Month: November 2018

Everything You Need for Living a Truly Good Life

On By Ed AlgreenIn Christian Living, Exemplary Living, God's Goodness, Good, Good works, Holy Living, Living with purpose, Righteous LivingLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   2 Peter 1:2-4 (TLB)

TEXT:  2 Do you want more and more of God’s kindness and peace? Then learn to know him better and better. 3 For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us! 4 And by that same mighty power he has given us all the other rich and wonderful blessings he promised; for instance, the promise to save us from the lust and rottenness all around us, and to give us his own character.

OBSERVATION:   When we seriously desire to know God personally, and when we commit ourselves to Him personally, we will desire to know Him better and better. The Word of God tells us that when this happens, He will give us everything we need to live a truly good life, including the power to fight against the evil and rottenness all around us while here on earth. Isn’t this the answer to most of our excuses why we feel like we cannot be successful in the Christian life? God is faithful to His Word and we can depend on that, so let’s meditate on this for a short while today.

APPLICATION:   Children growing up will tell mom or dad that they just can’t handle this adult life, because the demands are too great, or the temptations are too great for them to overcome. Adults who are approached by a messenger of God about the condition of their soul, will often be tempted to say that they are not good enough, or they have been so heavily involved in things of the world, that God would never accept them. We also have many Christians who say they could be nothing more than a pew warmer, because they just don’t have the abilities. After reading the Scripture today, do you still feel like that’s all you can do friend? Do you still feel like you have a legitimate excuse?Have you done much about knowing Him better and better each day? To do this, will require that you dig into the Word daily, for there you will learn about the commands of God, the life and nature of Jesus, and all of the promises that are in store for us when we leave this world and join hearts and hands with the Master in heaven! There will be days when you might feel like a failure, or you might feel so weakened by this evil world. Friends, God has provided a means by which we can communicate with Him on a regular basis. In prayer you can ask forgiveness, and you can communicate one-on-one with the Savior. He will not only identify with your hurts, sins, and shortcomings, but He will give you strength to overcome and wisdom to redirect your life in a meaningful way to better serve Him and bring Him glory. May I encourage you to give God a try? He created your very being, and He knows all about our daily ups and downs. The last words in our verses remind us that He wants to give us His character. What more can we ask for, precious friend?

PRAYER:   Lord, we come humbly before You, knowing that You are our everything, and that You hold us, and this world, in the palm of Your hand. You’re in control of it all. You know how badly Your children need you every day, and in every aspect of life. We therefore admit that we are needy, and badly in need of our Master. So we commit ourselves to you all over again, and we ask that You give us confidence to depend on You for every need in order to live a truly good life – one that represents You in a manner pleasing to You. We would be eternally grateful oh Lord. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’.  If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please 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 Nuggets From God’s Word 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 Sebring, 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!

Biblical Response To Worries and Stress

On By Ed AlgreenIn Worry, Worry no moreLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   1 Peter 5:6-7 (TPT)

TEXT:  6 If you bow low in God’s awesome presence, he will eventually exalt you as you leave the timing in his hands. 7 Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.

OBSERVATION:   This chapter begins with Peter giving godly advice to church elders, but I am convinced that these two verses apply to all Christians. Let us meditate on these words for a few moments today!

APPLICATION:   In an effort to understand the Scripture best, I sometimes will think of the passage in a ‘what if’ scenario. So take these verses for example: what if we were to stand proud and not develop a deep, sweet relationship with the Master? Would this not mean that we would have no one to turn to when our troubles and trials become more than we could bear alone? Would this not mean that we are asking God to keep His hands off, because we will fight our battles alone? Friends, I want to remind you that there is absolutely nothing more important than us having a close, one-on-one relationship with our Master – the Creator of all humans, and this earth on which we live. There is no greater peace, or cause for humility, than to approach the throne of grace, knowing that we are not only going all the way to the top of all power sources, but also in knowing that we are approaching the One who loves us beyond anything that we could humanly comprehend. For He sacrificed His only Son so that we (sinners) might have the means of going to heaven. Wow! Oh what a love is that? So as we approach the throne, don’t you know that Jesus is there with outstretched arms to welcome His child and patiently listen to our worries and concerns? Also, like any good father, don’t you know that He is anxiously awaiting to settle our minds in knowing that He now has control, and there is nothing more for us to worry about? This is enough to send the child of God over the top in excitement and in peace! But to those who might read this devotional and not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I must warn you that our Savior is not a heavenly Santa Claus. He really wants you to first acknowledge Him as Lord, by accepting Him as your Savior. He is quite the gentleman, and will stay His distance until you invite Him into your life. So what are you waiting for my friend? Please read my Footnote and understand how easy it is to find Jesus, and to accept Him as your Lord and Savior. He cares for you, and is patiently waiting for you to invite Him in. Make it today, won’t you?

PRAYER:   Lord I pray that someone will read this devotional today and receive a clear understanding of accepting You as their Lord and Savior. Please open the hearts of those who are searching for more in this life, and for hope in the future. May today be the day of salvation for them. Thank You Lord for the peace of knowing You personally, and for the comfort in knowing that there is a God who cares about us and loves us beyond human understanding. May the glory be all Yours today as eyes are opened to the gospel, is my humble prayer oh Lord, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’.  If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please 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 Nuggets From God’s Word 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 Sebring, 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!

Your Gift From God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Blessing, Gift, gifts, Gifts of The Spirit, Spiritual GiftsLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   1 Peter 4:10-11 (TLB)

TEXT:  10 God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings. 11 Are you called to preach? Then preach as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies so that God will be glorified through Jesus Christ—to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

OBSERVATION:   Peter is reminding us that God has given each of us a grace gift. One that could only be attributed to God, and one that will bring joy to the Father’s heart every time we use it. Have you recognized your gift, and do you feel like you are using your gift to its full potential? Let’s meditate on the goodness of our God today as we reflect on our gift that only God could grant to us!

APPLICATION:   I believe it would be awful if we stood before God on Judgment Day and, when asked about our special grace gift given to us by our Father, we respond with “what gift?”, or “I used my gift daily and I benefited greatly from it every day”, or something similar. I can’t imagine how God would respond, for He uses Peter in our focal verses today to tell us that we are to use our gifts to bless others. Friends, I believe that these precious gifts given by God, cannot be learned in seminary, Sunday School, or through weekly preaching services. For God sees the needs of His children, and then blesses an unsuspecting faithful child of His to just go about their day in obedience to Him. As we do, I believe that we will see hearts warmed; discouraged warriors lifted up and encouraged; beaten down pastors and church leaders rejuvenated and revived to go on preaching and teaching; the mentally challenged individuals will be encouraged that someone actually cares about them; the sick, the lame, the blind and the critically ill will see a glimmer of hope as they feel the touch of their creator reaching deep inside their weakened bodies. Friends, notice that in all of the examples that I gave you, we are helpless to do any of those things, but with Christ we are more than conquerors! So I believe that God is asking us today to make good use of all that He has blessed us with, and with all that He gives us each day, so that He might be glorified in all things – especially those things that He does through us. Be obedient and faithful dear one.

PRAYER:  Lord, You are so precious and gracious to us. Thank You for using even us to participate in the awesome work that You perform each day. It seems like more today than ever before, we see and hear about so many that are hurting and dying of incurable deceases. Thank You for reminding us of Your great power, You love, and Your ultimate desire to bless Your children. Lord, we make ourselves available to You. Please help us to stay so in tuned with You that You will make full use of the empty vessels that we present at Your feet in need of a fresh filling from You. May You be glorified in all things today, especially those things in which You may choose to allow our participation. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’.  If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please 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 Nuggets From God’s Word 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 Sebring, 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!