Month: April 2011

Humility or Envy?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Forgiveness, Humility, Reflecting ChristLeave a comment

Scripture: Numbers 11-12.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Numbers 12:3 (NLT)

3 Now Moses was very humble—more humble than any other person on earth.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

I saw so much in this passage of scripture that spoke to me this morning. God’s Word is truly current and applicable to us today, and I thank God for speaking to us through His Word that we may have direction and a clear understanding of what it takes to truly be Christ-like. His directions and His commands are clear. But to get it, we must be attuned to His Holy Spirit, allowing Him to lead us and control us. We must also be willing to let the Word speak to us and apply it to our lives, and not the brother who has so many flaws or the sister who seems to sin every day. God wants to speak to us personally through His Word. My heart was blessed by the description given, or the quality attributed to Moses. I was admiring throughout the last few chapters how patient Moses was, and how he was such a God-fearing man, but then this verse really topped it off. There were two people who found themselves criticizing God and His blessings to Moses. His right hand man, Aaron was one of them. The other was Miriam, the same lady that rescued Moses from the river as a baby and worked out a plan for him to be with his birth mother. Jealousy kicked in, and these two could no longer see the blessings that God showered on them. Instead all they could see was the way that Moses was excelling in leadership and gaining such blessings from God. Unfortunately, this is still very much a weakness in many of us today. We tend to look at the blessings of others with jealousy, rather than thanking God for the blessings that He showers on us each and every day through each and every turn. Yes, we have our challenges and we have our ups and downs, but had it not been for the love and blessings of our Savior, where would we be? I saw from this scripture that God became very angry with Aaron and Miriam for overlooking their blessings and criticizing instead. This caused God to strike Miriam with leprosy. God also became very angry with the Israelites for overlooking their blessings and criticizing Him for what else they thought He should be doing for them. This caused God to strike them with fire through His anger. How is it with us today? Can God shower more blessings on us because He is pleased with our attitudes and actions, or will he strike us with disease or disaster because He sees jealousy or sin so evident in our lives that it emerges above our love and obedience to a most holy God?

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, I feel very convicted this morning, because I am so aware of all that You do for me. All the many ways that You bless me every day. Please help me to keep my eyes fixed on You and my mind fixed on the many blessings that You bestow on me every day. There will be no time for jealousy or envy, because I will quickly realize that You already bless me more than I could ever fathom. Thank You Father for loving me so much to care for me and do so much for me.

 

àI would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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It’s What’s on The Inside That Matters

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Imitator of Christ, Our Help comes from God, Pleasing to GodLeave a comment

Scripture: Mark 7.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Mark 7:15 (NLT)

15 It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.”

20
And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you.

21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder,

22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.

23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

We are often quick to judge someone by what they eat or anything else that we may see externally. Reading these verses gives good reason for us to concentrate on our own condition and leave the judging of others up to God. For Jesus said, that it all depends on what’s inside a person that determines who they truly are, and we all know that only God knows what is truly on the inside of a person. Bottom line is that we have a lot to worry about in trying to keep ourselves aligned with God’s will, His example and His expectation of us. So besides being incapable and unqualified to judge others, we have a fulltime job trying to read God’s Word, understanding it, and following God’s will for our lives. So let’s not be as concerned about judging others, because we will truly mess up in that. If we think that we see a weakness in our brother, let’s try praying for strength for him, so that he might overcome the temptation or sin and live victorious.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

A little chorus came to mind as I read this passage, Change My Heart Oh God, as I have a responsibility to see God’s face for His help in keeping my own heart aligned with His will and His precepts. Lord, it is my desire that I honor You and be more like You every day of my life. Please help me to seek Your face, Your will and Your direction for my life and to follow You in all sincerity daily. You are my King, my Lord and my deliverer. Be Lord of my Life, dear God.

 

àI would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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Sorry?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Discerning, Forgiveness, Getting Along, Imitator of Christ, Love, Pleasing to God, Reflecting Christ, RepentanceLeave a comment

Scripture: Numbers 4-5.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Numbers 5:6-8 (NLT)

6 “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If any of the people—men or women—betray the Lord by doing wrong to another person, they are guilty.

7 They must confess their sin and make full restitution for what they have done, adding an additional 20 percent and returning it to the person who was wronged.

8 But if the person who was wronged is dead, and there are no near relatives to whom restitution can be made, the payment belongs to the Lord and must be given to the priest. Those who are guilty must also bring a ram as a sacrifice, and they will be purified and made right with the Lord.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

I believe that today we use the word ‘Sorry’ way too lightly. We find this very easy to say when we have wronged someone. We find this very easy to say to God when we have disobeyed Him. It’s just seems like we say this word thinking that the action will be an automatic forgiveness by the other person and that in and of itself it can easily erase all that we have done, or not done. I was impressed with the way that God had the Israelites seek forgiveness, where they not only asked the word, but they also paid restitution. While I realize that paying restitution can also be another action that can be taken lightly, in addition to taking the word ‘sorry’ lightly, I just feel like when it costs us something to apologize for something or some way that we have wronged someone, it may impose greater emphasis on the action being taken by the one seeking forgiveness. This is similar to jail time, where a prisoner may go to jail to pay for the wrong he has done to someone. Often there is a lot of pain, anger, regret, hurt, loss of confidence and disappointment when someone is wronged. Saying something as simple as ‘sorry’ seems way too insignificant to help overcome the affect that this may have caused to another. Let us be reminded that we should do all we can to restore the love between us and the person we have wronged. If it still means paying restitution to them, then I see nothing in scripture that says we shouldn’t. The other thing I liked in this passage is that God’s representative, the priest, was also involved in the process of seeking forgiveness. I believe that today we as Christian leaders have taken the responsibility given to us by God way too lightly, and this has caused the people to lose confidence in us. I also believe that we, as people of God, have taken our responsibility of praying for, respecting, and honoring those whom God has placed in Godly responsibility over us. If God has truly constructed the leadership hierarchy of the church, who are we to question that? Let’s let God be God and we, in turn, be His obedient children.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, I know that I have wronged You in numerous ways by not being obedient to Your commands and biblical direction. Please help me to not only seek Your forgiveness, but to also seek help in being stronger through more consistency in Your Word and on my knees. As I seek to serve and honor You, I believe I can then do a better job of sincerely apologizing to a brother or a sister. Please help me to follow Your ways and be more like You in every way. May I represent You well, especially when I have wronged anyone. May Your love shine through me in such a way, that others will know that You are guiding me and working through me.

 

àI would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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