Month: December 2014

God Calls The Available

On By Ed AlgreenIn Service, SurrenderLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. 8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.

(Bible Translation and Location: New Living Translation – Ephesians 3:7-8)

Thoughts:

Paul is reminding us that as long as we make ourselves available to God and are willing to be used of God, then much like He did through Paul, He can also do through us. Friends, Paul is one of the largest contributors to the New Testament and he probably started more churches in his day than anyone else that we have record of in the Bible. So you might ask, why would God have used an unqualified person amidst so many others that were probably smarter and better prepared to handle the ministries that Paul faced. I believe the answer melds with sound doctrine, and is very applicable for the excuses that many of us lay persons come up with today. In using Paul, the power of God was very evident! Not only in the sermons he preached, or the miracles wrought through his ministry, but in his determination to minister successfully even in the jails, as he did to the Philippian Jailer. So what might God be saying to us through this passage? I feel like God is encouraging us to stand tall for Him, and be willing to step up to the plate when God lays a ministry on our mind. He is probably laying it on your mind so that you might become involved and, through total dependence on Him, see the lost receive hope and a new life in Jesus Christ. Please don’t refer a person to your church when God has placed them in your path. Become personally involved. Help them, even if the help ultimately comes from the church. You may have opportunity to minister to their personal and godly needs. Imagine for a moment if Paul would have said ‘No’ to God, the number of people who may not have been saved in that day! Imagine if Mary would have said ‘No’ to God when told that she would be impregnated by the Holy Spirit? Imagine the folk that might die and go to Hell, unless you are obedient to the Holy Spirit and do His perfect will with His awesome power and support?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, please forgive us for ‘passing the buck’ so often instead of being obedient to Your commands! How dare us be disobedient in that way. How dare us pass ‘the baton’ to someone else who You never intended to do the job given to us. How dare us pass the joy intended for us on to someone else. Lord, we are weak, but thank God You are strong! Thank You for working with us and prodding us along to be the children You intended us to be. Please don’t give up on us! Please continue to work on us so that we may learn to follow Your will and Your instructions as intended. Please help us to have hearts of mercy, that desire to see those that come into our realm of influence, come to know You in a very personal and committed way. Lord, You are good and Your mercies endureth forever! Thank You for choosing me to be Your child, and for using me in any way You see fit to grow Your kingdom here on earth. Please endow readers of this devotional with this same power and a strong desire to serve You in any way You desire through them. I ask all this in the worthy and precious name of Jesus, my Lord, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

A Fresh Start

On By Ed AlgreenIn Oneness, SalvationLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

He tore down the wall we used to keep each other at a distance. He repealed the law code that had become so clogged with fine print and footnotes that it hindered more than it helped. Then he started over. Instead of continuing with two groups of people separated by centuries of animosity and suspicion, he created a new kind of human being, a fresh start for everybody.

(Bible Translation and Location: The Message – Ephesians 2:14-15)

Thoughts:

I believe that God spoke to me through this passage this morning, like I hope He would to thousands of others that might read these verses today. Friends, it is very evident throughout the Bible that there were lots of enmity between the Jews and Gentiles. Paul explained to the Ephesian church that there is no such division after the birth of Jesus, because He came to break down the barriers that separated the two groups and make them one with Him. I am a firm believer that when we stand before God He will see believers and non-believers. Christians or non-Christians. I am saddened that although this was dealt with by God Himself by sacrificing His only Son so that these barriers might be broken down and sin dealt with once and for all, yet it seems like today we have grown further and further apart as ‘Christians’, because of denominational-ism and our strongholds on what our church believes. Is it any surprise that we seem to be losing the battle in winning the lost to Christ? They feel better off staying clear of the confusion and fighting that ‘Christians’ practice against each other. Let me give you a couple of examples that hurts my heart here on this earth regarding this issue: (1) There was once an effort to present a Christian alternative to a known evil celebration that the community was taking hold of, so churches got together to hold this alternative event. Some churches (group of Christian believers) refused to participate if certain other churches (group of Christian believers) were involved. (2) An elderly lady with dementia tried everything to prevent a relative spending time with certain other family members, why? Because she was certain they were not of her denomination. Friends this is really sad, because as Paul indicated in these verses and the verses around these, that God tore down these kinds of walls of which I referenced, so that we who know Him personally, might be ONE. Why are we practicing separation among ourselves? When we are made aware of our sin and accept Jesus as Savior, He is the same Savior for all the world who accept Him as Lord. Therefore if a person in one side of the world accepts Jesus as Lord, and someone else here in the US accepts Him as Lord, we automatically gain ‘son-ship’ with Him, making us Brothers and Sisters of the same Father. Who on earth should therefore divide us by wondering which church or denomination we belong to? At the point of salvation, we have a fresh new start – why not let us learn to worship OUR Father who art in heaven, and hallow His name, for it is His kingdom that we long for, forever and ever, amen! There is one Father and one book of instruction for life (the Bible), let us practice this oneness by being one with God!

Prayer:

Father in heaven, thank You for Your patience in dealing with us – our pettiness, our greed for having our own little group (church) with our own little twists to what we believe that Your Word teaches. This faith that we have is not about us, please teach us to be so focused on You that we will find Christian family anywhere in the world that we go, and in any church that we may choose to worship or associate with. Please help us to not place walls between us that prevent ONENESS in You. May You be central in our worship, and in our daily lives, so that we may learn from You how we should live so that we may replicate the life that You have taught us and exampled for us. Please help us to celebrate the One in whom we each believe, and pray for each other to better understand Your Word and therefore work out areas that we see things differently on, for we are a new creation in You. Blessed be the name of the Lord! I ask all this in the precious name of Jesus, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

God’s Perfect Gift!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Christmas, Gift, ObedienceLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

    Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.

(Bible Translation and Location: The Message – Ephesians 2:7-10)

Thoughts:

I believe that most folk reading this devotional today would probably welcome the thought of a gift during this season of giving and receiving – ‘Christmas’! This may be a result of us relating to God’s perfect ‘gift’ to us through His Son, Jesus. A celebration called ‘Christmas’ that we have continued for years. However, did you ever stop and think about why this all happened? It becomes a whole lot more meaningful when we reflect on the reason, as explained by Paul in these highlighted verses. For we are reminded that the gift (Jesus) given to us was not at our request. It was God’s idea from start to finish. In fact, He made/created us with a purpose in mind – to worship Him and to join Him in His work of loving His creation and ultimately saving the lost in this world. In other words, after creating us with a purpose, He saw that through giving us free will, we chose to ignore His goodness and His mercy, and instead follow the evil path of sin and destruction. Therefore, He then gave us the gift of His Son miraculously, so that we might find power and strength to overcome our evil desires and be redirected to the original plan of joining Jesus in the work already explained. So is this gift given to us meaningful to us? You better believe it, for it is God’s very precious gift, given to benefit our return to Him. In the latter part of these verses you will note that I bolded the specific purpose for which we were created and saved. Will you join me in recommitting ourselves to join Christ Jesus in the work that He does – the work that He got ready for us to do? This would not only be a gift to God through seeing obedient children, but also a gift to others as we serve for their benefit and ultimate cause of Christ. This type commitment can create a very special Christmas for all of us and, based on this passage, can be done without breaking our budget! If you are reading this and finding this all very strange, please follow the contact information in the footnote to get in touch with me and allow me to introduce you to my heavenly Father. There is no better gift you can receive this Christmas!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I come humbly before You acknowledging You as my Savior, my Lord and my King. While I often search for a unique gift for my loved ones at Christmas time, I can truly say that I am a very blessed man today, because Your gift given in that manger in Bethlehem was given deliberately and with such purpose and love for me. Thank You dear God for loving me so much and for caring about what happens to me here on earth and even in the life to come, where I will be with You eternally in heaven. Thankfully, You have placed family, friends, coworkers and others in my path so that Your work might be fulfilled through me. Please given me strength, wisdom and an unrecognized boldness to openly share Your love and Your goodness with others that I come into contact with. Please help me to freely become involved in Your work, the work that You have prepared just for me, so that Your perfect will might be done, even through me! Lord, I believe that some will read Your Word presented herein and they will have lots of questions. Please tender their hearts and help them to accept You, the author and finisher of our lives. May they truly recognize the greatest gift ever given during this Christmas season, and may their lives be eternally impacted by You. I ask this believing, for I ask it in the name of Jesus, my Lord, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

Life Improvement Key

On By Ed AlgreenIn Grace, SalvationLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.

(Bible Translation and Location: The Message – Ephesians 2:1-6)

Thoughts:

Isn’t it interesting to watch the commercials this time of the year and learn how easy it is to improve happiness in your home, if only you would get off your wallet and buy the right gifts for your loved ones, or buy the right foods on which to splurge during the many parties and family gatherings? In a few weeks, that will change to finding happiness while improving your self-image, by losing all the pounds you gained during the holidays. Do you see the temporary results in each of these things? Paul had the same challenge with the folk he ministered to in the Ephesian church, and in these verses highlighted today you will note that he brought to their attention an important key to improve life over an entire year, not just during a particular season. Friends, this is the same choice that we can make today. Banks love it when you overspend to find those special gifts that you feel will bring happiness to your family and friends, but your budget suffers for months to come. Paul is reminding us that God, in His infinite wisdom knew what it would take to improve life on a permanent basis. He knew that it should be done out of love, and not at a financial cost to those that need it, otherwise it would be out of reach for some. In fact, this ‘improvement key’ would have to be something available to His children even though the rest of the world might look on in disbelief, because all they would see is the unworthiness of the individual. Additionally, Paul must have known that we would have gotten used to the various rewards programs here on earth, because in verse 6 he went on to encourage us with the rewards of heaven in company with the Savior of this world, Jesus, the Messiah of whom we sing in many of the Christmas carols. In other words, the rewards of this life improvement decision of which I have shared, is simply ‘out of the world’!! Friend, won’t you this Christmas season accept the best gift ever given, Jesus my Lord? He truly is the reason that we celebrate Christmas, and He is ready and willing to accept your ‘life improvement’ request today!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for going to the extreme to provide the best gift ever. One that would improve our lives forever. One that brings the rewards of heaven, and eternity with the Master of this universe. Lord You are good, and your mercies endureth forever! I love You Lord, and I life my voice, to worship You, oh my soul, rejoice; take joy my King in what You hear, may it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear! Lord, may this Christmas time be a time that our lives are made complete in You, and may our family and friends also recognize the need for the gift of all gifts, the hope of glory, the key to true and everlasting happiness. For I humbly ask this in the name of Jesus, the newborn King, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

A Prayer For Christians

On By Ed AlgreenIn PrayerLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

(Bible Translation and Location: New Living Translation – Ephesians 1:16-18)

Thoughts:

Unfortunately you will not find a model prayer for Christians to recite in this devotional today, but what God got my attention on, is the importance of continuing to pray for fellow Christians. Let me give you a worldly comparison/preview of what I saw as I meditated on this. Can you imagine a citizen walking down a main street of a town under siege? They would look like any other citizen of that country and would probably be allowed to travel on. Now, imagine a visitor, or stranger, doing the same walk. Don’t you think they would be questioned more thoroughly about their choice of places to be, or dangerous streets to travel? Now imagine a soldier trying that march in uniform. He may be shot on sight, or imprisoned just for poking around an area where he shouldn’t be. This is much like Christians when we exit the safety and security of the church building, we become easy targets for Satan and his cohorts as we mingle in their areas of business. Therefore Paul is teaching us, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, to pray for spiritual wisdom and insight so that we may become strong in the knowledge of God, and that our faith might be strengthened to withstand the temptations of Satan that are ready to weaken our stand and distract our walk. In doing this Paul is reminding us that we will each become confident in the hope that is ours – our rich and glorious inheritance (our eternal home in heaven, where we will join with the angels and sing endlessly at the feet of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ)! Oh what singing! Oh what shouting! On that happy day when my Savior I will see! So friend, I share your sentiments in seeking the lost and praying earnestly for that one that needs the Lord, but please don’t forget to pray just as earnestly for your Christian brothers and sisters for help, guidance and strength to stay strong in their faith and continue to be a light in their world of darkness where friends, family, coworkers and others are without Christ and desperately needs to see faith in action through a true representative of Christ’s. We may be the only Bible that teaches them or that may reach them. In our sermon yesterday a particular clause spoke personally to me – the person that God has designed for us to speak with today may never be touched or spoken to, if we refuse to take our responsibility seriously. Wow! Let’s do our part today friend, so that God may not be disappointed in us!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me of the importance of praying for my Christian brothers and sisters in the Lord. We have such a long list of friends that we pray for salvation, and often neglect praying for those who already know You, and who are prime targets for Satan each day. Please may I ask that You protect Your children today, build a hedge of protection around us so that Satan’s darts and arrows may be kept at bay, yet our witness and representation of You will be very evident and inviting to those that need You. I need Your strength today Lord, please help me, and those that join me in this prayer, to be great warriors for the kingdom, and awesome representation of You among the saved and unsaved so that Your kingdom might be fulfilled this Christmas season. All glory to the new born King! For it is in this holy name that I pray, Jesus, Emanuel, God with us, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

Careful How You Boast

On By Ed AlgreenIn Boasting, HumilityLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

14 As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. 15 It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.

(Bible Translation and Location: New Living Translation – Galatians 6:15-16)

Thoughts:

I believe that way too often we accept praise for something that only God could have done. Way too often we give credit to a dynamite preacher for miracles that God performed during a worship service. I heard a pastor say at one time that he would not wear a particular suit again, because it appeared like all the people saw was his clothing and not the point he was trying to relay for his Master. Friends, when we are moved to do something godly, please remember that we can only give God credit for that, for in and of our sinful selves we would not give in to the things of God because of a nagging mother, or a simple invitation from a friend. It is only when the Spirit of God begins to work on us, convicting us of our sin and pointing us to the King of all kings and Lord of all lords that our spiritual eyes are opened and we experience a desire to change our life’s direction. Also, please never forget that although man can pray for a health issue or a spiritual shortfall, he does not have the power to transform either a person’s health or spiritual condition. Just imagine, if this was the case, no friend of a Christian would be lost, for he would miraculously have them all saved out of love for the individual. Paul showed us through his words in this text that we are to boast of nothing except the love and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that when we place Jesus in His rightful place, or better still, when we place ourselves in the humility of who we are, and allow Jesus to shine through in all that He is, perhaps then we will appreciate all that He does in our everyday lives, and also see how prevalent the need to see Him at work in the lives of our unsaved friends. Christians, we have a responsibility to promote Jesus, not pretend to be Him.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, please help me to take my place of humility and submission to You in all that I do and say, for I am nothing without Your power and grace. Father, I am convinced that this world can only be changed, and touched through the precious power of Your Son, so I ask that You not only give me grace to submit to You in everything, but also that my readers might be reminded of Your awesome power in every aspect of their lives. Lord, please constantly remind us of our position and to constantly place our faith and trust in You and in all that You are. Please prompt us to always boast on You and allow You to receive the glory for all miracles performed in and through us. You are my King and it’s in You that I place my faith and trust daily. Thank You Jesus! I respectfully and humbly ask all this in the precious name of Jesus, my Lord, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

The Rewards of Doing Good

On By Ed AlgreenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

(Bible Translation and Location: New Living Translation – Galatians 6:9-10)

Thoughts:
These verses follow a short discourse from Paul to the Galatian church where he was reminding them that they would reap what they sow. These thoughts remind us that there are two sorts of sowing, one to the flesh, and the other to the Spirit. Those who live a carnal, careless, non-godly, unrighteous life, must expect no other fruit from such a course than misery and ruin. But those who, under the guidance and influence of the Holy Spirit and in whom they have placed their trust, live a life of faith in Christ, excel in Christian love and grace, and live a life dedicated to the Spirit that result in reaping life everlasting. We are all very apt to tire in doing good daily to everyone, especially when doing good to those who either reject you, intentionally do things to hurt and/or harm you or doing good to those who selfishly never give back to those around them. However, these are the times that Christians must carefully watch and guard against. For perservance in well-doing, there is a reward promised in these verses, for it says that we will reap a harvest of blessing at a time we least expect! I can assure you friend, if for no other reason, It Will Be Worth It All When We See Jesus – a song I like to sing over and over, especially when I’m feeling discouraged! So keep on doing what God says Brother, through the rough times and through the times when it is obvious that a heart has been touched. There’s no better time to reflect on this than during this Christmas season, a time when God sent His only Son as a precious gift to us! We too have lots that we can ‘give’ to others.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, please forgive us for our selfishness in not freely sharing all that You have blessed us with. I am reminded of another song, “Lord You Are Good and Your Mercy Endureth Forever”, because You bless us beyond all measure each and every day! May we willingly share Your love, Your mercy and Your bountiful gifts with all that we come into contact with, is my humble but sincere prayer that I ask in Your wonderful, bountiful name, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

Share A Burden In Love Today

On By Ed AlgreenIn Spiritual CorrectionLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

1 My brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in any kind of wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should set him right; but you must do it in a gentle way. And keep an eye on yourselves, so that you will not be tempted, too. 2 Help to carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will obey the law of Christ.

(Bible Translation and Location: The Good News Translation – Galatians 6:1-2)

Thoughts:

I believe that way too often in today’s society we become complacent when it comes to correcting a brother, because we don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, or we feel like they have their respective rights to believe as they want. Unfortunately this results in chaos and general non-compliance with the Word of God. We, Christians, take most of the laws/teachings of the Word seriously, for we believe, and try very hard to practice what the Word of God demands. That is, until it comes to correcting a brother or a sister. I want to assume in this study that we are endeavoring to follow Paul’s teaching. Don’t you suppose that would result in a brother for life, if we act in love? In other words, if we were to approach that brother in a gentle and loving way about certain sin that you’ve observed in his life? Conversely, I want you to consider what might happen if you observe sin and don’t try to help. Don’t you see where Satan would easily stick his nose into your business and temp you to start a gossip ring about that brother that will quickly lead to hurt, unforgiveness, character destruction, and worst of all distancing yourself from that brother and perhaps even his acquaintances? Friends, Paul even reminds us about how tender and self-destructive this subject could be, for he tells us to be careful so that we ourselves are not tempted into the same sin we are accusing our brother of. However, by helping a brother overcome a weakness, we are helping him carry the burden that he is struggling with, and a burden shared becomes half the weight to the bearer. This action is obedience to the law of God friend, exactly where we should strive towards every day.

Prayer:

Because of our fear of rejection and deep desire to not cause disharmony, this is probably one of the greatest weaknesses, and challenges, of Your children today dear Lord. However, You have included these instructions in Your Word to help us be over-comers and stronger warriors for You, not to oppress us and cause us grief. Please help us to take Your commands seriously. Please help us to always seek to help a brother overcome His weakness and/or his sin, for no other reason than to see him reunited and strengthened in You. Lord, I believe that Your grace is all sufficient and extremely powerful. Please help me to place my hand in Yours and welcome Your all sufficient love and direction as I strive to live daily for You and imitate You in every way. Please help me to always seek to help others, knowing that You are my support and my guidance in every way. I love You Lord, and ask this in Your wonderful and all-powerful name, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

Gifts For Believers

On By Ed AlgreenIn Gifts of The SpiritLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

(Bible Translation and Location: New Living Translation – Galatians 5:22-26)

Thoughts:

If I told you that I was going to send a little stranger kid to college next year, there would be a few questions you would have for me, such as how do I know the kid, how long have they shown a desire to want to attend college, etc. Similarly, in these verses today, we should ask a few questions or rather, observe a few obvious answers:

  1. The Holy Spirit produces the mentioned fruit in those who have accepted Jesus and have a desire to live like Him. Others who do not know the author of the gifts would either not appreciate the gifts or recognize them as coming from God;
  2. These gifts are not given to make us proud, but rather to reflect more of Jesus in our lives – the author of these gifts;
  3. The gifts are beneficial, as they are given to folk who have totally surrendered the passions and desires of their sinful nature. In other words, they are given as a needed replacement for the sinful gifts already surrendered at the foot of the cross;
  4. The gifts serve the purpose of helping us not become conceited, or agitated with one another, or jealous of one another, but instead lead us towards loving one another as Christ first loved us.

By meditating through these verses, I believe you will see where there will be times when you might recognize a few of the characteristics in #4 sneaking back into your life. Please note that these are not of God and should automatically put you in a mode of constant and serious prayer, asking for help from Jesus so that you may see the gifts mentioned in verses 22-23 return to you. Many of us are looking forward to gifts at Christmas. It can be Christmas every day for Christians as God, through His Holy Spirit, showers us with the wonderful gifts mentioned in these verses.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I pray that there will be friends who will read this devotional today and wonder why they are not receiving the gifts mentioned in these verses, because that will indicate a soul that is either strained in their relationship with you or who do not have a relationship with You. It will also indicate that they have been led by You to the truth of Your Word and how it could apply to their life, if only they would surrender their life to You. Father, I pray that many will be impacted by the greatest gift of all this Christmas, Your Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ. As You shower us with the gifts mentioned in these verses, may we allow You to use us as Your representatives to bring joy, peace and love to those that we come into contact with. Please soften the hearts of those we love, who need You as Lord of their life, is my humble plea this Christmas season, and I ask all this in the wonderful name of Jesus, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

Serious Practical Godliness

On By Ed AlgreenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

13 You were indeed called to be free, brothers and sisters. Don’t turn this freedom into an excuse for your corrupt nature to express itself. Rather, serve each other through love. 14 All of Moses’ Teachings are summarized in a single statement, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” 15 But if you criticize and attack each other, be careful that you don’t destroy each other. 16 Let me explain further. Live your life as your spiritual nature directs you. Then you will never follow through on what your corrupt nature wants.

(Bible Translation and Location: God’s Word Translation – Galatians 5:13-16)

Thoughts:

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we always followed that adage WWJD, before we fire back with some of our worldly comments or reactions? I would dare say that unless we fill ourselves with God’s Word, and unless we deliberately take aim to follow in His ways daily, then our minds are fed with the evil of this old world. Our reaction to things happening to us, or around us, is then marred by the evil of this world, rather than enriched by the teachings and example of Jesus. The unfortunate result is that we offer no real help to a situation already in trouble, we just add to the misery or degradation of circumstances that Satan has already provoked, and even spiraled out of control. Friends, we have been saved to follow the example and teachings of Jesus, and not to merely ‘egg on’ an already disastrous and deteriorating world. Paul teaches in verse 16 that we are to live as our spiritual life directs so that we will never follow through on what our corrupt nature wants. Let’s feed our spiritual life daily so that it might withstand the evil that we will face in this wicked world. Let’s take a stand for doing the will of God, and living out His character and teachings towards practical godly living in every form, every day in all that we face. This old world needs the freshness of a godly nature to shine through those who claim Christianity, so that the extreme negative and sinful actions that prevail might be challenged and overridden in the name of Jesus, and for His glory. Do you know this Jesus in a personal and meaningful way friend? If not, please use the information in the footnote to become acquainted with Him. He’s the best thing that could happen to any human this side of glory!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I believe that if we live like this world, we will see no improvement to what we encounter each day as a result of the sin that is so prevalent everywhere we turn. I firmly believe that You came to offer a better way, a different way, so that we might have hope for a brighter future – one that includes being by Your side in glory around the throne of God. Please impress upon Christians the reason that You came, the reason You saved them and the reason that we should strive daily to be more like You in our everyday walk and talk. Paul clearly stated that we should live in evidence of our spiritual walk and not like our old corrupt nature wants. Dear Jesus, please continue to impress upon us the need to be clear witnesses of the One to whom we belong. Please help us to fill ourselves with more of You every day so that we may overflow with Your goodness and shine in the godliness that Your Word teaches us. We are Your representatives, may we always leave no doubt in the minds of those that observe us. Please once again soften the hearts of those that may read this devotional today but who have not truly surrendered their lives wholeheartedly to You. May this be the day of salvation for them, is my humble and simple prayer today that I ask in the name of Jesus, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!