Category: Children

Train To Act Like Children of God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Children, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worship2 Comments

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2022-12-18
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 6:32-36
TRANSLATION: Amplified Bible (AMP)

BIBLE TEXT: 32 If you [only] love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend [money] to those from whom you expect to receive [it back], what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners expecting to receive back the same amount. 35 But love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, and do good, and lend, [k]expecting nothing in return; for your reward will be great (rich, abundant), and you will be sons of the Most High; because He Himself is kind and gracious and good to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful (responsive, compassionate, tender) just as your [heavenly] Father is merciful.

APPLICATION: Salvation comes when we recognize the love, power and peace of our heavenly Savior. At that time, we decide that the life we were living, has done nothing for the eternal destiny that we want in heaven. So, we seek out the face of Jesus, and we make a 180 degree turn in the direction for our lives, with the help of Almighty God. But what happens to our years of experience in achieving the mannerisms and actions that we were taught by our earthly parents and by those we spent time with? We can’t bring those teachings with us, because they led us to a life of sin and eternal damnation. I believe that’s where our lesson comes in today, for Jesus saw the same challenge as He watched and listened to His followers. I love the way that Jesus pointed out critical areas of our everyday life, and how our attitudes towards each of these actions would change, when guided by the Holy Spirit in our new life in Jesus Christ. While I realize that all of you reading, or listening to, this devotional could easily identify the areas that Jesus pointed out, I would like to re-emphasize the teaching of, or training by, our Master on this subject:
–> On loving others: Jesus knew that our natural instinct would be to love those who show love towards us. But Jesus showed us in many instances throughout His life, and especially on the cross at Calvary, that His love is unconditional and without regard to whether we love Him or not. In aligning ourselves with Him, and in vowing to live our lives by following His example and obeying His teachings, then we would need to love differently than we were first taught. To be sons and daughters of the King, our love towards others must imitate the same love extended by our Father. If you don’t feel accomplished in this unique type of love yet, let me encourage you to draw even closer to God so that He may work in your life and give you the power to overcome your earthly desires and hindrances.
–> On doing good: While it may be easy to do things for people that love us, it becomes increasingly challenging to do things for those that despise us and seem determined to destroy us. Those who seem undeserving of our help. With Christ, all things are possible. Seek His strength, guidance and compassion to do for even those who seem unworthy of our effort. When we love unconditionally, we will more easily do things for others without expecting anything in return.
–> On lending money: Coming from a banking career, this one seems harder than most of the others, for me! Bankers are taught to protect depositors’ money and only lend when we are fairly certain that the funds could, and will, be paid back to the bank. That’s the easy kind of lending, because it was not our personal, hard-earned money that we were lending out. Jesus is training us to lend, even when we don’t expect to receive repayment, for it would demonstrate His kind of love, and His gift of life that He surrendered on Calvary for even the undeserving, and especially for those who couldn’t possibly pay Him back.
–> On being merciful: The world teaches us to become even harder on those who persecute us and cause us grief. But in our training lesson from Jesus, He wants us to be merciful to everyone, especially those on whom the world looks down on, and turns their noses up to. Remember the blind man by the roadside as Jesus passed by? The crowd pushed him back and tried to silence him, but Jesus called him to Himself and had mercy on him. You may come across several today who want to see Jesus at work, but they are rejected by the crowd and pushed back as undeserving of His time and mercy. Will you be part of the crowd, or will you stand up for Jesus?
May God grant you the strength to not only accept His Son as your free ticket into heaven, but to also live according to His teachings and example, as He taught in this Scripture today. Let’s all learn to be a child of the King, even when it is different to the world’s teachings and expectations.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Jesus simply said that our reward will be great as we allow His training to guide us into loving others like He did; doing good to others as He did; lending money without expecting repayment; and being merciful to others in the same way that He did. In fact, we would become children of the Most High God!

PRAYER: From a world of sin, and training in earthly selfishness, to a Kingdom ruled by the Prince of Peace, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. May we all catch a fresh glimpse of the One who demonstrated perfect love towards us; the One who showed us personally how to do good for those who may appear undeserving of our attention and effort; and the One who showed mercy even towards those who came to arrest Him. Please kind Master, teach us to reflect Your image, Your unselfish giving and Your humble attitude towards everyone. This world in which we live could benefit so much from seeing You at work, especially through the skins of Your humble and obedient servants. Draw us closer to the cross Lord and draw the unsaved away from the hard shell they developed from the world, so that they too might see, experience and accept our risen Lord. Oh, that You may become more evident to our world, because of the recommitment of those who claim You as Savior and Lord. May we not only see You more clearly but demonstrate Your teachings to all that we encounter. 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!

Mere Servants

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Children, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Servants of God, Worship2 Comments

DATE POSTED Saturday, 2021-09-18
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 17:9-10
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 9 Does the servant expect to be thanked for doing what is required of him? 10 So learn this lesson: After doing all that is commanded of you, simply say, ‘We are mere servants, undeserving of special praise, for we are just doing what is expected of us and fulfilling our duties.’

APPLICATION: Ever felt like a ‘flunky’? I haven’t heard this term in recent years, but I remember hearing this a lot as I grew up, and it was often used in lieu of the word ‘servant’, but in a more derogatory manner. I wonder if that might be the reason for most adults avoiding the term ‘servant’? But I found it interesting that Jesus chose to teach His disciples about servanthood as part of His response to the disciples request for more ‘faith’. Jesus Himself said that He came to serve, and so should His disciples, if we expect to live in His likeness. But the reason I believe that Jesus brought this into His teaching, is that anytime we don’t have the answer for something, or if we need to depend on others to make something happen that we are praying about, or if we don’t have a clue about how or if something is possible, then we must have faith in that person in whom we are depending on to accomplish the work. Because we can’t physically see Jesus, we must have faith to believe in Him and His unlimited abilities. As a servant, we are always dependent on the master to treat us right and meet our needs. Jesus wanted His disciples to get used to the idea of servanthood, for He would always be their Master. He taught that although we might be a servant here on earth, we are valued as sons and daughters in His kingdom. The opposite of servant is master, and in the kingdom of heaven there is only one Master – Jesus/God. By us being a servant, we acknowledge that the one Master is over all things. No matter how hard we work, or how many churches we’re in charge of, we are still servant to the Most High God. As a servant, we are often very needy of the master, and that’s exactly our position in the Kingdom, we are dependent on God for everything. So where are you at today? Are you truly displaying a servant’s heart and waiting for the Master to give you your next orders? Let’s try very hard not to try and change the order of who we are. We are children of the Almighty God and as such, we are His servants here on earth. Let’s try to excel in obedience, respect, honor and praise so that our Master might be lifted high above all His servants. We must always be just mere servants, undeserving of any praise, for we are just doing the Master’s work.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: In being servants of the Most High God, it becomes evident that we are His children doing His work until He returns to take us with Him to glory!

PRAYER: Precious Lord, thank You for being my Master and Lord. May I always seek to be servant, never desirous of any praise, but always seeking to honor You in all that I do. Please humble the hearts of my readers and listeners so that we all might understand Your way – as described in today’s Scripture. You said that the field is ripe for the harvest, but more servants are needed, not masters. We are all on the same playing field and equal at the foot of the cross. May we all learn to follow You while always praising You for who You are and for what You would have us do as Your servant. Lord, be glorified through Your servants, each of us. 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!

Just Like A Child

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

Wednesday, 2019-05-15

Bible Reference: Mark 10:13-16
Translation: The Message (MSG)

Bible Text: 13-16 The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: “Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.

OBSERVATION: Jesus always welcomed children, however the disciples were challenged in wanting to keep the way cleared for Jesus to perform miracles and meet the needs of the adults. But Jesus saw, and He knew, how receptive children were in believing, without needing to know the how, what, when and where of everything that takes place, so He used His interaction with the children to teach a lesson to the adults present. We will meditate on the applicability of this to even us today.

APPLICATION: Parents and adults are constantly searching for ways to teach children more, and also ways that would help them become a better person as they mature. But how often do we ever stop to learn from these dear ones? Jesus saw the value in these precious gifts given to mankind, for He never had a need to deal with their rejection, or their hatred, or their pride. In fact, they felt very appreciative just to sit on Jesus’ lap and listen to Him teach, or whisper kind and loving words into their ears. It didn’t matter which knee they sat on, nor did it matter if they sat at His feet, as long as they were near to Him. Friends, can you see from just those few examples how many complications sin has added to our adult minds? For how many arguments will erupt over who got to sit on His lap this week, vs last week; who got to ask questions last week vs this week; whose parents did Jesus go over and speak to; who got more attention from Jesus; etc, etc. When I think of the words of Jesus in comparing the attitudes of children to those who enter the kingdom, I tend to think of us coming to Jesus in total surrender – no one pulling us back; no worries about what we will lose by following Christ; truly coming with outstretched arms and saying to Jesus ‘here I am Lord, take me and do what you would like to’; and seeking full repentance of our sin and willing to go in a totally new and different way – God’s way. Let me suggest that you take a close look at the ways of your child and see how forgiving they are, and how appreciative they are to just receive a hand up and be satisfied that they are with someone who cares and loves them. Don’t always demand your own way, but instead trust in God – for He cares for you! He loves you, in spite of all that you have done contrary to His commands, and He has a place prepared for you when He sees fit for you to leave this world and join Him in heaven. Know Him, today dear friend, and know the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding!

PRAYER: Precious Lord, thank You for loving even us. As Your child, we are blown away with the love expressed to us daily in so many ways. Thank You for the children that You place in our lives to teach us lessons about our approach to You and to heaven. Please help us to use the actions and attitudes of our children to help us see You in a different, and innocent light, while all the while correcting us in all the negative ways we have been affected by this sinful world. We are Your children dear Lord. Please help us to act like that, and love like that. AMEN!

‘This’ Is our High Priest!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Children, High Priest, Love, The Father's Love, The love of God, Unconditional loveLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Hebrews 7:24-26 (TPT)

TEXT: 24 But Jesus permanently holds his priestly office, since he lives forever and will never have a successor! 25 So he is able to save fully from now throughout eternity, everyone who comes to God through him, because he lives to pray continually for them. 26 He is the High Priest who perfectly fits our need—holy, without a trace of evil, without the ability to deceive, incapable of sin, and exalted beyond the heavens!

OBSERVATION:   In Hebrews 7, we learn about the high priests who were ordained in their day, and we learn about some of their fallacies. However, we also learn about our permanent High Priest, Jesus! How He qualified as such, and how He is able to maintain that title for all eternity. Praise God we serve One who never changes or looses His credentials to serve us as our Eternal King! Do you know Him?

APPLICATION:   When we hear so many complaints about today’s pastors/priests/ministers/rabbis etc, I wonder if we often fail to put into perspective that they are a lot different to the permanent High Priest spoken of in our Scripture today. Yes, they are a representative of God, so they should be above reproach – but so should we laypersons be the same! May we remember that they are human, just like we are, and capable of the fallacies seen in high priests spoken of in this very Scripture today. However, I would really encourage you to click on the scripture reference link, so you could read the Scripture leading up to these verses and, perhaps even beyond these verses. God saw that He was asking His children to be perfect as He is perfect, but in providing men, just like you and I, to lead us towards this perfection, it was an impossible demand. God therefore sent His one and only Son Jesus, miraculously created and sent to us as an ‘arm’ of the Father Himself. Because Jesus is perfect, and He lives forever, God made Him our High Priest both for now and for eternity. Friends, this Jesus – our High Priest, as described in verse 26, is also the One that loves you and I more than anything else in this world! We read comments from our friends as they try to describe how much they love someone, and they say things like: “I love you to the moon and back”. Can you imagine that our Savior loves us all the way to God – with everything in between and all around us, in spite of our ugliness of pride, hatred and unbelief? Friends say: “I love you more than the whole world”. Can you imagine God loving us enough to send us His own Son? Think literally about that and imagine you considering giving up your son or daughter so that someone else might live? Can you do it? How do you suppose the other person will show their love to you, if you did make the sacrifice? Do you show that kind of love to Jesus for making that same sacrifice just for you to live eternally with His Father? Friends, I hope that you will not only feel the impact of the Savior, and the Father who wants desperately to be a part of your lives today, but I trust that you will also be open to drawing closer to Him in a very personal way – accepting His offer of salvation, and basting in His unlimited and endless love for you. You’re His prized possession. Love Him like you believe that friend!

PRAYER:   Thank you Jesus for loving even me – ‘Ed Algreen’! Thank You also for loving my family members and my friends who might read this devotional today! However, I would desperately ask that You touch the lives of each one that I mentioned, and draw them as close to Yourself as possible today. Our time on this old earth is short, please help us to live like children of the King of all kings! Please help us to keep our chins up and focused on the Master of this universe, and to always remember that we are Your chosen children, loved for eternity! 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Sebring, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

 

Qualities of a Child That Adults Need

On By Ed AlgreenIn Children, Faith, Faithfulness, qualities, TrustLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Thursday, 2017-08-24
SCRIPTURE

From:

 Luke 18:16-17 (TLB)

Text:

  16-17 Then Jesus called the children over to him and said to the disciples, “Let the little children come to me! Never send them away! For the Kingdom of God belongs to men who have hearts as trusting as these little children’s. And anyone who doesn’t have their kind of faith will never get within the Kingdom’s gates.”
OBSERVATION:
Men has a predetermined idea of the qualities needed to do a job, and the type of person to do it – perhaps even the age of the person. Jesus tried to break that idea by showing that there are qualities even in a child, who has not really experienced a lot in life yet, that we need to take note of. Let’s have a closer look at those qualities and see what we might learn from them.
APPLICATION:
It is so challenging for a group of adults to sit in a room and come to a unanimous decision. Even more challenging for a group working on a project and agreeing to accomplish the necessary tasks in unity. Jesus pointed out two qualities that He recognized in children that, I believe, we need to have a closer look at:

  • Trust: When our child was very young, we were told that it was the best time to teach her to swim, because she had not built up the fear of the water yet. I believe it was more like, she knew that her mom and the teacher were keeping such a close eye on her that she felt safe. Put a child on a wall and tell them to jump to you, and generally they will jump without a second thought, because they trust their mom or dad, who’s asking them to jump. You tell a child about God, and although, like us, they never see God, they are convinced that God is always there watching over them. Listening to a child’s prayer will blow you away, because you could easily tell how much trust they have developed in God.
  • Faith: Although very similar to trust, a child’s faith seems to never waiver or fail – until they are old enough to see our weakness in faith! Think about this, we tell children about God before they could ever talk back to us, and they have faith to believe it, even though they have never seen Him. We tell them about Santa, and every Christmas they are excited with anticipation about him coming. Friends, we sing hymns and we hear Bible teachers and preaches say it often: have faith in God. This means that: We should easily believe that God exists, even though we have never seen Him; We should easily believe that heaven is real, even though we have never seen it; However, when we approach God with things we think are impossible, we tend to believe that it is impossible with Him also. Friends, my God is the One who parted the waters of the Red Sea and the waters of the Jordan River so that His people could march across on dry land! What is it again that you feel He cannot handle for you? Is your faith where it needs to be? Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you friend.
PRAYER:
Father God, Creator of heaven and earth, All powerful and almighty in strength and power, we exalt You and we lift up Your name on high. We come before You with thanksgiving, knowing that we serve an awesome God who loves and cares for His children. Please enhance our faith Lord, so that we may trust You with all of life’s ups and downs. Lord we need You every day and in every circumstance. We need You every hour dear Lord. Thank You for Your faithfulness and love. 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

Jesus’ Definition of ‘Greatness’

On By Ed AlgreenIn Children, Greatest Need, Humble, Our Great BIG GodLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Sunday, 2017-07-23
SCRIPTURE

From:

 Luke 9:46-48 (TLB)

Text:

  46 Now came an argument among them as to which of them would be greatest in the coming Kingdom! 47 But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he stood a little child beside him 48 and said to them, “Anyone who takes care of a little child like this is caring for me! And whoever cares for me is caring for God who sent me. Your care for others is the measure of your greatness.”
OBSERVATION:
It seems like Jesus’ definition of ‘greatness’ is quite different to ours. So we will look at this a little deeper today to make sure that we are not only getting the meaning of this word from Webster or some other English dictionary, but also to make sure that we are following God’s desire for our ‘greatness’ in this world.
APPLICATION:
In this world, and even in dictionaries, we learn that ‘greatness’ is considered: superior; or possess a natural ability to be better than most; illustrious; important; famous; etc. However, from everything we know of Jesus, He never showed any of these characteristics. He was born in a lowly manger in a cattle stall, and for the rest of His life there is no talk of Him living, or desiring to live anywhere near a palace. He simply obeyed His Father and served all mankind with sincere love and admiration. Yet He was the greatest man that ever lived! In our Scripture today Jesus is teaching His disciples that for them to evaluate who among them is the greatest in the kingdom of God, they must consider who is the greatest servant, for simply looking through worldly eyes at what they each might be famous for, will only impact what the world thinks of them and expects from ‘great’ people, in their terms. Let me suggest that we stop and consider how concerned, helpful and caring we would be towards a little child as they go helplessly down a river. Now think about the child, they are totally dependent upon you to keep their heads above water and from the harm of all rocks or debris, plus keep them warm once they are ready to exit the water. I believe Jesus wants us to care for everyone here on earth in much the same way as we would for that child in the river. This includes those who are very close to us, those that we think are above us in status and especially those that we know society always look down their noses at.  ALL are precious in His sight. Jesus also wants us to be like the child going down the river: fully dependent on Him; begging for His helping hand to guide, protect and keep us; and willing to accept help from anyone that stretches out ther hand to help us. At the end of life’s road when we meet Jesus, we will all be considered children of God, or not. There will be no ‘greatness’ that will get us there, only the simple invitation of Jesus into our lives. What’s your position today friends? Do you know my Jesus personally? Are you serving Him faithfully in all phases of your life and with whomever you come into contact with? If so you may one day stand to hear: ‘Welcome my child, you have been faithful over many things on earth, now come and dine with me and my Father as we rejoice together  throughout eternity!
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for all that You have demonstrated through Your example, and from all that You have taught us through Your precious Word. We will meet many that are different in many ways from us. Please teach us to always welcome one another with the same grace that You welcome us. It is unimaginable that a King would willingly sacrifice His life for my sin, and my opportunity to spend eternity in heaven. Yet You did just that. Thank You Lord Jesus! Now may I, and all my readers be prepared to act in similar fashion and accept even those who persecute us; who have more money than us; who may live in mansions; and who may live under bridges. All are precious in Your sight, and so should they be in ours. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever, 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

Accept THE GIFT Like a Child

On By Ed AlgreenIn Children, Faith, Genuine Faith, Humble, Humility, TrustLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Tuesday, 2017-05-16
SCRIPTURE

From:

 Mark 10:14-16 (ERV)

Text:

 14 …. So he said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people who are like these little children. 15 The truth is, you must accept God’s kingdom like a little child accepts things, or you will never enter it.” 16 Then Jesus held the children in his arms. He laid his hands on them and blessed them.
OBSERVATION:
The disciples did exactly like we would still do today. When the crowds came pressing in on the center of attention, Jesus, they thought to begin reducing the confusion by keeping the children at bay. Surely Jesus would want to speak with the town authorities, or possibly the indigent, or even the known rebels in the town, But to their surprise, Jesus got upset at them, because He wanted the children to come to Him.
APPLICATION:
One translation reads that adults must learn about and accept Jesus in the simplicity of a child. I know that some adults still get pretty excited on Christmas morning, but really nothing to compare to the excitement of a child. Ever notice how a child never meets a ‘stranger’? For those that are not too sheltered, they will walk up to a total stranger and talk to them just like they would to a family member. Ever notice how children absorb everything they are taught, while adults must prove it first? Google has become our greatest friend, because when we can’t trust what the pastor said in church, we could prove him wrong by checking it out on Google! Our children are so trusting that we have to teach them at a very early age that there are some bad people out there that they must be careful of. Adults often have to be retrained that there are some good people out there that they can trust and befriend! In our text today, Jesus is teaching us that adults are to receive kingdom things like little children, with trust and dependence on Him. Our personal abilities, riches, or effort does nothing to enhance our personal relationship with Jesus. Ever notice how within a few days of being with their school or Sunday school teacher, a child will greet them each time with a great big hug and a smile, because they have found someone who cares for them and loves them in return. That’s the same way it is with Jesus Christ. He has already proven His love for us, for with arms stretched from east to west on the cross at Calvary He showed us how much He loved us. And although our eternal life was very costly to Jesus, He made the sacrifice so that we would not allow personal cost to be a hindrance to accepting Him and entering heaven’s portals. Spend some time around a child today and at the end of the day, review your relationship with the King of Glory in light of the faith, trust and love that you witnessed as you observed that child.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, You created us as children so that, as adults, we could appreciate the qualities in little people. I’m sure that as You grew us into adulthood You expected us to maintain some of what we learned as a child, but I believe that we have taken on so many bad qualities of this world, that we have lost much of our faith, trust, humility and love. These are not only qualities we see in our children, but they are key qualities we see in our Savior, and qualities that help us to draw close to You, dear Lord. Please continue to draw us to yourself and please continue to strengthen the qualities that we need in order to draw close to You and be a living witness of You with all that we come into contact with. We are Your children Lord, please help us to love, trust, honor and worship You as child would, 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

Starting Over

On By Ed AlgreenIn Children, Humility, New beginningsLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE (The Message – Matthew 18:1-5): 1 At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, “Who gets the highest rank in God’s kingdom?” 2–5 For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom.

THOUGHTS: After growing up through childhood, many might find it challenging to understand why Jesus would declare that we become like that again if we desire to enter the kingdom of heaven. So I wanted to share a few things that might help us understand how Jesus may have been thinking. When children are very young, they are very trusting and gullible. They couldn’t care less who is in charge, as long as they get fed and cleaned up. Outward distinctions mean nothing to them, as long as they feel loved and cared for. They are free from malice, even when they don’t get their own way. They are teachable, and are willingly dependent on their parents. It is true that they soon begin to show other dispositions, and other ideas are taught them at an early age; but these are all marks of a maturing child. I believe that it is this type of character that Jesus is teaching us that would render us as lowly and ready to accept His love and His care. In other words, just as explained about a newborn child, that’s how Jesus teaches we are to be as a newborn Christian. There is no room for pride, or self-will or boasting, we are to be wholly and solely dependent on the Holy Spirit that takes control of us when we surrender. In fact, we are to continually, and daily, renew the spirit of our minds, that we may become simple and humble, as little children, and willing to be the least of all. Let us daily study this subject, and examine our own spirits. I have found that should I ever get stuck in a project and can’t seem to break through my frustrations, if I would simply start over I will usually avoid my original roadblocks and go on to victory. Perhaps we need to consider allowing Jesus to give us a fresh start also. As His precious child, receiving His special care, I know that we will be more than conquerors in the long run.

PRAYER: Starting over, sounds a lot like ‘born again’ – almost impossible. But Father, I know that our own self-will and our personal desires and knowledge presents roadblocks for us here in this tough life on earth. Please give us the strength to surrender to Your will for our lives. May we become so desirous of Your perfect will and Your powerful hand in our lives that we will be willing to surrender self and become obedient like a small child would be to a parent. Perhaps at that point we will be more apt to listen and obey. Lord, may we be usable instruments in Your perfect and all powerful hands, willing to be used of You to accomplish Your work. I ask these things humbly and in the precious and all powerful name of Jesus, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or read through Biblical truths on How To Know Jesus, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will 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 www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

Spirit-Guided Relationships – Children

On By Ed AlgreenIn Children, Family, RelationshipsLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

Children, do what your parents tell you. This is only right. “Honor your father and mother” is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely, “so you will live well and have a long life.”

(Bible Translation and Location: The Message – Ephesians 6:1-3)

Thoughts:

Over the past two days I have shared with you some thoughts about the preceding verses that spoke to wives and then to husbands. One of the primary blessings that result from happily married couples is the gift of a child, therefore Paul also addressed the responsibility of children. In the case of wives and husbands, God gave us responsibility to one another and to Him. In the case of children, God attached a bonus to the command He gave to them. The command is that children, (several Bible translations actually delineate that this is addressed to Christian children) are to honor their parents by obeying them. Friends, I am convinced that there are benefits to Christian men/husbands/fathers that honor God by obeying Him, that there are benefits to women/wives/mothers that honor God through His command to honor and obey their husbands, and I believe that children who honor and obey these type parents are bound to benefit in many ways, as promised in God’s Word. So why is this, you might ask? Well, if God has already led and disciplined the parents, I would say it only makes sense for parents to pass that teaching and experience on to their children. Will children be tempted to ‘do their own thing’? I believe that we all have a free will that God has blessed us with. However, when our minds, and our lives have been built around certain disciplines, and when parents have led by example of what God has taught them, then variances to our ‘normal’ lifestyle and upbringing will be very limited. Another reinforcement to children is that as they mature into adults, they will also become responsible to God under the guidance given earlier to wives and husbands. Friends, I believe that you might understand by now that family relationships are interwoven with God and with each other. We have responsibility to each other and to God. As we exit this year of 2014, examine your relationship with your family and with God. Use the fresh start of a New Year to recommit to a fresh start in your family relationships and your relationship with God. With God’s help, this can be the best year of your life, friend! It’s up to you!

Prayer:

Father, we see on the news and hear from our friends where there are so many deficiencies in families today. This is very evident from our crime rates, and from our family stresses that often result in heart attacks and premature deaths. Please use this last day of 2014 to speak to the hearts of Your children – mothers, fathers, sons and daughters. The family structure was built by You and around all that You stand for and teach through Your Word. Please guide us unto all Truth so that we may set self aside and quit trying to do things ‘our way’. Instead, Father I plead with You that You might speak loudly and clearly to us, Your children, to be better representatives of Yours. I believe that this will not only bring honor to Yourself, but also open the doors of heaven and its many blessings upon our families. I would love for us to see the need for fewer law enforcement officials in 2015, because of the serious responsibility taken by me, and Your other dear children here on earth. I know that we can only accomplish this awesome task with Your help dear Lord, so as we lay ourselves at Your feet, may You pick us up, strengthen us and guide us in the way we should go, that ultimately brings praise and worship to You oh King. I love You Lord, and I thank You for Your blessings in 2014, while still stressing the sincere need for You in 2015. Into Your hands I commit my life to You for all that You will accomplish through me. Please be a blessing to my readers as they acknowledge Your Word today and make their own commitments to be more committed servants in the coming year. I ask this in the name of Jesus, and believing that He alone can direct our path today and in 2015, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will 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 blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!