Category: Faith

How Long Will You Wait?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Faith, Patience, Rewards, Time, Trust, Wait on the LordLeave a comment

Friday, 2019-03-22

Bible Reference: Exodus 24:15-18
Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

Bible Text: 15 Then Moses climbed up the mountain, and the cloud covered it. 16 And the glory of the Lord settled down on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from inside the cloud. 17 To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the Lord appeared at the summit like a consuming fire. 18 Then Moses disappeared into the cloud as he climbed higher up the mountain. He remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

OBSERVATION: In our Scripture today, we will see more about the patient obedience of Moses, and we will have the opportunity to compare our patience, or lack thereof, with this holy man of God. This is an eye-opening experience for every child of God.

APPLICATION: Out of the 168 hours given to us every week, there are some who calculate carefully which one-hour period they will give to God. In other words, some will say that their one hour might be used for a church service, while others will say that because there is a monthly meeting at church that lasts an hour, there will be no church service for them that week. There are some who will attend a church service, but when that hour is up, they become very fidgety and start checking their watch every five minutes with hopes that the preacher sees that and gets the message that it’s time to quit. Friends, there are real life stories behind each of these scenarios, so please don’t assume for a minute that I’m exaggerating. Now I want you to read our Scripture verses again, then stop and meditate on the picture story conveyed in those words. Let’s then allow Moses to be our mentor and leader for a while this weekend, and let’s assume that you and I are two of the 70 elders mentioned in the accompanying story around these verses. Here’s what I believe our conversation might be: So Moses, I am fine in accompanying you on a trip up that mountain tomorrow, but how long will we be gone? You see, I have sheep that must be attended to and a sick child that my wife will be burdened with while I’m away. You see, I have important responsibilities. (Moses) – Son, my allegiance is to God. And as fellow Elders, we must obey the call of God. He said come, and I am merely following His command. There is no time limit, for our God may release us within a few hours, or it may take days. Regardless of our obligations here with our families, our lives are worth nothing without our God. It’s Him first, and then to follow in obedience as to what He tells us to do. Choose you this day whom you shall serve, young man. Friends, with these words on our mind, I believe that we will consider who our true Master is at all times, especially when it’s time to serve God, spend time with God, Worship God, or simply bask in His presence. Added to this, imagine Moses and the Elders waiting on the mountain day after day, and even after the 6th day – still nothing. No I didn’t say one hour, like we are more apt to commit to, nor did I say six hours, which may sound extreme to most of us. It wasn’t until the seventh day that the Lord called out to Moses from the cloud. But that’s not all, Moses then moves on up higher through the clouds and spends another 40 days up there with the Lord. Friends, what hit me hard here in this story, is that Moses was on God’s schedule, and not his own. Will the world continue on without you if God pulled you aside for about 50 days? You better believe it. You may feel like the shop won’t open tomorrow, or the kids won’t get to school, or the family will run out of money. Let me encourage you to get over yourself. The world will go on, your business will go on, and in your surrendered state before the Master of this universe, you will be blessed beyond all measure. Recognize that there is NOTHING more important than time with God. Recognize that your life is so complicated because you are so dependent on yourself and your capabilities. Let us STOP and get in tuned with the Master. He designed us, and this whole world in which we are a part. Don’t ever forget that HE has the power to do every little thing that we worry about, except our temptation to sin. God loves us from the very depths of His heart, and He will take care of us, and those things that we tend to worry about. So why not trust Him completely and wholeheartedly? Be willing to spend time with Him – any amount of time that He might demand. No time-limits, please?

PRAYER: They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall rise up with wings like eagles… Lord Jesus, please forgive us for trying to place You in the same category as our microwave, or our convection oven – instant results. How refreshing to be reminded of Moses, and the time that He spend waiting to hear from You, and then the time just basking at Your feet. Please revive Your church oh Lord – that’s us. For we need to be reminded of the importance of spending time with You without time limits. You alone are God, and we are Your masterpieces created to serve, worship and adore You. Please help us to always be reminded that the Master sets the time we are allowed to spend with Him, not the other way around. Oh that You might become so important in our lives that You will be our top priority. Please move in our hearts, draw us close to You, and use us to encourage others to do the same. AMEN!

The Benefits of Worship and Service to God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Dedication, Deeply Rooted, Faith, Rewards, Serve, Trust, WorshipLeave a comment

Thursday, 2019-03-21

Bible Reference: Exodus 23:25-26
Translation: The Voice (VOICE)

Bible Text: 25 Worship and serve only the Eternal your God, and I will bless you with an ample supply of wholesome food and clean water. I will take away all sickness from you, 26 prevent miscarriages and barrenness, and give you long, productive lives.

OBSERVATION: In spite of miracle after miracle, yet God saw that the Israelites were still tempted to sin and worship idols at every opportunity. Much like ‘believers’ today, I believe. So I want us to meditate on the promises that God told to the Israelites, because I believe that He will do the same for us, if we meet the same conditions stated in these verses!

APPLICATION: I wonder what types of responses we might receive if we asked the typical church attendee in each of our towns, or churches: ‘Why does one worship?’ and ‘Why would one serve God?’. I would imagine that would yield an interesting set of answers! But I also believe that in pondering those hypothetical questions, believers might also be forced to answer those questions from a very personal standpoint: Why do I wake up from my warm bed, forego the trip to the beach on this beautiful day – one of the few that I’m off from work each week? Just as challenging, they might also question themselves: Why do I sacrifice my time in serving at my church? It seems so unappreciated and the good Lord knows that there is so much more that I need time to accomplish in my personal life. I believe by now you have probably pondered these questions personally, and have a few choice answers of your own! But let’s look at this from a scriptural standpoint. You see, I believe that God actually created us to worship Him. The following scriptures help to convince me of this: John 4:23-24; Revelation 4:11; Hebrews 1:6; Friends, I believe that a reminder is in order for us, so that we stop fooling ourselves into thinking that worship is about: Going to church, even though this is one of the best places you can find yourselves at, with other believers; Good worship songs and a rocking worship band, although this truly enhances our worship services; Worshiping a God that you do not personally know – for then you go through the motion without a personal attachment; Worshiping God out of obligation or requirement, rather than from a heart of self gratitude and personal experience with the Almighty. Friends, when our hearts are right with God, we will not only worship Him wholeheartedly, but we will desire to serve Him faithfully from a pure heart. Think about what this type of service might yield, versus a sense of obligation to serve, or just wanting to see all positions filled in a certain ministry area! Please note that God promised the Israelites wholesome food, clean water, good and productive lives in return for changed hearts that show evidence through worship and service. I can only believe that our God is the same today as He was yesterday, and that He has many blessings in store for those of us with thankful and loving hearts who sincerely dedicate ourselves to spreading His love through reaching others for the Kingdom, and serving from the depths of our heart as an extension of God’s outreached hand to those who need Him. Please communicate with your Savior, Jesus the Christ – my wonderful Lord, and commit yourself fully to Him. There is absolutely no telling what He has in store for us when we join Him in Heaven, dear friends!

PRAYER: Precious Lord, I come before You today as one who is not perfect, and I am therefore guilty of many of the things I shared in this devotional. I believe that many of my friends who will read this devotional today will honestly bow before you also with guilt about the things that are discussed above. You know the temptations and sin that distract us from a right and honest relationship with you, and because of this we are prone to wander and therefore not worship You in Spirit and in truth, and we serve out of obligation rather than as a result of our desire to share Your wonderful love with others who need You. Please dear Lord, make us a people who love You from the very depths of our heart, so that we may share with others from that same deep love that we experience. May Your kingdom come oh Lord, and may You be magnified in everything that I do or say. AMEN!

Warning, Prepare For…

On By Ed AlgreenIn Faith, Rewards, Salvation, Saved, Surrender, Trust, Warning, Warning SignsLeave a comment

Wednesday, 2019-03-20

Bible Reference: Matthew 24:42-44
Translation: The Passion Translation (TPT)

Bible Text: 42 This is why you must stay alert: because no one knows the day your Lord will come. 43 “But realize this: If a homeowner had known what time of night the burglar would come to rob his house, he would have been alert and ready, and not let his house be robbed. 44 So always be ready, alert, and prepared, because at an hour when you’re not expecting him, the Son of Man will come.”

OBSERVATION: In our Scripture today we are receiving yet another warning of something that will impact all mankind. Now it’s up to mankind to take that warning seriously and prepare themselves for the impending, pronounced occurrence, or do nothing, and be prepared for the dangerous, life-threatening results. I will expand on this in the ‘Application’, and I pray that you are concerned enough to continue reading, as this will impact you and your loved ones.

APPLICATION: Through analysis of past weather systems, men are able to predict how many hurricanes we might expect in a given year, and even the impact they may have on certain areas of the world. Meteorologists are therefore able to alert residents of what a storm is currently doing, and what its predictive direction and velocity might be in future hours and days. It’s not uncommon to see some residents begin to evacuate, based on the warnings, while some feel like other things are more important, or they could very well take care of themselves, even if their area is hit with unusually high winds, twisters, etc. Some of these brave men and women survive these horrific weather systems, while others don’t. In our Scripture today, we are being warned of the unannounced, non-predictive, return of Jesus Christ. Notice that no-one knows the day or the hour of His return. It’s not on the radar for our meteorologists to sound the warning, and even if it was, I believe that mankind would be even more stubborn about listening to and doing anything about the warnings, than they do with the hurricanes, or winter storm warnings. I am not all that pessimistic, I’m just sharing what I see each and every Saturday/Sunday morning when church doors open, and teachers and pastors look into the ‘radar’ God prepared for them, the Bible, and they share the warnings and readiness steps with a very small percentage of residents concerned enough to care about their eternal future. Friends, this is not just another warning, like a storm that may dissipate or just turn a different direction. Jesus didn’t say that He may come back, but instead said that He will return to earth to take His children home to glory. If I knew a bad storm was headed my way and could possible endanger all those within the sound of my voice, I would find every avenue possible to get the word out to my family, friends, neighbors and fellow residents. This devotional is an avenue that I have chosen to warn everyone, that Jesus told me in His precious Word, that He would be coming soon to collect His children before the rest of the world is released to Satan and the awful damnation of Hell itself. My prayer, and my sincere wish, is that ALL will be saved and join me around the throne in Heaven. I pray that you will heed the warning given and that you will surrender your life to the lordship of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Please don’t wait, His return could actually occur before you complete your reading of this devotional. Accept Jesus now, won’t you, dear friend? Please see my ‘Footnote’ for tips on accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior.

PRAYER: Lord, I have no reason to doubt Your Word, because so much of it has been proven, or Your predictions have already come true. It frightens me about Your warnings, but I appreciate Your patience, because so many remain undecided as to what they will do with the only One who loves them unconditionally, and has sacrificed His very own Son for their salvation. Lord, as many teachers and pastors try to do every week, I ask today that You might tender the hardened hearts of those that might read this devotional and do not claim You as Lord. May this be the day of salvation for many, is my heartfelt prayer, oh Lord – my Rock and my Redeemer. AMEN!

To Be Treasured By God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Faith, Love, Love of God, Rewards, TrustLeave a comment

Saturday, 2019-03-16

Bible Reference: Exodus 19:5-6
Translation: The Voice (VOICE)

Bible Text: 5 Now if you will hear My voice, obey what I say, and keep My covenant, then you—out of all the nations of the world—will be My treasured people. After all, the earth belongs to Me. 6 You will be My kingdom of priests, a nation holy and set apart.”

OBSERVATION: Often we will ask God for things, and expect a whole lot from Him, but how often do we dig into His Word, learn about His commands and obediently follow His instructions? Let’s meditate on how this compares to God’s conditional promise to the Israelites that is detailed in Exodus 19:5.

APPLICATION: I wonder how many of us would pass up on a good deal, that we knew depended only on a few provisions that were within our ability to achieve? Here’s an example of a scenario that we might quickly jump to: If you move from Florida to Georgia, you will become rich from working the soil there (farming) because of the natural minerals and nutrients, and you will enjoy the much cooler weather there in which to farm. Wouldn’t you think that some of our Floridians would pack up and begin our move to Georgia, to enjoy the new life that would include the riches of the land there? So let’s consider what we would do if God said to us something similar to what He told the Israelites: (a) ‘If you hear my voice’ and I believe this means that we would be required to not just say that we hear God’s voice, but that we would allow His words to penetrate our very being and have an impact on our lives; (b) ‘If you obey what I say’ and I believe this means that we would be prepared to stop assuming that the Word is for our wicked neighbor, or for that unfriendly guy down the street, but rather that we, personally, would be prepared to respond to God’s Word by obeying what He tells us to do; and (c) ‘Keep my covenants’ and I believe that this means that we stop pretending that we are obedient to His written Word, but instead decide to truly obey His covenant that God set forth for us. All three of these things sound simple enough, but God added a reward for the Israelites, and I believe that He would do the same for us if we truly follow His conditions – that we would be His treasured people. Yes among all the people of the world, He would choose to honor and treasure us. Friends, this scenario is very much aligned with what God did for us on Calvary, by sacrificing His very own Son. He made such a sacrifice as a reward for us, if we accept His Son as Lord and Savior. The reward is that we would spend eternity with the Father and the Son in heaven, singing praises to the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. This is not just a reward dear one, but in comparison to the alternative – eternal damnation under the leadership of Satan, our choice/offer by God is the only one that anyone of sound mind would deliberately choose. Oh that this may be the choice already made by all who read this devotional today. If you have yet to make that commitment, let me encourage you to read my Footnote carefully and follow the steps that will lead you to find Jesus and accept Him as Lord!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for providing the means for us to find eternal peace, and eternal salvation through Your precious Son, Jesus. May all who read this devotional today be reminded of the importance of making peace with You so that Your eternal reward may fill their heart with joy and everlasting hope. Please soften the hearts of those who will read this, but have yet to agree to the simple plan of salvation. To know You is to have peace everlasting! AMEN!

What to Expect From The Greatest One Among You

On By Ed AlgreenIn Faith, Rewards, Servants of God, Serve, TrustLeave a comment

Friday, 2019-03-15

Bible Reference: Matthew 23:8-11
Translation: Good News Translation (GNT)

Bible Text: 8 You must not be called ‘Teacher,’ because you are all equal and have only one Teacher. 9 And you must not call anyone here on earth ‘Father,’ because you have only the one Father in heaven. 10 Nor should you be called ‘Leader,’ because your one and only leader is the Messiah.11 The greatest one among you must be your servant.

OBSERVATION: These verses really impacted me. Because in our ‘dog-eat-dog’ world, where everyone is greedy after the position just above them, so that they could earn more money, and be looked up to. Imagine how we would feel if the further up we went, the more servanthood was expected of us? That doesn’t even sound right in our world today, and in the work atmosphere in which we find ourselves, right? Then let’s dig into the Word by meditating on this for a while today.

APPLICATION: A new hire will most often start out in the lowest position of an organization, so that they might learn that position and hopefully everything else above that position, as they progress along in their employment. Imagine if, at the beginning of year three, they were told by their employer that they want them to take on more servanthood, along with added responsibility in the organization. Do you suppose they would be just a little confused? I believe in our employment world today, that individuals feel honored to move up, because finally they could have others do all the piddly jobs for them, to help them look good and move up even more. In some environments, supervisors are encouraged to not mix with their employees, because they would lose their respect. But what about the child of God that studies the practices of Jesus, God’s Son, and tries to follow the concepts taught in His Word? Is it not unimaginable to think of a ‘leader’, or a ‘manager’ to lift up their workers and praise them for helping the department achieve their goals? Wouldn’t that leader or manager feel less than adequate before their boss? What about in the church? I hope that you are not seeing your pastors, or elders, or deacons, or teachers, placing themselves on such pedestals that they wait to be served by others. For if we are truly to imitate our Lord and Savior, we would see our main ‘servants’ scrubbing the floor, washing the feet of others, serving food to the hungry and showing the love of Jesus to all they come into contact with. Jesus encouraged us to not even assume titles by which He or His Father were known, for we would never want others to assume for a moment that we are to be looked up to as another ‘Jesus’. For there is none like Him, and we are never to try and assume His place among those with whom we worship, work or mix with. Friends, we are on this earth to promote Jesus, not to be His equal, because we would never succeed in that. While we should strive to imitate His goodness as a sign of obeying His teachings, we must be careful to pass all praises on to Him. For it’s Jesus that we live for; It’s Jesus that we represent; It’s Jesus who loved us enough that He died on a cruel cross to save us eternally; and it’s Jesus who is coming back to gather His chosen ones to accompany Him in glory before the Father. Friends, we are servants of a great BIG God! Let’s remember our role, and His, each day of our lives, and seek to follow His instructions regarding our servant role while here on earth.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, King of all kings and Lord of all lords. Greater than all others, yet You demonstrated servanthood while here on earth, and because You want us to live our life as an example of Yours, I believe that You are commanding that we also be servants to those around us, including those that we may have supervisory charge. In humility You came to this world, in humility You lived, and in humility You were crucified. Therefore to imitate You, we must also be humble. Please continue to work on us, mold us and direct us, so that others will recognize You and want to know You as Lord. AMEN!

That They May See The Power of God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Faith, Praise, Praise-worthy, Rewards, TrustLeave a comment

Wednesday, 2019-03-13

Bible Reference: Exodus 14:24-25; 31
Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

Bible Text: 24 But just before dawn the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion. 25 He twisted their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive. “Let’s get out of here—away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”……….31 When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

OBSERVATION: I’m sure that many Egyptians had heard about God, and through the plagues had even seen the power of God, but in verse 25 they recognized that the power of God was fighting against them. After the Red Sea incident, the Israelites were able to look back in awe and see the power of God in action to save them. Not only were their eyes opened, but they gained a new, stronger faith in God and in His servant chosen to lead them. I am fascinated with the ways that God chooses to get the attention of His children!

APPLICATION: Don’t you find it interesting how we pray for God to touch our neighbor, or our coworker, or our fellow worshipper (often because we see so much going on in their lives), yet when we see God move, He touches their life and ours? You might beg God to give you strength and wisdom to call and encourage a friend who has been given a death sentence by their doctor, yet as you walk out of their door from your visit, you feel so much better in your own heart because of how God used them to bless you! In each of our lives, we may feel like there is so much opposition around us that it seems virtually impossible to survive as a child of God. However, I want you to think with me today about the scenario in which our focal verses come from. The Israelites were blessed of God, and He basically shook the foundation of the earth to show His might and His protection over His people. There were plagues upon plagues as God demonstrated His power before Pharaoh, but can’t you see that the whole Egyptian population also suffered through and witnessed God’s awesome power through all of that? However, the Egyptians were loyal to their king, and therefore obeyed his orders to take off after the Israelites, even though they left with the full permission of Pharaoh. In the short clips of the chase that ensued, we could see where, in verse 25, the Egyptians recognized God. For they could clearly see that only God could open the waters so that His chosen people could march through on dry land. Only God could place so many obstacles in the way of the Egyptians to slow them down and keep them away from His people, the Israelites. But also look at the Israelites for a moment. In verse 31 they were able to look back at the struggling Egyptians and they realized that they contributed absolutely nothing to their demise, and that there was no other explanation but the hand of God working on their behalf to save them. Friends, our God loves us, His children that He sacrificed His only Son for, in much the same way. In saving the Israelites, He showed them that they were worth the world to Him. In saving us, we can clearly see that although we were placed on this earth to face all of its trials and temptations, yet God in all of His tender mercy and grace, reached down and showed us His forgiveness and His unrelenting love in a way that we were compelled to accept Him as Lord of our life. In doing this, we now can stand in awe like the Israelites, and marvel at the goodness of our God, and offer our daily sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving to Him tirelessly. Oh friend, What A Mighty God We Serve!

PRAYER: Precious Lord, I may never know why You loved the Israelites so much that You saved them from the Egyptian army, nor how or why You would sacrifice Your one and only Son so that I might live eternally in heaven with You. But like the Israelites, I want to reflect on the love You have shown towards me in so many ways and at so many times, and Lord I offer up my sacrifices of endless praise and unending words of affirmation and thanksgiving. Father, I pray that as each reader makes contact with this devotional today, and I ask that You would deliberately place it obviously in the face of those who need this word today, that they may lift up holy hands in praise, thanksgiving and adoration to our one Lord, one Savior and one eternal King! AMEN!

Let The Glory of God Be Displayed Through You

On By Ed AlgreenIn Faith, Glory of God, Proof-positive, Relationship, Rewards, Sincerity, TrustLeave a comment

Saturday, 2019-03-09

Bible Reference: Psalm 19:1-4
Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

Bible Text: 
1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
    The skies display his craftsmanship.
2 Day after day they continue to speak;
    night after night they make him known.
3 They speak without a sound or word;
    their voice is never heard.]
4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
    and their words to all the world.

OBSERVATION: Isn’t it really calming to look into the skies and marvel over the deep blue colors, or the night sky filled with twinkling stars, or even the deep dark clouds as they barrel in before a heavy rain? Isn’t it cool to look at the white passing clouds and the various shapes that they create? What do you suppose God is saying to His children through each of these scenarios? What do others think of us as they examine our lives and our words? Remember, if you’re a child of the King, you should resemble Him in all your ways!

APPLICATION: I find it disturbing that we fill our minds with so much ‘junk’ fed to us by television, movies, clubs, etc, instead of using the creativity that God blessed us with that would draw us to Himself and His creation. I believe that in the life of most of us reading this devotional, our typical evening might consist of arriving home from work, watching the evening news while we eat supper, then perhaps a movie or a gameshow, then off to bed for rest, in preparation for repeating another day of much the same. Where do we find time for creativity, or for reflecting on the goodness of God in all of that, dear friends? Some might convince themselves that because they went to a church meeting/event, that they saturated themselves with God. Did you, my friend? Or did you go through the motions of tradition in being present, and doing everything requested by the leader? I am a leader in my church, so I am definitely not discouraging you from attending church meetings and opportunities to learn about God’s Word, but what I am saying is that there must be time for us to develop, and enhance a personal, one-on-one relationship with our Maker. I often compare the relationship with my wife, to the relationship with my Savior. What if, each afternoon I went to the gym that she attends so I could learn about how she did that day, then go out with the guys and, at some point decide whether I will go home that night, or not? That would do absolutely nothing for the relationship between she and I. But isn’t that what happens all too often in the relationship we have with God? We listen to a devotional where someone shares about their relationship with God, instead of faithfully reading God’s Word and allowing Him to speak to us personally. We might watch a church worship service on television in order to check off the box that we worshipped God this week. Friends, if others are to see God all over us and through our very lives, it will be because He is oozing out of every fiber of our being. Our Scripture today points us to the purity of the heavens, where they are untouched by mankind or the world’s leader, Satan. We look at the sky, the sun, the moon, the stars, the clouds in all of their glory and we see God. I believe it is that kind of purity that we should strive for in our lives, if we want others to see Christ. Remember, it’s all about Him my friend. They don’t need to see your nice haircut, grooming, or anything else. They need to see what flows out of you? Let it be Christ, my friend!

PRAYER: May the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable to You oh Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. May my life be a true reflection of You in every way, so that others will be drawn to You, and so that You may be glorified in every way. Please ignite a desire within each reader to strive for a similar goal, as this is my deepest, and sincere plea today oh Lord. AMEN!

Jesus, Moved With Compassion About Us

On By Ed AlgreenIn Ask and Receive, Faith, Near to God, Needs, Rewards, TrustLeave a comment

Friday, 2019-03-08

Bible Reference: Matthew 20:31-34
Translation: The Passion Translation (TPT)

Bible Text: 31 Those in the crowd scolded them and told them to be quiet. But the blind men screamed out even louder, “Jesus, Son of David, show us mercy, Lord!” 32 So Jesus stopped and had them brought to him. He asked them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They said, “Lord, we want to see! Heal us!” 34 Jesus was deeply moved with compassion toward them. So he touched their eyes, and instantly they could see! Jesus said to them, “Your faith has healed you.” And all the people praised God because of this miracle.[n And the two men became his followers from that day onward.

OBSERVATION: In this story we see a few things: First is the determination of the blind men to get Jesus’ attention. Although told by the disciples to be quiet, they shouted all the louder; Secondly, I am always shocked how Jesus would ask two blind men what he could do for them! He didn’t assume that they were there to have their sight restored, for they may have had much deeper needs that only the Master could resolve for them. And thirdly, their miracle led to them becoming followers of Christ!

APPLICATION: Throughout the gospels we can read story after story about the extremes that some folk went to in order to see, touch, or plead with Jesus about their situation. I am saddened by our current day believers who either wait until their very last option to seek Jesus and ask Him for help in their respective scenario, or because they have listened to Satan and the world, and have chosen to not follow Christ, they therefore might opt to not ‘bother’ Him in their time of need. Notice that the blind men did not let pride get in their way of getting close to Jesus and asking Him for a miracle. They weren’t concerned about friends trying to turn them away because their unconcern for Jesus. I want you to also notice that although these men were not followers of Christ, He stopped, listened to their plea, and delivered them from their blindness. Friends, this is another reminder of how deep the love of God is for His children. Remember that He went to the cross at Calvary for the sake of ‘sinners’ – those unconcerned about the love of God for them. Notice also that Jesus teaches us to never assume what the needs of another person might be. Wouldn’t you have thought that two blind men waiting to see Jesus, were probably there to ask for restoration of their sight? However, Jesus still asked what they wanted from Him. Friends, let’s learn from this that (1) We are to be specific in our asking of God, and (2) Let us always, always ask about the needs of someone we are going to pray for, and not assume what their needs might be. I believe the important question that Jesus might have for us today is: What is your greatest need that you would have me attend to for you? This should be the item that you are daily pleading to God for, and is first and foremost on your mind. Be determined as the two blind guys, knowing that the same Jesus that they called out to for mercy and healing, is still available, able and ready to also hear our cry for help and meet our needs.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we serve the awesome Creator of this world, and You have proven yourself over and over again, yet You are often the very last person that we call on in our times of trouble and despair. As we were reminded in this Scripture today, please teach us to be persistent in asking, knowing that You are ruler over all things and that Your awesome power is just as prevalent today as it was when You gave the command to restore eyesight to the two blind men. Lord, please touch the hearts and lives of all who might read this devotional today, and please especially touch the lives of my family at this time so that we all might be reminded of the King of all kings and Lord of all lords, and Your awesome love and power. For I ask these things in Your wonderful and matchless name, AMEN!

Acting on the Word of God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Acknowledge God, Actions, Faith, Obedience, Obedient, Rewards, TrustLeave a comment

Thursday, 2019-03-07

Bible Reference: Exodus 9:20-21
Translation: The Message (MSG)

Bible Text: 20-21 All of Pharaoh’s servants who had respect for God’s word got their workers and animals under cover as fast as they could, but those who didn’t take God’s word seriously left their workers and animals out in the field.

OBSERVATION: Through Moses, God told Pharaoh what would occur next in His ongoing testing, to gain the attention of Pharaoh and his people. Just like in the decisions we make each day, we commit to being a faithful, obedient servant of the King of kings, or not. The servants of Pharaoh had a similar choice. In each case we, and they, know in advance what the outcome of our choice will be. Are you satisfied with the choices you make, and your allegiance to God, dear one?

APPLICATION: Let me encourage you to click on the above Scripture reference, and at the very least, read from verse 13 through the end of the chapter, to get the backdrop of what we are looking at today. God got my attention in a very real way, because I could see a very vivid comparison to what is going on today. You see, God sent many plagues on Pharaoh and the Egyptians under his charge, yet we could see in our focal verses that some chose to pay no attention to the warning that God gave through Moses about the impending plague. Please stop to realize that God’s Word is filled with similar warnings to us today, yet it seems like increasing numbers of our population have decided to ignore the warnings and accept the Word of God about His love and awesome sacrifice that He made for the redemption of our sin. Notice that the servants of Pharaoh had two choices: (1) Do nothing and leave their cattle and slaves out to weather the storm, should one actually occur like God said; or (2) Listen to and respect God’s word, because of His previous warnings and actions already taken by Him to prove His power and His word. I believe that a vast majority of our world today have read the warnings from the Bible, or have witnessed current-day warnings to individuals, churches and countries and we also have made choices. Do we believe in this God who said in His Word that He sacrificed His Son, so that we might have the means of forgiveness for our disobedience to His commands and ordinances (sin)? It is clear in God’s Word that, in similar comparison to Pharaoh’s servants, we know that a choice to accept the word of God, believe in His one and only Son, confess that we are a sinner in need of a Savior, will lead to the eternal safety of the believer with the God of this universe! A different choice would result in eternal damnation with the evil one in the pit of Hell. My sincere prayer for every reader of this devotional is that we would imitate the servants who brought their cattle and slaves in – under cover, and secure our position with our Master by accepting the gracious gift of His Son. Notice that the choice made by the servants affected those under their care and control. We also have tremendous impact on those under our care and who look up to us. Are you helping them see God in all His glory, so that they may desire to know Him personally, or are you more of a stumbling block to them achieving this goal? Oh that Christ may be glorified in us today!

PRAYER: Oh that You may be glorified in all Your saints today, dear Lord. May You begin a new work in myself and each one that will stop by to read this blog. Some of Pharaoh’s servants listened, obeyed, and showed their slaves the power of God. Oh that others may see that same power in and through us in every word and action today, is my sincere prayer for each one who believes on the name of the Lord, AMEN!

With Faith, All things are Possible

On By Ed AlgreenIn Faith, Rewards, TrustLeave a comment

Wednesday, 2019-03-06

Bible Reference: Matthew 21:20-22
Translation: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Bible Text: 20 The disciples were shocked when they saw how quickly the tree had dried up. 21 But Jesus said to them, “If you have faith and don’t doubt, I promise that you can do what I did to this tree. And you will be able to do even more. You can tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will. 22 If you have faith when you pray, you will be given whatever you ask for.”

OBSERVATION: We still use a lot of the same language, that Jesus used, in some of our business logic today – if….then…. This was used multiple times in these verses today, because Jesus emphasized that while our dependence on Him is vital, things are only accomplished because of our faith in Him. So let’s meditate on this subject for a while today.

APPLICATION: If you have faith, you will sit in the worse looking chair, believing that the legs and seat will hold you up. If you have faith in your car’s gas gauge, you will travel across the desert knowing that no gas station exist for miles and miles, but confident that you could make it across. Because Peter had faith, he got out of the boat and walked on water at Jesus’ command. In our Scripture today, Jesus told His disciples, and I believe He is telling you and I, that if we have faith in the power of the Almighty God, and we believe that He alone is God, with power and might to do all things, then we too can say to a mountain, or to a serious illness that exists in our life, to move aside so that I could finish the work of my Father. Friends, we are so accustomed to having our own way, that this kind of power could easily be misused, so I believe that we must take time to evaluate the individual that this might pertain to. For you see, the disciples, even though none were perfect, yet they left everything behind them to follow Jesus. They endured the mockery of being a follower of Christ, just as Jesus himself endured, yet because they had gained insight into the heart of Christ, and His awesome power, grace and love, they wanted to be just like Him, and I believe they longed to represent Him even to the extent of performing the miracles that He did. I believe it is so important for us today to seek God’s will into what must be changed in our lives so that we might look like Him, sound like Him, act like Him, and to be His hands and feet in our homes, in our job places, in our churches and everywhere we find ourselves. Can’t you see that until this happens, we would make a mockery of God if He allowed us to represent Him in performing miracles? Jesus challenged us in our Scripture today to have faith, for He said that if we do, then we can do miraculous things, and we will be more fruitful in our prayer lives. So the challenge presented to us today is: How’s you faith? Have you attained perfect, and immovable faith yet? I believe that as we gain a closer walk with God, and devote ourselves wholeheartedly to His perfect will for our lives, then perhaps our faith might be strengthened to believe in Him more perfectly, and our faith enhanced to do the things of the Lord, knowing that in Him, we can do ALL things!

PRAYER: Precious Lord, You alone are all powerful, and worthy of our praise in every aspect of life. Please work in miraculous ways today, so that our faith may mature to a state that we will pray believing that You will do whatever we ask. Yes, I understand that can be a dangerous wish if our hearts are not totally synchronized with Your heart, for until that is true, we will ask arie. Please touch the hearts of all those who will read this devotional today Lord, for I would ask nothing more than to know that hearts are being blessed and drawn closer to You, because of my meager efforts with this blog. It’s all because of You Lord. Please have Your perfect way, and be glorified in my life, and in the hearts of all those who will read this devotional. AMEN!