Scripture: Psalm 101.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Psalm 101:2-6 (NLT)

2 I will be careful to live a blameless life— when will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.

3 I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them.

4 I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil.

5 I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors. I will not endure conceit and pride.

6 I will search for faithful people to be my companions. Only those who are above reproach will be allowed to serve me.

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

As a whole I believe that most of us will want to live our lives in such a way that no one could point a finger at us and accuse us of wrong doing. As a Christian I believe that we will want to live our lives in such a way neither that God, nor others could point their fingers at us in disgust or shame for things we have said, or the way that we have acted. It seems like in the Psalms David often voiced his opinion of how he felt deep down inside and, in order for this to be part of the Word of God to Christians today, I believe that God had a strong influence on what David shared in the Word of God, so that it might penetrate our lives and help us to live true and upright before our God today. Therefore, I believe that I am encouraged by God to live a blameless life, and that I should constantly ask for God’s help in achieving that. I thought that it was interesting that David would say that he will live this blameless life in his own home. Because no one knows us better than those who live with us, I believe that this indicates that if I could live this type of a life before those who really know me, then the world will obviously see a blameless life. In this chapter we learn that we can lead blameless lives if we avoid:

1. Looking at wickedness (“I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar,”
   101:3),
   
2. Evil thoughts (“perverse ideas,”
   101:4),
   
3. Slander (101:5), and
   
4. Pride (101:5).
   

While avoiding these wrongs, we must also let God’s Word show us the standards by which to live. And, as David said, he would “search for faithful people” to be his companions. He would choose as models and as friends those who were godly and truthful. Our friends and associates can have a profound influence on us. Make sure to choose as your closest companions those who are faithful to God and his Word.

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

Father, I believe that it would please You to see me, and other followers of Yours, live blameless lives before our family and friends, and truly live a life exampled by You and taught to us in Your Word. Lord, my desire is to be the man/witness that You expect, and who will not place a stumbling block in the path of anyone seeking after You or being sought after by You. You have spoken through David this morning and showed me ways to live this type of life before You. Please give me wisdom to deal with the challenges of this life that may come my way today that might otherwise take me off track from Your ideals. Please give me strength, wisdom and determination to live a blameless life before You, oh God. It’s You I live for, dear God, may that be reflected in the blameless life that I live, is my sincere prayer today.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I 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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Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

2 Corinthians 12:6-9 (NLT)

6 If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message,

7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.

8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.

9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

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

In God’s Word, not only have we been blessed with amazing facts about God, and His son Jesus, but there are excellent examples of followers of Jesus that catches our attention and guides us to a way of life that is pleasing to God. There is much to say about Paul and his missionary journeys and the churches that he started and the multitudes that he ministered to, but in this passage today we look at characteristics of the man that would benefit us to follow his example as we endeavor to become a more Godly person. The humility of this man is unbelievable. God had blessed him in so many ways that he would have been able to boast an awful lot, however God also placed something very challenging in his life to help deter him from boasting. This bothered Paul a lot, because he didn’t want to be rejected or scorned by the folk he was trying to minister to (Galatians 4:13-15), so he prayed on multiple occasions for God to cleanse/heal him. Each time Paul was reminded that something much more important was ever so prevalent in his life, and that was God’s wonderful grace (His unmerited favor), and it was really all that he needed. Furthermore, Paul was reminded that God’s grace would actually be more powerful and effective in his life through his weakness and downtime. This therefore gave Paul reason to brag about and boast about his weakness so that God might receive honor and glory from those that Paul spoke with. Let’s bring this down to an example in our day and time. Let’s imagine that one of us had been blessed to start many churches in various parts of the country, or even the word, and we saw many people won to Christ as a result of our preaching, or church starts. Now as we return to our home church to brag about all that God did through us, we are diagnosed with cancer and must undergo months of treatment. When we eventually make it to our home church, we find very little to say about the church starts and the salvation of those along the way, but rather how God helps us to make it from day to day as we deal with the debilitating decease of cancer, and how we are unsure from day to day if we will make it. I believe that we would be extremely disappointed, but I also believe that God could use that witness to win even more souls than us bragging about the work performed and the souls won, as it may have looked more like something we personally accomplished. Bottom line is that we should never expect to see credit here on this earth for what we do in Jesus name and for His sake, for it is God that receives that glory. Secondly, we have only today to live for and ask for God’s continued grace. Nothing of what we did in the past assures us of a good or better day today. Let’s place our faith and trust in God for what we need today.

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

Dear God, this is such an awesome reminder about Your wonderful grace. So often we tend to pray to You with such great expectation because of the faithfulness of the one we are praying for, or because of what they have accomplished, or because of all those being reached for You through their ministry. I am reminded that all of these things are credited to You, and not to the individual we are praying for. I need Your grace each and every day. I need Your healing touch afresh today. I need a closer walk with You today than any day in my past, because I need to realize that Your grace is all sufficient today. Please make Yourself known to me today and work through me so that others may be blessed and healed in Your name. You are such an awesome God, and I count it a privilege to be able to call on You each day as my Savior.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I 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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Scripture: Psalm 100.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Psalm 100:3-5 (NLT)

3 Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

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

I believe that too often we are ready to throw in the towel and give up on God because we just don’t feel like He is doing the job we expect. Now, I’m sure you can tell that something is wrong with that statement, but unfortunately that’s the way we act sometimes. I bolded a section of the verses above, because I was reminded that God’s love for me is unfailing – never changes; always there for me; always has my best interest at heart; will sacrifice His very best for me – His only Son. So why then do I feel like I’m so alone at times; like I struggle through life at times; like no one cares at times? Friends, no I’m not losing it. If you would be honest with yourself, we have all felt this way at times, and if I am correct I believe that Satan will lead us to feeling this way again, because that’s his job – to distract us (weakened Christians) from our walk with Christ and make us think that God doesn’t care about us. Remember, Satan can only make his way in, if we drop our guard and weaken our relationship with God enough that Satan could wiggle his way in. David was right in reminding us that God’s love is unfailing and will continue forever. So anytime that I start to feel like I mentioned above, I must quickly work on my relationship with God because I have stepped aside from Him. He’s the constant, I’m the variable! When I’m constant in prayer, and I’m constant in the Word, that fills me with the love of Jesus and there is no room for Satan.

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

Father, thank You for reminding me of Your unfailing love and Your lasting faithfulness. Please continue to ‘yank my chain’ anytime I am tempted to stray away and let my guard down. It is so obvious that Your love is unchanging, please help me to stay so in tuned with You, and be so filled with Your Word that I will not only be aware of the dangers that await a weakened vessel, but rather gloat in the joy of a Savior that loves me so. You truly are my Rock on which I stand and depend. Thank You Jesus for loving even me!

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I 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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Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

2 Corinthians 11:1-4 (NLT)

1 I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me.

2
For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ.

3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.

4 You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.

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

I bolded a portion of the verses above that really stood out to me as I studied this chapter this morning, for I saw Paul concerned about the church and its people, just as I am concerned about my loved ones. What really spoke to me about this though, is that if I was as concerned about those that come through the doors of the church I attend, and perhaps more concerned about the folk that don’t come back, then I believe that folk will know that they have fellow church members/Christians that actually care about their spiritual condition and will hold them accountable for their commitment to God, or lack thereof. I know that may sound confusing to some that may read this devotional, but friends, I am convinced that the gifts that God blesses us with when He sends visitors through our church doors are really gifts from God, for who are we to deserve God adding another to our number? Who are we that God would count us worthy to help that friend grow in the Lord? Who are we that God would use us to example His love to that stranger/visitor? Who are we that God would allow us to see the miracle of ‘new birth’ as the one who comes, accepts Jesus as Lord? We are nothing without Christ, and it is only by His grace that we were saved and only by His grace and mercy that He would trust us with another soul that needs Him in their life. So it is with this acknowledgment that I feel like I should be more like Paul and have a yearning to see His church presented pure and holy to Christ, to see that none would walk away from their commitment to Him without us giving 110% towards helping them overcome the obstacles that Satan may send their way.

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

Father, I pray that I might be more like Paul in fearing that someone You may have placed in my path might become divided in their devotion to You or corrupted in the faith. I pray that You would make me sensitive to that and that You would give me the wisdom on how to encourage that brother or sister so that they might overcome the vile of the devil and realign themselves with You. Satan is so crude and cunning and he is getting to Your followers in ways unimaginable. May You give me strength today to keep my eyes focused on You, and I ask that You please give me wisdom to recognize in a friend anything that may be contrary to a strong, thriving relationship with You, and then give me boldness and wisdom to help them overcome and renew their strength in, and relationship with You.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I 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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