Month: November 2020

Be Consumed With What Brings God Pleasure

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Obedience, Pleasing to God, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Wednesday, 2020-11-04
WRITTEN AT: Paul B Johnson State Park, Hattiesburg, MS

BIBLE REFERENCE: 1 Peter 4:1-3
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT:  1 Since Christ, though innocent, suffered in his flesh for you,[a] now you also must be a prepared soldier,[b] having the same mind-set,[c] for whoever has died in his body is done with sin.[d] 2 So live the rest of your earthly life no longer concerned with human desires but consumed with what brings pleasure to God. 3 For you have already spent enough time doing what unbelievers[e] love to do—living in debauchery, sensuality, partying, drunkenness, wild drinking parties,[f] and the worship of demons.[g]

OBSERVATION: For the couple who weds, and they are consumed with making their partner happy, they will probably enjoy a long, blessed marriage! So of course this will also be true in friendships, work environments and most of all – in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. To do this you will have to dedicate yourself to seeking God’s will. Let’s look into this today in our study.

APPLICATION: To know what brings pleasure to God, we must realize this means doing His will. May I be the first today to remind you that God’s Word is a compilation of instructions for us to follow, and He expects us to be in obedience to His will for our lives. So this means that it will bring pleasure to God if we know His Word and live in obedience to His laws and commands. It is very important that we take no shortcuts, such as waiting to see what the pastor says, instead of reading the Bible for yourself and diligently seeking God’s will for your life for each day. Why not let the Pastor do his job and teach you the Bible? I believe it is important that you analyze how many churches believe and practice the same thing differently. This means that they understand the Bible differently, or they try to soften the meaning with some of their own personal beliefs. A few cases in point: Baptism – sprinkled; dunked; baby or adult; Day of Worship/Sabbath – Saturday, Sunday or day of your choice; Dancing – yes or no; Pastors – Men only or either gender; etc, etc. The items mentioned will not be further discussed in this devotional, but I would highly recommend that, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, you study the Bible personally and see God’s guidance on what you should do in your efforts to bring pleasure to Him. Please don’t misunderstand me, there is nothing wrong with talking to your pastor for guidance on any biblical subject, but study to show yourself approved as a child of the King. And don’t overlook seeking God’s Help and direction even on what might seem to be small things, for you may very well grow from seeing God respond to those things as well as the very tough decisions that you feel are God-sized. I hope that you will be impacted as much as I was in reading the Scripture today. Imagine that you have spent your whole earthly life doing the things that family, friends and coworkers tell you to try, but when you accept Jesus as Lord, please allow Him to be Lord over everything in your life. Yes you will still have friends, but allow your yes and no responses to be guided by the Holy Spirit, so that you could please God, rather than continuing in the old life of trying to please your friends. The difference will be – that you will begin to look and sound like Jesus, instead of the same old sinful ways of your friends. God created us and He has a life planned for us, but we must listen and be bold enough to obediently follow His commands, if we want to follow His will.

PRAYER: Thank You precious Lord for creating us in Your own image, and for Your guidance each and every day to help us stay on course. Please teach us and remind us every day to seek Your will and to make it a priority, or be consumed with, bringing You pleasure through our obedience. 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!

Do They Know Why You Are Happy?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Happiness, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Tuesday, 2020-11-03
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

BIBLE REFERENCE: 1 Peter 3:13-17
TRANSLATION: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

BIBLE TEXT: 13 If you are always trying to do good, no one can really harm you. 14 But you may suffer for doing right. If that happens, you have God’s blessing. “Don’t be afraid of the people who make you suffer; don’t be worried.”[a] 15 But keep the Lord Christ holy in your hearts. Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have. 16 But answer them in a gentle way with respect. Keep your conscience clear. Then people will see the good way you live as followers of Christ, and those who say bad things about you will be ashamed of what they said. 17 It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong. Yes, it is better if that is what God wants.

OBSERVATION: Ever look across the room and wonder why your coworker has a smirk on their face? I remember hearing my wife ask my daughter, why exactly are you being so nice to me today, are you wanting something? However, in our Scripture today we are warned to not hide the source of our hope, but instead be prepared to share openly, if we are asked about the hope that lies within us. Have you prepared yourself for that? Let’s seek God’s direction on what we might say in response to such a question.

APPLICATION: In as much as our Christian testimony is concerned, I believe that many of us have built up a defense for not sharing our faith. Perhaps fear of additional questions; not imposing our faith on someone else; don’t know enough Scripture to boldly respond; afraid of offending the person who questioned; etc. It’s interesting how Satan builds fear into us to block our desire to share the good news of Jesus Christ! Please try to meditate on exactly what the Scripture says. ‘Be ready to give an account for the hope that lies inside of you’. Suppose that you had received a call saying that you won the sweepstakes. Although you may not have received the check yet, others can easily tell from the glee on your face, and the peace of mind in knowing you could quit work, as evidenced in almost every word you speak. Then someone raises the courage to ask you what prompted the change in your outlook. Would you hesitate telling them? No you may not have all of the answers yet, and you haven’t shown your proof of purchase that supposedly helped you win, but this whole thing has given you a new outlook on life. So moving on to the subject of your faith. A friend introduced you to the good news of Jesus Christ and convinced you that they had been praying for your salvation. Over the past 3 months since that transformation in your life, you have felt so loved by the Creator of the world, so cared for by the Savior of the world, and so directed in every aspect of life by the Holy Spirit, that you find yourself constantly humming the tune to ‘Why Me Lord’. But then a very close friend of yours, who also noticed the change in your life, asks you why? What is it that fills your life with joy each and every day? I need some of that. Will you open your mouth and allow the Holy Spirit to supply the right words, or will you start looking for excuses on how you might wiggle out of this Q&A? May I suggest that you always look for ways to share the Good News, instead of looking for a way to escape such a privilege? Notice how the Scripture tells us that it is better to suffer (if it comes to that) for doing good, than to suffer for doing wrong. You have two ways of looking at that friend who asked you the question: 1). When they kneel alongside of you in heaven, because you shared the joy of Christ that filled your soul; or 2). Look them in the eye outside the gates of heaven and answer them on why you never told them the good news of Jesus Christ. Consider which of those will make your day, and allow that to drive your decision to quickly, humbly and boldly respond positively about your faith. For those who will read this devotional and have not accepted Jesus as Lord yet, I pray that you will never encounter a bashful Christian. May we all be ready to give an account, or an explanation, for the joy that fills our heart. For there is no greater joy than to live in great expectation of being taken home to glory where we will be with Jesus eternally.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord Jesus for those who prayed for me and shared Your love with me while still a sinner. Thank You also for that precious day when I surrendered my life wholly and solely over to You. The joy of knowing You as Lord has been a road filled with joy and expectation for the day when I shall see You face to face. That kind of joy is not suited for keeping bottled up inside, so please fill me with boldness to share my joy, my faith, and the love that I feel from my Savior who loves me, with everyone that I come into contact with – especially those who may ask about the impact on my life. Lord, use me as Your vessel to share the Good News with all who need it. Heaven is real, and it is plenty big enough for all that accept You as Lord. Glorify Yourself today in and through Your messengers who read this devotional and take it to heart. 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!

Men – Careful Not To Hinder Answers to Your Prayers

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Love, Marriage, Needs, Praise, Prayer, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Monday, 2020-11-02
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

BIBLE REFERENCE: 1 Peter 3:7
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: 7 You husbands must be careful of your wives, being thoughtful of their needs and honoring them as the weaker sex. Remember that you and your wife are partners in receiving God’s blessings, and if you don’t treat her as you should, your prayers will not get ready answers.

OBSERVATION: Preserving our right to pray, and the assurance of having our prayers answered, are probably two of the most sacred things that a Christian has to hang on to until we meet with Jesus face to face. However, God warns through His servant Peter that men/husbands stand the chance of hindering answers to their prayers if they don’t treat their wives right. Now men, that really places a strong emphasis on our marital responsibilities. Let’s think about this for a few minutes today, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

APPLICATION: Ever been warned by your parent that something would be withheld if you didn’t treat your sibling right? I was brought up as the eldest of five children, so whenever things got a bit testy around us, mom would warn us of possible consequences! So as I think about our loving God threatening me with the words in verse 7, I tend to especially stop what I’m doing and pay attention. Prayer is spoken of in many areas of the Bible, and there have been some amazing answers to prayer throughout the Bible and even among Christendom today. Moses prayed and water came forward from a rock. He prayed again and the waters of the Red Sea were stopped so that the Israelite army, that he was leading, could march safely across and be saved from the oncoming Egyptian army. Peter was sinking into the water when he cried out for the help of Jesus, and with an out-stretched hand, Jesus kept Peter safe. Jesus healed the sick and even brought the dead back to life, because of the prayers of His children. As a Christian, no doubt that you have also prayed to God for some very desperate things that you felt you would lose, if not for the intervention of the Lord God. So child of God, can you even imagine being told that your prayers would be hindered unless you ……..? But stop and think for a moment how important the family is to God. He created Eve from the rib of Adam. He placed them in the Garden of Eden to live happily and at peace with one another. There have been many created since our first ancestors, and there have been numerous couples brought together and blessed with Holy Matrimony, because God wanted to see His miraculous work go on. God knew that men would need women and they would enjoy life together in spite of their differences. Now imagine how disappointed God must get when He sees us trying to destroy that union. In the marriage ceremony, there are some important words spoken by a minister of the Gospel – those whom God has put together, let no man pull asunder. So how do you imagine God must feel when a husband abuses his wife, or cheats on her, or has no respect for her? I was reminded by a pastor that it is God’s child that the husband is mistreating. How do you respond when you hear of your child being abused by a man? We are told in God’s Word that He can do ALL things. But imagine Him scolding you one morning as you pray, and telling you: ‘Yes I can answer that prayer, but because you have not loved my daughter, and because you are not treating her with love and respect, I will withhold my response until further notice’. Will that help you reconcile your differences and resume a right relationship with your wife, for Jesus’ sake? Jesus loves the little children – both wives and husbands. Can we learn to love each other in similar fashion to what our Father displays to us?

PRAYER: Thank You Lord Jesus for the wonderful women You have placed in my life, and the adoration they have shown to me. My heart’s desire is to love You more, and also to be so dedicated to following Your will, that it will be glaring to others that Your Holy Spirit is given full reign in my life. Please help me to also treat Your daughter this way, for I would humbly plead with You to always direct and correct me before allowing me to treat her less than royally. So many in this world today have decided to just cohabitate instead of following Your will to unite in marriage, while many others simply give up and seek divorce. Loving and cooperating families are becoming fewer, resulting in children also growing up without a stand for commitment. Please dear Lord, begin with Your men that You have set aside to lead our families. May we be more committed to the task and may we go out of our way to love our wives like You intended. 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!

Women – Cultivate Inner Beauty

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Sunday, 2020-11-01
WRITTEN AT: Vicksburg, MS

BIBLE REFERENCE: 1 Peter 3:1-4
TRANSLATION: The Message (MSG)

BIBLE TEXT: 1-4 The same goes for you wives: Be good wives to your husbands, responsive to their needs. There are husbands who, indifferent as they are to any words about God, will be captivated by your life of holy beauty. What matters is not your outer appearance—the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes—but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in.

OBSERVATION: These days, we hear so much about prostitution, drug abuse, job demands, lashing out at husbands, etc. that we wonder how on earth do couples ever manage to stay together. I believe that Peter saw very similar practices in his day, as he was led to commit a whole chapter to address: wives; husbands and just families as a whole. Today we will look at the first thing covered by Peter – wives. Ladies, please open your heart to what the Lord might say to you through His word, and not so quick to judge my understanding of this passage.

APPLICATION: I love the living Word of God – the Bible. Written decades ago, yet God knew that men’s hearts would be hardened and they would normally reject the word preached to them. However, God foreknew that the honest, sincere, pure and heartfelt actions of a wife would impact them more than any words spoken to them. I believe it is natural for women to desire the current trends, whether in dress or in current practices of other women, for everyone looks for success and then they follow that example with hopes of making themselves successful. But God wanted the women of Peter’s day, and of all future generations, to know that He designed and crafted woman. Of course He also crafted man, and He therefore knew full well what makes a man’s eyes and heart turn towards his wife, and ultimately towards Him. So He spoke the words of this Scripture through His servant to help us get on the right track. God knew from the heart of women, that they would probably concentrate on their outward beauty, because that’s how they probably feel others are attracted to them. But notice that right up front God spoke to this and showed women that this was unimportant in the light of everything else. God ordered that women start from the inside, and endeavor to cultivate inward beauty. What are some things that you’ve heard about this practice? From the abundance of the heart, a person speaks. If the heart is gentle, calm and filled with admiration, then words along that line will be spoken. Respect for self will most often produce respect for others. Humility is an inward belief that dictates God first, others second and then me. That will be expressed through our speech and in the way that we respect God, and others, that we come into contact with. A heart surrendered to God. This results in respecting and obeying the Word of God. He made us, and He longs for the day when we will unite with Him in glory, so He teaches us with these things in mind. Those that have not accepted Jesus as Savior, or have fallen away from Him, tend to disregard His commands and pay little attention to what He expects of His children. Man’s laws are most often totally in opposition to what God commands, so as women follow the ways of the world they will wind up saying and doing things that God does not approve of. I have been blessed with great women of influence in my life – my grandmother; my mother; my wife; aunts; and others. I have seen God at work in their lives and I have seen His Word proven right through their lives. God made women, so I believe He wanted nothing but His very best for women and for all with whom they associate. Draw close to God dear woman of God, and He will draw close to You. Be obedient to His Word, and rejoice in all the ways that He bless you and yours.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, on behalf of all the women in my life, I ask that You use Your Word powerfully in their lives today. May they be drawn close to You, and may they strive to live according to Your perfect design. Marriage as a whole is really struggling, and I’m sure that it can only be attributed to women and men, seeking after their own selfish means rather than obeying Your commands. Lord, I believe that we set good examples for others, especially our younger generation, when we remain strong in our walk with You. Please continue to teach us Your ways so that others might see Jesus in our lives and in our marriages. 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!