Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NLT)

11 Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.

12 Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.

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

One of the greatest things I can achieve from God’s Word is to find ways to correct my walk and my lifestyle so that I might be more in line with God’s Word and His ideals for my life. Until something bad happens, we often will not stop to question whether we are living and doing everything in accordance with God’s will. In Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians he was looking at them from a heart of deep love and godly concern. He looked at them as his children in the Lord because he was primarily responsible for birthing the church there. He saw what was happening to them and how there was self-destruction going on. In his letter he shared with them what God expects from His children and also highlighted some of the ungodly habits they had developed and what it would take for them to get back on track in their Christian/Christ-like walk. I believe that in our churches today, we could honestly stop and think about all the wrong/sin that is going on, but often we do a much better job at pointing out the wrong/sin in the church around the corner. I believe that it would behoove us to take the board out of our own eyes first, before trying to help that church around the corner correct the small ‘splinter’ of a problem that we may nitpick about. In verse 12 we are reminded that non-Christians should see something different about us; more pleasing in us; a character that makes them think about Jesus; a lifestyle that they desire, not one that they despise or see just as bad, or worse than theirs. Christians, let’s look at the inside today. Let’s be sure that our walk and our talk is having a positive godly impact on the unsaved, and not being a stumbling block to them and their desire for a better life.

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

Lord, as I walk the pathways of this life and seek to serve You in every way, I pray that You would continue to point out my flaws, like You have through this passage today, and give me a desire and the wisdom to live a life closely in tuned with You and the written instructions given through Your Word.

 

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: Ecclesiastes 1.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Ecclesiastes 1:16-18 (NLT)

16 I said to myself, “Look, I am wiser than any of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem before me. I have greater wisdom and knowledge than any of them.”

17 So I set out to learn everything from wisdom to madness and folly. But I learned firsthand that pursuing all this is like chasing the wind.

18 The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow.

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

Solomon has been proclaimed the wisest person/king that ever existed, however we see in these verses that to pursue all human knowledge without also balancing that with the wisdom from God, results in unimproved happiness or joy. In fact in verse 18 Solomon indicated that it is a waste of time because he became unhappy. It is interesting to note that when human knowledge ignores God, it only highlights our problems because it can’t provide answers without God’s eternal perspective and solution. I thank God for His Word and for teaching me His perspective on things that I find so challenging. I am thankful that you are reading this devotional today, because this is evidence that you also are looking for God’s perspective on things in your life because you don’t have all the answers to the complexities of this life. Praise God that we have access to the One that created everything around us and He continues to manage it all, no matter how modern or complex it seems to get these days!

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

Thank You Father for providing life itself, and equally as important, thank You for the confidence I can place in You every day to help me through each of life’s challenges. There are so many things that challenge me because of the unknown, but praise the mighty name of Jesus, You are in control of it all and the only One who knows what will result from each action. I am placing my hand in Yours again today, asking for the wisdom to handle the challenges that will come my way today, the wisdom to make wise decisions that could affect my future or the future of my employer or my family or my church. I want Your perfect will to be achieved through the decisions that I will make today and the attitude that I will display today. Please grant this, all for Your ultimate glory and honor. Thank You father!

 

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: Proverbs 30-31.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Proverbs 30:7-9 (NLT)

7 O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die.

8 First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.

9 For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.

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

Last evening in our midweek service we were challenged to think about the most important prayer need that we would approach God for. While I don’t know that any attendees were as targeted as in the case of Agur, whose sayings were included in this Proverb, I was impressed with these particular verses and wanted to share my thoughts. Lying is probably one of those things that come almost naturally to us. Now before you raise your eyebrows and wonder why I would say such a thing, I encourage you to consider the exaggerated stories you told yesterday and how you may have added to the story in order to emphasize a point or get the listener’s attention. Think about how you twisted the truth (perhaps just a little) in order to protect a loved one or close friend and help prevent them from getting in trouble. I believe that we lie a whole lot more than we ever stop to imagine, so I could appreciate why this was number one in Agur’s list of favors. I believe that money, or at least our desire for more of it, is probably very high on the list of many who may ask for a favor from God, but the humility and humble spirit in which this was asked of God touched my heart. Too much money may help me in denying the need of God, while too little may encourage, or even force one to steal and therefore disgrace our godly relationship with God. Wow, what a reality!

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

Father I am reminded that if I am to be a true witness of You to those that I come into contact with, then I must closely examine myself and bring my top prayer needs to You, so that I might in all purity represent the wonderful name of Jesus. Please bless me with sincerity of heart and purpose today. Help me to overcome the temptation to sin and therefore lose the trust that an unsaved person may be trying to develop in this earthly representation of You. Please forgive me where I have failed in this before and help me to stay focused on You and in serving You faithfully in all that I do and say, with the desire that others may be touched and encouraged to serve You better or even in a brand new 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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Scripture: Proverbs 27.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)

17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

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

It is so important that we make every effort to take focus away from self and try to help a brother, or a sister, without tearing them down. We get so much of that already from those at work, or those with personal agendas who despise seeing anyone else succeed at anything. How refreshing to think of someone who cares enough to tell you honestly and without malice, exactly what they are seeing you struggle with. Here’s what one commenter had to say about this short verse: “Mental sharpness comes from being around good people. And a meeting of minds can help people see their ideas with new clarity, refine them, and shape them into brilliant insights. This requires partners who can challenge one another and stimulate thought—people who focus on the idea without involving their egos in the discussion; people who know how to attack the thought and not the thinker. Two friends who bring their ideas together can help each other become sharper.”

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

Thank God for friends who will honestly tell me when I can do better, and praise me when they recognize that I have done my best! I pray that God will give me wisdom, and the unselfish desire to help others in their desire to walk in light of the gospel and for the glory of God. I pray for honesty in my evaluation and love in delivering my suggestions so that God would be glorified in the end result of any actions taken by His child. I pray that Christian friends will connect with each other in ways that would ‘sharpen’ each other with attitudes, skills, abilities, humbleness and love so that we might best represent Christ before a lost a dying world, all for the ultimate glory of our Father, God.

 

Note: Words 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: 1 Thessalonians 2.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 (NLT)

17 Dear brothers and sisters, after we were separated from you for a little while (though our hearts never left you), we tried very hard to come back because of our intense longing to see you again.

18 We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us.

19 After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you!

20 Yes, you are our pride and joy.

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

Often we will hear someone say that their child is their pride and joy, others may say it’s their grandchild, still others may say it’s their pet, or their car, or their boat. I believe what we are actually saying is that I had (or have) a part in raising, or in the success, or in the beauty of the person or object that we consider our ‘pride and joy’. The question I had to ask myself after meditating on this passage is: what is my pride and joy in ministry? What have I, or what am I so intimately involved in that my heart bubbles over with joy when I think about that one thing, or hear about the successes of that one thing? I trust that for each one reading this devotional that you will think about the same thing. Try and think about at least one thing or person that generates a certain amount of pride in you as a result of the part that you have played in their salvation, their Christian walk or their ongoing their ministry effort. If you struggle in determining at least one thing, then perhaps you are way too self centered. You see, others are watching you. Some for points of failure, but many because they see values in your walk or in your talk that they would like to incorporate into their lives. Many are desperate for words of encouragement so that they might continue in a ministry effort. Many wish they were as smart, or as successful as you and would love to come alongside of you and learn more about how to look, talk and act like a ‘real’ child of God – you! Do what you can in Jesus’ name so that others may benefit from His love and His example through you. This will result in great increases in your pride and joy in those that you become involved with!

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

Father, there are so many that are hurting today. So many that are alone and need words of affirmation and encouragement. Please use this child of Yours to reach out to someone today who needs this type of encouragement. Please help me to look for ways to help others and encourage them in the ministry and even in their everyday walk. Lord, please help me to keep my character in check with Yours so that I will not become a stumbling block to anyone. Oh that You may be lifted up through my actions today! Oh the joy that will be mine when I see others being blessed by something I may do or say that may result in praise and honor to You. Please help me to always lift up any praise that I may receive to You, and never become personally prideful of anything that I might do, but always give it up to 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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Scripture: Proverbs 25; Romans 12.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Proverbs 25:21-22 (NLT)

21 If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink.

22 You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the LORD will reward you.

Romans 12:19-21 (NLT)

19
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD.

20
Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”

21
Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

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

Looking at the subject, one might quickly wonder why we would even discuss how to treat your enemies if we are not supposed to have any. I would encourage you to take a reality check and be honest with yourself, then you will quickly acknowledge that yes there are those that either hate you, or strongly oppose you. In fact, they often act like they are your enemy. This happened in the case of Jesus, so I’m sure that each of you can identify with this, if you are really honest with yourself. Now that we have that part settled, let’s look at the Word to see how we should treat these individuals. God says that we are to treat them with special or particular interest. In other words, give special attention to how you treat these folk. One thing revealed to me as I meditated on this, is that we have no control over how someone acts towards us, or even if they hate us. However, we can do lots on our side to help deal with and even correct the situation. Are we doing something that could be turning the other person against us? Are we doing everything we can to love that person just like the most favorite person on our ‘friend list’? Are we praying for the success and wellbeing of that person? Are we asking God to show us any wicked way in our character so that we will not be a ‘thorn’ in that person’s side? You see, we cannot correct the other person that we feel is being totally ridiculous in hating us, but we can use that as an indicator that we must not be doing something right for them to feel the way they do. Let’s seek God’s guidance on what we might do to put us more in line with His will for our lives, and what we can do to help us be more like Him in all that we do or say.

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

Father, there were folk that stoned You, arrested You, beat You and crucified You, yet You would open the gates of Heaven for either of them that would surrender their hearts and accept You as Lord and Savior of their lives. I believe that there are folk out there that also try to trip me up for one reason or another. Please show me my flaws today and give me direction for a walk that will please You in every way. Please help me to treat those that may otherwise despise or hate me, with the love that You displayed for those that often persecuted You. Please help me to love all who will cross my path 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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