May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! Read on and be blessed friend!………

The Bible Text: ²⁰ For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior. ²¹ Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.
The Bible Reference: 2 Corinthians 12:20–21
The Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take Away: If someone catches us doing something we shouldn’t be doing, we tend to get embarrassed because of our guilt. However, there are times that we could be fired for being caught doing something that we shouldn’t be doing. Ever got downright angry at a child, or maybe even an adult, when you caught them doing something that you specifically told them not to do? Our scripture reading today illustrates how Paul shared with the Corinthians about his fears in what he would find when he returned to them. Friends, I believe this was placed in the Book to not only show us the heart of Paul, but also help us understand how God might feel if He returned to gather His church together today. For some, I believe we would really wish that God would come right after our devotional time in the mornings, or perhaps right after church on the weekend. The reality is, that God could return to get His church at anytime He chooses to, for He’s in control of that. Paul listed a number of qualities he was afraid he would find when he returned. What would you be embarrassed to have God return and find you doing today friend? What character qualities are you ashamed of, especially when backed up against a wall? Which of your relationships are less than pleasing to God? Paul may have asked that some be excommunicated from the church. However, God may cause you to question if you ever really gave Him control of your life. Remember, He is either Lord of all, or not Lord at all to you. He could return to take you home even today friend, won’t it be joy to hear the words from our Father, “Well done good and faithful servant, enter now into the eternal glory of heaven with my Father and I”. May I encourage you to either make a decision to accept Jesus as your Savior today, or to renew and refresh Your relationship with Him if you are already a child of the King? May I also encourage you to seek the face of God and ask for forgiveness of the sin in your life, and for strength, guidance, and wisdom to overcome the temptations of this old world, so that you may remain faithful to Him until He calls you home? We need to be ready at all times friend!

Prayer: Lord God, thank You for loving us enough to provide the means for our forgiveness of sin. Thank You for providing Your living Word to show us the way to live here on earth, while pleasing You who art in heaven.  Please forgive me for allowing the things of the world into my life that distract me and cause me to stumble along my path of trying to please You. Please touch the hearts of Your children today and help us to be reminded of the urgency in which You can easily come to take Your church home to be with You. Please help us to live holy lives, even as You are holy. Please help us to stay so connected to You and Your Word that we can know right from wrong, and that we may gain strength to go on without giving in to the temptations of this world and its master, Satan. Your love is amazing dear God, may our love for You in return be evident by the way that we choose to live. For I ask these things in the strong and 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. Allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could 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 www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to 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, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! 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!

2016