Category: Obedient

Obey God, By Obeying The Government

On By Ed AlgreenIn Government Leaders, Honor, Humility, Obedience, ObedientLeave a comment

Saturday, 2016-10-22

Scripture

Bible Reference: Romans 13:1–2

Bible Text: 1 Obey the government, for God is the one who has put it there. There is no government anywhere that God has not placed in power. 2 So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow.

Bible Translation: The Living Bible (TLB)

My Take

During this heated/sensitive time in America, with our general elections at hand, this subject may almost seem like provocation towards how we are to look at our government leaders. However, friends I believe I would be wrong to overlook my responsibility if I skip over regularly scheduled portions of the Bible where God has a word for me, and hopefully for all reading this devotional. In fact, I believe that our most worthy God is pointing out to us through His Word, that our elections are all about Him, and not about our ideals, or our wishes, or the platform of the candidates. It appears to me that God has a plan for us and our respective countries. Yes, our assumptions may be correct in saying that if a particular person is elected, we project that there are great times ahead for us, or perhaps to the contrary, that there are very challenging times ahead for us. The point is, when Christians look to God for His perfect plan for us, and submit ourselves to the leader that He would have us choose to fulfill His mission, God’s mission, then we will be at peace with God and with the results of our elections. God is the only one who could steer us towards choosing the right leaders so that He (God) might accomplish His will for His people over the next number of years. In looking for excuses, we may doubt this process because we don’t see godliness in any of our candidates. To reread the scripture is to remind ourselves that this is not one of the conditions. In fact, if the recent statistic is true that only 9% are followers of Christ, wouldn’t it be easy to conclude that our people will not vote in a proclaimed Christian? I believe that God is teaching us that in this life, there will be steering currents that will point us towards the cross, and some that will lead us to the depths of Hell. In this scripture today, God is teaching us about who’s in charge, even in our government, and how we are to be obedient to the fact that He will direct our paths, even through a corrupt government. Friends, the bottom line is that God said it, and our responsibility is to believe and obey His Word without analyzing it to pieces and trying to find a way to make it irrelevant to us, in this day and time. So I repeat the Word of God, our government leaders are put in place by God, and if we choose to dishonor or disobey our leaders, we are disobeying God Himself. I believe He will judge us for that friend!

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for pointing out to us through Your Word how we are to be obedient to You in all aspects of our lives, even through the election, and leadership of, our government leaders. We easily see, and praise You for the good things done by our respective governments, but then we fail by assuming Satan has taken control when things are done that impact us negatively. Throughout Your Word You have shown us where various methods have been used by You when it became necessary to get the attention of Your people. We are probably more stubborn today than ever before, about wanting things our way, and wanting our lives coated with nothing but good, so I dare not question how You will get our attention, but learn to trust in You for all things. Traditionally bad things have brought out the best in Your children, but Lord we hope that You could teach us to honor all those that You have placed in authority over us, without asking why You’ve put them there. May our hearts and minds be fixed on You, and not the leaders or government that may prod us towards the path You have set out for us to travel. We are Your children Lord, bless us and make us usable by You to a lost world. For I humble ask these things in the precious name of Jesus, AMEN!

Footnote

If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or 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!

Wrong Doing Infuriates God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Obedience, Obedient, Pleasing to GodLeave a comment

Thursday, 2016-10-13

Scripture

Bible Reference: Jeremiah 32:26–31

Bible Text:  26 Then this message came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 27 “I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me? 28 Therefore, this is what the LORD says: I will hand this city over to the Babylonians and to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and he will capture it. 29 The Babylonians outside the walls will come in and set fire to the city. They will burn down all these houses where the people provoked my anger by burning incense to Baal on the rooftops and by pouring out liquid offerings to other gods. 30 Israel and Judah have done nothing but wrong since their earliest days. They have infuriated me with all their evil deeds,” says the LORD. 31 “From the time this city was built until now, it has done nothing but anger me, so I am determined to get rid of it.

Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take

I know that many would prefer to see the positive spin to scripture than the negative, so perhaps I could have titled this blog “Pleasing God invokes His blessings”! However, part of my study this morning took me into Romans 7 where Paul was pleading with God to help him overcome a very big problem that he had. Paul realized that he often did those things that he was determined not to do, and he always seem to do those things that he knew he shouldn’t do. So because of this same dilemma, which I am convinced that we still battle today, I felt like I should just present the challenge by Jeremiah in the light that it is presented in the Bible! Friends, I believe it is time that we stop and ‘call a spade a spade’. Let’s be honest with ourselves, how hard are we trying to please God in our personal lives, or in our families, among our friends, in our workplaces, our churches, cities, states, or countries? I know, our pet answer would probably be that we are doing better than our neighbor next door, or that our church doors are still opened and occasionally we see some numerical growth, so we assume that we must be on track. Friends, I would like for us to take a moment and look at our specific country from God’s perspective, and see if you can come up with a few things that you could brag on before God. Consider this: in His Word, God detailed the reason He made us and the reasons He would allow us to continue on as His children. He provided beautiful landscapes for us to enjoy and He provided food for our nourishment. Would you consider that most of the other things that we have brought into the equation, serve to enhance our worship of the Master, or to promote the ministry of the gospel to the lost and dying in our communities and the rest of the world? If God was to send in His forces to destroy our towns, which parts of the town might you be able to defend before Him as being holy and totally in place for the benefit of the gospel? Please don’t automatically go to the churches, for I am not convinced that they all serve the purpose for which they were intended. Furthermore, can we really present our churches as effective messengers of the gospel message? If they were, don’t you suppose that they would be more effective in attracting the lost and/or the un-churched? Friends, I believe that we are probably worse off than the Israelites were at the time that God declared (in verse 31) that He was so angry He would totally get rid of everything they built – everything that distracted them from the purity of their hearts and their worship of Him. In the case of the Israelites, this included total demolition of the city. Would our situation be any better off? We have so many personal idols and/or ideals and/or beliefs that it is often very challenging to remove the ‘cobwebs’ so that we could clearly see the face of God and know what He desires of us. Some who will read this devotional will be faced with country-wide general elections soon. May I remind us that while this is an important part of our earthly obligations to vote, it is secondary to all that I have shared with you this morning. God will not ask us if we voted, or who we may have voted for. He is more concerned with the purity of our heart and our everyday decisions, and how they align with His will for our lives. Let’s keep that part in order, then I am assured that God will direct us to the right candidate to vote for, so that He may be honored, praised and worshiped by His people.

Prayer

Father, thank You for being patient with us. Thank You for providing Your Word as direction for our daily path. Lord, please forgive us for allowing so many things to interfere and distract us from the actual path that You have set before us, especially our selfish and personal ideals. It’s not about us, so Lord may our lives be so in tuned with You that our decisions will be based on Your desires and Your heart. I admit that this may not always be the popular thing to do, but our desire is to please You oh Lord, and not the general public looking to feed their fancy. We need You every minute of every day Lord. Please touch Your children today in ways that we may recognize Your voice and be reminded of Your power. For I ask these things in and through the precious name of Jesus, my Rock, my redeemer and my soon coming King, 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!

God’s Plan For You

On By Ed AlgreenIn Obedience, Obedient, Tested, The PlanLeave a comment

Tuesday, 2016-10-11

Scripture

Bible Reference: Jeremiah 29:11–14

Bible Text:  11 I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. 12  “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. 13–14  “When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.”

Bible Translation: The Message (MSG)

My Take

I believe that verse 11 above is probably one of the more popular verses used from the Bible, especially when we tend to look at how upside down our lives seem to be at times, so we grasp at every possibility of how God could rescue us and turn our lives around. We want to believe that He has good plans for us! But friends, I encourage you to look very carefully at the whole context of these verses, for they were directed at the obedient Israelites who trusted God, in spite of their strong disbelief and personal desires. God had them surrender to the Babylonians, whom they despised, but He knew that is was for reasons that would be for their long-term safety. Aren’t we the same friends?  Don’t we often go to God in a panic because it seems like we would have to surrender to the Babylonians? You know, to those things, those people, those places, those leaders that we want absolutely nothing to do with? In fact, we foresee nothing but heartaches in the way our lives, or our family, or our churches, or our city, state or country is headed, and we just know that God would rather take us out of this situation than to make these drastic changes in our lives that might include things we dislike, or that we feel are ungodly? Of course we do. In fact, some of us even get mad at God when He refuses to honor our demands of Him. Friends, let’s be reminded today that we are a chosen people, a loved people, a forgiven child because of the sacrificed blood of Jesus Christ. If He tells us to do something, don’t you know that it is for our own good, and not to harm us or to make us miserable or to disown us? I love words included in the last two sentences – First – “when you get serious about finding Me” – that tells me that God is talking about something a little more serious than us realizing there is a God when an urgent need arises. If we are serious about finding God, I believe we will want to know everything possible about Him through daily time in His Word (the Bible) each day; through talking with Him on a regular bases – that praying to Him at least daily, but often more frequently; and for spending time with other like believers to be encouraged by them or to encourage them because of God’s mighty work in your life – that’s church. Secondly – “I’ll make sure you are not disappointed” – wow, praise the name of Jesus! He will make sure that His kids receive every good and perfect gift that He has in store for us. I believe that this will be far more than we could ever think or imagine! Test Him friend, and prove His Word. I don’t believe you will be disappointed!

Prayer

Heavenly Father; Master; Savior and Friend; thank You for the assurances You give in Your Word about Your love for us and Your ultimate, long-term plan for our happiness and our future. Lord You are good and Your mercies endures forever. I love You Lord and I life my voice in awesome praise and thanksgiving for Your goodness towards me. Please be especially loving and kind to my readers today as they meditate on this devotional. May they encounter the love of our Savior in such awesome ways, that their lives will be full and running over. May this be apparent to all those they come into contact with today so that the lost might be curious and ask questions about the immeasurable love and hope that they see in them. Draw us all closer to the cross today, and as You fill us, may that overflow to the unsaved observers we will encounter – all for Your glory and Your honor. I ask this in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior, 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!

Christians in The Workplace

On By Ed AlgreenIn Obedience, Obedient, Representation of the MasterLeave a comment

Thursday, 2016-09-29

Scripture

Bible Reference: Colossians 3:23–25

Bible Text:  23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. 25 But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.

Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take

I wonder if our bosses can tell any difference in the work habits of their employees, and if they ever attribute it to the work of the Holy Spirit in those that ‘stand out’ as exemplary employees! What about you, can you tell the difference? If Jesus was our supervisor/boss, what would we do differently? I believe in these verses, God is warning us that we are to work as if we are working for Him, and that if we don’t, He will treat us just like any other sinner, for He has no favorites. What if we took this one step higher and have the bosses/business owners look at their business strategies and practices to ensure that each one pleases the Lord? We sure would have better workplaces, won’t we? At one of my career stops, I heard of a gentleman who owned a marina, and because he was a godly man trying to please God in everything he did, he would not work on Sundays – his Sabbath day, as he wanted nothing to interfere with his day of worship. He would advise his patrons the day before that if they departed the following day (Sunday), to just mail him a check, as the office would not be opened. It is told in that town, that this godly gentleman never lost a dime from a patron taking advantage of his practice, that he felt led of God to put in place. Where do you set your parameters with your business, or with your employees, or with your work ethics? I believe that if Christians worked in accordance with today’s scripture, employers would be ready to place a requirement on their job postings, that they are only hiring Christians. Friends, we needn’t flaunt our Christianity, we just need to be obedient servants of Jesus Christ and live and work as if we were reporting directly to the Master. There’s another verse of scripture that says that ‘by our fruit, we will be known’. Are your words, deeds and work ethics revealing that you are sincerely in love with Jesus Christ, and seeking every day, in every way to please Him? If not, why not? Isn’t He your Master?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, Master and King, thank You for being our guide to what is right. There is so much that hit us every day that, unless we stay continually in Your Word, we may very easily use worldly standards instead of Yours. I believe that this scripture is one more reminder that if we claim You as Lord in our quiet places, or in our church, we must also claim and represent You to the world through our speech, our work actions and in every walk of life. I don’t believe there is such a thing as a temporary Christian, for the love and principles of Jesus must be embedded inside of us so that Jesus spills our of our mouths; in all decisions that we make; and in every thing that we do. Lord, may it be so evident to the world who actually controls our very lives, that we will often be mistaken for Jesus. Folk that knew my dad, often identify me as his son. May this also be the case for those that know what to expect from a child of the King of all kings. I ask these things in all humbleness of heart and in deepest sincerity. I also wish nothing less for my readers today, for if there was ever a time that we need the world to see the ‘army’ of Jesus, it is today. Thank You Lord Jesus, AMEN!

Footnote

If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or 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!

Always Be Open To Share

On By Ed AlgreenIn Obedience, Obedient, Share, Share God’s Word, WitnessLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

Today’s Bible Reference: Acts 8:27–31
Today’s Bible Text: 27 …… The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. 29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” 30 Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.
The Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take Away: Isn’t it interesting how we can usually place enough reasons in our mind to not do something we feel prompted to do? We may need to call someone, but we fill our heads with excuses on why we should delay, or perhaps not call at all. The same for visitation – we can quickly fill our heads with excuses of why this may not be an opportune time to visit, or why the person may not appreciate you coming by at all. Phillip had every reason to doubt the Holy Spirit’s instructions to him. The eunuch was from the Queen’s palace – and surely he will want nothing to do with just a local Christian fellow wanting to teach the gospel or be a witness, right? Think also about the fact that the eunuch was just returning from Jerusalem where he went to worship. Now surely the Holy Spirit would not want you to go and be a witness to a church goer! After all he’s probably a Christian already, seeing that he went out of his way to go such a distance just to worship! Then, of course, there is probably the usual excuses of being afraid that you may be asked a question you can’t answer, or you will probably stammer over your words in nervousness. But isn’t it interesting that Philip did exactly what he was instructed, without finding all of the usual excuses, and of course, the story reveals that it was a very timely visit, that ultimately led to the conversion of the eunuch. I wonder how many opportunities we miss because of our many excuses that we tend to place in the way of God’s urging, and nudging for us to be a witness. God had this whole encounter with Philip and the Eunuch ordained for His purpose. I believe there are similar encounters He has in store for us as well. May I encourage you to be obedient to what He may ask you to do?

Prayer: Lord God, You know all things and You have everything under Your perfect control. Please help us to just be obedient and follow Your direction to us and Your assignments for us. Like Philip, we could easily be part of a great big plan that You have in store to actually change the heart and eternal direction of someone we know. Use us dear Lord to be involved in anything that we could do to facilitate Your destiny for our friends and family. May Your perfect will be accomplished, even through imperfect messengers like us. For I ask all this in the precious and all powerful name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior, 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

The Clay vs The Potter

On By Ed AlgreenIn Clay, Obedient, Pliable, PotterLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

Today’s Bible Reference: Isaiah 64:8–9
Today’s Bible Text: GOD, you are our Father. We’re the clay and you’re our potter: All of us are what you made us. Don’t be too angry with us, O GOD. Don’t keep a permanent account of wrongdoing. Keep in mind, please, we are your people—all of us.
The Bible Translation: The Message (MSG)

My Take Away: There are some aspects of being ‘clay’ in the ‘Potter’s’ hands that could be frightening, but yet some that could be encouraging. Let’s look at each thought:

  • Frightening: I’m sure you have seen potters who would get so fed up with the clay that they chose to work with, that they just smashed it, after being convinced in their mind, that there is no hope of improvement, or correction, or transformation. What if God gave up on us like that? Isaiah had just relayed in prior verses that our best efforts are often no better than filthy rags, compared to the majesty of our Father (our Potter). So as we reflect on this scripture and we look to our Creator, who are we but the image of clay, that we might ask our Father to please try again. Please forgive our imperfections and our inabilities, and simply look at us as His humble creation that is modeled after His likeness with every desire to be more like Him in every way;
  • Encouraging: In spite of a potter’s ability to smash an imperfect first attempt at a piece of clay, it is very encouraging to consider that the potter could then take that same piece of clay and start over, to produce the most perfect thing that anyone could imagine. I believe that often we are at stages in our lives where we feel like we have messed up so much that we wish God would just start all over again with us. There are also times that we may beg God to please smooth off our rough edges; improve our speech; give us more boldness and understanding, so that we might be more productive witnesses for Him. I feel like what is really encouraging, is that we don’t have to enter the battle, or this world, in a weakened form, or unprepared, or with attitudes that might hinder the gospel, as we have a Deliverer, a Counselor, a Savior who wants to see us at our best for Him, so that the world might know…..

I feel like the greatest thing to remember today friends, is that we are not the Potter, so let’s not enter into battle unprepared or with broken pieces. Let’s look to our Potter – the Lord himself, and ask Him to prepare us for the battle, which is against all that He stands for.

Prayer: Lord, this scripture helps us to place into perspective the awesome God that we serve, or for the unbeliever, I believe they could see the tremendous power of the One who created them and who stands ready to re-mold them, should they decide to seek help before it is eternally too late. Father, You made perfect humans, yet in giving us self-will we have chosen to wander away from You and do our own thing, or the popular thing that the world expects. Please forgive us Lord, and once again speak to the very hearts of your children that are so desperately in need of re-molding. May we be as pliable as clay in your hands so that You might direct us and love us back into Your good graces. Please help us to be more like You each and every day, and may we encourage others to do the same, for I ask this in the name of Jesus, Your blessed Son, 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

Qualities of The Lord’s Servant

On By Ed AlgreenIn Obedient, Servants of God, TeacherLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

Today’s Bible Reference: 2 Timothy 2:24–26
Today’s Bible Text: As the Lord’s servant, you must not quarrel. You must be kind towards all, a good and patient teacher, gentle as you correct your opponents, for it may be that God will give them the opportunity to repent and come to know the truth. And then they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the Devil, who had caught them and made them obey his will.
The Bible Translation: The Good news Translation (GNT)

My Take Away: An important tip given to us at a conference last year, is that we look for the ‘so that’ in God’s Word, as well as remember that in our prayers when we are asking God for things. In the scripture today, it is important for us to note: So that people might see God and desire to know Him, it is important that Christians – especially Christian teachers, concentrate on a few important qualities:

  • Do not quarrel – remember, it takes two to quarrel! Sometimes it seems like Satan may have sent certain people into the classroom to disrupt the teaching of God’s Word, because it appears like they do their very best to get the teacher off track. God expects us to be understanding and not quarrel. The last thing we want to do is appear like Satan is getting through to us. Remember, our job is way more important in doing God’s work. If we commit to His work, and surrender our will to His, He will help us to deal with the troublemakers;
  • Be kind towards all – it is so human for us to love the ‘teacher’s pet’, but despise the troublemaker – the one who is constantly looking to put us on the spot with challenging questions, or disrupt the class;
  • Be a good and patient teacher – to be a good teacher, I believe it is important that we have sought God’s will for the class, studied the lesson well, and therefore excited about teaching all that God has taught you, to the students that God has placed before you at just that perfect time. To be patient, means that others in the room may have a word from God also, therefore they may have valuable input to add to your teaching. Being patient means accepting the fact that not everyone in the class will be at the same level you are at in knowledge or their relationship with the Lord;
  • Be gentle as you correct others – treat students as individuals that you want to help in the boat, not sit back and watch them drown. Show them that you want them to understand what you are trying to relay. Show them that you care about them.

Let’s be careful to always remember that we are representing the Master, as we try to share His Word with others, so let’s act like we believe He would act if He was standing before the class. Let’s look for His heart and try to imitate that same heart as we teach. God’s Word is very clear, that He would prefer that none of His kids should perish. Let us therefore do all we can to help prevent any from perishing because of their sin, or lack of spiritual understanding. God can use even you, friend! Please be obedient to whatever He should ask of you.

Prayer: Lord God, thank You for using even us to get Your message across to the lost, and to the stubborn who allows Satan to distract them. I agree that Your Word is very powerful, but I also know that often You will show one person something totally different to another saint, yet from the same passage. Please help us to always recognize that as a key indicator that Your Word is alive and will speak to different folk differently. Please help us to study Your Word and be ready to share how It spoke to our heart. May our teaching fall on good and obedient ears so that Your will might be accomplished in the hearts of those that so desperately need You. Touch the hearts of Your Bible teachers even now dear Lord, so that they may proclaim Your Word in power and in the full strength intended. You are awesome oh God, and I worship and adore You today for who You are and for all that You teach me through Your Word. Have Your perfect will and way today oh Lord in the lives of all who open Your Word, 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

How To Be Pure and Innocent Children of God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Humble, Innocent, Obedient, PurityLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

The Bible Reference: Philippians 2:13-16
The Bible Text: God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him. Do everything without grumbling or arguing. Then you will be the pure and innocent children of God. You live among people who are crooked and evil, but you must not do anything that they can say is wrong. Try to shine as lights among the people of this world, as you hold firmly to the message that gives life.
The Bible Translation: The Contemporary English Version (CEV)

My Take Away: Friends, there’s some powerful stuff packed into these few verses that Paul is sharing with the church at Philippi, and that God has placed in His Word to get our attention today. Let us concentrate on a few of these things and be encouraged by them:

  • God is working inside of us to make us willing, and able to obey Him – This is so powerful, because we tend to often worry that we could never withstand the temptations of the evil one working through his earthly agents. Notice how very right we are in thinking that way? Paul reminds us that it is only God that can help us with that. It is God that we must look to for strength, direction and power to overcome the evil one. I believe that it is incumbent upon us to seek God’s face and surrender our will to His. Let Him do His work in us. That’s the only way that we will stand a chance in this old wicked and perverse world.
  • Do everything without grumbling and complaining – I am ashamed at how much I grumble and complain. Generally, I am a very positive person, but friends, you and I can do a whole lot better than we are doing, if only we will place our total faith and trust in God and consider it all joy when things are not necessarily going the way that pleases us. It’s not about us. It’s all about what pleases our God. Many times our wishes are very selfish, God’s ways will lead a person to the cross of Calvary where they may be saved. His ways will correct a person’s ways so that they might be better identified, or recognized as His child, so that the lost might see and believe. We grumble and complain because things are not being done to our liking or the way of our selfish will. Take note of the subject again, and remind yourself that we are to be pure and innocent children of God. It is for His glory and His honor, and it is God who will receive praise when His children obey Him.
  • Although living among evil and perverse people, we must stay away from things they think is wrong – This one really caught my eye, but then I suppose that if the world thinks something is wrong, imagine how wrong it must really be in God’s eyes! I realize this means that the world probably has us ‘in a box’ and that they are examining our every move. But friends, hopefully this means that they have a perfect image of God, and therefore they are looking for perfection in those of us who claim to represent Him.
  • Be a bright and shining light in a dark world – Unless the world sees something different about us, why would they follow us to the cross? They may as well follow their other friend that has no hope at all.

I believe that unless we depend on God, and personally strive to be obedient to His will for our lives, we will never be pure and innocent children before God, nor before the wicked world in which we live. If it’s to be, it’s up to you, friend.

Prayer: Just as we strive to see perfection in our children, Father I believe that Your desire is to see Your children aim towards perfection in following Your will and Your way before a lost and dying world. There’s so much to be done before this world will truly see, submit to, accept and follow the ways of our Master. However, with Your grace dear Father, and with Your help, I believe that the process can begin by us agreeing to be Your hands, Your feet, Your witness and Your innocent representatives. Please have Your will and way in our lives today Oh Lord, beginning with me. I ask all this in the precious name of Jesus, and for Your sake Oh Lord, 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

Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve

On By Ed AlgreenIn Obedient, Servants of God, ServeLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE – New Living Translation (NLT) ~ Deuteronomy 7:5-6 You must break down their pagan altars and shatter their sacred pillars. Cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols. For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.

THOUGHTS: I believe that we have gotten into such a feeling of ‘trying to fit in’, that we would do almost anything to please our friends. Some say, “we don’t want to be a stick in the mud”, while others say, “I just don’t want to call attention to myself by being different”. Friends, God brought the Israelites through a wilderness over a period of 40 years, and during this time they depended on God for their next drop of water, and their next morsel of food, in order to survive. Do you suppose that they learned how to depend on God? Do you suppose this changed the hearts of these people to trust in God for everything? Do you suppose they learned very quickly what actions pleased God and which ones really upset Him? Do you think that in this world that we now live in where everything is placed at our fingertips, that we could identify with the Israelites? These chosen verses made me think of a current day scenario where a parent is about to release their adult child ‘into the wild’. In other words, from their family home, into a world where they would make their own home and own decisions. For then a parent feels like no matter how thoroughly they may have raised the child in a godly home, they just want to make sure that the child will continue to live as they were taught, as they now ‘fly the coop’! It’s nerve wrecking because we worry that we may not have done enough! In this scripture today, the Israelites were reminded how important it would be for them to stay away from the traps of Satan, and to stay true to the teachings and practices of God, and to not tolerate the things of Satan that may be attractive to them. Friends, this opened my eyes to consider the same challenges that we face each day. There are things that we know we should do that would please God. We know there are practices, places and/or people that we will come into contact with that will distract us from our walk with the Lord. I believe that God is telling us today that ‘we are to choose ye this day whom you will serve’. We may not face pagan altars and Asherah poles, but we will face worldly practices that Satan will use to distract us away from the Holy One, God Almighty. What will you do with Jesus? He gave His life so that we might live eternally with Him in heaven. What will you do today in appreciation for that?

PRAYER: Dear God, Your servants have become so comfortable with the things of this world, that it must be challenging for the world to clearly discern to whom we belong. I am convinced that ‘children of God’ who act like ‘children of the world’ will never impact the world for You, because nothing different is noted. May I be bold enough to ask You today dear God, to please touch Your children – those who have surrendered their lives to You for the sole purpose of being used by You, and renew a right spirit within us; draw us closer to You; direct us to be more like You; so that the world might be reminded of the love; patience; determination; dedication and strength of our Master. You are different to anything we see in this wicked world. May Your children strive to be the same, God being our strength, our helper and our guide. For this is my humble prayer that I ask in the name of Your Son, Jesus, so that we may impact the world for You, AMEN!

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

What Is Best For Others

On By Ed AlgreenIn Committed, ObedientLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE – 23 You are certainly free to eat food offered to idols if you want to; it’s not against God’s laws to eat such meat, but that doesn’t mean that you should go ahead and do it. It may be perfectly legal, but it may not be best and helpful. 24 Don’t think only of yourself. Try to think of the other fellow, too, and what is best for him. ~1 Corinthians 10:23-33 ~ Living Bible (TLB)

THOUGHTS: Glance back at today’s title again and think about how ‘worldly’ that statement sounds. Not at all, right? That’s because this is an attribute of a child of God, friends. Paul used this in teaching the Corinthian church, where members who had accepted Jesus as Lord, realized that there were some traditional practices where they had recognized they may have been questioning God’s authority to bless and/or authorize them to eat. The problem Paul saw in that, is that they chose to eat these meats in the presence of weak Christians or even those who had yet to accept Christ. This created an air of unacceptance or separation by the unsaved, where it could have become almost impossible to break through their barrier, to teach them anything about the Lord. Let’s put this into a current, practical application. Assume with me that you invited a person to your church who is unsaved, but have always felt ‘religious’ convictions about eating pork, because they had at one time in their life been taught that the pig was ‘unclean’. So after the worship service, at the church-provided luncheon you filled your plate up with pork chops and proceeded to sit next to your invited friend to gorge yourself on this delicious meat. You noticed that after excusing themselves several times to make trips to the bathroom, your friend finally told you bye, and they left. Your eating of a food that made them sick to their stomach, not only put a wedge between the two of you, but could very easily have placed such a disgust in the mind of that friend for Christians as a whole, that they would never again accept an invitation to your church. This is an example of something being OK (legal) in your mind, but it totally offended your friend that you invited to church. Food is not the only thing that offends, or turns a prospect off from the Jesus you have been trying very hard to share with your friends. However, may I suggest to you that if you stick to the things of God and the practices taught by His Precious Son, then you can’t go wrong. You have developed a hardness in your heart against those things that may offend God, things that you automatically do in the presence of weaker Christians and/or prospects, causing them to question what kind of God could you possibly be serving. Right or wrong, non-Christians have their view about what a ‘perfect’ follower of Christ should look and act like. We have a responsibility to God to act and talk like Him so that He might use us to minister and/or encourage those that we come into contact with. We are to be ambassadors for Christ and learn to stay pliable by Him. This will lead to a life where our friends will see the difference in us, and not question to whom we could possibly belong. If you are truly on the Lord’s side, may I encourage you today to seek His face and desire to live according to His Word and His will for your life. Time is short before the Lord returns. We can’t afford ‘mess-ups’ like given in the example above. We are on mission for Jesus Christ, not on a self-pleasing mission for personal pleasure or gain. Join me, won’t you?

PRAYER: Father You sent Your Son to this earth to witness how far we had strayed, and to teach us how we should live obedient lives that are pleasing to You and therefore be individuals who are usable by You. Lord, this old sinful world has such a tug on Your children, especially when we lose sight of Your goodness and Your teachings. Lord, personally, I want to be just like You. I want my life to be a living example of all that You have taught us in Your Word, so that others touched by me would have touched the hand of God extended through me. I pray that You will multiply this request over and over, as individuals read this devotional today and share a desire to also be Your committed servant. Touch Your people once again dear God, so that we might become servants that You can be proud of, and usable instruments in Your hand – all for Your ultimate glory and honor. For these blessings I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus, my Savior and Lord, AMEN!

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