Category: Impacted by the Word

The Impact When The Bible is Taught

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Impacted by the Word, Lives Impacted, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Monday, 2023-03-13
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Chronicles 17:7-11
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 7 In the third year of his reign Jehoshaphat sent his officials to teach in all the towns of Judah….  8 He sent Levites along with them, ….. He also sent out the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9 They took copies of the Book of the Law of the Lord and traveled around through all the towns of Judah, teaching the people. 10 Then the fear of the Lord fell over all the surrounding kingdoms so that none of them wanted to declare war on Jehoshaphat. 11 Some of the Philistines brought him gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.

OBSERVATION: The Bible shows us how lives were impacted when the Book of the Law of God, the Bible, was taught. Current day history must include the impact when well recognized evangelists traveled the world and shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ – as the Bible was taught. Churches today are still impacted when the Bible is taught, and the unsaved of our families and communities hear it and accept it. Perhaps we can take a few moments and allow the Word to speak into our lives, open our eyes, and show us the truth of God’s Word and how It can be applied to our lives today.

APPLICATION: In the days that the Bible was written, things were really tough – financially and morally. Yet we see God actively at work among His people in spite of those very tough times. So, what’s different now? Things are still very tough for many financially, and our country has probably never been so bankrupt morally. I find it very interesting in both the chapter we are reviewing today, and again over in 2 Chronicles 34, – king Jehoshaphat in chapter 17 and king Josiah in chapter 34 recognized that there was tremendous power in teaching the Law of God. Many responded, and surrounding nations who heard about the revival taking place, grew in fear of the Lord God. Why, some of their allies even brought gifts to the king in appreciation of the God that he had shown them through the Book. However, in considering where we differ today, it would appear that our leaders must be reading a different kind of book, for they seem to be more concerned about padding their own pockets than they are about the souls of their countrymen. Churches seem challenged to attract worshippers, and consequently challenged to find workers willing to sacrifice their time and effort to afford church leaders the opportunity to reach out to the unsaved in our communities. But you know, I believe that church leaders would be encouraged if they really caught hold of the impact that these two kings witnessed when they made reading the Book of the Law of the Lord, or The Book of the Covenant, or the Holy Bible to their people. Imagine the next time that church leaders were looking for Sunday School teachers, if they shared the excitement evident in response to these kings and their simple teaching from the Book that we still revere today? I’m afraid that we may approach folk with the depressing thought that the class may be suspended if you don’t soon find a teacher for it, or if you downplay the power of God to work through the teaching of His Word. In Hebrews 4:12 the Word declares that it is sharper than any two-edged sword, for it can cut to the root of man’s sins and his evil lifestyle. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 the Word declares that it is useful for teaching and points out to us when we are not living according to God’s design. Friends, this Book that David and his ancestors chose to read to convict their people of sin, is still the Book we use today. It was effective then, and it’s still effective today. May we allow it to do the work of Almighty God, instead of the constant badgering of our law makers for whom we are commanded to pray. We cannot continue to use the platform intended for promoting the Word of God to His people, to challenge and demote every decision that our lawmakers put in place. Our power rests in the name of the Lord, and in the freedom to vote out those whom we feel make bad decisions on our behalf, or against the teachings of the Almighty God. May God be our helper in all areas of life, especially in promoting His Gospel to an unsaved world.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Reading the Word of God brings results that only God can perform. Let the church work at making sure everyone hears the Word of God for correction and reproof.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please continue to teach us the importance of making Your Word a priority in the work of Your church, for from it we will see men convinced of their sin and saved from the terrors of Hell. Please Lord, impress upon everyone in Your service to keep the main source of ministry, as the main thing in reaching lost ones. I am so disappointed at how we use Your platform to put down politicians and the choices they make. Even if those mistakes are in opposition to Your teaching, that will still not save the lost who walked through our church doors. It is simply, and only through the blood of Jesus that man’s sin can be washed away. We don’t have a point to prove in Christianity to prove politicians in being right or wrong in their decisions, we have a Savior who loves us and who died to see us surrender our lives to Him. Then, because of the One who lives and reigns in us, we can follow the protocol of our respective countries in voting out bad politicians and voting in ones committed to serving our country in in line with Your teachings and Your will for mankind. Lord, let the church be the church. Teach Your Word and convict the lost of their sin. Politicians may follow suit if they see that we can do our part. instead of meddling in their work. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Will others Be Impacted by God Because of Their Encounter with You

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Encounter with God, Impacted by the Word, Lives Impacted, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2022-10-14
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Kings 8:59-61
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: 59 May my words and everything I have requested of the Eternal our God be close to His heart continuously, both day and night, so that He will support His servant and His people Israel according to the needs of each day as it is today. 60 Then all the people of the world will understand for themselves that He is the only True God. 61 Give your entire heart to the Eternal our God. Walk the path He has intended for us, and keep His laws as you do today.

APPLICATION: I believe that everyone has a picture of God in their minds. For some, it might be that He is so perfect that they know that they should just stay clear, as they could never be good enough. For others, it might be the God of the Sabbath – Saturday. Although others might be convinced that we must worship the resurrected Lord on the day He arose – Sunday. Now, there are some who might also feel like He is just one of many gods. But friends, while I know that this short list is not all inclusive, I hope that it may be enough to open your minds to think about ‘who God really is’ to you. What impact does the God you have on your life, affect your life? Any impact at all? Now, the reason I write these devotionals is to help my readers and listeners attach themselves to the Creator God, the One who has all power over earth, all the elements, and even heaven. The only One who sent His Son, Jesus, to save us from our sin – the one thing that we cannot do for ourselves, yet the one thing that will keep us out of heaven. So as we consider the God that impacts our lives, let’s make sure that we are talking about the one, true, God. And as we consider how God is impacting our lives, let us consider if it’s enough for others to see Jesus in us, or do they see just the same old sinful self who strives for personal attention and selfish desires. We tend to live out who we are and the impact that others have on our character. If it’s Jesus impacting our lives, then others will see things like peace, love, joy, forgiveness, meekness, and all those things that we see in Jesus whenever we encounter Him in the Bible, or through our everyday lives. King Solomon prayed a very unselfish prayer for he and his people. Not only that God would have an everlasting impact on the people, but even if they sinned and got themselves in trouble, that God would hear their cry of repentance and accept their plea to return into His good graces. Solomon wanted that impact to be so drastic, that other nations would stand in awe and wonder what got into these people, or rather, who it is that is impacting their lives. The Christian walk is very different to the ways of this world. Others will notice and be impacted by it. Oh that they will see Jesus and want to know Him more intimately and in a very personal way. It’s your turn now dear reader and listener. Make your life count for Jesus by allowing Him to impact your life and minister through you.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: When others are blessed by God because of His grace being evident in us, it’s just like a gift that keeps on giving and blessing others. Only God can have this kind of impact though, and only if we open our hearts and lives to allow Him access, so He could bless others.

PRAYER: To run alongside a brother or a sister, we might encourage them to know that we care. But Lord, when You live inside of us, and You reach out and encourage that brother or sister, while giving them strength for every step, encouragement through all the storms of life, wisdom for how to best deal with situations that lie ahead, and love to warm their hearts in knowing that someone truly cares, then we will see lives being impacted for the Kingdom. It’s only because of You Lord. Please bless now all those who will read or listen to this devotional. May they feel your touch and know that You are near. Impact the lives of those that we touch, in Jesus’ precious name and for Your sake alone. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Those Impacted By Your Lies

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Impacted by the Word, Lives Impacted, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2022-01-17
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Acts 5:3-4, 9
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: 3 Ananias, have you allowed Satan to influence your lies to the Holy Spirit and hold back some of the money? 4 Look, it was your property before you sold it, and the money was all yours after you sold it. Why have you concocted this scheme in your heart? You weren’t just lying to us; you were lying to God.
9 Why did the two of you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?…. 

APPLICATION: Kids start at a very young age to lie in order to avoid consequences of their sin. Don’t you remember: mumbling through a mouth-full of cookies that it wasn’t you who stole from the cookie-jar?!!! Getting into your despised math class late, and trying to make up an excuse (lie) to avoid being marked ‘late’ yet again for the week? It worked a few times for you, so you may have felt like it was worth trying, but what if you heard God audibly ask why are you hurting Him again by lying? Don’t you realize and remember that He knows everything possible about you? I wonder if it would help if, when we ask for forgiveness of someone, that we also ask forgiveness of God at the same time? I truly believe that our consciences have become so hardened to lying, and to sin in general, that our lies just roll off our lips naturally and we go on about our day as usual without addressing those who may have been impacted. For the instigator of lies, I am always surprised that they think their friends are so gullible that they never even realized they were lied to. Unfortunately, we lose trust in the person who lies, for we have proven the untruth over and over again, and now we expect to question every thing they say. Let’s have a look into the scenario with Ananias and his wife. They reminded me of what we do from time to time. I have relatives in the Bahamas, and there are import duties for almost everything you take into that country. So at the airport the Customs Officer will ask the value of gifts or non-personal items you are bringing in. Unfortunately, it seems like the amount we give them, depends on the amount we believe we could make the Officer believe. In the US we file annual Tax Returns. Tax is ultimately calculated based on annual income. For regular employers, they are required to report to Internal Revenue how much they paid you, and that should match with the amount you report. However, cash payments for tips, bonuses or even salary in some cases, are not reported to IRS, as it is not recorded in the employer’s record books. It seems like Ananias felt like he was in a similar situation. After all, who would know how much he was paid for the property he sold? Surely he should be allowed to withhold some portion of that payment for all that he did to maintain and/or improve that property over the years! Friends, what do you suppose God must think of His children that He not only created in His own image, but He also provided a Book of Instruction to guide and direct us. God also sent His very own Son to be our advocate and forgive us of our sin, yet we overlook that fact and just continue on sinning. What must He think when we just can’t be honest in our speech? In all my years of reading the Bible, I have never doubted, or mistrusted, anything that Jesus said. If I am to be His follower and His earthly representative, shouldn’t others be able to trust me in exactly the same way? Ananias and Sapphira were not allowed to live because of their sin. How many around us would die today because of their sin before the Almighty? I’m sure that it would not be a pretty scene. Do your part dear friend, be honest before God and everyone you come into contact with.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God will forgive and protect those who seek forgiveness for their sin. Let’s learn to listen carefully to our conscience and recall the teachings of our Master, especially when we sin. Unforgiven, deliberate sin is an abomination before God.

PRAYER: Lord, may we never become comfortable telling a lie, nor sinning in any other form. You created us to be holy, just as You are holy; righteous, just as You are righteous; and to be Christ-followers and imitators so that the world will see Jesus instead of our prideful selves. Please forgive us where we fail in this, and give us a mind like that of Jesus, so that we may aim for holiness and righteousness at all times. Only the blood of Jesus will save a sinner, but the stained blood of sin and unbelief will distract a sinner from ever seeing Jesus. Please help us to facilitate the cleansing blood of Jesus, and never be a stumbling block to anyone who needs You. May it be obvious to everyone we come into contact with, who rules and reigns inside of us, and may they seek to know You personally, dear Lord. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

The Power of The Word

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Impacted by the Word, Listen to the Word of God, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, The Word, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Friday, 2021-04-16
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Proverbs 4:20:23
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: 20 My son, pay attention to all the words I am telling you. Lean in closer so you may hear all I say.
21 Keep them before you; meditate on them; set them safely in your heart.
22 For those who discover them, they are life. They bring wholeness and healing to their bodies.
23 Above all else, watch over your heart; diligently guard it because from a sincere and pure heart come the good and noble things of life.

OBSERVATION: God’s Word is so powerful and so applicable to us each time that we read It’s pages. We are reminded that God’s Word is of super importance to us, and as such, we must be diligent about meditating on them daily, and keeping them in our heart. We will discover they are life and health for us. As we ponder the Word today, let us question ourselves on whether we are supported in life by God’s Word, and how they may bring wholeness to our sick bodies.

APPLICATION: Ever talk to a very old person and hear about what they consider the source of their long life and good health? My grandmother was in her 90’s when I last visited her alive. She had never had surgery, and I don’t believe she had ever been hospitalized, even through her childbearing years that resulted in 16 children. She was blind when I saw her last, but she was happy and a joy to be around. She assured me that she still did her daily devotional and time with the Lord, because over the years she had memorized so much Scripture, that she was able to verbalize God’s Word back to Him as she meditated. Wow! Friends, I was reminded of my grandmother as I read this Scripture today, for verses 21 & 23 instruct us to keep the Word before us at all times, meditate on them and keep them safely hidden in our heart. Remember how I said she was such a joy to be around? From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. If your heart is filled with anger and revenge, then you will spew out words of anger and hatred. God is love, so of course as you meditate on His Word you will find where it reminds us of that unconditional love. Take note, and keep that characteristic of God foremost in your heart. As you ask Him to help you live in a way pleasing to Him, love will be a primary characteristic that will flow through your actions, and included in the words that you speak. Remember I mentioned about the good health my grandmother enjoyed? Could that be a result of verse 22? Only God knows, but I have seen and spoken with many older citizens who have been blessed with good health, and it just so happened that they were also in constant celebration of their personal relationship with God. Friends, I am thankful to God for the number of people He has placed Nuggets From God’s Word in your path. Please let me encourage you to read the Scripture and apply it first and foremost to your heart. Of course you will be reminded of tough times by family and friends and how the Scripture might speak to them, but please don’t overlook that God has a purpose in using His Word to speak truth into your life first and foremost. Watch your heart dear ones, fill it with God and His love for you. This will reward you by helping you love others, but loving God most!

PRAYER: Thank You dear Lord for Your unconditional love for us. Thank You that You cared enough for us to give us Your book of instruction. You’ve blessed us with wisdom and good understanding, so please touch our hearts and help us to be obedient to Your Word, and embed it deep within our hearts so that our mouths will sing forth Your praises, our hearts will grow to love even the unlovable and that our bodies will reflect evidence of Your healing touch. Lord, You are good to us and we would love to grow more and more in that goodness as we join hearts and lives together with others. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Sin Will Hold Back God’s Hand of Blessing

On By Ed AlgreenIn Blinded by Sin, Impacted by the Word, Lives Impacted, Sin, UnselfishLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Wednesday, 2017-08-09
SCRIPTURE

From:

 Joshua 7:13 (TLB)

Text:

  13 “Get up! Tell the people, ‘Each of you must undergo purification rites in preparation for tomorrow, for the Lord your God of Israel says that someone has stolen from him, and you cannot defeat your enemies until you deal with this sin.
OBSERVATION:
When God sent Joshua and the Israelites to conquer Jericho, He gave specific instructions to them about what should be destroyed (pretty much everything), and what must be brought back for the temple of the living God (silver and gold). God knew that there were some who disobeyed Him and brought back valuables for themselves. They sinned against God. Because of this unconfessed sin, God chose to see the Israelites punished when they went to battle against the people of Ai.
APPLICATION:
In chapter 7 of Joshua, we could see where the sinful acts mentioned above was performed by one person, yet God allowed many of the Israelite army to be killed by the very small army of Ai. Joshua was crushed by this and he mourned and prayed before God. Of course, God knew who was guilty, but He found a way to show the Israelites that it all boiled down to one man who then confessed his sin before God and the people. This made me think of how this applies to us today. Friends, we often sit and ponder why certain things happen to us, our church, our town, our state and even our country. We are quick to judge that it must be our run-away child that’s bringing judgment on our home; or the pastors and leaders of our church who make bad judgment calls that, in turn, causes churches to close its doors; or perhaps the president of a country who is so awful that our country is going to Hell. Friends, I don’t believe that we have to look very far, for often there is sin right within our own lives, even though we try our best to portray perfection. One of the very sad truths that come from this story is that, the sins of one man destroyed his whole family, a fair number of his army, and wreaked havoc on his leader who was totally heartbroken about what was happening under his leadership. Often we think that our absence from church is unnoticeable and our sin is insignificant because it only impacts us personally, but isn’t it a good reminder that our lack of commitment and our willingness to do our own thing, could impact a whole family; a whole church; or a whole lot more? We must remember friends, that a Christian might influence those around him into accepting Jesus as Lord, or he might be so hardened and obstinate towards God that he causes God’s anger to flare against a whole church or community because of his selfish and sinful attitude. You do make a difference friend, so seek the face of Jesus to help you be all that you have committed to Him, and more. Allow God to make you a usable vessel in His vineyard and not a roadblock to others.
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, thank You for showing Your love towards us, even while we were still sinners without any hope. Representing You before our lost family and friends is such a great honor and privilege, but please help us to always be mindful that we could very easily become an ‘Achan’ as we take our eyes off You and allow sin to filter into our lives again. I don’t believe that anyone desires to be like ‘Achan’, so please help us Lord to stay closely in tuned with You so that our hearts will recognize when Satan tries to attack. We are Yours Lord, and we want to keep it that way until You call us home to glory, but we need You to guide us daily, and we need Your strength to help us make decisions that honor You. The glory belongs to You Lord! AMEN!
FOOTNOTE:
There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’.  If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

The Word–Like Light to a Dark World

On By Ed AlgreenIn Impacted by the Word, Light, The WordLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? We live in such a dark, cold world, but praise God we know and represent the only true Light of the world. In this devotional you will be reminded of the importance of allowing THE Light of the world to shine through you every day!

Today’s Bible Reference: 2 Peter 1:19
Today’s Bible Text: 19 So we have seen and proved that what the prophets said came true. You will do well to pay close attention to everything they have written, for, like lights shining into dark corners, their words help us to understand many things that otherwise would be dark and difficult. But when you consider the wonderful truth of the prophets’ words, then the light will dawn in your souls and Christ the Morning Star will shine in your hearts.
The Bible Translation: The Living Bible (TLB)

My Take Away: Based on an encounter by Peter, he spoke with great assurance in his text about how his eyes were opened – much like light being brought into a dark room, and how his life was impacted by that experience. I felt compelled by God to recognize that this is what I am faced with each day. I recognized that unless you, my Christian friend, and I stop our selfish view on life and get serious about seeking God’s His love and His faithfulness, and then share that with everyone we come into contact with, how else will our family and friends know? How will they know that there is a Light just waiting to brighten their dark world and fill their life with encouragement and hope? Friends, how will they know if we don’t tell them? In a more personal perspective, how are you doing in your daily, personal, intimate experience with God? Are you going so fast and furious that you are hoping God would catch up with you and impress upon you how much He cares about you? Friends, remember that God loved us so much that He allowed His very own Son to die a cruel death so that we might have a chance at heaven and enjoy eternity with Him. In appreciation for all that God did, what can be considered too much to ask of you in return? Are you ok in telling God at the end of the day that it just wasn’t a priority for you to meet with Him that day or study His Word? Throughout the Word of God, we are encouraged to tell everyone about this same Jesus and how He has impacted our lives. We may not be impacted because we hear the pastor tell us about God at a weekend service. We may not be impacted because of the awesome, Christian parents or grandparents that we have. There’s a song that says it well: ‘Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path’, but I am convinced that this not only happens to enrich our life, but to create a glow in us that tells those around us that we must have the Light of all lights deep within us. God’s light within us must not only serve as a light for our path, but as a hope for others who see that light. Be intentional about letting Your Light shine brightly today so that the world will see and believe!

Prayer: Loving Father, thank You for providing the means for us to be saved from this old sinful, dark world. Please help us to be conduits of the love You have promised to those who need Your forgiveness and Your love, and not an obstacle that sheds no Light into this dark world of sin and hopelessness. May we stay close to the source each day, for it is only through a connected, vibrant relationship with the Light that we can ever expect to ‘glow’ and impact those we come into contact with. Lord, may they see the Light of the world today as they encounter this messenger of the Light. I ask these things in faith, believing in the only true Light of the world, AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016