Month: December 2020

Blessings – A Reward For Those Who Know Christ

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

DATE WRITTEN: Wednesday, 2020-12-09
WRITTEN AT: Paul B Johnson State Park, Hattiesburg, MS

BIBLE REFERENCE: Psalm 144:15
TRANSLATION: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

BIBLE TEXT: How wonderful to have such blessings!  Yes, great blessings belong to those who have the Lord as their God.

OBSERVATION: I wonder how many you might interview today will quickly tell you of the blessings they enjoy each day? Don’t we often fall prey to sharing all the mishaps and disappointments, hoping to seek empathy from others? David shared that for kids who belong to God, we could expect blessings! Let’s ponder how we might spur one another on through the challenges they may be facing today!

APPLICATION: I grew up in just a small town, but there were some kids that had it all, some that barely had the necessities, and others that wished they had parents that just loved them. If you can identify with similar scenarios from your childhood, then you too might reflect on how you felt when you spent time around each child. You may have felt envious about some, while feeling sorry for others. In verses 12 – 14 of this chapter, David listed some things that he felt would make the lives of he and his fellow citizens a lot more bearable. This sounds a lot like us, for we make our lists for Christmas; for the store; and perhaps even a wish list for our spouse! However, David was quick to say that as children of the heavenly King, we are blessed beyond measure all the time. Often we just need to get our envious minds out of the way, and concentrate on our needs instead of our ever growing list of wants! Based on a Scripture verse that I read one morning, I created a Facebook group, hoping to encourage my friends to join me in encouraging others by mentioning daily points of blessing and thanksgiving. Friends, if we believe this Scripture, then there should never be an awkward moment where we cannot share a blessing with someone. While definitely not looking for personal accolades, last night I realized that I had not posted anything to the group site for a few days, so I questioned before God what am I thankful for today? Oh my, the words just kept coming to mind as I reflected on all that God had done for me yesterday. What about you my friend? If you removed the words ‘luck’ or ‘happen-chance’ from your vocabulary and really concentrated on the things that only God could have provided for you, can’t you see where you would quickly come into agreement with David, that as a child of the King, we are filled with blessings from our loving Lord – our Heavenly Father? Keeping the blessings confined to your internal satisfaction is like saying that you deserved those blessings and that they are yours and yours alone. Let’s learn to be appreciative of our blessings, dear friends, and let’s celebrate those blessings with others, for they need encouragement that our God is still alive and He is still watching out for, and blessing His children beyond more than they could ever imagine or ask for! Count your blessing dear friend, and see what your mighty God can do!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we are thankful for life itself and we are especially thankful for Your precious love for even us. Lord, thank You for showing us love in so many different ways and for consistently loving us through all of life good and challenging times. Please continue to bless so that we may be a blessing to others. Oh that You may be lifted up and exalted through even us. Please touch lives through our actions so the unsaved may be drawn unto Yourself. 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!

Christmas Gift Ideas

On By Ed AlgreenIn Christian love, Christmas, Forgiveness, gifts, Humble, Kindness, Love, PatienceLeave a comment

Friday, 2020-12-08

Bible Reference: Colossians 3:12-14
Translation: Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)

Bible Text: 12 God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So your new life should be like this: Show mercy to others. Be kind, humble, gentle, and patient. 13 Don’t be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If you feel someone has wronged you, forgive them. Forgive others because the Lord forgave you. 14 Together with these things, the most important part of your new life is to love each other. Love is what holds everything together in perfect unity. 

OBSERVATION: At Christmas time we seem to easily find room in our hearts to be kind to others. In our verses today Paul reminds us of what all God did for us, and how that should lead us to do the same for others. So as we meditate on this today, may it stir up within us many ideas on how we might bless others at Christmas!

APPLICATION: Most children are probably looking forward to Christmas because of the gifts they have asked for, and expect to receive. As adults, Paul has reminded us of the gracious gifts that are ours, in being a child of the most high God! Here are some of the gifts mentioned by Paul: 1). God has made us His holy people – imagine that – steeped in sin and very much a part of Satan’s army, yet when we felt the call on our life by Jesus, and surrendered our life to Him, we were adopted into the sonship of the Most Holy God! That is beyond comprehension, and could only be imagined through faith in the truth of God’s Holy Word; 2). God loves us – ‘Love’ is an awesome word that we use, and even abuse in our lifetime, but it takes on such a special meaning when the holy Son of God loves a child that has been so blatant in sin, and asked for His forgiveness. Oh that we may find it in our hearts to love like that this Christmas! But because of all that God blessed us with, here are some gifts that we may give to others, knowing that He will continue pouring out His gracious love to us: Show mercy towards others; Be kind to others; Be humble towards others; Be gentle to others; Be patient with others; Don’t be angry with others; Forgive others; and LOVE others. Friends, the best news of all about these godly gifts, compared to our usual gift giving, is that there will be no increase in credit card bills whatsoever!  So why not read over this devotional again as Christmas draws closer, and concentrate on all the gody gifts that you can extend to family and friends. Be instrumental in teaching them God’s ways and His teachings through your example this Christmas! Others just may see that you have a heart like that of Jesus, because you showed that you cared for them!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for Christmas, and the precious gift of Your Son! Thank You for teaching us about the many precious gifts that You bless us with, and then through your servant Paul, teaching us how we might extend to others the many gifts that You have showered on us. Please help us to make someone’s Christmas special this year, simply by showering them with the character of Your Son, and the godly gifts mentioned in our Scripture today. 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!

God Cares About, and For You

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

DATE WRITTEN: Sunday, 2020-12-06
WRITTEN AT: Paul B Johnson State Park, Hattiesburg, MS

BIBLE REFERENCE: Psalm 144:1-3
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: 1 I praise you, Lord! You are my mighty rock,[a] and you teach me how to fight my battles. 2 You are my friend, and you are my fortress where I am safe. You are my shield, and you made me the ruler of our people.[b] 3 Why do we humans mean anything to you, our Lord? Why do you care about us?

OBSERVATION: Many will identify with the idea of marrying someone because you noticed that they cared about you. David’s heart was filled to overflowing because of the love and care of the God that He placed his faith and trust in. What do you do when you’ve witnessed God’s protective, caring and loving hand upon you? I’m afraid that way too often we do a great job in asking God for help, but not necessarily acknowledge His goodness in responding to our prayers. Stay with me as we look into this Scripture today!

APPLICATION: David was just a young man, sent out to the battle field to deliver food for his older brothers who were a part of the local military. Upon arrival at the battlefield he became confused, as the Israelites stood back while a Philistine giant stood forefront with a challenge for any one brave enough to fight with him personally. Everyone else felt like pions compared to this extremely large man, so they merely stood back in fear. Although nowhere as tall or big as a giant, yet David had dealt with impossibilities of his own while defending his sheep from attack, and he often felt like the lions and other large beasts were ‘giants’ to him. So with God’s prodding David, just a young man, volunteered to fight the giant Philistine. The words of these verses are taken from the song that David sent up to God as he prepared for battle. I don’t believe that David fell short in recognizing any of the attributes proven to him by Almighty God, just look at the worshipful words of recognition offered up by David: Mighty Rock; Teacher; Military Leader; Friend; Fortress; Shield; and other versions add: Deliverer; and Caretaker who offers unconditional love and care for him. It is easy to see that David searched his heart for more and more descriptions of this awesome God who was in charge of his life. In fact, so much so, that David wondered before God, why then would you care so much for mankind who seems to have negligible amounts of these attributes? But my dear friends, I believe wholeheartedly that David couldn’t begin to imagine the love that God has for His children – His creation. Imagine for just a moment, mankind arrested Jesus, God’s only Son, beat Him, spit upon Him, falsely accused and convicted Him and crucified Him. Yet God permitted this, because this was fulfillment of His perfect will, and it was out of pure love for His creation – His children – you and I. How then can we praise and thank and worship Him? Can you find the words to describe your appreciation? Remember, He is our Creator, our Sustainer, our Provider, our Protector, our Guide, our Giver of Eternal Life, our Eternal and awesome God, just to name a few to help you get started! Praise our living God forever and for ever, AMEN!

PRAYER: Lord, we are ever so grateful for Your love and Your protection over us, expressed in so many wonderful and miraculous ways. Thank You, dear Jesus. Please forgive us for the times that we experience answers to our prayers, yet we neglect to return thanks to You. We would never think of being ungrateful, so we humbly ask that You might prod us in our forgetfulness and neglect. Thank you for the example that David showed so vividly to us in today’s Scripture. May we learn to seek Your face more, instead of always seeking what we might receive from Your hand. And Lord, I pray that as we are blessed, thru grateful hearts we will pass along those blessings to touch the heart of those who may not already know You. 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!

A Prayer of Desperation

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

DATE WRITTEN: Saturday, 2020-12-05
WRITTEN AT: Paul B Johnson State Park, Hattiesburg, MS

BIBLE REFERENCE: Psalm 143:8, 10
TRANSLATION: World English Bible (WEB)

BIBLE TEXT: 8 Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning, for I trust in you. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to you.
10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.

OBSERVATION: I believe that every reader will identify with the need for going before God in desperate prayer at one time or another in your life. David too found the urgent need for God’s protection and direction, but I love the way he went about it. As we meditate today, perhaps God will speak to us about our prayer life and about our desperate need for drawing close to Him – the only One who could answer our prayers.

APPLICATION: We tell our kids that temper tantrums are not allowed in our presence, because we know that they will show their ungrateful attitudes and their selfish demands. Much like us in the desperate times of our lives, David felt like the whole world was against him, so he was hiding out from all human existence. But David went before God in appreciation of all that God is, and for all that He provides each and every day. He realized that it was him personally that needed to appreciate God more, so that praises would flow from his lips and his heartfelt respect of our awesome God would warm his soul and comfort him into believing and trusting in the all powerful God. I love the words used by this translation: ‘cause me to hear’; ‘cause me to know’; ’teach me to do Your will’; ‘lead me…’. This showed me that David acknowledged: that God was all loving; that God knew the way He should go; that God had him in mind, and therefore a perfect will for him to obey; and that God had a righteous land prepared for David to settle in. Friends, we have no authority over God, so we can’t demand anything from Him; nor tell Him where we should go. We must always remember that God created us; He loves us unconditionally; He watches over His children and will guide His children in the path of righteousness. Where the BIG question mark is evident in the equation is: are we prepared to accept God; His love; His directions and obediently follow His path. It’s us dear ones, not God. That’s why I loved it when David asked God to cause him to hear, to know, to follow His will, and to accept the path laid out for him. As a reminder, let’s also convince ourselves that God has no favorites, so if He did all this for David and comforted him with His glorious presence, God will do it again – for you and I. But let’s not forget that we must always work on self, and not on God. He is the only perfect One, who has all power and knows all things – including our direction for a perfect path that leads us to Him! Trust Him today dear friends!

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for showing us in Your Word today that You are able! We were reminded by David that You are the way, the truth and the way. When life seems hopeless to us, we must remember that You are still in control. Just as David turned to You in desperation, my readers and I also turn to You in much the same way today. Lord, our family, friends, churches, cities and indeed countries are desperate, for this awful virus has taken hold of our people and they are either quarantined, hospitalized, or dying by the thousands. We acknowledge, like David, that this problem is much bigger than any man or woman from any country could clear up for us, so we beg of You, Almighty God, to please smile on us again and heal our land. I realize that this may come in the form of healing from our sin-sickness first, but I can boldly say that only You know exactly what we need. So we trust in Your almighty power, Your healing, and Your direction, because only You are capable and able to do anything about our problem. You took good care of David, please now, take good care of us. 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!

A Glimpse of Heaven

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

DATE WRITTEN: Friday, 2020-12-04
WRITTEN AT: Paul B Johnson State Park, Hattiesburg, MS

BIBLE REFERENCE: Revelation 4:8-11
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: 8 Each of these Living Beings had six wings, and the central sections of their wings were covered with eyes. Day after day and night after night they kept on saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty—the one who was, and is, and is to come.” 9 And when the Living Beings gave glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four Elders fell down before him and worshiped him, the Eternal Living One, and cast their crowns before the throne, singing, 11 “O Lord, you are worthy to receive the glory and the honor and the power, for you have created all things. They were created and called into being by your act of will.”

OBSERVATION: John had been given a glimpse of how God felt about his churches, and I believe that we found characteristics of ourselves and our churches throughout the challenges given by God To those churches. Now we could see where John is given a glimpse of what heaven might be like. My heart leapt for joy as I read the praise by the Living Beings and by the Elders, and I will share the reasons in my application below. Consider your expectation of your meeting God when you see Him on His throne! Oh what a day that will be!! Glory!

APPLICATION: I believe that people have various reasons that keep them going to church, and these things build enthusiasm and excitement into them for the coming day of corporate worship times each week. For many, it will be the exciting praise and worship time, for others it will be the enthusiastic proclamation of the Word by their pastor, or it might be getting together with their Bible Study teacher and/or group, or just seeing their Christian friends again, and yet for others, perhaps just because of the time that normally draws them closer to the Lord. For Christians in general, I believe that just the thought of Heaven and being with Jesus, their heart may skip a beat at just the thought of it. When a loved one passes away who knew Christ, it seems that the anticipation builds for remaining Christian close relatives to want to be in Heaven, because they have loved ones already there. Friends, we must remember that we are on this earth for just a while, so I hope that we will examine our purpose closely and not procrastinate in fulfilling our personal goals while here. Like any smart person, we must think ahead to ponder what happens after life here on earth, so that we could prepare ahead of time for an even more exciting time after this. Some will be drawn to the reality, love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and they will accept His free gift of eternal life, while some will choose to live each day in blindness and obliterated to the future. The second group will die in their sin and go on to spend eternity in Hell, the place of fire and torment, where they will be forever under the unfortunate leadership of Satan. However, in John 3:16, the first group is promised eternal life in Heaven with their creator. While the second group will be crying out in anguish over their awful predicament, the first group will be watching things such as John saw, and joining in with endless praises to the One who loved them unconditionally and sacrificed His only Son to provide the means of them being washed white from their earthly sin. Dear friends, I am a part of that first group and my heart sings out in praise when I read of the glory that John saw. For He tells of the worship of my King, the One that I worship here on earth, and the same One that I live in anticipation of worshiping at the foot of His throne in Heaven one day soon! Many of you may never experience your pastor or elders praising God here on earth, because they are so busy serving. I have gone to conferences where pastors are free to personally worship, and it truly blessed my heart. Imagine John seeing the Elders (Pastors) falling down in worship to the King that they taught and preached for a lifetime. Imagine you in worship to your King, with your pastor alongside you, worshiping your Savior? Oh my friend, no matter how much we read, nor how much we imagine or think about this, the awesome moment of truth when we bow at His feet will outshine all earthly thoughts about the moment! Please my friend, accept my Savior today. Know Him personally so that you too can join me at the feet of Jesus. Why burn in Hell, when you can ‘shine’ in the glory of the Master?

PRAYER: Why me Lord? What have I ever done to deserve God’s only Son and the glories of Heaven? But because of Your grace, and because of Your unconditional love, You provided Your precious Son so that I may call Heaven my eternal home. Thank You Jesus for tugging on my heart and encouraging me to surrender my life to Your will and way. Being reminded of Heaven and the meeting we will have with You, is enough to help me go on stronger in my faith today, and more encouraged to draw even closer to You each day through Your Word. Please Lord speak to my readers today, and remind my family and friends again today, that there is only one way for us to meet with You in Heaven, and that is to believe on You and have relationship with You here on earth. Please touch hearts today and draw Your people unto yourself, before it is eternally too late. 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!

Lukewarm – Neither Cold nor Hot

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

DATE WRITTEN: Thursday, 2020-12-03
WRITTEN AT: Paul B Johnson State Park, Hattiesburg, MS

BIBLE REFERENCE: Revelation 3:15-17
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: 15 “I know your works. You are neither cold with apathy nor hot with passion. It would be better if you were one or the other, but you are neither. 16 So because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 You claim, ‘I am rich, I have accumulated riches, and I need nothing’; but you do not realize that you are miserable, pathetic, poor, blind, and naked. 

OBSERVATION: It seems like the church at Laodicea must have felt like they had everything ‘they’ needed to make it in life, and if they needed God for anything they would simply call on Him. I’m not sure that our churches today could identify totally with this, because we are constantly reaching for the stars, and money is usually needed for that. However, I believe that God didn’t see where they were actively pursuing His goal for His church. In fact, He considered them ‘lukewarm’. Do you suppose that applies to you and/or your church?

APPLICATION: It may be difficult for us to recognize the challenges of the church today, compared to what it was 1 year ago, because COVID challenges have given the corporate body such a different look. However, I believe we should first of all look inside at the attitudes and mindset of ourselves and think honestly whether God might consider us to be on fire for the Lord, or as this translations puts it, are we truly ‘hot with passion’ for God, and the things of God. For the temperature of our respective churches could only be measured by the total temperature of its members. But the challenge for you and I is to understand what must be happening if we are not hot with passion, for if we are not, then we are either ’cold’ or we are ‘lukewarm’. When a child of God comes to a place in their lives where their conscience is not affected when they sin, then I believe they have really become ‘Cold’ to the Spirit of God and couldn’t care less if they proceeded with action that they know will displease God. Oh how sad that must be for God to see such neglect from His children, for whom He sacrificed His one and only Son on the cross, out of the unconditional love that He had for us. But perhaps, you might consider yourself elevated from a point of being Cold in your relationship with God, but you are definitely not one of those Christian ‘fanatics’, as some call ‘sold out’ believers. Then I believe that you might be at a point where you like the idea of being associated with Jesus Christ, but you would just as soon keep that to yourself. You may attend church, but see no reason to attend every Sunday, as you do pretty good on your own. You believe that the Pastor and his lead gurus are the ones assigned to visiting the sick and doing the chores around church, so since you pay them for that, you see no reason to get involved. Friends, would someone with all those calculations impress you as a ‘sold out’ child of God? Remember, God knows every little detail about us, including our very own deepest and private thoughts. So when we do things to impress others about our relationship with God, we may succeed in pulling the wool over their eyes, but can you imagine the heart of God when He knows how His children could be so alive in His presence, yet choose to mislead and create falsehoods in the eyes of mankind? Is it any wonder why He said that the church at Laodicia made Him sick? Friends, the world needs Jesus, and unless they see Him in all of His glory through those who are called by His name, they may continue to believe that He is just a myth. Are you striving to nullify that myth for those you come into contact with, or are you helping to confirm to them that they are correct? There’s only one life to live here on earth dear friends, and you are living it each and every day – for Jesus, against Jesus, or as if you are really not sure. What might Jesus say about you? Will His heart melt from the love you portray, or will He vomit because of your contradictions and hypocrisies?

PRAYER: When I truly learned about all that You did for me on Calvary, I invited You into my heart to stay, precious Lord. My intent has always been that You might work miraculously in and through me, so that others might see very clearly that the God of this universe is alive and well. Please open my eyes to the things that distract and dilute my vision of You and therefore causes me to relax in my walk with You. Lord, I want to be a part of Your church body that is hot for the Gospel, hot for imitating my Father and hot for seeing my lost friends and family come to know You as Lord and Savior, before its too late. On behalf of my readers and I, please Lord renew Your church again. May our hearts burn within us for the urgent work of the Master in our communities and in our churches. We know that You will return soon to take Your church on home to glory. May we be found faithful, loyal and true right to the very end. 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!

The Reward For Obedience

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

DATE WRITTEN: Tuesday, 2020-12-01
WRITTEN AT: Paul B Johnson State Park, Hattiesburg, MS

BIBLE REFERENCE: Revelation 3:10-11
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: 10 You obeyed my message and endured. So I will protect you from the time of testing that everyone in all the world must go through. 11 I am coming soon. So hold firmly to what you have, and no one will take away the crown that you will be given as your reward.

OBSERVATION: One of the things that will win the attention of a child, is for a parent to promise a reward if they would …! Almost every time that will prove to be enough incentive to win the efforts of that child to obediently follow the parent’s command. While analyzing the seven churches in Revelation the angel told John that God would honor the obedience of the church at Sardis by protecting them against the testing that will come. Ponder this thought with me today as we analyze ourselves and our church to see if God might bless us for our obedience.

APPLICATION: No doubt each of us have pulled something off on our parents, or someone in authority over us. For example, they assumed that you did something great, while you know that you had a lot of help on it. You don’t bother to clarify the problem, because it left you looking pretty good in the eyes of the one who calls the shots on your progress, or your job! Sounds all too familiar? I bet you hold our breath hoping that the full story will not be revealed! However, it’s not like that with God, for He knows every little detail about our comings and our goings. And while we try very hard to look our very best in the eyes of our peers, our supervisors and our relatives, yet we hold our breath wondering how blunt and forgiving God will be when we meet Him face-to-face. I also reflect on how parents say to their children: I hope that you will appreciate all that I’ve done for you! Compare this to what I believe God will say to us: My child, while you were still a sinner, I sacrificed my only child so that you might rise above the sin of this old world and live eternally in the glories of heaven with my Son and I. Having failed on occasion was expected, because of the place where you lived and the people you came into contact with, but I knew your heart and your intent. When you invited me to be Lord of your life, I gave you a new beginning and the power to overcome Satan and his cohorts, so now I am happy to welcome you home where you will be at peace for evermore. Friends, if you believe in Jesus Christ, then I believe that you can affirm my assumptions that I just shared, because you are aware of the love of our Savior and the outstanding provisions that He has made for us. Unfortunately if you have not yet sought out the love of my Savior, then you may be challenged to appreciate what God said to the church at Sardis, or what I envisioned in seeing all that God has in store for us when we see Him face-to-face. But you are empowered to correct this challenge, because the Word of God says that whosoever believes on the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. Whosoever includes ‘YOU’ my friend. Notice also that there is no doubt in the reward, for God said that you WILL be saved. In case you’re curious, that means that you will be saved from the destiny of Hell which is reserved for all who have not accepted Jesus as Lord. My friend, I secured my destiny with Jesus and my prayer is that you too might do the same. Heaven is my eternal home, and I would love to see each of you there! Please contact me and allow me to show you the way!

PRAYER: Lord, we are thankful for all that You have done for Your children, and for what You do for us each and every day while we live here on earth. Being reminded of what You promised to the church at Sardis, reminds me that You will do the same for us when we follow You in accepting Your Son, and in closely adhering to Your commands. Please Lord, continue to lead us, direct us and guide us through every step here on earth. We look forward to being with You soon. Please keep us in Your care, following Your commands and living in full expectation of Your return to take Your church home to glory. 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!