DATE POSTED
Monday, July 6, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Westgate Blue Tree Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Please read the following Scriptures in your own personal Bible.

Genesis 27:18-19 ~ So he went to his father and said, “My father.” And Isaac said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; … (AMP)

2 Corinthians 8:21 ~ God knows we are honest, but I want everyone else to know it too. That is why we have made this arrangement. (TLB)

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

When a person has no one to answer to and no awareness that God is all-seeing and all-knowing, it is easy to believe that whatever they do is known only to themselves. Whether their words are true or false, honest or dishonest, they often see little reason to consider how their actions may affect others, so long as they get what they want and stay one step ahead of everyone else.

A clear example of this is found in our Old Testament scripture. Jacob and his mother, Rebekah, did exactly what many do Before Christ. Operating completely out of a fleshly nature before knowing the Lord, they deceived an old, blind father to steal a blessing and inheritance intended for the eldest son, Esau.

Tragically, this same spirit of deception is still prevalent today. We constantly hear of devastating family splits where siblings, parents, and children choose to never speak again because of dishonesty rooted in selfish, ungodly choices. It breaks my heart to see so many wasted years of family unity, love, and fellowship thrown away because of a selfish sin—and because the wounded party finds it impossible to forgive, forget, and extend the cross-shaped love of Jesus.

But praise God, our lives After Christ look entirely different. After accepting His lordship, we are taught how to truly love, modeled after the perfect love of 1 Corinthians 13. Jesus demonstrated this love through total obedience to the Father, freely dying on the cross so that we could have a pathway to heaven.

As John 3:16 reminds us, anyone who believes in Him will enjoy eternal life. Consider the radical scope of that love: Jesus went to the cross for the unruly, disobedient men who physically nailed Him there; He went to the cross for the pastor with 50 years of faithful service; He went to the cross for the brand-new believer; and He went to the cross for the very people who hated Him enough to scream, “Crucify Him!”

When you are given the opportunity to prove whose you are, you must start where Paul did in 2 Corinthians 8:21. We must speak, act, and think like the Master at all times. We don’t just want to please God in secret; our obedience should visibly demonstrate to a watching world what it looks like to walk in the example of the Savior.

Think about it: If you claim to be honest before God but live dishonestly before a lost world, how are you advancing the Kingdom? On the flip side, if you try to prove you are a good, honest person to the world while having no regard for God, that honesty will be temporary at best. Eventually, the world will discover it was just a counterfeit act used to advance your own agenda.

So today, ask yourself: Are you living to advance the Kingdom of God, or your own kingdom? Will the world see the authentic love of Christ through your choices? If Jesus is truly Lord of your life, let us make every effort to reflect His truth and transparency. May He be glorified in our every word, thought, and action, God being our helper.

PRAYER
Lord God, You are all-seeing and all-knowing, and nothing in my heart is hidden from You. Forgive me for the times I have let selfishness dictate my actions or compromise my honesty. I pray specifically for families today that have been torn apart by deception; bring conviction, healing, and supernatural forgiveness where human strength has failed. Help me to live a life of absolute integrity, just as Paul wrote, so that both You and the world around me see the transforming power of Your truth. Let my honesty be a billboard for Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!