DATE WRITTEN: Saturday, 2020-09-05
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Jeremiah 39:16-18
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT:  ¹⁶ ….The Lord, the God of Israel, says: I will do to this city everything I threatened; I will destroy it before your eyes, ¹⁷ but I will deliver you. You shall not be killed by those you fear so much. ¹⁸ As a reward for trusting me, I will preserve your life and keep you safe.”

OBSERVATION: There are certain things that frighten us and cause us to ‘shake in our boots’! However we often have opportunity to do something about the problem and either prevent the thing that frightens us, or deal with the fear of it. But what motivates us to accept help or protection? Based on what God did for the Ethiopian, Ebed-melech, I believe that God assures His children today that we too can avoid the fright of receiving due punishment for our sins on Judgment Day, if we place our faith and trust in Him, like Ebed-melech did. What’s your excuse, or reason, for refusing this assurance? Are you not sufficiently afraid yet, or do you feel like you have control over the time you have left?

APPLICATION: If we are afraid of sharks, then we will choose to swim only in safe waters, and we will stay safely ashore or in the middle of a boat to prevent someone from pushing us overboard! The same is true with snakes – we will stay out of the woods, or look intently while walking through the woods, in order to prevent an encounter with a possible venomous snake! To avoid being injured, or possibly killed, we will stay clear of a fight or serious argument. But we’ve been told about the God who loves us beyond imagination, yet we live reckless lives, and not afraid of sin or its temptation. We know already that we could only avoid the pit of hell, by knowing Jesus personally and holding on to His nail-scared hand daily. Yet we choose to follow a path where sin is rampant, and temptation extends out to the weak and unguarded. Do you really not care about the effects of a burning hell dear friend? Notice that our friend, Ebed-melech did not wait until a moment of threat, but instead he was ready when God warned he and the Israelites about their impending destruction. That’s similar to how it will be on Judgment Day, for no one knows the day or the hour when Jesus will return to take His chosen ones home to glory. But Jesus is coming for those who are called by His name – those who have the blood of Jesus sprinkled on their heads, for they have accepted the crucified One, and they are now awaiting the risen Lord, as He breaks through the clouds to take His children home. His coming will not need our prior approval, for God is in charge of the return of His Son. Today we know how to ready ourselves for that glorious day and we know that one day soon, Jesus will return. Friends, God saved Ebed-melech because he had already secured his salvation. God has also promised to save us from eternal condemnation if we have made things right through accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Do you feel secure in your salvation, dear one? Or are you destined for hell? It’s your choice, and I pray in all earnest that you will make your decision today, for there is no assurance about tomorrow.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please touch the lives of Your children today. I sincerely plead with my readers to seek the Lord while He may be found, and to surrender your lives to the Master while you still have life and breath to do so. Lord, You have promised us life eternal for those who have been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ. Thank You for my salvation Lord Jesus, now please touch the heart of each one who reads this devotional and help them to seek You while You may be found. In the name of Jesus, I ask all this. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog at https://NuggetsFromGodsWord.org 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 or listening to this devotional, please go to 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. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and see all of my posts, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!