DATE POSTED: Tuesday, October 3, 2023, and I was blessed to be at Dowling Park, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE Amplified Bible (AMP) IS FOUND IN Luke 19:26

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: [Jesus explained,] ‘I tell you that to everyone who has [because he valued his gifts from God and has used them wisely], more will be given; but from the one who does not have [because he disregarded his gifts from God], even what he has will be taken away.’

MY INITIAL THOUGHTS: Perhaps a well-known biblical illustration to many, but the message may be very new to others, since they may still question why some are so blessed, while others seem to go unnoticed by God. In fact, you can almost visualize why they say that they have no talents gifted to them by God. For today, let’s not look around at what others have, or don’t have, let’s take this opportunity to ask God to see what we’re missing out on personally.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: For the one blessed with lots of money, it may be obvious that they are, or were, successful in life, but if we interviewed them, do you suppose they would say that they feel blessed of God? For the one who attends a thriving church at least one Sunday per month, do you suppose that if you interviewed them, they would share how God blessed them in adding to the Kingdom every week because of their love for God and His church? To properly analyze these questions, you may have to stop and ask God to help you pinpoint your special gift from Him. Many will say that they have no ‘gift’ or special talent, but is God wrong in what Luke told us that Jesus said? Perhaps you may be looking at your bank account and wondering how Jesus could say that He has given you more and will continue to bless you with more. Suppose you were to deliberately take a few moments each day to get alone with God and thank Him for His mercies that are new? Your immediate response may be that everything is normal for ‘you’, so you see no reason in thanking God. I believe that I could share a few examples with you on why we must learn to be thankful and praise-worthy servants of Almighty God. I am separated by about 200 miles of land and water from my only brother. He is a commercial diver. Two of his buddies died over recent years, one about 20 years his junior, and the other slightly older than him. the younger one died because of the hazards divers face every time they go down with compressed air. The other died from a heart attack, likely caused by the daily stress on the body of a commercial diver. But God continues to protect my brother, and I am once again reminded how thankful I am for God’s protection and watchful eye over my brother. On land we hear of people dying from car crashes when just heading out to the store, yet we take on long trips without stopping to ask for God’s protection and His guiding hand. One of the biggest challenges to many, is to recognize the God who created us and learn to be thankful to Him for every aspect of life. Our verse today reminds us that God gave us life, health and daily provisions. He continues to bless us each and every day. I don’t know about you, precious reader and/or listener, but for the one who fails to recognize God for who He is, and for all that He does, can they really expect Him to continue blessing, continue protecting and continue leading them into successful, peaceful and amazing opportunities every day? If we fail to recognize God in the good, happy and successful times of life, on what basis can we pour our hearts out to Him and ask for His help in the rough times of life? Perhaps an alternate title for this devotional could have been ‘Where would I be without Jesus?’. The next time we raise our fist to God or complain to Him about taking away the good things of life from us, perhaps we should look inward and question ourselves about what we could have done differently in life to possibly deserve all that God blesses us with daily, in spite of our lack of service to Him or recognition of His greatness – the Creator of life and the Giver of all good things to mankind. In an active church leadership role, it is very easy to prove what Jesus said in our focal verse today. When a pastor needs help with something or looking for someone to take charge of a key role, it never fails that the already busy person will get the new or additional job done and never complain. I wonder where you might find yourself in the recognition of God and in your service to Him. Can He pour on the blessing because of your total dedication to Him and all that He has blessed you with? Dodging His work, may very well equal dodging His added blessings!

BLESSINGS WORTH NOTING: Disregarding the blessings from your God, is incentive for Him to not pour more blessings on you. Being appreciative of your loving God and striving to love Him and be His hands and feet here on earth, may be just the right trigger for God to pour out even more rich blessings on to you!

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Lord, I believe that when we bless others and follow in Your example here on earth, without expecting anything in return, we are not only practicing what we learned for You while here on earth, but we are opening ourselves up for increased blessings from our loving, giving and merciful God. Thank You Lord for loving me in spite of my weaknesses, selfishness and pride. It is so obvious that You sacrificed Your pride and joy – Your only Son, for our salvation and the assurance of eternity in Heaven with the triune God, just because You loved without limit and unconditionally. Please guide us to love in like manner, so that others who doubt will see proof of who Jesus really is. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this 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 you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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!