Category: Bible Believing

You Just Never Know What’s In Store For You!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, ObedienceLeave a comment

Scripture: Ruth 3-4.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Ruth 4:13-17 (NLT)

13 So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the Lord enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son.

14 Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. 15 May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!”

16 Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own.

17 The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

The story of Ruth is such a heartwarming story showing, among other things, 1). How Naomi and Ruth stuck together after the death of their husbands; 2). How God responded to the prayer of Naomi and Ruth and provided work so that they could care for themselves; 3). How God provided a husband for Ruth, even though he was much older and 4). How God provided a child for this couple that would ultimately become a part of the lineage of David, who wrote the book of Psalms, and the lineage of Jesus, the Savior of the world. The names mentioned in this story book valued the decisions made in accordance with what they felt was God’s will for their lives, in spite of the worldly implications of all that may have been apparent. The point is that when we surrender our lives wholly and solely to God, we have no idea at the time of why He directs us in some of the paths that we go or the decisions that we make, but as in this story, I am convinced that we must first of all depend on God to direct us and lead us, secondly we must listen to His voice and obey Him – even if we don’t understand why He is permitting certain things or directing in certain ways. However, we must realize that ultimately these same God driven events and decisions could lead to things that will impact eternity for many. Therefore, I believe that we must realize the importance of listening closely to what God is saying, and we must follow His commands – as only He knows about those things beyond the very moment in which we breathe. We just never know the impact of what our decisions today will have eternally in the lives of others, so let’s be attentive to God’s direction and will for us.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, so often I wonder what impact little old me could have on those that I come in contact with. I have been reminded that it’s not about me, but all about You, and because my decisions could have an eternal impact on my family, my church and/or those that I come into casual contact with, therefore it is ultimately important that I listen closely to Your voice, and follow Your instructions closely, so that Your perfect will may be accomplished in all that I do or say, and that ultimately souls will be impacted for the kingdom because of my obedience to You. Eternal implications result from decisions that I make today or things that I say today, so may I always be a good listener, obedient follower and careful but diligent example of You in everything today. Thank You Father for working in the lives of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz, and thank You for continuing to work in and through me.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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Building Memorials

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Celebrate God, Christian, God ReignsLeave a comment

Scripture: Joshua 21-22.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Joshua 22:34 (NLT)

34 The people of Reuben and Gad named the altar “Witness,” for they said, “It is a witness between us and them that the Lord is our God, too.”

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

Each day of our lives we see God at work, and often we meet to celebrate in praise everything He has done in our lives. Too often we generalize and say, “Yes, God is good” but we fail to say specifically how He was good to us. We hardly ever write those specific things down so that our children, or future generations can grow from our experiences. We fail to erect a memorial in honor of the awesome work that God does in our lives. Imagine how awesome it would be for us to go to a ‘memorial’ that our ancestors built in celebration of an accomplishment they recognized God’s mighty hand at work in their lives? The people of Reuben and Gad had seen God work in so many marvelous ways during the time they were altogether with Moses, Joshua and the Israelites. Now that they were going to settle down and be separated by the Jordan river from the Israelites, they wanted their future generations to be reminded every time they saw or passed by this memorial, that the God they served was powerful and had worked in wondrous ways in the lives of their ancestors as a united people, and that they too could place their faith and trust in this same, infinitely powerful, God who could also see them through their daily struggles. What are some things that we might build a memorial for today? Perhaps God used our church during special services to reach a large hoard of people where many were saved – when we build a memorial to remind our future generations about this, we are giving them confidence that the same God who worked amongst Moses and the Israelites, also performed miracles during the lifetime of their ancestors and therefore they would have confidence to realize that God could do the same for them! There may be miracles, or God-sized achievements in our lives today that we rejoice over, but unless we do something to preserve (memorialize) that, it is very possible that our future generations would have nothing to fall back on, or give them confidence in. Furthermore, unless we can do something to preserve the good that God has done in our lives, unfortunately the bad, or unfortunate things we may have done, will be long remembered! Perhaps at annual family celebrations, such as Christmas, or Thanksgiving, or Homecoming, we should reserve time for families to not only tell about the accomplishments they credit to God, but to do this through a memorial of sorts, that can be long remembered by future generations of the work of the Lord in our lives.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Lord, I acknowledge today that You are certainly awesome in so many ways in and through me. Please help me to regularly build altars, or memorials to celebrate these accomplishments so that future generations may be encouraged to seek after the same loving, powerful, awesome God that I serve and give witness to. Thank You for loving and working through the people of Reuben and Gad. Thank You for being God to my ancestors and working miracles for them and through them, and thank You for blessing even me in so many ways. Please help me to not hide these miracles under a bushel, but to let them shine to a world that has little hope, aside from You!

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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The Results of Half-Hearted Cleansing

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Defeated foe, Pleasing to God, Power of PrayerLeave a comment

Scripture: Joshua 12-15.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Joshua 13:13 (NLT)

13 But the Israelites failed to drive out the people of Geshur and Maacah, so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.

Joshua 15:63 (NLT)

63 But the tribe of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites, who lived in the city of Jerusalem, so the Jebusites live there among the people of Judah to this day.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

Over the past chapters we read where Joshua and/or Moses were, with the help and direction of God, successful in overcoming a number of countries and their respective kings. I found it odd to read the two verses above where the Israelites were unsuccessful, or perhaps failed, in driving out the Jebusites and the people of Geshur and Maacah, because I know that the God they served, and of course the same God that I serve today, is very capable of overcoming all obstacles. In my further study I found where these same people that failed to fully conquer, were the same ones that caused unending difficulties for the Israelites, as recorded in the book of Judges. This sounds like there may have been personal reasons that the Israelites just didn’t push hard enough to really oust these people, and it reminds me of us when we fail to seek God’s power to really rid ourselves of certain sins. Often these little sins that we hold dear to our selfish little hearts are the very same things that come back to bite us and cause us extreme difficulties. I believe that God is always looking for folk that he can use who are totally sold out to Him, where we have surrendered everything to Him and cleansed ourselves of all sinful things. In fact, to substantiate my belief on this, please refer to chapter 14 vs 9 where we read that Caleb was given special favor with God because he ‘wholeheartedly‘ followed God’s commands. I believe that seeing where God gave up everything for me, yes His one and only Son, so that I might have life eternally and more abundantly, then the least I can do in return is to surrender ALL sin – yes everything that does not align with God’s Word, His will and commands for me. There is no room for half-heartedness – may we all be totally sold out to Jesus!

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

There is only way that I can be the totally true, unselfish, child of God and overcome daily temptations and sin, and that is to seek Your help O God and look to You in all humility for strength and guidance to live as You would have me live – so that You can receive full benefit (ministry) in and through me. May I be a vessel usable by You – a holy and just God. May others come to know You as Lord, as you find the freedom to use this unadulterated child of Yours. Please forgive me where I have been deliberately selfish and weak and given in to sin. This is unbecoming of a child of Yours and I need Your forgiveness and strength to overcome and live a life totally sold out to You.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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Nothing is Too Big For God!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Ask and Receive, Bible Believing, Celebrate God, Christian, Listen to the Word of God, Victorious LifeLeave a comment

Scripture: Joshua 9-11.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Joshua 11:19-20 (NLT)

19 No one in this region made peace with the Israelites except the Hivites of Gibeon. All the others were defeated. 20
For the Lord hardened their hearts and caused them to fight the Israelites. So they were completely destroyed without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

This passage reminds me that nothing, absolutely nothing, is too big or impossible for God! Praise the name of the Lord! I feel like so often in our lives today we limit God and our requests to Him by what we can see as a possibility. In this passage this morning I saw where kings for several nations joined together to fight and try to keep the Israelites out of their territory, but as noted in these two verses, God was preparing the land that He had promised to the Israelites when they left Egypt, and these folk had to go. God hardened their hearts and caused them, or provoked them, to fight the Israelites, and no matter the size of the joint army, God had already won the battle for the Israelites. This tells me that in today’s society where there are folk that are so hardened and don’t want to hear about the Lord, and when we, as Christians or children of God, decide that those folk are unreachable or untouchable, we are truly limiting the power of God. We know what the book says – God will be victorious over Satan and all of his forces, and I have a pretty good idea that it will not be because of what we do to help Him! We serve an awesome, powerful God. Let’s not limit Him in our prayers, in our families, in our churches, in our workplace nor in our towns. He will overcome this world! He will be victorious! Let’s not stand in His way. Instead, let us be steadfast in prayer, obedient to His Word, and follow His every direction – for He holds the keys to winning our church, our town, our state and our nation. Let’s be ready to join the victory party in heaven, instead of sitting on the sidelines and doubting if our God can overcome the people and the evil things that we see going on around us – for Nothing Is Too Big for our God!

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father I pray that I can see through Your eyes and not be obstructed by the limitations of my eyes. Please help me to set aside my personal agendas, my limiting expectations and my projection of what I can accomplish, and instead fill me with the awesome realization that I serve a God that knows all things and can do all things. As I sit aside and see Your awesome power at work, may I be the greatest cheerleader and servant to follow Your every command. You deserve all my praise and adoration for the awesome power that You portrayed to my forefathers, and for the power yet to be displayed as You win the victories over sin and death that I see all around me. Praise God that I am on the winning side!

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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The Importance of Obedience

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Imitator of Christ, Listen to the Word of God, ObedienceLeave a comment

Scripture: Deuteronomy 25-28.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Deuteronomy 28:58-59 (NLT)

58 “If you refuse to obey all the words of instruction that are written in this book, and if you do not fear the glorious and awesome name of the Lord your God, 59 then the Lord will overwhelm you and your children with indescribable plagues. These plagues will be intense and without relief, making you miserable and unbearably sick.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

Moses had seen all that God had done for him and his people. After all, they had been rescued for the impossible rule and slavery of the Egyptians, they had been brought safely through the wilderness for 40 years and provided water when there was none to be found, provided food when none was available to the people, also God provided direction and Godly leadership to them when everything seemed helpless and forsaken as a people. If we are totally honest before God, we would acknowledge that we too are a very blessed people, and it is so evident that God has carefully brought us through so much, that we should feel eternally grateful and therefore in constant praise and worship to our Kind, our Provider, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But let us also take note of the warning that Moses gave to his people, for he told them that if they did not fear the glorious and awesome name of the Lord then they would be overwhelmed by intense plagues that would make them miserable and unbearably sick. I don’t know about you friend, but I often look around and wonder if God is not showing His displeasure with our sinfulness when I see all the disasters that come upon us, and/or so many of the illnesses and diseases that come upon us for which doctors have no answers or cures. I believe that what we must be careful to consider, is that even though we often see God’s marvelous hand upon us in blessings, we must especially take note when we His hand of correction, redirection or displeasure is upon us. As children of God, I believe that we must be so in turned with God’s Word that we will do everything possible to avoid God’s handoff correction upon us, for I believe that He delights in obedient children. Our desire and our aim should be to obey His Word completely and therefore please Him in all things and all aspects of our life.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, I know that this is a daily battle, but please help me to be obedient to Your Word and follow Your commands in all that I do and say. May You be proud of the effort that I give to this and may I represent You so well in all that I do and say, that others will see Jesus in my every action or word. It’s You I live for Jesus – may that be evident to others through my deeds, actions and words.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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Make Time To Pray

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Imitator of Christ, Power of PrayerLeave a comment

Scripture: Luke 5.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Luke 5:15-16 (NLT)

15 But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases.

16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

Recently I saw a signature line on an email that read “Make it a great day!” and it struck home to me that although we can say to friends that we wish them a great day, it is totally up to them to make it a great day. Likewise in this passage, Jesus could easily have prayed to the Father with all the crowds around Him, but to truly find an intimate time with His Father, He withdrew from the crowds and found one on one time with Him. Attending church is vital to the Christian. Praying with fellow Christians is very healthy, especially when praying for things in common. However, when praying about very intimate, personal things, and when asking for very intimate responses from God to your very intimate needs, it is always best to pull yourself aside from the busyness of the day, from the friends that will distract you, from the work that you are so busy doing, and make time to pray intimately to the Father. Tell Him your heart and your hearts desires. Listen to Him about all that He would have you do to walk closer with Him and be a better witness for Him. To make time to pray is making that a priority in your life and not allowing anything to come in the way. Sometimes this will force you to look at your day and determine when there is availability in your schedule where you will not be disturbed by anyone or distracted by anything. Sometimes this may mean taking less sleep so you could spend time with God. Whatever it is, do whatever it takes to make time to pray, friend. Jesus did it, imagine how much more important it is for us to do it! One of the worse attended services at churches is Prayer Meeting. Corporate prayer is usually evidence of an individual who practices personal, private time, I believe. Where are you on prayer meeting nights?

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, we get so caught up in the rush, hustle and bustle of everyday life, that we often include our time with You as part of that hustle and bustle. Please help me to always make time to pray, even if it means sacrificing a little sleep or personal time. I have often taught that instead of saying that we don’t have time for something, say that it was not a priority at the time for us. I pray that I will never say that finding time to pray alone with You was not a priority for me. Something so important deserves top priority, because it means communicating with my Creator, my Savior who sacrificed life itself so that I may live eternally with the Father. It means finding time to make sure that I receive my next set of instructions for the day, or for the tasks assigned to me by the Father. I want to make my time with You top priority. Please help me to always honor this.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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As You Are Blessed – Give in Return

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Giving, God our Provider, Imitator of ChristLeave a comment

Scripture: Deuteronomy 14 – 17.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Deuteronomy 16:16-17 (NLT)

16 “Each year every man in Israel must celebrate these three festivals: the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Harvest, and the Festival of Shelters. On each of these occasions, all men must appear before the Lord your God at the place he chooses, but they must not appear before the Lord without a gift for him. 17 All must give as they are able, according to the blessings given to them by the Lord your God.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

Would there ever be a need in God’s house or among His people if we all gave as we are blessed? I dare say that there would not be the need for a church to borrow funds if we truly followed God’s Word on the subject of giving. I believe that too often we tend to give ourselves credit for all that we achieve in our jobs and in our income, so we find excuses as to why we shouldn’t give a portion to God in return for His blessing. I need to remind self and my friends this morning that life itself is a blessing from God. Health and strength is a blessing from God – after all why do we deserve to be healthy enough to rise and shine this morning, when so many are bed ridden and unable to move? Why are we so blessed to have a job to go to this morning when there are so many that are unemployed? God has seen fit to bless us in this time and place. What we do with that is our appreciation back to our Maker, our Provider, our Protector, our Sacrificial Lamb, our Savior, Our Lord and soon coming King. As we are blessed, let us recognize the blessings, and let us give in accordance with how we are blessed. We often say “God is good all the time”, the question today is: Are we good to others in return? Do we give freely to others as God has chosen to give freely to us? It’s all His, friend! Let’s not be stingy in how liberal we are in how we give to others and to His work!

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, I pray that You will help me to be mindful of how much You bless me each and every day. Help me to not obligate myself so much in debt and/or bills that I find it challenging to give to others and/or Your work. Thank You for blessing me with so much. Please help me to bless others in return so that they may see You in material ways and want to know You in a personal way.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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Who Receives Credit for Your Ministry?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Disciple, Humility, PowerLeave a comment

Scripture: Luke 3.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Luke 3:15-18 (NLT)

15 Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah.

16 John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17 He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”

18 John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

As I read this part of chapter 3 this morning I was reminded about how much this sounds like our world today. Many are expecting Jesus to come soon. Many want to know if the Christ has come already and we just don’t recognize him. Unfortunately, many put their faith in pastors, preachers, evangelists or just plain spiritual leaders. This is evident because they never read the Bible to see what God is saying to them personally, they just depend on what they hear preached or taught to them. With every little ache or pain some will sooner run to the pastor rather than, or instead of, praying to God for their healing. Now I know that a good pastor will want to know about your ailments or needs so that he might pray with you about them, but remember friends, God is the One with the power to heal and/or meet your needs. It is so important that we have a ‘personal’ relationship with the risen Lord! The other thing that I am impressed with about John is that he emphasized that he was only a messenger, and that the Christ would be much greater than he. To those of us that folk may look up to and place faith in, we must be so very careful to clarify with them where the real power source is, and that we are merely a caring messenger of that One. To those we minister to, we must be very careful to serve as Jesus served, do all we can to see them plugged into the right power source and build a personal relationship with Jesus. Allowing someone to attach themselves to us as a friend who cares about them and will pray for them and guide them into a personal relationship with Jesus is what ministering in His name is all about. It is never about self. Remember, there is no power unless it comes from God Himself. It would be a pity for us to work with someone spiritually without seeing them come to know, and depend on Jesus as Lord of their life. We will move along some day, but remember that the love and power of God will last forever. It’s all about God, not us!

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Lord Jesus, it is You that I love and adore. It is You that I long to see one day in Heaven. It is You that I want others to see when I share Your love with them. Please help me to never promote self, but to disclose the true source of any power displayed in anything that I may say or do. Like John, I know that in and of myself, I am nothing with You. Therefore, please help me to promote You in all that I say or do so that others will be drawn to You and not to me.

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àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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Obey God’s Commands

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Heaven, Imitator of Christ, Listen to the Word of God, Obedience, Resurrection DayLeave a comment

Scripture: Deuteronomy 12-13.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Deuteronomy 12:28 (NLT)

28 Be careful to obey all my commands, so that all will go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and pleasing to the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 12:32 (NLT)

32 “So be careful to obey all the commands I give you. You must not add anything to them or subtract anything from them.
Deuteronomy 13:4 (NLT)

4 Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him.

Deuteronomy 13:18 (NLT)

18 “The Lord your God will be merciful only if you listen to his voice and keep all his commands that I am giving you today, doing what pleases him.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

It is interesting how God has been emphasizing ‘Obedience’ over the past three devotions! In reading these two chapters this morning I noticed where the Israelites were being warned several times how important it was for them to honor God through their obedience. It was also interesting to note how a reward of some sort was being offered or promised to them in response to their obedience. It definitely was emphasized how important it is to God when His children loves Him enough to be obedient to His commands and teachings. This speaks to me, because I know that this is the same God that I serve today. God’s Word is loaded with ‘nuggets’ that we are expected to follow in obedience to the God that we love and in showing proof to God that we love Him so much that we are willing to obey Him, regardless if it may be contrary to the desires of our own heart or in line with what our peers around us. It is obvious that our obedience pleases God and it is obvious throughout God’s Word that He will honor our obedience with rewards that come only from a loving God. I’m looking forward to my reward of being present with the Lord some day in Heaven and I long for the voice of God to say individually to me, “well done good and faithful servant – Ed, you have been obedient to my Word and my commands, welcome into my presence”. Wow, ‘What A Day that Will Be‘! Wow, ‘Oh that will be Glory for Me’!, Wow, ‘Oh I want to see Him, Look Upon His Face, There to Sing Forever‘!

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, just to look upon Your face and sing glories to You forever in Your heavenly home is something worth the journey each and every day while walking this daily, challenging road here on earth. You have emphasized how important obedience is to that ultimate journey. I pray that my life will be so dedicated to obeying You and my mind so fixed on Your Word and obeying it, that someday, when You see fit to call me out of this world, that I shall see You face to face and worship You eternally in heaven. I look forward to that day! I feel like it will be the prize rewarded to me for being obedient, patient and exemplifying You in every way while here on this earth. Thank You for preparing a home for me! While left here on this earth, I beg Your power to overcome evil and be a living, loving example of You to all that I come into contact with.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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Love and Obedience Lead to Blessings!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, God’s Word, Imitator of Christ, Listen to the Word of God, Obedience, Pleasing to GodLeave a comment

Scripture: Deuteronomy 11.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Deuteronomy 11:22-23 (NLT)

22 “Be careful to obey all these commands I am giving you. Show love to the Lord your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him. 23 Then the Lord will drive out all the nations ahead of you, though they are much greater and stronger than you, and you will take over their land.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

I have underlined a section of the short scripture that I copied above, because it really spoke to me this morning about where we are as a people, as a church, as a city, state and country. We tend to get all shaken and concerned about all that goes on around us, and we may even wonder sometime if God is truly with us. I believe that much too often we look at external factors that may affect us much more than looking inward to see what it is that we may be falling short on ourselves. I believe that Moses said to his people that when they do their part by:

  1. Showing love to the Lord – let’s remember that our love is shown by our actions. We may say with our mouths that we love someone, but when we consistently do those things that we know will aggravate, tantalize, upset or even disappoint that person, they will not feel much love from us. So it is with God. If we truly love Him, we will be in close communion/fellowship with Him daily. We will look for ways to please Him, honor Him and obey Him. We will then say it with our mouths that we love Him, and He will know without a doubt from our actions that we love Him. In fact others around us will know that we love Him.
  2. Walking in His ways – being a Christian means being a little Christ, or giving every effort towards doing all that Jesus did, all that He showed us and told us to do. Follow His example in the ways that He dealt with people. Imitate His very character and seek to do His will in all aspects of your life.
  3. Holding tightly to Him – at the beginning of this chapter Moses made it clear that he was not speaking to the children, or folk that didn’t know about the mighty hand of God. This reminds me that I can’t shrug off my responsibility to hold tight to the teachings, miracles, leadership, love, understanding and boldness of my Savior, because it is upon those things that I have built my faith and trust in Him. So hold tight to those things that I have learned about Him so that all doubt will be removed as I look to depend on Him each day.

When we do our part, then we can know that God will honor His Word and do all that He has promised. We have a hope, friend. Let us do our part through our belief, our actions and our obedience, then watch and savor the blessings that will be ours as God watches over us and makes a way for us.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, thank You for reminding me again this morning what it takes to open the doors of Heaven and receive Your blessings. Please direct my path today and help me to walk in Your ways and be obedient to all that You would have me do or say. I am often reminded about what You would have me do and say. Please give me the boldness, desire and love to follow Your teachings so that I may be more like You each and every day. Thank You for your promises to do even more for me as I follow and be obedient. I need Your strength and power each and every day dear Lord.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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