State Your Master and What He Has Done For You

On 2021-12-31 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2021-12-31
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Samuel 23:3-5
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: ³Our Mighty Rock, the God of Jacob, told me, “A ruler who obeys God and does right ⁴is like the sunrise on a cloudless day or like rain that sparkles on the grass.”
⁵I have ruled this way, and God will never break his promise to me. God’s promise is complete and unchanging; he will always help me and give me what I hope for.

APPLICATION: If you were asked today who, or what, has made you what you are today, what might you say? Some will give many excuses for the times they know they have failed, or feel like they have messed up on. Others might reflect on their inheritance and how wisely they feel like they invested, or used that. Yet many others will consider the little they have to add or reinvest. But I wonder how many of us would stop to reflect on the moments that God took over and just blessed, in spite of our efforts, ignorance, selfishness, or self-worth. Remember, it’s not ‘I’, but ‘He’ who created us, lives in us and works miraculously through us, that deserves the praise! At times I wonder if it doesn’t hurt the Kingdom more when it becomes so obvious that we are seeking our own accolades rather than promoting the praises of our Heavenly Father. We are simply servants of the Most High God, and it’s always the Master who is deserving of praise, and not His servants. David was known as a man after God’s own heart. Is there any wonder why he was such an awesome king and leader of his people? Are we giving our friends, loved ones and admirers reason to praise God, or are we way too busy looking for our own praises? As children of the God of this universe, our motto should always be ‘To God be the glory, great things He has done’! My heart would be overwhelmed in praise if I saw one person blessed because of the work of the Father through me. Lord, have Your will and way in and through me today!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: When God is allowed to rule and reign in and through us, great things will be accomplished for the Kingdom. He did it through David, and He can do it through us!

PRAYER: You created us oh God, and You provide everything for every day to help us survive and truly represent You. Oh that You may be praised even through Your humble servants today. Thank You Father. Thank You Jesus, and thank You Holy Spirit for using Your humble servants to accomplish Your work here on earth. May you never be disappointed in us. May Your Kingdom come today and Your will be done, here on earth as it is in heaven. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. 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!

Your Righteousness in God’s Sight

On 2021-12-272021-12-26 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Righteous, Righteousness, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2021-12-27
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Samuel 22:21-25
TRANSLATION: New International Version (NIV)

BIBLE TEXT: ²¹“The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
²²For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I am not guilty of turning from my God.
²³All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees.
²⁴I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin.
²⁵The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.

APPLICATION: I remember as a teenager I went home for lunch, and wanted to return to school early, so that I could play with the other kids before school resumed for the afternoon session. Mom reluctantly allowed me to return early, provided that I assured her of my good behavior until the official start of afternoon school. Saying ‘yes’ to mom allowed me to get I wanted, so I ran to school. After much hard playing, I fell and cut my arm open on a broken bottle. Right away I concluded that I could not go home to mom, who didn’t want me to return to school early anyway, so I went to a favorite aunt who patched me up. Upon arriving home after school that afternoon, it was comical to see how I tried to hide my arm behind my back so mom wouldn’t see my mishap!! Doesn’t that remind us how it will be when we walk before the King of all kings? But I was amazed by David in our Scripture today, for he knew that he was guiltless and could therefore approach God boldly, and he would be considered righteous before God. Of course this made me ponder how the guilty, and the non-guilty would do in their approach with God, for you see – He not only knows about those things we fell like the world knows, but He also knows about those things we thought were hidden from everyone else, plus God knows our very thoughts and ill feelings that we harbor against our neighbors/friends. So, surely God would not have us live in such misery and die in shame, would He? It is clear from all that God did for us that He would rather do just the opposite. We just celebrated the birth of God’s precious Son that He miraculously sent to earth to save us from our sin and the guilt associated with our sin. This gift was not just made available to the best of mankind – those who try to obey every law and be gracious to every neighbor. But God’s gift, Jesus, is available to ALL who believe on Him. In John 3:16 we are told that ALL who believe on Jesus, will have everlasting, or eternal, life! For the one who accepts this gift, and the promise of the Father associated with this gift, we become righteous just as He is. We then become just like David, where we could praise God every day for the freedom we have in standing before Him as a righteous son or daughter. Friends, it is possible, but only through the wonderful work of Jesus. Without accepting the gift of God, we are unrighteous, and deserve the only alternative destination – Hell. What’s your destiny – heaven, or hell? It depends on whether you are righteous (because of Jesus), or if you are unrighteous? You determine, my friend!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: David was convinced that God saw him blameless because he had kept himself from sin, and that He consequently had rewarded him for his righteousness. Wow, we too could be that confident and assured before God!

PRAYER: Lord, I believe that You designed us with our own guilt meter! For we know full well when we decidedly disobey Your commands and Your will for our lives. This has sometimes led to our hearts being hardened, and our minds being buried in total guilt. Please Lord, direct us to Your Word daily, and help us to stay focused on what You would have us do each day. For I believe that this is what leads us into ministering to others and encouraging them to look towards the Kingdom, where only You could cleanse us of our sin and make us righteous in Your sight. The lost is looking for Your followers who exemplify You in every way. May we be true to our calling and allow You to have Your will and way in our lives everyday, so that Your ministry might be fulfilled even through humble men and women who love and serve You. AMEN!

What The Evidence Shows

On 2021-12-222021-12-22 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Obedience, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2021-12-22
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: John 8:42; 44
TRANSLATION: Good News Translation (GNT)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁴²Jesus said to them, “If God really were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own authority, but he sent me.
⁴⁴You are the children of your father, the Devil, and you want to follow your father’s desires. From the very beginning he was a murderer and has never been on the side of truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he is only doing what is natural to him, because he is a liar and the father of all lies.

APPLICATION: We all have our excuses about why we act the way we do. For the Pharisees, they felt like they were good representations of their father, Abraham. But to their surprise, Jesus knew all about what that would look like if they were honestly following in Abraham’s footsteps. They then concluded, like so many on earth tend to do today, that God is their Father. For those readers and listeners who tend to do the same thing when backed in a corner about your faith, notice what Jesus evaluated:
-*- If God is your Father, then you would love like He loves. Jesus, being the Son of the Living God, went about doing good. He was careful to go only where He was sent, and say only the things that He was guided by His Father to say. Jesus knew that all God’s children would act the same way, and that’s not what He was seeing in the Pharisees. I can only pray that Jesus, who knows every thought, action and word from us, will see enough evidence that we are God’s children. How do you think you are doing?
-*- You are children of your father, the Devil, because – you are following his desires. You commit murder – consider the number of infant murders each and every day in our respective countries through abortion. Shooting another individual has become as commonplace as fist fights used to be. You have never advocated for truth, just as there is no truth in your father (the devil). In fact, this has become such a part of your life that it seems natural for you to lie. It does not even phase your conscience anymore. Unfortunately, most people will never acknowledge that they lie, but for the honest person, we could identify a lie just as it comes from someone’s mouth.
So friends, who do we think we are fooling? Or, have we come to a place in society where we just don’t care anymore? I recently worked with some guys and girls who were instructed by local management to lie every day, because the ‘higher ups’ didn’t want to know about all they found wrong. Can we truly expect an honest day’s work from our employees, while asking them to wrongly lie about what they see, smell or witness? There is no such thing as being less evil because we only sin in this way or that. If we sin, we are a sinner. Let us therefore strive for righteousness in every area of our lives, so that the evidence is all over everything we do and say. May God Himself see and know that we are His, based on our honesty and righteous thoughts and actions. Otherwise, we are no better off than the Pharisees that Jesus ridiculed in our Scripture today.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Jesus went about doing good, as an imitation of His perfect Father. Out words and actions will tell Jesus, and the world whose we are also.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please forgive us for becoming so much like the world and it’s father, the Devil. Not only do we want to make You proud of Your creation by being a great imitation of our Father, but we want others to wonder what’s different about us and seek to know our Creator and Master. Please develop a deep desire within us to know You intimately, and to study Your Word daily so that we may learn and practice Your commands and teachings by which we should align our lives. Please give us strength and direction each day, and a strong desire to know You better in every way, while striving to put your teachings into practice. May Your ministry come to fruition through the actions and words of my readers, listeners and myself so that others might also desire a relationship with You. AMEN!

To Be A TRUE Disciple of Christ

On 2021-12-212021-12-21 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Disciple, Needs, Obedience, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2021-12-21
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: John 8:31-32
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: ³¹Jesus told the people who had faith in him, “If you keep on obeying what I have said, you truly are my disciples. ³²You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

APPLICATION: The first thing that got my attention in this Scripture today is that Jesus was addressing believers. From the preceding verses, it looks like Jesus was addressing a group of Jews that had just received Christ, but as I pondered the words of Jesus, the Holy Spirit challenged me that this was very applicable to all believers, even those who accepted Jesus some 45 years ago, like myself. Think about it friends. If you said yes to your spouse some 45 years ago and never went home with them, or refused to honor their wishes, or their invitation to spend quality time together, are you truly married? But isn’t that the same with Christianity? Surely you didn’t commit your life to the lordship of Jesus Christ just for the bragging rights, or to ensure that you have your ticket to allow you into heaven? Are you actively into reading the Bible so that you could learn more about what Jesus commanded? Are you active in your local church so that you could fellowship with other believers, as taught in the Bible? Are you a proactive tither to the local church, as taught in the Word of God? I believe that Jesus wanted these new Christians, and all of us old heads who sit back in our easy chairs, to know that when we accept His lordship, we are entering into an active relationship with the Creator and Master of this universe. It’s not something on our checklist that simply requires a checkmark. But it is an exciting, interactive, loving relationship where Jesus will do everything to prove His love for us. In turn, we will desire to please Him by reading His Word frequently, so that we could obey His commands and try to honor and please Him in everything that we do. Isn’t that what relationships are all about? As a reminder, Jesus said that if we obey Him, we show that we are TRULY His disciples. What do you suppose He thinks of you today? Are you, or are you not, a follower of Christ? Prove it dear friend, by obeying what He teaches you to do.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Jesus wants to know that You believe in Him! He’s looking for proof of that through your obedience to Him. How are you doing?

PRAYER: Thank You Jesus for the reminder today of the warning You gave to the newly converted Jews. Churches are on the decline because of uncommitted believers. Marriages are ending in divorce because of uncommitted men and women. Our ‘Yes’ responses are not supported by actions that prove that we TRULY believe, and are willing to back up our belief with actions to please the person we want a relationship with. Please Lord, help us to back up our commitments by doing all within our power to honor, please and obey the party we are committing to, especially in our commitment to You. We would never deliberately make a commitment to You flippantly, so jog our memories every time You see evidence of us losing our focus. We love You Lord, and we want to serve You faithfully all of our days. May You always know that we are Your disciples, because You see the evidence every day. AMEN!

To Be Condemned Only By The Innocent

On 2021-12-192021-12-19 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Saturday, 2021-12-19
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: John 8:4-9
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁴“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. ⁵Moses’ law says to kill her. What about it?”
⁶They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. ⁷They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, hurl the stones at her until she dies. But only he who never sinned may throw the first!”
⁸Then he stooped down again and wrote some more in the dust. ⁹And the Jewish leaders slipped away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until only Jesus was left in front of the crowd with the woman.

APPLICATION: The Scriptures do not clarify what Jesus wrote when He stooped and wrote in the sand while the Jewish leaders ranted on, accusing the woman in this story of adultery. However, Bible scholars have made a few predictions based on their wide study of the Scriptures. Some believe that Jesus may have written the names of women that the individual Jewish leaders may have been guilty of adultery with themselves. It’s interesting how in Matthew 5:28 Jesus taught us how, if a man only looks at a woman with lust in his heart, he has committed adultery. Do you suppose that the Master wanted the Jewish leaders, and us, to fully understand the depth of His intent about this subject, when He gave Moses the Ten Commandments to write on the original stone for our edification, direction and clarification? Another thought for us to consider in regards to what Jesus may have written: in Jeremiah 17:13 it refers to men who turn away from God because of their sin. Could Jesus have possibly written in the dirt in fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy? Don’t we sometimes tend to find fault with others when we need to cover up our own sin? Friends, I believe that still today, more people are turned away from God and His church, because of the hypocrisy they see among God’s people. I know, they are supposed to look at God, and not at you and I, right? Well brothers and sisters, let’s not forget that when we claim the name of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we become associated with Him in such a way that we become His earthly representatives. As such, others should be able to look on us, including our words and actions, and they should be reminded of Jesus. They should be able to trust our word as ‘gospel’, for Jesus never lied, and nor should we. As for our acts of adultery, I had a pastor who once taught his congregation of men to look at a woman from the neck up to avoid sinning! Sounds funny, but how often to you see a group of men turn their heads and follow that beautiful lady that just walked by at a distance. Do you suppose that any of them sinned because of their thoughts at that time? Unfortunately, some may look at the gospel and choose to ignore the parts that really step on their toes. Let me dare you to examine the Word closely and try to find where Jesus offered exceptions to the rule to any of us. My dad didn’t want my siblings and I to do anything outside of our home that would embarrass he and mom. I believe that Jesus is not as afraid of losing face with those we mess up with while in their presence, as much as He cares about trying to keep us pure before the master. Sin is not allowed in heaven, so especially since we have a guide book, we should be careful to do what it says and stay obedient to what the Master demands of us. Yes, we will mess up occasionally because we are living in a sinful world. But always remember, we have an advocate who cares about us and loves us unconditionally. Seek His forgiveness and ask for added strength and guidance to help you avoid repeating that sin again. Jesus knows exactly what we are facing, and what we will face. His grace is all sufficient and very available to those who desire to exemplify Him. I believe that Jesus said to the Jewish Leaders, and He wants us to know, that we must seek to keep ourselves pure and fully obedient, even while living a sinful world. That’s a full-time job, without the need to try and pull someone else down! Remember dear friends, His grace is sufficient for all!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Jesus don’t need any help in knowing what’s wrong among His children. Therefore, concentrate on keeping self pure, without the need to pull someone else down in order to promote self.

PRAYER: Lord, we rejoice in Your salvation and we celebrate our freedom in knowing You as we await our transition to heaven to be with You and the Father. While we could never thank You enough for that, we still need Your strength, guidance and direction each day so that we may remain true to Your Word. Please help us to be so mindful of You that we will never fall prey to the world’s way of pulling others down in order to promote self. You assured us that Your grace is sufficient. May we always look to You as we maneuver our way around on this earth. We may be in the world, but please strengthen us to always know that we are not of the world, but that we have a higher calling – one that leads us beyond this world into life everlasting at Your feet in heaven! May we never be a stumbling block to others that seek You, or try to grow in You. Instead, may we be a beacon, or a lighthouse that represents truth, love and peace in the name of Jesus our Lord. AMEN!

Something to Leave Your Grandchildren

On 2021-12-152021-12-17 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Obedience, Obedient, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2021-12-15
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Proverbs 13:20-22
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: ²⁰Wise friends make you wise, but you hurt yourself by going around with fools.
²¹You are in for trouble if you sin, but you will be rewarded if you live right.
²²If you obey God, you will have something to leave your grandchildren…..

APPLICATION: It is so easy to sit in front of a television and listen to all that is being pitched at you. It is so rewarding to attend church and listen to all that the preacher will pitch at you. But when you proceed through each day, where do your decisions come from? Dear friends, it all comes from a heart that has been filled from sources such as mentioned above. Unfortunately, I believe that you respond based on what has been poured into your heart most. From television I believe you concentrate on what seems to make everyone successful. There may be some semblance of biblical truth included, but I’m afraid that way too often we are being fed a full dose of the world’s view of what life should be like. If you are a child of the King and seeking to obey Him, or seeking to know Him better, or wanting to do His will, then it would seem to me that we should all spend more time in His Book of Instruction, the Bible. We will respond to life based on what we have filled our heart, mind and soul with. We will be obedient to the things we believe in, trust, and seek to imitate. I trust that each of these things will always point you to the cross of Calvary, to the risen Christ, and to the Father who awaits us in heaven where we hope to spend eternity. Solomon was known as the wisest man that ever lived, and because his words are entered as a part of our Bible, we know his words are God inspired, directed and approved. Many of us will aim at trying to help the weak and brokenhearted, but are we also concentrating on the advice God spoke through Solomon? If we seek to be wise, we will hang around wise people. We know that one who has made unwise decisions are referred to as ‘fools’. Therefore, we must avoid their advice and also avoid following their example if we want to show ourselves wise. God designed us to live according to His perfect example and His perfect will, so of course we run into trouble when we disobey Him. We are more apt to be obedient to that which we follow and place our faith and trust in. Friends, these wise words are intended to make us wise to God’s intended purpose for our lives. I pray that you, like me, will savor these words of advice and seek to know what God desires of us each day. Entertainment is ok, but obedience to our Creator leaves a legacy for our children and grandchildren, according to Solomon!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: There is nothing more meaningful in life than to know that you are living a wonderful life in line with the perfect will of Jesus Christ, and that you will leave a powerful legacy behind for your children and grand children.

PRAYER: Lord, please forgive us for our rebellious attitude in seeking to follow what seems like the most fun, or what makes the rich even richer. You designed us to be just like You, then You provided Your Book of Instruction to guide us and teach us about Your perfect will. Please forgive us for our weakness, and always keep us directed towards that which is best for us. May we be faithful to reading Your Word each and every day so we may be reminded of all that You would have us do. May others see Jesus because of our obedience, even in tempting times when the world seems to be succeeding. AMEN!

Our Tolerance For Wrongdoing

On 2021-12-102021-12-09 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Blinded by Sin, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2021-12-10
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Samuel 13:11-13; 20-21
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT:
THE OFFENSE: ¹¹….. he grabbed her and said, “Come to bed with me!” ¹²She answered, “No! Please don’t force me! This sort of thing isn’t done in Israel. It’s too disgusting! ¹³Think of me. I’ll be disgraced forever! And think of yourself. Everyone in Israel will say you’re nothing but trash! Just ask the king, and he will let you marry me.”
THE FAMILY RESPONSE: ²⁰Tamar’s brother Absalom said to her, “How could Amnon have done such a terrible thing to you! But since he’s your brother, don’t tell anyone what happened. Just try not to think about it.” Tamar soon moved into Absalom’s house, but she was always sad and lonely. ²¹When David heard what had happened to Tamar, he was very angry. But Amnon was his oldest son and also his favorite, and David would not do anything to make Amnon unhappy.

APPLICATION: Three real-life individuals are included in this story today. Let’s be reminded of who they were, and how they acted. Perhaps we might try placing ourselves in their ‘shoes’, and decide how we might have reacted:
1. AMNON – The eldest and favorite son of David. It sounds like he was spoiled, as he was allowed to go after what he wanted and not receive the severe repercussions that we see in so many other Old Testament stories. He wanted relations with his step sister and it seems like he didn’t care how anyone was impacted by his actions;
2. TAMAR – The beautiful daughter of David; sister of Absolom; stepsister of Amnon. As in most Old Testament family structures, she was subject to the rule of her dad, and any other men who had reason to rule over her. But Tamar was a daughter of our God and deserved the respect that is due to any other human being;
3. ABSOLOM – The son of David, and also the blood brother of Tamar.
It appears like Amnon was used to having his own way, regardless of who got run over in the process. He fell in love, or perhaps seriously lusted after his stepsister, Tamar. Following through on a suggestion by his friend, Amnon lured Tamar into his bedroom under false pretenses, and proceeded to force himself on her, even after she tried to reason with him. I hope that none of us meditating on this devotional today ever experienced such an incident in our family. But if you are anything like me, then you would have become very angry with Amnon for such a move on his stepsister. Out hearts would be deeply moved for Tamar as we stop to imagine what she must have felt inside as she lost her dignity because of the selfish desires of her stepbrother. But as I meditated on this I realized that we have similar atrocities occurring today, and I’m afraid that our hearts may have become hardened to what is going on around us. In a job I once held, I learned of Human Trafficking; Human organ reaping and selling; Prostitution of young girls, boys and adults; and many other hideous crimes. To hear about these things probably makes most respectable humans angry inside, but what if similar crimes were happening in our very neighborhoods? Do we just accept them as ‘normal’ for the times we’re in, or do we work with the authorities even if it may endanger our own lives in dealing with the unfortunate crimes? What if one of your siblings, or children, were a part of the crime ring? Are you willing to stand for right, and order, even if it meant seeing your relative imprisoned or possibly shot during a raid? Remember, we are the righteousness of God. Are you truly righteous, or just when it’s convenient?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: David and Absolom were faced with a challenging situation that tested their credibility and their stance as a righteous person. We are faced with similar challenges every day. May we always stand for the same things that God stands for and approves of.

PRAYER: Lord, if we are righteous just as You are, then I wonder how far we are willing to go in showing Your power in and through every decision we make? Was David’s response to the bad decision by Amnon one that aligned with Your will? We have a ton of questions Lord! But yet we know that Your ways are perfect, and we know that You always have our best interest at heart. Please teach us to be so engrossed in all that You teach, all that You command and all that You desire of us. May we always seek to do Your will for Your glory, even in circumstance where it may hurt us in our human form. Please teach us Your ways so that we may be more like You oh Lord. AMEN!

What Is Disobedience?

On 2021-12-082021-12-08 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Obedience, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2021-12-08
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Samuel 12:13-14
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: ^13-14David said, “I have disobeyed the Lord.”
“Yes, you have!” Nathan answered. “You showed you didn’t care what the Lord wanted. He has forgiven you, and you won’t die. But your newborn son will.”

APPLICATION: I was once told that talking when someone else is still talking is showing that, in your opinion, what they have to say is totally unimportant. Because I believe in that statement it often irks me to hear an audience talking to each other while a speaker is presenting. Some may call that disrespect, but I believe the deeper meaning of what they are doing shows they think that what they have to say is more important. Beginning in verse 7 of 1 Samuel 12, Nathan shared an illustration with David to help him see more deeply how, what he did with Bathsheba, and to her husband, was in total contempt of what God would approve of. Of course this made David very sorry for his actions, and he begged of God to forgive him for his disobedience. Doesn’t that sound a lot like ourselves today? We really abuse the word ‘sorry’, thinking that it will smooth things over with the offender. But Nathan cleared this up for David by telling him ‘you just didn’t care about what God wanted’. OUCH! Friends, please don’t allow this to sound trite in your mind, for in other Bible translations, they say in this verse that ‘David gave the unsaved people around him reason to mock God’. Unfortunately this still happens today. Some will look at the sin of a pastor and smooth it over as ‘well, he’s just human’, but while he is indeed ‘human’, the enemy runs with this and mocks the work of the Father in the local church by His human messengers. David paid terribly for his sin/disobedience, and so do God’s messengers today. The press runs with the stories of disobedience, or a man fallen from God, but they never follow up in a few months to see how their lives have been impacted by their sin. They hurt more than we could ever imagine. So does this also impact the common laymen of the church? Friends, remember that titles are just something we feel necessary on earth. God sent His precious Son for the sin of all mankind, not just those we hold in high regard. So it hurts God when any of us sin, or show an uncaring attitude towards what God expects of us. Be careful dear friends to live in full obedience to God. Should you falter or fail, quickly run to God for your discipline, but also for His direction on how you might continue on in lifting up the name of Jesus and His mighty works. Whatever you do, don’t give the enemy reason to mock God for having such weaklings participate in His earthly work. As children of the King, we are robed in His righteousness!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: We serve a forgiving God, even though we may have to pay the earthly consequences for our sin.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for being so patient, kind and loving to us, and for forgiving us of our sin when we seek Your face in total remorse for our disobedience. Thank You Lord for accepting David as he was – not perfect, but a man after God’s own heart. Please give us strength and desire to always seek to obey Your word, Your commands, and Your will for our lives. May we always strive for obedience, for what pleases You, and in what You desire of us. May others never find reason to mock You because of our disobedience, so that their desire to know You will not be interrupted. Lord, have Your will and way in our lives, for Your honor and praise. AMEN!

When You SEE Jesus

On 2021-12-072021-12-06 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, See God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2021-12-06
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: John 6:38-40
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: ³⁸I didn’t come from heaven to do what I want! I came to do what the Father wants me to do. He sent me, ³⁹and he wants to make certain that none of the ones he has given me will be lost. Instead, he wants me to raise them to life on the last day. ⁴⁰My Father wants everyone who sees the Son to have faith in him and to have eternal life. Then I will raise them to life on the last day.

APPLICATION: I often hear couples say ‘From the time I placed my eyes on her/him, I fell in love with them’. ‘Seeing is believing’ is another popular saying! But how do we ‘see’ Jesus? Many of us will say that we have great luck in certain aspects of life. However, when we meet up with our parents or grandparents, they will tell us that they have been praying earnestly for us. So did we have ‘luck’, or were the prayers of our ancestors being answered? Could it be that Jesus was showing Himself to you in miraculous ways? While visiting the beach we often marvel over the beauty, tranquility and serenity of the calm, beautiful waters and the perfectly manicured beach. Ever stop to consider how it got that way? It’s just another way of us seeing the handiwork of God in nature. I recently visited the Grand Canyon. What an awesome and beautiful site to behold! Unlike Disney, there is no way that man could ever have designed and built such magnificence. I was reminded of the handiwork of my God! Based on our Scripture for today, I believe it is super important for us to carefully acknowledge God in life as we note things that could only have come from Him as Designer and Creator. For it is as we ‘see’ Him at work that we learn to trust in Him for ALL things in life. Jesus said that as we ‘see’ Him, we will trust Him and have faith in Him – His abilities, His love, His creativity, His caring attitude, and our everlasting hope in life eternally with He and the Father. Dear friends, we sometimes sigh in our troubles, hard work and everyday labors and we may say ‘there has to be more to life than this’! Jesus has reminded us in His Word today that there is a lot more to life! See the Creator, Know the Master Accept Him as Your Lord, and live in anticipation of eternity in heaven with the Father and the Son! Jesus assures us that for all who accept Him as Lord, He will raise us up on the last day – that glorious Day that we are assured of in the Bible when we will see Jesus face-to-face and celebrate around the throne of God every day – forever! If you are wondering how to accept Jesus, please refer to my Footnote and follow the link for ‘To Know Jesus’. Otherwise, feel free to contact me by email, as noted below. It would be a blessing to pray with you!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: In spite of our troublesome time here on earth, Jesus was sent as our Advocate and our heavenly Father. Praise Jesus for His love!

PRAYER: I can gladly rejoice in the words of an old favorite hymn – ‘I am so glad that my Father in heaven, tells of His love in the Book He has given….’ Oh what a Savior, You’re the One who loves us just as we are, and just where we’re at. Thank You Lord for making Yourself known to us in so many ways. We ‘see’ You Lord, and we must know You intimately, for You love us even when no one else sees value in us to love us unconditionally. Please make Yourself known to our family and friends that we pray for. Oh that they may accept You today, is my heartfelt and sincere prayer. AMEN!

With Thanksgiving

On 2021-12-03 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Thanksgiving, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2021-12-02
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 68:7-10
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁷You set your people free, and you led them through the desert.
⁸God of Israel, the earth trembled, and rain poured down.
You alone are the God who rules from Mount Sinai.
⁹When your land was thirsty, you sent showers to refresh it.
¹⁰Your people settled there, and you were generous to everyone in need.

APPLICATION: I remember conducting a prayer meeting and asking attendees to only share what they were thankful to God for. Almost immediately I started hearing needs popping in, and soon we were inundated with needs, particularly the medical needs of themselves, family members, friends, and even family of family members! It was like they just couldn’t help themselves. Now please don’t get me wrong, we should all be very concerned about the health of our loved ones, but we should never lack in sharing our love for our Lord, nor our thanksgiving for our awesome and generous God. It seems in today’s Scripture that David was overwhelmed by the goodness of God, and that he had so much to praise God for. I would suggest that you consider joining me in making more time for sharing a heart full of thanksgiving to our Lord. Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could barely find time to petition God for our wants and desires, because we spend much too long in giving thanks? Wouldn’t that speak volumes to our unsaved loved ones who is looking on and wondering what’s so special about being a Christian? If we merely spend our time petitioning God, these friends might question whether God ever comes through on our prayers. We know that God is a prayer answering God, so we should not only brag about that to family and friends, but His answers should be the root cause of our prayers of thanksgiving. Mom and dad always taught my siblings and I to be sure to respond with a ‘thank you’ after receiving something. I believe that God deserves our thanksgiving more so that anyone else that we could think of!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: David celebrated in all that God had done for he and his people. Despite all the crime and troubles today, we should also be forever thankful for all that God so lovingly does for us and our relatives!

PRAYER: Thank You Jesus for what You did for us on Calvary, for You showed the ultimate form of love for all mankind in providing for those of us who ask for it, the means to enter heaven’s gates as a righteous and forgiven people! There is no good thing that we could do to earn this righteousness, but praise God, because of the blood of Jesus, we could live forever in heaven with He and the Father! You have also blessed us with an awesome family, who choose to love us in spite of our earthly meanness and sin. We are an amazingly blessed people, and it’s all because of our Savior! Oh that we would be consistent in our praising and singing our eternal thankfulness for being such a blessed people. May we strive to always thank You Lord Jesus, more than we could possibly ask of more from You. AMEN!

Nuggets From God's Word

Month: December 2021