely willing to invite to church? Are we willing to let them sit right next to us in the pew, introduce them to our pastors and friends, and ultimately introduce them to Jesus? Would you consider going to the fishing docks and doing the same there – invite them to your church, your pew and to meet your pastor and your friends?

Most of us have been around long enough to recognize the beggars, the cheaters, and those looking to exploit a situation. We have learned how to protect ourselves and avoid them. But have we ever stopped to ask Jesus to help us love the ones He loves? Have we asked Him to help us see the people He is actively seeking to save?

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus gives us a beautiful reminder of His core mission:

“And Jesus answered them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.’” — Luke 5:31-32

Are you able to see beyond those who are healthy in body and soul? Are you able to look past the rich, the comfortable, and those who have it all together to see the urgent needs of the broken?

A Drastic Measure for a Divided Heart

In our focal scripture today, God gives us a sobering warning about what happens when we choose to turn a blind eye to the suffering around us:

“Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.” — Proverbs 21:13

That is a drastic measure for God to take, but He does it to get our attention. He wants us to live exactly how Jesus lived and taught.

The religious leaders of the New Testament had a very specific, rigid image in their minds of what holiness looked like. They were absolutely flabbergasted to see Jesus doing the exact opposite of their traditions by sitting down and sharing a meal with sinners.

When it comes to addressing the raw, unfiltered needs of the people around you, do you look more like those religious leaders, or do you look like Jesus? Is there anything in your heart that needs to be handed over to God today so that your life aligns more closely with the Savior’s? We all want our prayers to be heard, especially when we find ourselves in deep seasons of personal need. Let us examine our hearts today to ensure that a closed ear to the broken isn’t the very thing hindering God’s attention to our own cries.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Forgive me for the times I have taken the “bypass” to avoid people who are messy, broken, or difficult to love. Forgive me for closing my ears to the cries of the poor and needy while expecting You to always be listening to my own requests. Holy Spirit, change my vision. Help me to look at my neighbors, my co-workers, and even the strangers on the street through the compassionate lens of Jesus Christ. Give me a heart that naturally seeks out the spiritually and physically sick, rather than just the comfortable. Cleanse me of any pride, and let my life be an open channel of Your unconditional love. In the beautiful and merciful name of Jesus, Amen.

Why Doesn’t God Always Answer Our Prayers? (Part 7): Neglecting Our Home Responsibilities

On 2026-06-06 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s WordLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Saturday, June 6, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read 1 Peter 3:7 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the New Living Translation (NLT).

In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

We often hear people say—perhaps more times than we wish: “I just don’t know why God refuses to hear or answer my prayers.” They speak as if God isn’t doing what He’s supposed to do, or as if He is being intentionally vindictive toward them. But how often do we stop to examine our own hearts and lives to see if we are actually doing everything God instructed us to do, to the best of our God-given ability?

God’s Word reveals an undeniable link between how we manage our earthly relationships and how He responds to our heavenly requests. The Apostle Peter gives us a blunt warning about this, noting that a husband’s failure to honor his wife can completely block his spiritual life:

“Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” — 1 Peter 3:7

As parents, we gladly reward obedience and good behavior in our children, but we are instantly labeled the “mean parent” when we have to hold back a reward or give correction instead. Is that not a reflection of what we learn from our faithful Father in heaven? He loves us too much to reward our dysfunction.

Carrying Our Earthly Responsibilities

When we look deeper into family life, the Apostle Paul reminded young Timothy to prioritize a serious truth in his ministry: we must be careful to carry out our practical, earthly family responsibilities, or else our spiritual claims mean nothing.

“But anyone who won’t care for his own relatives when they need help, especially those living in his own family, has no right to say he is a Christian. Such a person is worse than the heathen.” — 1 Timothy 5:8

Too often, we slacken our personal responsibilities and depend on governmental agencies to step in and fill the gaps created by our own shortcomings. This is an area where we must be extremely careful. God has placed each of us here on earth and blessed us with families who need practical, everyday help to make it through this life. The needs become even greater when a loved one can no longer care for themselves.

No matter which Bible version or translation you read, you will never find a verse that says, “But anyone – or their respective government authorities – who won’t care for his relatives…” It is a sad reality that modern governments have been forced to step in because we, as honorable citizens and believers, have failed to care for our own.

Changing Our Priorities at Home

Your immediate response might be, “But I just can’t afford it!” If that is your defense, I would suggest you look at this the same way we looked at our time constraints in earlier devotionals. Try being radically honest and saying to the Lord in your quiet time: “But God, it’s just not a priority for me to care for my dad, my mom, or my struggling relative.” When we frame it that way, the excuse fades, and the truth comes out.

When we choose to take our God-designed responsibilities seriously and make caring for our flesh and blood an absolute priority, I truly believe God will open the windows of heaven and bless our lives beyond anything we could think or imagine.

Why is God so strict with us on this? Why would He allow our prayers to be hindered if we refuse to sacrifice and care for our families? Because it is woven directly into His master plan.

Think of Queen Esther. She was explicitly reminded by Mordecai that she was placed in the king’s palace “for such a time as this”—a strategic position where her family and her entire nation could be saved from destruction, but only if she rose to the occasion and did her part. What do you suppose your unique purpose is within your own family network? What has God predesigned for you to do? We pray because we know a mighty God who has the absolute power to answer us. But as human beings, we need constant, daily reminders about our practical responsibilities as His followers. God is reminding each of us today to stay in close communion with Him, to walk in alignment with His Word, and to handle our home responsibilities faithfully so that our prayers can rise to His throne without hindrance.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Forgive me for the times I have complained about unanswered prayers while simultaneously neglecting the practical responsibilities You have placed right in front of me. Lord, protect my home and my family. Help me to honor my commitments and care for my relatives out of a heart of pure obedience, rather than passing my duties off to the world. Where resources are thin, I ask that You provide so that I can be a blessing to my flesh and blood. Keep my heart pure and my relationships in order, so that nothing stands in the way of our communication.

In the beautiful and convicting name of Jesus, Amen.

Why Doesn’t God Always Answer Our Prayers? (Part 6): The Cost of Disobedience

On 2026-06-05 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s WordLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Friday, June 5, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Proverbs 28:9 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the New International Version (NIV).

If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

Isn’t it fascinating how, even when faced with the clear Word of God, we can still be surprised by the reasons He chooses to remain silent? Scripture explicitly shows us that God will not answer the prayers of those who insist on “doing their own thing” while completely disregarding His commands.

If you have been following this series, you know my deep conviction that the Bible contains the answers to absolutely every question or dilemma we will ever face in this life. Given that truth, it is heartbreaking to sit among hurting people and hear them complain that God simply refuses to answer their prayers, without them ever looking at the state of their own hearts.

As fellow believers, our natural instinct is to turn to God in times of trouble, doubt, disappointment, and desperate need. But we must stop and honestly ponder a difficult question: Are we asking for God’s help while knowingly ignoring, disobeying, or refusing to accept His commands in other areas of our lives?

The Holy Spirit leaves us a very sobering warning about this through the words of King Solomon and the Prophet Jeremiah:

‘If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable’. – Proverbs 28:9

“They have returned to the sins of their ancestors, who refused to listen to my words. … Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them.” – Jeremiah 11:10-11

The Danger of a Divided Life

Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly reminds us of a fundamental truth: He will not allow us to ignore Him in one corner of our lives, while expecting Him to rush to our rescue as a last resort in another.

Our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is perfectly just and fair. He cannot tell us how grieved He was by the disobedience of Judah and Jerusalem, yet turn around and overlook our own willful sin just because we are in a tight spot.

Let’s look at this in a very practical, everyday sense. If your spouse was consistently unfaithful to you – showing absolutely zero concern for your feelings and routinely doing the very things they know you despise – would you be anxious to jump up and grant their every wish? Of course not. Why, then, do we expect God to instantly respond to our urgent requests when we are acting like unfaithful, disobedient children?

The bottom line is that the Bible is clear: God will not be mocked. He distances Himself from the prayers of the disobedient when they have the audacity to approach Him without a spirit of repentance.

The Beauty of a 180-Degree Turn

The grandest hope of the Christian faith is that we serve an incredibly loving, merciful, and forgiving Father. We are His creation, but we are a far cry from His perfect holiness. We live in a broken world and face temptation at every single turn.

But the Bible is filled with stories of Jesus stopping a sinner right in their tracks. Think about Saul on the road to Damascus. Through a devastating moment of physical blindness, Jesus got the undivided attention of one of the worst persecutors the early church had ever known. In that moment of desperation, Saul turned from his wicked ways, made a radical, 180-degree turn, and chose to follow Jesus with everything he had.

Saul went from total, aggressive disobedience to spending the rest of his life preaching to the lost about their need for a Savior. This total transformation of character was so profound that it was even marked by a new name: Paul, the author of much of the New Testament.

Do you suppose God changed the way He listened to and answered Paul’s prayers after that turn? The proof is scattered beautifully across every single one of Paul’s letters.

God wants to do the exact same thing for you. But let me encourage you from the bottom of my heart: don’t wait for a crisis to get your attention. Don’t wait for your family, your finances, or your health to hit rock bottom before you decide to listen to His voice.

Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you. Obey His commands, follow the perfect example Jesus set for us on this earth, and prepare your heart to praise Him for the answers that are sure to come. When you give Him every single aspect of your life, He will faithfully be your God through it all – until the day He calls you home to glory!

PRAYER
Search me today and show me if there is any area of my life where I am turning a deaf ear to Your commands. Forgive me for the hypocrisy of ignoring Your Word many days, yet begging for Your intervention in times of desperation. Lord, I don’t want a divided heart. Wash me clean, and give me the courage to make a total, 180-degree turn away from my own willful choices and toward Your perfect will. Thank You for being a God of second chances, just like You were for Paul. I desire to draw close to You today in full obedience, trusting that You hear my cries and care for my soul. In the holy and obedient name of Jesus, Amen.