Month: February 2021

It’s Time To Respond

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

DATE WRITTEN: Tuesday, 2021-02-16
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Matthew 13:41-43

TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 41 The Son of Man will send his messengers, and they will uproot everything out of his kingdom. All the lawless ones and everything that causes sin will be removed. 42 And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where they will experience great sorrow, pain, and anguish.[v] 43 Then the godly ones will shine like the brightness of the sun[w] in their Father’s kingdom realm. If you’re able to understand this, then you’d better respond!”

OBSERVATION: The wicked ones, or the ungodly, or the unbelievers will be given over to their leader – Satan. While the believers, or the Christians, or those who claim Jesus Christ as Lord, will shine brightly in heaven with their Master and Lord. This doesn’t work like the lottery, but rather by the decision that you make today while you are still alive. Try sharing with one another today which of these options will be your declaration. Perhaps saying it aloud will help you make sure that you are satisfied with the decision you have made.

APPLICATION: Praise God He does not decide on our eternal destiny based on our looks, our attitude, the color of our skin, the country where we were born nor the parents who took part in our birth. The Scripture is very clear that God made us smart enough that He was comfortable we would be capable of making our own decisions. In the Book He gave to us as our guide, He reminded us that:
> We were created to worship, adore and serve our risen Lord;
> God gave us free will to make our own decisions while here on earth, and He has agreed to honor our decision, even though it would sadden Him to see us make very bad decisions;
> God sent His only Son as our Savior to save us from the sin that He was sure we would give in to;
> God knew that some would accept His gift of salvation, and some won’t. So He made it very clear what the impact would be as a result of our own choices;
> God is a fair and righteous Judge, and He will not waiver in His judgment, especially where He knows our every thought and action. He never plays favorites;
Friends, the above points are not what the writer thinks, or points that I devised to make judgment on you. Each of these things can be supported by Scripture, and God never lied. We serve a very fair, honest and righteous God. And I am convinced that He will do what He said He would do. The decision is therefore yours to make, about what will be your eternal destiny after you close your eyes in death. However, know that you only have this life to make that decision. From the point of death and for all eternity, your days will be spent enduring the decisions you made while alive on earth. The answers given in today’s Scripture makes it clear what will be your outcome should you be called out from the world at the moment of reading this devotional. You are not promised a given date for your departure. Some die at ripe old ages, while many die while they are still young. Let me beg you to make a good decision right now on where you stand in your relationship with God. Know Him today my friend, and have that peace of mind that should He take you out today, you are satisfied with the choice you have made for all eternity. God created you, and He wants you to be with Him forever. Don’t disappoint Him.

PRAYER: Lord, we are often ecstatic when we go for a test after just being given the cheat-sheet to study the answers. You have done exactly that. You gave us Your precious Word, and You outlined exactly what will result from the decisions we make today. All those who stumble across this devotional will be smart enough to understand the Scripture quoted above. Please soften hearts that we will not again read the consequences of our decisions and still go on doing what we’ve always done. Your Word is a lamp unto our path. May we follow in the light and rejoice with the angels as we look into Your wonderful face one day soon when You call us 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!

Easily Distracted

On By Ed AlgreenIn Distraction, Distractions, Faith, Faithfulness, Rewards, TrustLeave a comment

Sunday, 2021-02-14

Bible Reference: Matthew 14:29-33
Translation: The Passion Translation (TPT)

Bible Text: 29 “Come and join me,” Jesus replied. So Peter stepped out onto the water and began to walk toward Jesus. 30 But when he realized how high the waves were, he became frightened and started to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he cried out. 31 Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and lifted him up and said, “What little faith you have! Why would you let doubt win?” 32 And the very moment they both stepped into the boat, the raging wind ceased. 33 Then all the disciples crouched down before him and worshiped Jesus. They said in adoration, “You are truly the Son of God!”

OBSERVATION: In Hebrews 11:1 we are reminded that faith is confidence in what we hope for, and complete assurance of something that we cannot see. Perhaps with that in mind, we could better evaluate the faith that Peter had in jumping out of that boat, and also the faith that we have in taking our petitions before a holy and miraculously working God. May our faith increase today as we meditate on this story of ‘faith’ by Peter!

APPLICATION: There are so many things we could learn from this story of Peter. I believe that most of us will share the reflection that this story shows us the faith of a man as he attempted something that defies nature, and that he had never thought possible before. Of his own power, perhaps the disciples expected Peter to jump out of the boat in the middle of the sea, as he prepared himself for the intake of water through the nose and mouth, or if he could swim, perhaps he would quickly assume the swimming position! However, things were a bit different with Peter, for: a). He had already experienced the power of the Almighty, and he knew that Jesus had the same power to do even those things that are impossible in the eyes of the world; b). He paid attention to what Jesus was doing, and knew that if Jesus could walk on the water, He had power and authority to empower him (Peter) to do the same; and c). Peter heard the command by Jesus, and in spite of the yelling from his fellow disciples, he obeyed Jesus. So what happened? Why does Peter’s effort seemed to have failed? I am convinced that Jesus already knew how quickly Peter would become cocky about being given this special power, so Jesus demonstrated to Peter, and to us, that faith requires that we keep our eyes fixed on the author of our faith – Jesus, and His Father God, lest we fall into the trap of bragging about our own power. I had a friend dying of cancer, and she traveled hundreds of miles to be prayed over by a TV evangelist who showed on public television that he had powers to heal. WRONG. Stop right there. Friends, as demonstrated in this story with Peter, and as we already know about healing powers – it is God, through His Son Jesus that spoke the word for Peter to walk on water, and it was Jesus who rescued him as he began to sink; it is God alone who heals a body that He created from dust, and restores it to perfect health so that He may be glorified. Our responsibility is to look to Him for all things and keep our eyes fixed on the author and creator of life itself, knowing that through His power, lives might be healed, souls might be restored to the Kingdom, and that the unsaved may recognize the grace and power of our God. It’s all about ‘God’, my friend. We are just instruments of His love and servants of our majestic King. The Master deserves all the praise for all that He does, for nothing of our own is merited, or worthy of praise, but only what He has done. Please be careful of the distractions that Satan will place before us. For Peter, it was the wind, the rough waters and perhaps self-confidence, that caused him to take his eyes off the Master. For us, unfortunately we live in a world that is totally filled with distractions that Satan places before us. Think about our pride; trying to impress our peers; being called names (like Jesus freak, etc); believing in things that defy nature; eccentric for believing in someone we can note see, etc. Remember that our distractions are often forces that draw us away from God – our primary power source. Don’t let Satan win over you my friend. In verse 31 we are reminded to not let ‘doubt’ win in our battle to ‘believe’. Trust in God, and all of this, plus a whole lot more could be yours, child of God!

PRAYER: Oh Lord, You are my God! The same God that created this wonderful world, and also created all of creation. I acknowledge again today that there is nothing that You can’t do. Please forgive me for my doubt and my lack of faith. Thank You for the reminder in today’s Scripture that You had the power to walk on water to get over to Your disciples. I wonder what You must travel over, or through, at times to get to my readers and I, and the trouble we find ourselves in at times. But I am assured that just as we saw where the water didn’t stop You from getting to Your followers, we need not let anything hinder our requests today, for many things will appear to be impossible to us, but with renewed assurance today, we KNOW that we can come before the throne of God and plead our case before an all-knowing, all-powerful, forever-loving God who says that ALL things are possible with God! You are our King, and we adore You and worship You today oh Lord, not just for what You can do for us, but for who You are! AMEN!

The Difference Between Wheat and Weeds

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

DATE WRITTEN: Saturday, 2021-02-13
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Matthew 13:24-26
TRANSLATION: New Century Version (NCV)

BIBLE TEXT: 24 Then Jesus told them another story: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who planted good seed in his field. 25 That night, when everyone was asleep, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat and then left. 26 Later, the wheat sprouted and the heads of grain grew, but the weeds also grew. 

OBSERVATION: When in the presence of fishermen, it is best to speak in terms of their profession. The same applies to farmers, and Jesus was well aware of this when He shared the story of planting seeds. You may not be a farmer, but I’m hoping that we all will be reminded of the challenges we face as Christians – even in the church, when ‘weeds’ suddenly appear.

APPLICATION: The problem with following the example of a friend or neighbor, is that you may not know the full reason for what they are doing. You might see them coming home in the wee hours of the morning and assume that they are finally coming home from the nightclub, and this may be the case. However, I remember coming home at 4am after completing a volunteer schedule at a 24hr Prayer Room. A far cry from what you may have assumed! In the illustration of the weeds growing among the wheat, you will notice that the farmer didn’t want the weeds pulled up, because in many cases the wheat may have also been pulled up. So how do we handle situations in our church where we were sure that Christians found respite and thrived in a place filled with righteous Christians, but to our surprise ‘weeds’ seem to be taking over since many started following a popular guy that just joined the church? Why do things like that happen? Do you suppose that guy is exactly who he claimed to be? Do you suppose he is as close to Jesus as he led on to be? What if Satan planted him plum in the middle of our church to test us and see what we truly believe individually? Do you feel close enough to God, and on a sure footing in His Word? Will you hear God nudging you to be careful and to grow personally in your relationship with your Father every day? Or are you so comfortable with what the teacher shares with you and his class, that you wait and soak up his words in class once per week? Notice that the farmer couldn’t identify the wheat from the weeds until the wheat plants bore fruit. I wonder what fruit the Master will identify in us? I’m afraid that some of the weeds we see in our churches that might stunt the fruit of believers are: false teaching to an audience ignorant of the Word; many forms of gossip; tearing another brother or sister down; falsely accusing; snitching on someone without all the facts; no interest in helping another weaker brother or sister; overlooking needs that exist among members, neighbors or even family. Friends, I feel like our object should always be to enrich our relationship with the Master, for with Him shining brightly in and through every action and/or word, others will see Him and not the parts that we pretend to be in and of our own selves. May our relationship be so strong with Jesus that He will choke out the weeds and/or evil that tries to take root right in our churches, families and/or neighborhoods where we find ourselves involved. Remember, wheat will provide food, strength, and good things for all who partake of it, while weeds are a nuisance and will only choke out the good that could be achieved for the Kingdom of God.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we often seem astonished that the church is not growing, and we ponder what might be the problem, or who might be responsible for stunting the growth. In this teaching I believe that You are pointing us to look inward and sure up our relationship with You, so that the weeds that have begun to grow right next to us will not prevail. Lord we need You each and every day to keep us strong and keep us focused on You, so that weeds will find no nourishment from our weaknesses. Please keep us near the cross oh Lord, and keep us strong in our faith so that You may work through us to strengthen those around is with the fruit that we will bear. May You be honored, praised and lifted up, oh Lord, my Rock and my Salvation. 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!

Analyzing For entry into God’s Kingdom

On By Ed AlgreenIn Faith, Rewards, TrustLeave a comment

Friday, 2021-02-12

Bible Reference: Matthew 13:41-43
Translation: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Bible Text:  41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everyone who does wrong or causes others to sin. 42 Then he will throw them into a flaming furnace, where people will cry and grit their teeth in pain. 43 But everyone who has done right will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. If you have ears, pay attention!

OBSERVATION: The Holy Spirit impacted me as I read through these verses today and caused something to really pop out to get my attention. Jesus said in verse 41 that His angels will gather from HIS kingdom – meaning HIS children, in other words – those who claimed to belong to the Master, and they would be taken out and thrown into the flaming furnace. I believe it is important for us to really meditate on, and understand, this Scripture lesson today.

APPLICATION: To read that there are thorns among the wheat, and that these thorns will stunt the growth of the wheat, if left there during the growing period, is mind boggling. Yet we are told that the thorns should remain there. What do we make of this? I believe we would understand it very clearly if the Scripture said that those thorn bushes must be removed and burned, so that the wheat would mature without hindrance from the weeds. But that’s not exactly what Jesus said, is it? In my studies, I found out that back in verse 24 and following, Jesus told His audience that these weeds were planted to look just like the wheat, as they grew together. But let us consider this idea in its proper context. For example, in our beautiful, plush and proper churches today. Wouldn’t it be extremely challenging to look out over our congregation, or even rub shoulders with many of them, and try to imagine that some will produce fruit (wheat) during their lifetime, while others are uncommitted and are their as decoys (known as ‘weeds’ in this Scripture). However, Jesus reminds us that because everyone walking through our doors are dressed just like us, look just like us, sing just like us, and may even give to the ministry just like us, we must not conclude that they are children of the kingdom. In Psalm 1:5, we are told that “sinners will have no place among the saved” on Judgment Day. Therefore let us pay close attention to what Jesus is teaching here. Friends, I believe that way too often we look at what our coworker is succeeding at, or how happy that new Sunday School member seems to be in their life, and we start emulating their lifestyle, or we join them in the things that seem to successfully bring joy in their life. But Jesus is teaching us today that we have only one role model, only one Savior and only one Lord. He tells us throughout His Word how we are to seek His righteousness, and the things of this world will grow strangely dim. I believe that when we start desiring what another person has – whether it’s happiness, a great spouse, wonderful children, a healthy lifestyle, an expensive car, etc., then we are permitting ourselves to seek our happiness and pleasure in another person (wheat or thorns), rather than in the joy, peace and wisdom of our almighty God, who proved His love for us on Calvary. In our times of meeting at church, or any gathering, with fellow believers, or those we assume are fellow believers, we tend to lift up and encourage each other. But let us always remember that we are there for one purpose only – to corporately lift up the name of Jesus and worship Him from the very depths of our heart. It’s a given fact that some fellow church members may have more knowledge than us about the teachings of God, and some may even have experienced miracles from God, but if you miss your one-on-one encounter with your Maker, and if you confuse His direction that He has planned for your life, by following the lead of your fellow worshipper, then you are missing out on the importance of corporate worship. Remember, He has laid out a plan for you, and that plan will involve experiences that you may totally miss, if you receive your guidance and leadership from a friend. We all must accept Jesus individually, and we all must seek His perfect will for our individual lives, if we are to live the perfect life He has in store for us. How are you doing with this dear friend? Do you have a really intimate relationship with Jesus, and listening to His every command for your life? If not, let me encourage you to seek Him while He may be found. Draw near to Him, my friend, and He will draw near to you. You are the apple of His eye. He loves You and would like nothing better than to welcome you through the gates of Heaven when He calls you out of this world. Sure things up today, won’t you?

PRAYER: A challenging parable, but a much needed message for each of us today, dear God. Thank You for speaking to us in such unexpected, but important ways throughout Your Word. Thank You for drawing our attention to the real source of revival in our land. It’s not my brother, or my sister, but it’s me oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer and needing to draw even closer to You. Please speak to the hearts and souls of Your people today. Draw us to yourself, so that all doubt will be removed whether we are Yours – redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Lord, may those who are considered ‘weeds’ in our midst be reminded of the One in whose name they’re are known. Encourage them to grow in their relationship with You and cement their decision to follow You until Your return. People still need the Lord – yes especially those who feel comfortable in church, even without ever having experiencing You in their lives. May today be the day that they are introduced to the Master, and may they surrender their whole being to You and to Your will for their life. AMEN!

The Heart of a Godly Man

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

DATE WRITTEN: Thursday, 2021-02-11
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Genesis 33:5; 10-11; 20;
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: 5 …. “Whose children are these?” – Jacob answered, “These are the ones the Lord has been kind enough to give to me, your servant.”
10 ….. When you welcomed me and I saw your face, it was like seeing the face of God. 11 Please accept these gifts I brought to you. God has been good to me, and I have everything I need.”Jacob kept insisting until Esau accepted the gifts.
20 then he set up his tents and built an altar there to honor the God of Israel.

OBSERVATION: In my time of meditation in the Word today, I was overwhelmed by the heart of Jacob. So I want to share my thoughts with you in hopes that you too might be reenergized to serve God and be more at peace with Him, like Jacob was.

APPLICATION: When two individuals reunite after a long absence, what do you suppose might help them to trust each other on where they stand today? We tend to remember each other in looks and in all other aspects, based on the last time we spent time together. But what if they may have done criminal acts and possibly been punished through imprisonment, during the interim time? Do you suppose you might be more careful with what areas of your life you allow them into? The last time that Jacob saw Essau, was the awful time where Essau changed his identity to that of his brother (Jacob) in order to receive a blessing from their father, and the birthright left by their father at death. Jacob had to leave so that he wouldn’t have created a crime against his brother. Being left as the son in charge of the father’s estate, must have created great fear in Jacob as he approached his brother, Essau. But he was convinced that God had ordered him to return to his home place. I used the ‘BOLD’ option to show the phrases that touched me, but let me expand:
~ These are the ones the Lord has been kind enough to give to me, your servant – No bragging by Jacob, but simply giving God the praise for the children given to him. I wish that I could be that humble to respond like Jacob!
~ it was like seeing the face of God – Hopefully we all have taken time to think about what God might look like, and how He might react when He sees us. Excited or hesitant? Overjoyed or a bit disappointed at the time we wasted here on earth? Jacob didn’t say that his brother appeared just like he expected, or that he looked in a much better frame of mind than he expected, but he likened him to what he expects to see on Judgment Day. Wow!!
~ God has been good to me, and I have everything I need – Can you think of a man who every said that he had enough, and that he would now gladly share his worth with the rich or the poor? Jacob begged Essau to receive the gift he was giving to him, because God had been so good to bless him with everything he would ever need. I truly believe that God will bless us with so much more, if only we had the heart of Jacob and gave freely to others!
~ built an altar there to honor the God of Israel – Shown as a top priority by Jacob, he built an altar to honor God immediately after settling on the new property that he bought for him and his family. Friends, when we bless God, I believe He will bless us all the more. Oh that we might yearn to worship the God who blesses us – immeasurably each and every day. Let’s not wait until the Sabbath to worship Him, for He doesn’t wait until then to bless us.
I believe that you could see where Jacob was truly motivated and blessed by God, and this exuded from him through his speech and his actions. If it’s in us, it will come out of us. Look for the ways that God cares and loves us, then worship Him in spirit and in truth as often as you are reminded. Others will get to know what God looks like through His children who are closely attuned to Him.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord, for Your blessings on me. Thank you also for Your ministry through Jacob and Essau. Though they started out rough in their relationship as brothers, yet they were able to reunite in peace and in love. Please Lord, touch Your people once again. May we be willing and ready to worship You and give You credit for all the things that take place that bless us, or teaches us a new truth, or challenges us to be better warriors here on earth. People need the Lord. Oh that they may see Jesus in us through every contact that they have with 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!

Though So Unworthy, Yet a Child of the King!

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

DATE WRITTEN: Wednesday, 2021-02-10
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Genesis 32:9-12
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: 9 Then Jacob prayed: You, Lord, are the God who was worshiped by my grandfather Abraham and by my father Isaac. You told me to return home to my family, and you promised to be with me and make me successful. 10 I don’t deserve all the good things you have done for me, your servant. When I first crossed the Jordan, I had only my walking stick, but now I have two large groups of people and animals. 11 Please rescue me from my brother. I am afraid he will come and attack not only me, but my wives and children as well. 12 But you have promised that I would be a success and that someday it will be as hard to count my descendants as it is to count the stars in the sky.

OBSERVATION: Isn’t it amazing that God, the One who made the heavens and the earth and little moving creatures like you and me, will stop everything to listen to our cry and to grant our requests? Like Jacob prayed, so should we, in acknowledging that we have done absolutely nothing to deserve all the blessings that God showers upon us. However, God still wants us to recognize Him and fellowship with Him. As we meditate today on the Scriptures, let’s do a self evaluation on how well we are doing in fellowship with our God.

APPLICATION: If we’re not careful, we could easily fall into a place where we feel like God will place all of heaven into our lap and all we have to do is soak up His goodness and enjoy His blessings. Our Scripture reminds us that Jacob reflected on the fellowship that his grandfather, Abraham, and his father, Isaac had with God, but he was not riding on their coattails of commitment to God. For Jacob then reflected on what God had ordered him to do and on how God blessed him from rags to riches. But notice that even in riches, Jacob still found a desperate need of the only One who could calm his nerves and give him confidence in approaching his brother after so many years. Friends, I was reminded that no matter how insignificant we may sometimes feel, no matter how uneducated we may feel, no matter how good others appear to be at what they’re doing compared to us, we must always remember that we are a product of the Master of this universe! He created us, and he did it for His honor and His praise, so He would never make ‘junk’. He also created all of us equal in His eyes, so when we allow Satan to buffet us with doubt and insignificance, we must always remember that is only our evaluation and not God’s. As a child of the King, we are always highly thought of by Him and valued higher than the angels. He promised that He will never leave us or forsake us, and in spite of our meager efforts here on earth to provide a roof over our heads, He has prepared nothing less than mansions in our eternal home – heaven! Will we still doubt while here on earth? Will we still become afraid here on earth? Notice that Jacob did. He was besides himself in fear of what his brother might do to him and his descendants. However, we must always remember what Jacob knew that there was only One who could do anything about his fear, and only One who could protect him if there was as much danger as he feared there would be. My friend, that’s still the same for us. We may feel so unworthy and that we are undeserving of attention from the God of this universe, but we are His creation; He sacrificed His one and only Son as our salvation from sin; He sits at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf; so of course He will gladly calm our minds, ease our burdens and love and nourish us back to good physical and mental health. Do like Jacob, share your concern with your Savior and ready yourself for His response, dear ones.

PRAYER: You have made endless promises to us in Your Word oh Lord, and I am not only humbled by that, but extremely thankful for all that You shower on me every day. Thank You for the reminder in today’s Scripture of where our hope lies, and in whom we gain our confidence and courage to go on. Jacob needed You, and so do each of us studying Your Word today. You are the God who cares, the God who is all powerful and could handle all of our challenges and heartbreaks. So it’s in You that we place our faith, our trust and our everlasting hope, knowing that You will do all things for Your glory, and You may even use us to touch those around 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!

Decide For Yourself – Innocent or Guilty?

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

DATE WRITTEN: Tuesday, 2021-02-09
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Matthew 12:34-37
TRANSLATION: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

BIBLE TEXT: 34 …. How can you say anything good? What people say with their mouths comes from what fills their hearts. 35 Those who are good have good things saved in their hearts. That’s why they say good things. But those who are evil have hearts full of evil, and that’s why they say things that are evil. 36 I tell you that everyone will have to answer for all the careless things they have said. This will happen on the day of judgment. 37 Your words will be used to judge you. What you have said will show whether you are right or whether you are guilty.”

OBSERVATION: I believe that mankind has found, what they believe to be, ways around this warning given by Jesus in our Scripture today. Way too often we comment ‘but that was only a joke’, or ‘I’m sorry’, even though in both cases the bitter words are out of our mouths and the hurt is stinging the other party severely. But in our Scripture today, God helps us to understand where those words come from. Brace yourself as we meditate on the criticality of saying bitter words, and also on how we might avoid them.

APPLICATION: If while driving down the road our car began to sputter, we won’t head to the dealership and trade that car in, we will take it to the repair shop and ask them to determine what is causing the problem, and then fix it. Likewise, if we discover that we just said something that might hurt a Brother, we should immediately look for ways to correct that problem. The Bible speaks of the awful danger of the tongue and how it easily and quickly causes grief to others, and especially to God. But most critical today is the matter that God will use our words to judge us when we stand before Him. That’s a frightening thought, especially when we consider the number of vain words that we speak, and the off-color jokes that we share – usually at some else’s expense. But notice how quickly Jesus identified the root of the problem. We care capable of speaking: kind words – just as Jesus spoke when He was here on earth; challenging words – especially when we recognize the solution to a problem that a fellow believer is facing; encouraging words – when we hear of the discouragement someone is facing at home or at work; evangelistic words – when the Holy Spirit enlightens us to the spiritual needs of our friends or loved ones. But in each of these cases, our ‘good’ words originate from a heart touched by Jesus, and filled with the Holy Spirit. So what happens when we have rejected Jesus, when we have chosen to follow the wicked path of Satan and his evil followers here on earth? Isn’t it clear to see that evil begets evil? I don’t believe it is possible for a heart that is used to dishing out evil words and evil actions, to suddenly change its course and be kind and loving to others, unless that heart has been refreshed by the God of all love. Notice how angry people say angry words, not loving and caring words of affirmation. Friends, I believe that God is encouraging us today to fill our hearts with His love and His character. A heart of love will speak words of love and caring, just like Jesus did to all that He touched. Your decision today will determine how you react to life’s circumstances, and how you will be judged on that day you stand before the God of all creation. You have no choice in the meeting, only what will influence your output here on earth, and God’s ultimate decision on where you belong for all eternity. Please read my Footnote carefully, especially the link behind ‘To Know Jesus’. Today might be the day God sets your appointed meeting with Himself – are you ready?

PRAYER: Oh Lord our Lord, thank You for giving us this truth today. May all my readers be touched by Your Holy Spirit and may we seek Your face as we analyze what Your decision will be about our eternal destination. Yes, we can put aside all excuses and indeed examine the person we have become because of the decisions we make. We were reminded that this is influenced by all that we have filled our hearts with. Please cleanse us oh Lord, and make us white as snow. Fill us with Your love and Your character, so that our hearts will overflow with gladness, with love, with caring and with everything that You stand for. We desperately want to be where You are, oh Lord. Please help us to make decisions today that will help us to live the life Your taught us to in Your Word. 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!

Is It The Right Thing To Do?

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

DATE WRITTEN: Sunday, 2021-02-07
WRITTEN AT: Avon Park, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Matthew 12:9-13
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: 9 Jesus left and went into one of the Jewish meeting places, 10 where there was a man whose hand was crippled. Some Pharisees wanted to accuse Jesus of doing something wrong, and they asked him, “Is it right to heal someone on the Sabbath?”
11 Jesus answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a ditch on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you lift it out? 12 People are worth much more than sheep, and so it is right to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then Jesus told the man, “Hold out your hand.” The man did, and it became as healthy as the other one.

OBSERVATION: I believe that people are waiting around the corner to test us and see what we’re made of. They did it to Jesus, and they set out to kill Him. When their suspicions become a reality in our situations, I wonder what our ‘friends’ hope to achieve? As we meditate on this Scripture today, let us become more aware of those around us, but more so, let us be ready at all times to obey God’s commands so that He might achieve His perfect will in their lives.

APPLICATION: I know you might wonder why on earth should we be concerned about what others think of us and our decisions. But just looking at the example of Jesus, we could see that His actions ultimately led to His crucifixion, even though He never did any criminal acts. It’s interesting, for people will not think twice about an unbeliever saying or doing anything, for they expect that person to follow the ‘anything goes’ attitude of the world. However, when it comes to Christians, we become their focus, as the world wants to see if we could truly live up to their expectations of a Christian. But who are we here to please? If we truly focus our attention on being an image of Jesus Christ, and seek His help in directing our path, then we will prove to Him that our commitment is real and our intent is to live like Him, even under extreme circumstances here on earth. Friends, I am convinced that Christians live in ‘glass houses’, for we are being monitored by all those that we come into contact with. Pleasing God and following His commands, will make us so different to the rest of the world that our friends will begin to watch carefully to try and conclude what is ‘wrong’ with us! However, when this world takes its toll on our friends, and they have developed proven faith in us, I believe that they will then turn to us for an introduction to our Lord, our Leader and our Savior. While still here on this earth, we will mess up. Please know that the Jesus we asked to lead our life has not deserted us, but rather, He stands with outstretched hands to help us back up. Our friends might take a turn at mocking us for not being perfect, but I believe that they will also carefully watch how we rebound, to know whose we are and where our strength actually comes from. If we are to truly be like our Master, then we can see where He never wavered from His dependence on the Father. He knew that it was OK to heal the man in our Scripture today, but He knew it was important to also handle the Pharisees in a way that would not give them reason to question His heart for ministry. Sure they questioned, and of course they used the incident to convict Jesus of breaking their man made laws. But Jesus didn’t come to break God’s laws, even if the wicked leaders chose to hold Him guilty of breaking one of their man made laws, and personal convictions. So where are you at today dear friends? Will the crowd (the ‘Pharisees’ of today’s society) find you guilty of being just like Jesus and strongly following His commands? It might be the only thing that will truly minister to them!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord Jesus for standing strong in Your convictions and teachings to the Pharisees on the importance of doing the right thing at the right time. Surely You see the ‘Pharisees’ who are watching and judging us also, precious Lord, so I humbly ask You to prepare us for doing and saying the right thing. May You be prominent in our actions and may the ‘crowd’ recognize You in us above all else. May we be much more concerned about spoiling our witness for You, than our own reputation. The world needs You more than anything else. Help us Lord to reflect You in everything we do and say at all times. 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!

For Christ or Against Him?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Dedication, Determination, Faith, For His Glory, Rewards, TrustLeave a comment

Tuesday, 2021-02-06

Bible Reference: Matthew 12:30
Translation: The Voice (VOICE)

Bible Text: 30 ……he who is not with Me is against Me, and he who is not doing the Father’s work of gathering up the flock may as well be scattering the flock.

OBSERVATION: This verse is taken from a section of the New Testament where Jesus was clarifying for the Pharisees that His miracles were not of the devil. However, Jesus challenged them to consider their actions and attitudes as something that might be tearing down the Kingdom, not building it up. Let’s apply this valuation to our lives today, are we doing something to build up the Kingdom, or are we causing deterioration in Kingdom strength in our families and in our churches? Unfortunately, it is very evident to our Lord, and to our lost community.

APPLICATION: A piece of advice given by my wife and I several times over the years is ‘be careful, blood is thicker than water’. This applied to situations where the individual was talking to a family member about one of their relatives. That family member might be upset with their relative, and they may gossip about it to another relative, but they refuse to hear an outsider say something derogatory about them! Jesus witnessed the spiritual leaders of the day (the Pharisees) looking for every opportunity to entrap Him and/or imprison Him. He heard them speak evil about the good that He was doing in their community, yet they walked around pretending to be more holy than anyone else. Aren’t you glad that with our advanced education system, and our many computers and smart people, that we have learned to overcome this weakness in the church today? Ha, hopefully I received no ‘Amens’ to that statement, because it was really meant to highlight that even after all these years; after having the Word of God to show us the errors of our past generations, yet churches today are torn apart by the same wickedness. Imagine with me for a moment what might happen if Jesus walked down the isles of our churches next weekend and pointed out the folk who are promoting Kingdom growth, and then asked those to leave who were destroying His work here on earth. How’s your confidence level on whether you will be allowed to stay and continue your work for the Kingdom? Will the church grow after such a separation, or will it dwindle in numbers? Friends, please allow me to remind each one reading this blog, that when God is working inside of us and using us for His purpose and the good of His kingdom, then no matter what position we hold in church, or in our community, we would work together with other believers to promote the awesome love, power, wisdom and saving grace of the one true God – our Lord, and our Savior. When you are for Him, you will pray for those who open their mouths to speak for Him; you will lift up and encourage those who sing His praises; you will renounce evil and promote the goodness of God. There will be no need to look around to see who’s nearby when you speak of, or to your neighbor, because your words will be intended to lift up, and not tear down. Friends, there are many in my community who need the Lord, and I bet your community is very similar. They may be looking at the proof of God’s work in our midst, before they listen to our teaching or our preaching, or even watch for the sincerity of our walk, before they show interest in knowing Christ personally. They are probably tired of hearing the talk, but not seeing the walk of a child of the Kingdom. I believe that our takeaway today is that if we are for God, then let’s be extremely dedicated to living like He taught us, and like He exampled for us while here on earth. Jesus made it clear that we live out our beliefs, because when we don’t, it becomes clear that we are against Him. Talk with God today and allow Him to open your spiritual eyes to discern whose side you’re really on, both in words and in your actions.

PRAYER: Lord, may others see so much of Jesus in my speech and in my actions, that there will be no reason to question who guides me, who teaches me, who directs my path, and the direction in which I am headed for eternity! May all those meditating on this blog today be of the same mind and spirit, and may our dedication and commitment to you be contagious for all to see and subsequently follow. May we say like Paul did, if you want to see Jesus, follow me! 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!

Find Refreshment and Peace

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

DATE WRITTEN: Friday, 2021-02-05
WRITTEN AT: Avon Park, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Matthew 11:28-30
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 28 “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me.[o] I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis.[p] 29 Simply join your life with mine.[q] Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle,[r] humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me.[s] 30 For all that I require of you will be pleasant[t] and easy to bear.”[u]

OBSERVATION: Today some may be stressed because of family members affected by COVID; finances resulting from COVID induced layoffs; medical problems; loss of a loved one; and so many other things. In today’s Scripture, Jesus gives us answers to these problems, for He has promised to give us refreshment and peace through our troubled times. Do you know Him? Can you depend on His graces today?

APPLICATION: In our Scripture Jesus responds to the heavy burden that had been placed on the disciples and their home towns by the Pharisees. But isn’t this a stark reminder to us today, that in spite of the many things that burden us down in everyday life, and especially the extraordinary things that occurred since COVID began? Children of God still have the same all-powerful, all-knowing, Almighty God to help us bear up under the load of stress brought on by today’s burdens and Satan’s wickedness through our leaders, neighbors and friends. It is challenging to read national and world news, or watch the evening news, without becoming stressed out, for it seems like there is no good or positive news. But for the child of God, Jesus wants us to come to Him – come like a man who rushes to an oasis for an unlimited replenishment of water to a thirsty soul. Animals will show us that when they find an oasis, they will hang out there, for it relieves their worries about finding water when they need it. That should also minister to us, for when we find that there is pure peace and contentment in the Lord Jesus Christ, why would we wander away? When we feel the touch of the Master’s hand on our life, that renews a spirit of oneness with our Savior, why would we dare wander away from that? In fact, we would want to know Him even more intimately, so that our spirit might overflow with His goodness and a contentment that only He could give. To do this, we should dig into His Word on a daily basis. This helps us to see Him as He is and to be reminded that He not only went to the cross for our benefit, but that He loves us unconditionally and He intercedes on our behalf before the Father. We serve such an awesome God dear friend, know Him today and know the peace that surpasses all human understanding. Please read carefully through my Footnote and the links included, especially the one ‘To Know Jesus’.

PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for loving us even when we were unlovable. Thank You for reaching out Your hand to offer us peace and contentment, especially in the very challenging times that we are going through. What a peace in knowing that one thing remains unchanged – our gracious Lord, and the love that He offers even to us. Please calm the worries of all who may read this devotional today and remind them of the peace that only You could offer to those who will seek Your face. You are so precious in our sight dear Jesus, may we be Your hands and feet on the ground as we interact with everyone today. Peace and refreshment is available – praise the wonderful name of Jesus. 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!