Category: Humility

Is it evident to whom you belong?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Born Again, Christian, Faith, Follow Jesus, Humility, Obedience, Our Help comes from God, Power of Prayer, Reflecting ChristLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE

Studied: 1 John 2 

OBSERVATION (What is God saying here?)

1 John 2:3-6 ~ And how can we be sure that we belong to him? By obeying his commandments. If someone says, “I belong to God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and does not live in the truth. But those who obey God’s word really do love him. That is the way to know whether or not we live in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Christ did. (NLT)

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

John knew that there would be times that we doubt our salvation, as did the saints of his day. Therefore he told us a way that we could be sure that we belong to Him. Friends there is no way that we could belong to Christ and go on living like the devil. Compare this to being married. If we are happily married and trying to live a life totally dedicated to our spouse, we will not wander around or hang out with our old buddies that led us into the places where we met members of the opposite sex. So it is with our relationship with God, we will want to obey all that He tells us – because we know that it is for our own good, and it leads us to an even closer relationship with Him. How then will we learn of His commands? Yes, I know that anyone reading this devotional could also read the Bible, but friends I know from experience that it helps to be around like minded people – we call it “our church family”! Furthermore, I have found that God will not only try and get His point across to me in His Word, but also through other believers and through the preaching or teaching of His Word. He also uses some of these methods to confirm what I have read in His Word. In a marriage we talk to our spouse and they talk back to us. In our Christian relationship, we talk to God in prayer, and He talks back to us through His Word, through preaching, teaching and other believers. How has your communication levels been with God? Are you missing any of these communication links? To know and love Christ, we will want to obey His commands and follow His will for our lives. Are there things in your life that do not line up with God’s Word? In verse 5 the Word says that if we live in Christ we will live as He did! That’s a tall order, but it’s the Word. It seems impossible to us, but that’s when we should realize that God expects us to lean on His strength and not ours alone, so that we may live our lives in a manner pleasing to Him.

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

Father, I believe that as long as we live on this earth we will find that old Satan tugs away at us each and every day, causing us to stumble. This is our clue that we need to depend on You and seek Your help, Your guidance, Your strength and Your wisdom to live our lives like You intended – sold out to You. Please give me a fresh dose of Your love and direction this day so that I may live according to the path exampled by You. May there be no doubt to whom I belong today. May You rule and reign in and through me today, is my sincere prayer.

Unless We Become Like Children

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

SCRIPTURE

Studied: Mark 10 

OBSERVATION (What is God saying here?)

Mark 10:13-16 ~ One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them. (NLT)

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

I believe that it is good for us to be reminded of some of the qualities of a child that should influence us in our relationship with our Father:

  • Their innocence – When we tell them something, they believe us and, if we are telling them something that will occur, they will expect it to happen just like we said. God has told us so much in His Word. In fact, we can find answers to all of our questions and/or struggles. However really tend to struggle with believing Him that it will happen just like He said. In fact we sometimes question if God really understands the uniqueness of our situation. There’s another verse where Jesus told the disciples, “O ye of little faith”, and that would be very appropriate to us in this scenario, because we should always be aware that God is our Father, and He knows everything about us and the struggles that we face, and only He has the solution, praise be to God!
  • Their imagination – If you have ever encountered a time that a child came in and told you about an event to come, you will realize that they just accepted the wild imagination of a performer or perhaps built on a situation with their own imagination and developed a story that anyone will believe. As we grow older we tend to question every little thing and doubt everything that we have not seen or experienced ourselves. Friend, it is extremely difficult for us to imagine or believe the power of God, but let’s be reminded from this passage this morning that we must retain some of the qualities that we had as a child. When our Father tells us through His Word that we should follow Him, listen to Him, obey Him and do what He says – we need to just do it. Remember, we are talking here about the Maker of the universe, the One who rose from the dead after three days, the One who turned water into wine and raised the dead, He is greater than anyone or anything we can imagine…. unless we take on child-like qualities and simply place our faith in Him.
  • Their willingness – I believe that at times kids kind of look at us and say to themselves, are you kidding me with what you just said, because perhaps it sounded far out compared to anything they had heard so far. However, I also believe that they are way more willing to accept what they are told and act upon it than what we often give them credit for. Jesus wants us to be like little children and be willing to accept Him at His word. There is lots of evidence in the Bible that prove the power, trustworthiness and dependability of our God. We should be willing to accept Him at His word. We should be ready to obey His commands.

Jesus will one day return to collect those that have been innocent like little children; accepted Him at His Word; followed His commands; built a relationship with Him like we would do with our earthly father; and shared His love with the world. Remember, “anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it”

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

Father I pray that You will be patient with me. I pray that You will grant me the strength and determination to believe on You like a little child. Thank You for leading me to the cross and convicting me of my sin, but most of all thank You for forgiving me of my sin when I surrendered my life to You, and each day as I surrender my weaknesses over to You. Please help to be in such a close relationship with You that I will be mindful of all that You would have me do and say.

Are You Christian, Enough To Be Found Guilty?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Encourage, Forgiveness, Humility, Imitator of Christ1 Comment

SCRIPTURE

Studied: Acts 25; Acts 26 

OBSERVATION (What is God saying here?)

Acts 25:5-9 ~ This man has been found to be a real pest and troublemaker for Jews all over the world. He is also a leader of a group called Nazarenes. When he tried to disgrace the temple, we arrested him. If you question him, you will find out for yourself that our charges are true. The Jewish crowd spoke up and agreed with what Tertullus had said.

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

Paul was taken before the governor, Felix because the Jews wanted to get rid of this thorn in their side. Paul had ‘stepped on their toes’ by his witness and through his preaching of the Gospel. It made me wonder – am I demonstrating enough of Christ in me that others would find sufficient evidence to take me before some figurehead and possibly place charges against me for being a follower/imitator of Christ? I pray daily that I would represent Christ in all that I say or do so that others may see Jesus in me. I wonder how far that effort really goes? This is something that each person will be required to answer for themselves. I don’t believe for a moment that God expects us to have a ‘holier than thou’ attitude, but when our actions reflect the ways of Christ taught to us through God’s Holy Word, and when the tone of our voice and the words that we speak be reflective of the character and love of Christ for His bride – the church (us), then others will see something that they want, or need – something that make them crave after the origin of that attitude. Having said all this, I believe that I should quickly follow this by saying that we should be careful not to lead anyone towards us, but rather towards the cross, towards the only One that can convict them of their sin and save them, so that He could love on them forever – yes, the rest of this life as we know it and throughout eternity. It should be clear to others whose we are! God will do His part to keep us humble, guided by His hand and protected from the enemy, for

Do You Truly Represent Jesus?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Follow Jesus, Humility, Obedience, Repentance, RighteousnessLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE

Studied: Luke 14 

OBSERVATION

Luke 14:34-35 ~ Salt is good, but if it no longer tastes like salt, how can it be made to taste salty again? It is no longer good for the soil or even for the manure pile. People simply throw it out. If you have ears, pay attention!

APPLICATION

Jesus had just explained to the crowds following Him what it really meant to be a disciple. Linked very closely with that explanation, He wanted them to know that He was also concerned about those who decide to follow Him and then fall by the wayside. In an earlier devotional I discussed how some may make a decision for Christ, and once they feel like ‘their ticket is punched for heaven’ then they return back to their old ways. Jesus said in these verses that when someone does something like this they are no good for anything. Taking that into account, I feel like we can deduce that fellow Christians would turn their backs on someone like that because they have defaulted on a decision that Christians thought they were serious/sincere about. To their old friends that knew them as they were, imagine how they must be looking at them and saying “you only thought that you were looking for a different life, now you want us to trust you and accept you back into our lives? Go away, for we can’t trust you”. We would truly be of no real value to either group because we can’t get our hearts and souls on one side of the fence or the other. Another verse says, let our “yeahs be yeah and our nays be nay”, in other words when we are led to making a decision and we make it, stick to it and give it all you can. Jesus is looking for folk who accept the gift that He has given to us, and to live a life dedicated to Him. This will not only bring honor to God, but allow the individual to shine in the eyes of those that see a changed life so that they too may see the need for changing their lives. I believe that God is looking for ‘Followers’ or ‘Disciples’ not just folk that make decisions and make no commitment to live up to that decision.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus I thank You for Your Holy Spirit that You have given to guide me and be with me each and every day, to help me overcome those obstacles that may otherwise trip me up and cause me to walk in ways that are not pleasing to You. Please continue to help me be a warrior for You, a shining light and example to others. Help me to never be a stumbling block to another, and please help me to always honor my commitments and decisions. Please direct me so that I will always be effective in my witness to others, allowing Your light to be evident in anything I may say or do. May

Live a Humble, Giving life.

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Giving, Humility, Love, ObedienceLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE

Studied: Luke 14 

OBSERVATION

Luke 14:8-14 ~ When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the best place. Someone more important may have been invited. Then the one who invited you will come and say, “Give your place to this other guest!” You will be embarrassed and will have to sit in the worst place. When you are invited to be a guest, go and sit in the worst place. Then the one who invited you may come and say, “My friend, take a better seat!” You will then be honored in front of all the other guests. If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored. Then Jesus said to the man who had invited him: When you give a dinner or a banquet, don’t invite your friends and family and relatives and rich neighbors. If you do, they will invite you in return, and you will be paid back. When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. They cannot pay you back. But God will bless you and reward you when his people rise from death.

APPLICATION

On a first read through this passage we may very easily be tempted to say that this is a beautiful image that Jesus has portrayed and this should really speak to the proud. In other words, I believe that this is an easy passage to shrug off, thinking that this is not really speaking to us. But God spoke to me on several matters in this:

  1. Be humble – in a world of self promotion, because we often hear that if we don’t promote ourselves no one else will do it for us, therefore we tend to go overboard bragging about ourselves and seeking the attention of those in authority over us to ‘look at me’. Jesus gives us the example here of taking the least important seat in a meeting, and we may be honored, but taking an important seat may cause us to sometime have our egos ‘deflated’ as we may be asked to move for the honorable guest of the meeting. These days I often sit near the front for two reasons: (1) I can see any projection screens better and (2) I tend to be more alert to the speaker when I’m near the front. I believe that Jesus is speaking here to the idea of trying not to promote self by taking the best seat in the house that may have been reserved for a guest of honor. Bottom line on this is that it is better to be honored, than to self promote honor on you.
  2. Host the undeserving, not just good friends – when we host a luncheon or dinner we tend to invite friends who may have to choose whether to attend because of several other invitations for that same timeslot. Imagine how blessed the ones may feel who never get to eat out or attend a special event because they are just not a part of anyone’s inner circle of friends. They may be poor and unable to repay the favor. They may be mean and unwilling to share their time or wealth with anyone else. They may be non-Christian and not want to force themselves on believers as they may feel ‘out of place’. God has promised in this passage that He will reward us when He calls us home when we do such honorable acts.

PRAYER

Lord, I feel like this small passage that I have read many times before has come to life this morning. Thank You for drawing me to this. I pray that I may take a different outlook on life, because I want to do all within my will to follow the commands You have laid out in Your Word for me. I am even more convinced that Your Word contains direction for EVERY phase of my life and answers to EVERY question in my mind, if only I will turn to it instead of all the other directions I may turn to for advice. Please help me to have an ongoing desire to dig into Your Word each and every day, to look for ways that You would be speaking to me through the passages that I read, and then most importantly – help me to follow Your Word so that my life may be more in lined with Your will for me. Thank You for such direction, now please help to carry out what I have learned today!

My Responsibility

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Faith, God Reigns, Humility, Obedience, Power, RighteousnessLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE

Studied: Daniel 9

OBSERVATION

Daniel 9:3-6 ~ …… To show my sorrow, I went without eating and dressed in sackcloth and sat in ashes. I confessed my sins and earnestly prayed to the LORD my God: Our Lord, you are a great and fearsome God, and you faithfully keep your agreement with those who love and obey you. But we have sinned terribly by rebelling against you and rejecting your laws and teachings. We have ignored the message your servants the prophets spoke to our kings, our leaders, our ancestors, and everyone else.

APPLICATION

Daniel had just studied the writings of the prophets who went on before him and understood why his country was going through such rough times. Then to show his sorrow he took action. What intrigued me about this is:

  1. Today we tend to look at a man gifted with prophecy as one looking to gain monetarily from his TV show or church, or we even say “well who does he think he is, God, to stand and tell us what’s in store for us?” Unlike this, Daniel acknowledged what this prophet of God had said and acted upon it;
  2. In acting upon the Word through the prophet Jeremiah, Daniel didn’t start a new political party to beat up on the nation for what they were doing, nor did he start a new church because he wanted to lead a group into turning the nation around from their evil deeds. Instead he went directly to the only one that could do anything about the situation, he went to God;
  3. Daniel didn’t go to God all pious and bringing condemnation on his nation, or even asking forgiveness for his wicked people, at least at first. He humbled himself before God in sorrow and through his dress and his spirit, showed his humble spirit and sought forgiveness for himself first, for he knew that he was no better than the folk around him. If he was, then he was not doing God any favors by preaching to them and encouraging or demanding them to turn from their wicked ways. As Christian leaders today, we must take full responsibility for all that is going on around us, for had we done our jobs in accordance with God’s will and direction, then our people would be sorry for their actions and seeking ways to renew a right spirit within them. In other words, yes we have a personal responsibility to keep a right relationship with God, but we have an even greater responsibility to “Go out into the world and preach the Gospel”; To tell people about their wrong doings; To show the people Christ so that they may be saved and find the ‘right’ way to act and live a Godly life. We are to represent God in our daily lives, not just so that God would be proud of us, although He would, but also do this so that others would see Christ in us and know that there is a better way for them too.

PRAYER

Father, let me first of all give thanks for the liberty of being Your son. Thank You for bringing me to this stage in my life. Especially today, I want to acknowledge the responsibility you have given to me as Your child, for my job is no different to the one that You gave Daniel. My country is in a mess. My church is lacking. Those that I come in contact with are living in sin, and I need Your strength, Your boldness, Your direction to be able to say with a clean heart that there is a better way, for there is a way that leads to eternal life with a loving and eternal God. A major part of that responsibility, is the part of keeping myself pure before You and, like Daniel, acknowledging that “

Going through Hard Knocks?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Forgiveness, Humility, Love, Obedience, Sin, Worry no moreLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE

Studied: Lamentations 3

OBSERVATION

Lamentations 3:29-33 ~ Being rubbed in the dirt can teach us a lesson; we can also learn from insults and hard knocks. The Lord won’t always reject us! He causes a lot of suffering, but he also has pity because of his great love. The Lord doesn’t enjoy sending grief or pain.

APPLICATION

I don’t believe any human being looks forward to, or enjoys, discipline, but as in the case of parents disciplining children, our Father must always discipline us because we sin and consequently stray away from God’s ideals/teachings/commands. For the Christian it is comforting to know that because of God’s great love for us, He won’t always reject us and He will have pity on us at some stage. I believe that as we go through these tough times of correction we can always look forward to being re-pointed in the right direction while being blessed by an extra dose of humility. After all, it was because of our selfish desire to take the reins away from God that got us into that mess in the first place. If only we could stay on the right path in the first place and follow Jesus every day! But let’s take joy in knowing that if we slip, God is all loving; all forgiving and all powerful and because He finds no joy in punishing us, He is constantly looking for ways to help us overcome our weaknesses. He is not only one that can save us from our sin, but one that we can always place our trust in, because He is one that will always love us.

PRAYER

Praise God that He knows what I need and when I need it. Praise Him because He identifies exactly when I’m tempted to fail, and His outstretched hand is available to me when and if a need arises. He sent His one and only son so that I may have life eternal, yet He looks for opportunities to help me when I fail. Thank You Jesus for being the loving and caring God that You are. Thank You for caring for me. I can truly sing “

A Force to Reckon With

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Born Again, Christian, Eternal Life, Faith, Humility, Obedience, Peace, Worry no more1 Comment

SCRIPTURE

Studied: Revelation 12  

OBSERVATION

Revelation 12:7-9 ~ Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.

APPLICATION

I am reminded here that old Satan was a force to reckon with in heaven, so who am I to be so naive and think that he is of no consequence in my life, or in my world? I believe that the main thing that I must concentrate on is that greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world!! Praise be to God, I serve the One who overcame the temptations of Satan and won the battle. The one who conquered death and the grave, and won the battle, yes even today I can sing – “

Less We Forget

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Eternal Life, Faith, Forgiveness, Humility, Love, Obedience, RighteousnessLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE

Studied: 2 Chronicles 36  

OBSERVATION

2 Chronicles 36:14-16 ~ The people of Judah and even the priests who were their leaders became more unfaithful. They followed the disgusting example of the nations around them and made the LORD’s holy temple unfit for worship. But the LORD God felt sorry for his people, and instead of destroying the temple, he sent prophets who warned the people over and over about their sins. But the people only laughed and insulted these prophets. They ignored what the LORD God was trying to tell them, until he finally became so angry that nothing could stop him from punishing Judah and Jerusalem.

APPLICATION

If it wasn’t for the names and places mentioned in this passage, we may have thought that this was referring to Avon Park, or the United States, or almost any part of our current world, as it appears like we have become such an unfaithful bunch today. When I consider all that Jesus did for me at Calvary, and all through my life in the blessings that He has poured out on me, I should find myself at His feet worshipping Him most of the time, for who am I that a King should die for and sacrifice so much for? But this is yet another reminder that the sacrifice made on my behalf was out of such love for His child/children, because He wanted to create a way that I/we could have eternal life with Him. While I have accepted Jesus as Lord of my life, and am forever grateful, I look forward to the day that I could set aside the desires of this world and dedicate myself to living and serving Jesus in ways that would make Him proud of His child. Now having said that, I also believe that no matter how much I do I could never repay or show my gratefulness in things I do, but in and through the characteristics that I reflect when I speak, or when I react to circumstances – that I do it from a heart of God’s love. For becoming more like Him is my ultimate goal and my daily challenge, God being my helper. Ignoring the challenge to be more like Him could easily lead to following the evil ways of this world and Satan, and as we are reminded in verse 16, this could lead to God becoming very angry with us and in turn, punishing us like He did Judah and Jerusalem.

Then, and Only Then, Will I….

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Born Again, Christian, Faith, Humility, Love, Obedience, Things that make God angryLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE

Studied: Ezekiel 11

OBSERVATION

Ezekiel 11:18-21 ~ When that happens, I want you to clear the land of all disgusting idols. Then I will take away your stubbornness and make you eager to be completely faithful to me. You will want to obey me and all my laws and teachings. You will be my people, and I will be your God. But those who worship idols will be punished and get what they deserve. I, the LORD God, have spoken.

APPLICATION

I am finding the book of Ezekiel almost as interesting as the book of Revelation, as God really spoke to Ezekiel through a vision, including showing him how He would follow through with all that needed to be done to effectively open the eyes of the sinful nation of Jerusalem. I have highlighted in ‘red‘ one of the very key words in these verses, ‘Then’. So often we talk about/preach about/think about our loving God who will do everything for us, and often saying this while continuing to do the sinful, prideful things that God abhors. In the verses preceding these, God told Ezekiel all that He demanded of the people of Jerusalem, and only AFTER those things were done, THEN He would do His part. In other words God is saying that His good work among them will be conditional upon them doing their part. He had given so many opportunities for them to straighten up their act, but each time they miserably failed to follow through in obedience, even after He wiped out several of their towns. Fast forwarding this to apply this to life today: God still expects us to do our part. He developed us with enough intelligence to understand the written Word of God, to communicate effectively with Him in prayer; example after example of how we should separate ourselves from this sinful world and instead be light to a dark and dying world. In other words, to be an example of Him to others so that they might dedicate themselves to Him and follow His commands. Unless we straighten up our act and follow the Christ that we profess that we personally know, we could find ourselves in the same predicament as the people of Jerusalem, we could be wiped out so that God could raise up new warriors who will obey Him and sincerely do His work. Our excuse today is that I can’t do a whole lot for the large city/state/country in which I live, much less this whole wide world. Remember that this is a very true analysis of the situation, because that will be God’s job. However, I truly believe that He wants us to concentrate first on our own personal relationship with Him. Then as we example Him to our family, friends, co-workers and world He will work through our witness to reach into their hearts.

PRAYER

Father, may You find a willing and prepared saint through which You can work today as You look deep into my heart. Forgive me for my selfish motives, my personal desires and the times that I could have been way more proactive in sharing Your message with others. Please help me, through Your love and strength, to rid myself of anything that stands in the way of You using me to do Your work. Help me to represent You perfectly in all that I say or do so that others may see Jesus, and gain a desire to want to know You personally. May You have Your will and way this day, dear God.