DATE POSTED
Tuesday, August 4, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX 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
I would love for you to read today’s Scripture in your own personal Bible!

⁵ Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. ⁶ And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ.

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.

Paul reminds us that the Lord gave him both the privilege and the responsibility of taking the gospel to the Gentiles. Though many Jews looked down on the Gentiles, God did not. Through faith in Jesus Christ, they too could receive forgiveness, become heirs of God, and belong to His family. Paul’s ministry reminds us that the gospel has never been intended for a select few—it is God’s invitation to everyone who will believe.

The story of Queen Esther teaches a similar lesson. When Esther hesitated to approach the king, Mordecai reminded her that perhaps she had come to the kingdom “for such a time as this.” God had intentionally placed her where He could use her to save His people. Paul also understood that God had placed him exactly where he needed to be so the Gentiles could hear about Jesus.

Paul’s message isn’t just history; it is a direct pattern for us today. The doors of our churches open every week, but the invitation to salvation is not restricted to those who happen to walk through our doors. As John 3:16 reminds us, God’s invitation extends to everyone who believes.

As believers, we are often placed in specific workplaces, waiting rooms, or neighborhoods we never expected. When we ask why we are there, we must remember that God places us deliberately. Could it be that He has positioned you right where you are to encourage a neighbor, stand up for biblical truth, or point a seeking heart toward the Christ we love, serve and adore?

Living for God means we may not participate in everything our culture or neighbors engage in. However, when we decline invitations or choose a different path, we must be honest, gracious, and ready to testify to the truth of God’s Word. Making untruthful excuses or staying completely silent can cause others to see us as hypocrites or insincere in our beliefs vs our actions. Instead, use every interaction to further God’s Kingdom while loving people as Jesus loved us. It was love—not indifference, arguments, or self-righteousness—that brought us to the foot of the Cross.

In verse 6, Paul assures the Roman believers that they are included among those called to belong to Jesus just as surely as any Jewish believer. May we never allow prejudice, personal preferences, or outward appearances to determine who deserves to hear the gospel. Every person we meet has been created by God and needs the same Savior we have found. Let us love people as Jesus loves them and faithfully share His invitation to all.

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TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Ask God today to embolden you to see others through His eyes. Be mindful to dismantle any personal filters that keep you from ministering to people who look, act, or think differently than you. God’s ways are higher than ours—let us honor Him and look for opportunities today to show His love and point someone toward Jesus.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for including me in Your promise of grace and calling me to belong to Jesus Christ. Forgive me for the times I have let my own filters, comfort zones, or biases dictate who I share Your love with. Give me the boldness of Paul and the courage of Esther to recognize that You have placed me right where I am for a purpose. Help me to love my neighbors honestly, live courageously for Your truth, and shine as a welcoming light to everyone around me. 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!

DATE POSTED
Monday, August 3, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX 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
I would love for you to read today’s Scripture in your own personal Bible!

² God promised this Good News long ago through His prophets in the holy Scriptures. ³ The Good News is about His Son. In His earthly life He was born into King David’s family line, ⁴ and He was shown to be the Son of God when He was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.

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.

In yesterday’s devotional we ended with Paul’s declaration that he had been called by God to proclaim the Good News. In today’s verses, Paul begins to explain exactly what that Good News is.

We live in a society that expects everything instantly. Meals are prepared in minutes, information arrives in seconds, and travel that once took months now takes only hours. Yet God often works differently. Although He has the power to accomplish anything immediately, He chose to reveal His plan little by little throughout history so that when Jesus came, people could recognize Him as the promised Messiah.

Paul reminds us that the Good News is all about God’s Son. Jesus was born into the family line of King David, fulfilling God’s promises to Israel. Then, through His resurrection from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit, God declared for all to see that Jesus truly is the Son of God. The resurrection is God’s unmistakable testimony that every promise Jesus made is true and that He alone is Lord and Savior.

This is why the whole Bible is so important. Recently, in our study of Genesis 25, we saw how God’s promises continued through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the very family line through which the Messiah would eventually come. What begins in Genesis finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament points forward to the Savior; the New Testament reveals that He has come. The Bible is one continuous story of God’s redeeming love.

Since we have received this Good News, we also share the privilege and responsibility of making it known. Jesus commanded His followers in Matthew 28:19 to “go and make disciples of all the nations.” This command was not given only to pastors or missionaries. Every believer has been entrusted with the wonderful privilege of pointing others to Christ. Whether at work, at home, in our neighborhood, or wherever God places us, He desires that we faithfully share the hope we have found in Jesus.

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TODAY’S CHALLENGE

The Good News isn’t just ours to enjoy – it’s ours to share. Romans 1:2-4 reminds us that God’s plan of salvation has been unfolding since the beginning. Read today’s devotional again and ask yourself: Who has God placed in my life that needs to hear about Jesus? If we knew a natural disaster was headed straight for our town, we would act immediately to warn those in danger. Yet how often do we remain silent when eternal souls are at stake? May God forgive us when we take our calling lightly, and may He give us the courage and love needed to share the Savior with a world in desperate need of His grace.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your incredible plan of salvation, written long ago and fulfilled through Your Son, Jesus Christ. We marvel at Your faithfulness across generations and praise You for the power of the resurrection. Lord, forgive us for the times we have stayed silent or taken our mission for granted. Open our eyes to the people around us today—in our homes, workplaces, and daily routines. Give us compassionate hearts, bold spirits, and the right words to share Your Good News. In Jesus’ precious 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!

DATE POSTED
Sunday, August 1, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX 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
I would love for you to read today’s Scripture in your own personal Bible!

Romans 1:1 (NLT) This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News.

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.

Before encountering Christ, Paul was known as Saul of Tarsus—a devout pharisee who actively persecuted the early Church. We can read the dramatic story of his life and conversion in the book of Acts (chapters 8–28).

Just as most of us would rather not be defined by our past mistakes, bad attitudes, or former lives before Christ, Paul knew it was vital to establish his new identity in this letter to the Romans right from the start. He was setting forth his “credentials”—not in his own human effort, but in who he had become through Jesus.

This is no different for pastors, evangelists, or any believer today. Through God’s salvation, our past is behind us. When we place our faith in Jesus, we become new creations. God forgives our sins, removes them as far as the east is from the west, and no longer holds them against us. What an amazing reminder of His mercy and grace!

There’s a beautiful song titled “What Sin?” that echoes this truth: when others point to our past, God looks at us through the blood of Jesus and asks, “What sin?” Paul was a brand-new man, fueled by God’s amazing grace and sustained by His tender mercies.

Because Paul was so completely sold out to God, he introduced himself as a slave (or bondservant) of Jesus Christ. By establishing this relationship, Paul made it clear that his teachings were not driven by his past or his own ego, but by his new Master, Jesus Christ.

In today’s world, how would you, being a sold-out believer in Jesus Christ, feel about introducing yourself as a servant of Jesus Christ? We often hope people will simply “see” Christ in our lives, but sometimes people need to hear a clear testimony.

Paul was not ashamed to identify himself as Christ’s servant. What if we were bold enough to say, “I am here representing my Master, Jesus Christ, and I want my words and actions to reflect Him”?

TODAY’S CHALLENGE
When people listen to you, do they hear only your opinions, or do they recognize that your life is guided by Jesus Christ and His Word? Like Paul, let us never be ashamed to identify ourselves as servants of Christ. As we speak words of encouragement, correction, or wisdom, may it always be clear that our desire is not to promote ourselves, but to point others to our Savior.

Our confidence is never found in our own understanding, but in Christ alone. As the old hymn reminds us:
“On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.“

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for saving me and giving me a new life in Christ. Thank You that my past has been forgiven and that You no longer hold my sins against me. Help me, like Paul, to live as Your willing servant and to never be ashamed of the Gospel. May my words, attitudes, and actions always point others to Jesus and be guided by Your Holy Spirit. Keep me humble, faithful, and obedient as I represent You each day. 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!