Month: December 2016

Good News for Even the Oppressed

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Faith, Love, Love of God, Our Help comes from GodLeave a comment

Friday, 2016-12-02

Scripture

Bible Reference: Isaiah 61:1-4

Bible Text:  The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the suffering and afflicted. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, to announce liberty to captives, and to open the eyes of the blind. 2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of God’s favor to them has come, and the day of his wrath to their enemies. 3 To all who mourn in Israel he will give: beauty for ashes; joy instead of mourning; praise instead of heaviness. For God has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory.

Bible Translation:The Living Bible (TLB)

My Take

Continued scripture readings in the Christian season of Advent, brought me to yet another chapter in Isaiah, where the prophet, under the inspiration of the Almighty God, foretold how Jesus would be born to minister to even the oppressed. So often in society we find where everything is geared towards the affluent. Often taxes seem to be in their favor, and yes even in churches they may receive special attention and recognition because of their financial gifts to the work of the church. But Isaiah brought to our attention even before the birth of Christ that He is being sent to especially meet the needs of those who seem to fall through the cracks by society. In Luke 4:18, Jesus reiterated these same words from Isaiah, about His ministry. This is yet another incident of how the Bible makes so much sense, in that words prophesied years before were affirmed by none other than Jesus Himself during His earthly ministry! Praise the Lord! Now, if this is the only scripture that one might read because of having read this devotional, there may be the question of whether Jesus only came for the oppressed. If that’s a question you may have friend, may I assure you that our Savior came for the benefit of all mankind. I can quickly refer you to John 3:16 where it tells us that God gave His Son, Jesus, so that ALL or anyone who might believe on Him might be saved. I believe these verses from Isaiah helped to confirm to the oppressed right from the outset that Jesus would come into the world for even them, no matter how they might be brushed aside and rejected by society, and the leadership of that day. Friends, I believe this serves as a good reminder for all of us, that no matter what your circumstances are, or what you may be going through, Jesus stands ready to love and minster to you just like He would to the happiest or richest person in the world. I was reminded by a subscriber yesterday how awesome it is that the Word of God is alive and available to every person willing to listen to, or read it, no matter what our circumstances might be. I recently had family who lost everything they own on this earth to a devastating fire. Many in the Carolinas have encountered the same misfortune. Child of God, I believe we should stand ready to share with these folk that no matter how many Bibles were destroyed in those fires, the precious Word of God is still alive, and the love of God still very much in place, especially for them, because God is very aware of their hurts. I am convinced that Jesus loves us dearly on the best of days, but I believe that He wants to show us His love in supernatural ways when He sees that we are hurting and/or in need of a friend! You won’t recognize this  if you don’t know Him friend. May I encourage you to read my Footnote and obey His tender call to salvation as He reaches out to you? You are His creation, and He wants the very best for you. Please listen for His call and be willing to obey Him!

Prayer

How beautiful it is to see prophecy fulfilled! How awesome it is to learn of the love of Jesus for all mankind, no matter the color of our skin or our financial status! Lord You are good, and Your mercies endures forever! You have reminded us in scripture today that You love even the oppressed. Please help us to stay focused on You even at times when we feel like we are so alone and forgotten by the world. Please be especially evident to our family and friends who recently lost everything to fire. Lord, may they be reminded that in spite of their earthly loss, their heavenly Father is just as near as the mention of Your name. We hear of so many gifts given to varies causes throughout the world, and I thank you for the gifts given to these ones who suffered great losses. Oh that they might be reminded that the greatest gift given by God is untarnished by the fires and still available to them, should they call on Your wonderful name. There can be peace in their hearts for every day, even when nothing of earthly value remains. Thank You for the promise of heaven and our eternal home that awaits those who believe in You! I can hardly wait! 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!

May I Introduce You To …

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Commitment, Faith, Obedience, Surrender, UnconditionalLeave a comment

Thursday, 2016-12-01

Scripture

Bible Reference: Isaiah 42:1-4

Bible Text: “Take a good look at my servant. I’m backing him to the hilt. He’s the one I chose, and I couldn’t be more pleased with him. I’ve bathed him with my Spirit, my life. He’ll set everything right among the nations. He won’t call attention to what he does with loud speeches or gaudy parades. He won’t brush aside the bruised and the hurt and he won’t disregard the small and insignificant, but he’ll steadily and firmly set things right. He won’t tire out and quit. He won’t be stopped until he’s finished his work—to set things right on earth. Far-flung ocean islands wait expectantly for his teaching.”

Bible Translation: The Message (MSG)

My Take

Isaiah had dealt with so much in the area of worthless idols that devoured the attention of his people. However God revealed through this prophet that He had better plans ahead for His people, and here in the scripture He gave a glimpse of the Savior that would be born for the sole purpose of saving the people from their sins, and renewing their hope. He also promised that He would bring hope for even the poor and hurting, who was normally ignored and brushed aside by worldly kings of that time and era. Should you be wondering how on earth Isaiah could possibly have known what would come to pass hundreds of years later in time? May I take a moment to introduce you to my God! Friends, my God is not only in control of what takes place today, but He also has a plan for everything that’s yet to come. To help you better understand how this all aligned, I could refer you to Matthew 12:18-21 where, after Jesus was born, and during His earthly ministry, He emphasized to the people who He was ministering in much the same way that the prophet Isaiah prophesied. In fact, the apostle Matthew actually made reference to what Isaiah had prophesied because he recognized the similarity in the message. This was hundreds of years later, friends! Coincidence? No way, for if our God tells us something today, we can go to the bank with that, because it will be the same today, tomorrow and forever. But friends, I want you to stop and consider that in spite of us having benefited from the fact that Jesus came, and He ministered in ways that fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, yet many today have chosen to ignore that fact and continue to serve unrewarding idols. Now I bet by now, in your minds you are throwing rotten tomatoes at me, because you know of no worship of idols in our day. I tend to differ friend, for our idols today are much different to those back in Isaiah’s day. To help you better understand our current day idols, may I suggest that you think of, and write down those things that distract you from the worship of your Savior? May I clarify that your communion with God is not limited to the times that the church doors are opened, although I believe it is super important that you obey God’s Word in assembling ourselves together with other believers for the purpose of corporate worship. So perhaps we have personally decided that in order to keep our relationship with Jesus alive and strong, we will spend time with him at least twice each day. Are there ‘things’ that get in the way of that time with God? Are they things that you struggle to do without? Are they so important to you that they are often considered more important than the time you had allotted to be with God? What would you classify those things to be? Jesus came so that we might have life, and life more abundant and  free. Don’t allow those ‘idols’ to control you friend. There really is nothing more important than the time you have committed to spend with God!

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You came to this earth in fulfilment of prophecy, so that we may have life eternally. Thank You sincerely for loving us so much, that You gave of Your life as a living sacrifice. Unfortunately there are still many idols that distract us from our time with You. Our weak and uncommitted relationship with You, has given room for Satan to walk right in and pound us with distractions; with worldly thoughts; with sinful ideas; and ruined witnesses to the lost. Often we become useless vessels that You can use to win the lost and encourage the weak. Please forgive us Lord. Please renew a right spirit within us – one that would cherish the sacrifice You made for us, and one that would be committed to faithfully serve You and one with a priority to worship and honor You with all our heart, soul and mind. Open the eyes of our heart Lord, so that we may be filled with Jesus in every way, every day, and for every purpose in life. 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!