Category: State of Readiness

Be Ready and Be Rewarded

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Readiness, Ready, Ready to Go, Recognize God, Rewards, Salvation, State of Readiness, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Monday, 2023-03-27
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 12:37-40
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! 38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready. 39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

OBSERVATION: I know of some dads who will leave without you, if you are not ready when he comes to pick you up! Many employers will give you only limited chances if you report to work late. Yet, throughout the Word of God, we are not only told about the return of Christ, but we are warned that He will reject those who have not prepared themselves for heaven. A glorious reward, but will you be blessed with this awesome gift from God?

APPLICATION: Having sold a few personal items via Social Media, I can appreciate the point of being ready and being on the lookout for a buyer when they come to pick up their purchased item! My father-in-law was one who would have his bags packed, and out near the driveway well in advance of the time his ride promised to pick him up! My wife and I felt this was funny, but in meditating on the Scripture at hand this morning, I was reminded that Jesus doesn’t want us to wait until His return to hang up our earthly desires and our careless regard for the promised return of Jesus to collect His saints. Do you suppose that this may be due to stories we have heard about evangelists naming a date or timeframe for the return of Christ, only for us to arrive at that date and not see Him? Remember, the Bible tells us that not even Jesus knows the date of His return, only the Father. When it is reported that a hurricane is headed our way, some will immediately purchase material to protect the windows in their homes, but some will procrastinate by assuming their own inclination that the hurricane will hit places all around them, but they will personally dodge the bullet. In these two scenarios, whose home will be best protected from hurricane force winds? In the Bible, Old Testament prophets foretold it, and in the New Testament we can read about the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this Scripture we are reviewing today, and in many other references we are told that Jesus, our Master and Lord, will return to earth to take His bride – the church, home to glory to be with the Lord forever. That’s the saved on earth – the believers in Jesus Christ, we are the church. When will Christ return? According to the Bible, no man knows the day or the hour. Jesus said that only His Father knows the day He will send His Son to collect His bride. The Bible is just as assuring about what will happen with those who have not invited Jesus to be Lord and Master of their life. Unfortunately, they will also receive their just sentence – a one-way trip to Hell where Satan and his demons will punish them with fire and damnation for all eternity. In today’s Scripture, Jesus likens this time of decision to a master and slave scenario. If the slave is ready when their master returns to get them, they will be rewarded. The greatest reward is in knowing your state of readiness. This is not something that anyone else can arrange for you or maintain for you. This is a personal decision you make with Jesus and only you know how honest you were with that commitment or how serious you take the commitment you made to Jesus. To be ready for the return of Jesus, You must have invited Him to be Lord of your life at the time that he returns. If He came today, are you sure of your eternal fate? If not, please call on Jesus today. Because this is a personal decision, you don’t need to wait for the next church service, as Jesus might return before that. Do it now, my friends.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Just as we love to use our credit card with ‘rewards’, so we should be excited to know that we are ready for the return of Jesus Christ and the rewards He has in store for us. Ready, or not, Jesus will return only once to take those who know Him personally into the glories of heaven. For those who miss that, the rewards are nowhere as pleasant, for their master, Satan, is waiting for them in Hell. I’m ready if Jesus should come today, are you?

PRAYER: Oh dear Lord, have mercy on those who try to defy all odds and wait for the last minute to decide on a course of action, whether it be an approaching storm, or Your unannounced return to take Your children home to heaven. Please soften their hearts and once again convince them of their sin, Lord. May all of my readers, listeners and all of our family and friends be ready to meet You if You choose to come today. We all know what needs to be done, but now I pray that You will give them the strength and boldness to believe in and trust You as their personal Savior. 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!

In A State Of Readiness

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Readiness, Ready, Ready to Go, Recognize God, Salvation, State of Readiness, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2022-04-03
WRITTEN AT: Astatula, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Matthew 24:36-42
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: 36 But no one knows the date and hour when the end will be—not even the angels. No, nor even God’s Son. Only the Father knows.
37-38 “The world will be at ease – banquets and parties and weddings—just as it was in Noah’s time before the sudden coming of the Flood; 39 people wouldn’t believe what was going to happen until the Flood actually arrived and took them all away. So shall my coming be.
40 “Two men will be working together in the fields, and one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be going about their household tasks; one will be taken, the other left.
42 “So be prepared, for you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.

APPLICATION: I believe that the example given by Jesus in our Scripture, is very representative of our situation today. Think about the comparison: Noah had an intimate and sincere relationship with the Lord. Our pastors and church leaders tend to have an honest relationship with the Lord. Noah was warned by God that a flood was coming, even though it had never rained before. Our pastors, who follow the instructions and warnings of the Bible, gives us many warnings about the impending return of Jesus Christ, although many people have never heard of Jesus, nor His impending return to earth. Noah was told to build an ark, as it would be the savior for he and his family when the flood starts. Church leaders have felt the call of God to build churches since the very early creation of man, as it is a safe place to teach and preach the Gospel – about the Savior of the world. Noah preached and tried diligently to save the people who came by to mock his boat building. He wanted them to be saved from their impending death to this world, and everlasting death and punishment in Hell. Pastors also preach the Good News of Jesus Christ on a regular basis, because they have a desire to see people accept the saving grace of Jesus Christ and ready themselves for the glories of heaven. Many pastors and church leaders cry in agony over the lost who attend church each week, hear the Gospel, yet leave the church doors no better than when they arrived. It saddened Noah that he had the answers, but no one was interested in the solution God gave to Noah. It still saddens the heart of pastors and church leaders to see that the hearts of congregations and community people that are hardened and refuse to listen and/or accept the gift of eternal life offered through the simple acceptance of a Gift God sent to us – His very only Son, Jesus. Friends, God worked through Noah to warn a very sinful world about their doom, and God carried out the very act He was warning them about, by sending the first ever rains, and a flood. I have no doubt that we should take God at His word in the warning given to us in this Scripture – Jesus is coming back again to take His bride, the church, those who have received Him as Lord and Savior. Jesus already has a home prepared for us, and He’s just waiting for God to signal His return. Although He may have already come by the time this devotional is read, I still wanted to share with you the urgency of the hour. We hear a lot about Russia’s President Putin possibly pressing the big red button to begin a nuclear war, but that’s nothing in comparison to the evil planned by Satan for those who have decided to just let him do what he wants with them. God loves you too much to see you agonize in Hell my friend. Accept Jesus as Lord today and become a part of His bride that He will take to glory with Him! Please read my FOOTNOTE for help on giving your heart to Jesus Christ. Otherwise, please get with a local Bible teaching pastor or drop me a note.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Praise God, I’m ready to go, should God sound the trumpet in the next second, or anytime afterwards. I have peace that I have shared with my subscribers the urgency of the hour in which we live, so whenever You are ready, come Lord Jesus, come!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for saving my soul and readying me for the glories of heaven! Thank You for yet another warning in your Word today. I pray that You will speak to the hearts of the unsaved yet again today as they read Your Word, and these humble thoughts from Your servant. May the words of my mouth, heart and mind be acceptable in Your sight, oh Lord my Rock and my Redeemer. 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!

Are You Ready To Go?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Evangelism, Evangelize, Needs, Praise, Readiness, Ready, Ready to Go, Recognize God, State of Readiness, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2021-09-21
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 17:26-27
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: 26 “When I return the world will be as indifferent to the things of God as the people were in Noah’s day. 27 They ate and drank and married—everything just as usual right up to the day when Noah went into the ark and the Flood came and destroyed them all.

APPLICATION: For those who strive to evangelize the lost and guide them into a relationship with Jesus Christ, you will find yourselves much like the disciples, in that you will encourage the lost to accept Jesus today, as He could return anytime after the very moment that you share the Good News. But even in Bible stories, we read about the excuses that people quickly came up with when they are asked to accept the Lord, so I’m sure that the excuses will flow rapidly from the mouths of those that we set out to encourage. For the disciple’er I would suggest that you think back to the days when you tried to encourage your spouse to marry you. Although they may have initially had some doubt, you went through a long courtship to try and convince them that you two belonged together. So let me encourage you to do a little courting of your closest family members, or your dearest friends, so that you may gain their confidence to believe the urgency of the message you want to share with them. Also, let’s remember that Jesus warned His disciples, and us, about the uncertainty of the day and the hour, so getting the message out today could make the difference between eternal life, or eternity and damnation in Hell for that dear person. To the one who might be reading this and you have chosen to ‘wait and see’, I believe that there has never been a time in our history where we are reminded daily how death is knocking on the door of our family and friends almost daily, and without regard to age, gender, health condition, or anything else. Please realize dear friends that your time could be next. Please be ready for the day that Jesus comes back, even if it’s today. Just as airport officials only admit passenger who are ready to travel when the flight departs, so will Jesus have a similar decision when He returns to take us home. Are you ready to go?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: For those who are ready to go, Jesus can come today, tomorrow or anytime and you will be ready to join with the rest of His chosen children to accompany Him into heaven! No greater joy!

PRAYER: Lord, Your warning is clear, and for many we are ready to join with You and the angels in Heaven when You come to take us home. The urgency is also clear for our unsaved loved ones, so in all humility I ask that You bestow upon all Christians the importance of showing how much they care about loved ones, by showing them the only way to Heaven. Lord, with urgency evident to both the evangelist and the hearer, may we be busy about our Father’s work. We may say that we love and care about our family and friends, but may that be apparent by us showing them the way to Heaven. Please forgive us when we fail, or when we are timid, but Lord we depend on Your wisdom and Your strength to guide us every day. 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!

Read It, Live It and Be Blessed

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Blessing, How to Live, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, State of Readiness, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Thursday, 2020-11-26
WRITTEN AT: Paul B Johnson State Park, Hattiesburg, MS

BIBLE REFERENCE: Revelation 1:3
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: 3 Blessings come to those who read and proclaim these words aloud; blessings come to those who listen closely and put the prophetic words recorded here into practice. The finale is approaching.

OBSERVATION: In no other book of the Bible are we told to read it and be blessed, so I believe it is important that we concentrate on what might be the purpose of this verse today. The verse concludes with the tip that the finale of life here on earth is quickly approaching. Therefore it is important that we follow the commands right at the very beginning of this key book of prophecy.

APPLICATION: Whenever there is a bad storm approaching, many of us will go to our favorite app or television station or the website of our favorite weather station. We are looking for guidance on what to expect from the approaching storm, because history has shown us that friends either underestimate or over exaggerate in what they tell us, based on their limited knowledge. Now if we follow the warnings and the suggestions of our favorite weather person, we are most often blessed with safety and kept from eminent danger. The Bible is a compilation of biblical history, God’s wondrous works, His commands and His many promises. Because the Bible is God-inspired and God-filled, Christians stick to reading its pages so that they could hear first-hand from the God of this universe. Christians will tend to obediently follow what the Book teaches also, because they have gained confidence that He is the only One who truly knows what is going on, and what will go on until the time we meet Him personally in Heaven. The book of Revelation is one that many pastors tend to avoid, because it is so deep in prophecy. However, we can tell from this verse today that Revelation must be a book that God wants us to truly dig into and read it, because He tells us up front that if we do, and we obediently follow its teaching, we will be blessed. Based on this, don’t you know that God will not send us in this direction unless He plans to reveal to us what He intended for us to learn from this book’s content? Friends, we have never seen God send us in a direction using trickery. He wants us to read this book. He wants us to understand what He is saying to us and teaching us in this book. I believe God is standing at heaven’s portals with open arms waiting for His children to join Him around the throne. So I also believe that there is probably more urgency in this book than any weather person ever portrayed to us in getting us out of harm’s way. In fact, I see God using this book just as airports use its men at the arrival gates in carefully directing million dollar aircraft into a small gate. I believe that while God awaits our arrival He is carefully and lovingly directing our path in these last days here on earth. For much of our lives we have ‘done our own thing’ and wished for the best as we made key decisions about our next move. I believe that God is reminding us that only He knows what tomorrow will bring, so He has already done our homework for us and provided a key book that totally guides us through our few remaining days on earth. He has an awesome finale – homecoming, prepared for us. Let’s not mess up in our earthly journey, especially our final days!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we thank You for who You are, all that You have been to us, and all that You have promised to us after life here on earth. Please Lord, humble our hearts so that we might keep our eyes on Jesus and our mind in the Book. While we seldom question direction from our weather specialists, I pray that we will never question Your direction that You have carefully documented for us to follow, but instead be obedient to the will of our Father. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog at https://NuggetsFromGodsWord.org 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 or listening to this devotional, please go to 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. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and see all of my posts, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. 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!

Be Alert and Watching

On By Ed AlgreenIn Readiness, Ready, Ready to Go, State of ReadinessLeave a comment

Wednesday, 2016-09-07

Scripture

Bible Reference: Mark 13:32–33; 36-37

Bible Text: 32 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. 33 And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert! …. 36 Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. 37 I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!”

Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take

Our meteorologists are fantastic, for they watch for the storms that spin off the coast of Africa, and should they pose a potential threat to us, they warn us of their predictions on the course of the storm, in lots of time for us to be prepared and protected way before the storm arrives. Similarly, many of us have good pastors and teachers who strive to do the will of God by warning us as often as possible about the coming of the Lord Jesus, to take His bride (the church) up to heaven to spend eternity with He and His Father. Isn’t it interesting how we seem to take the forecasts from our meteorologists a whole lot more seriously than we do our pastors? Walk into any church over the weekend and you will immediately question why so few are concerned about such a major event. Only a fraction of our towns attend church, and for those that do attend, most fall asleep while the warning is being proclaimed. Friends, I just visited the northwest coast of Florida after Tropical Storm Hermine passed through. There are stories of some residents who were just as unconcerned, and didn’t heed the warnings and/or refused to evacuate their homes when instructed. Large tax dollars are now being spent to deliver food to them or retrieve them from their flooded or wind-destroyed homes. Take a moment to compare that to the coming of our Lord. There will be no further warnings, as scriptures tell us that not even the Son (Jesus) knows when He will return, only God does. If you did not heed the warnings to ready yourself to meet Jesus, then you have decided to stick with Satan and receive the eternal damnation he will deliver to his followers. Your pastor will no longer be available to encourage you and prod you along into making a decision to accept Jesus, it will be eternally too late. In these verses today, please recognize that these are the words of Jesus, and PLEASE adhere to the warnings He is offering to you. Seek God’s face, accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and therefore be ready, should His return happen even today. Don’t ignore the warning friend, today is the day of salvation, for it can also be the day of Jesus’ return to get His saints! I’m ready! Are you?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You’ve been warning us about Your return long before meteorologists were ever trained, or before the days of computerized tools to help them predict an oncoming storm. It is so unfortunate that many of our people listen more closely to man’s predictions than to Your facts as relayed to us by Your writers. Oh God, may today be the day that many will come to know You personally (ready themselves for Your impending return). If a hurricane was approaching, we would quickly run to shelter and/or save our loved ones and friends. Something a whole lot more final is pending, and could actually happen today, Lord may we have the same urgency to save those we love. I ask these things in the name of my soon coming 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!

The Love That Won’t Give Up on You

On By Ed AlgreenIn Eternal Life, Ready, Ready to Go, State of ReadinessLeave a comment

Wednesday, 2016-07-20

Scripture

Bible Reference: Job 33:29–30

Bible Text:  29 God gives each of us chance after chance 30 to be saved from death and brought into the light that gives life.

Bible Translation: The Contemporary English Version (CEV)

My Take

Job, a very faithful child of the King, was tested and tried, yet he stood tall and loved God. However there came a time that he really became depressed about why all of this was happening to him. Three friends gathered around him to try and encourage him back to a good place mentally and spiritually. I love the advice given by the third, and youngest friend, with the key verses today being the highlight of something he shared with Job. Friends, we are tempted and tried as well, because God has to often finds ways to get us back on track in our walk with Him. I heard of a gentleman who lost a child in an accident, followed by losing his wife through some medical issues. Might he have felt hopeless like Job there for a while? The good news is that he is now happily remarried and standing tall for the Lord. His example made me think that verse 30 may have been applied to his life! That was just an example of being encouraged back to a meaningful life. Perhaps you know friends who are headed into eternal death – Hell and a life of damnation with Satan. Have you seen times in their life where God may have been working on them to bring them into the light of eternal life in heaven with Him? Do you remember how filled the churches were after 9-11? I believe that many responded to the gospel at that time, because God spoke very loudly and clearly to them about eternal death vs eternal life. Unfortunately, I believe that you probably know of friends that persistently said ‘no’ to God and died from this world without any hope of ever seeing eternal life with the Lord. There could be many that we know who will follow that same path, because they have consistently rejected the calling of God. May I remind you friends, that TODAY is the day of salvation, for none of us know the day or the hour when we will be called out of this world and into the next. Are you ready for that transition?

Prayer

Father God, thank You for not giving up on me, and I thank You for that assurance of Eternal Life in glory with You some day! While allowed to stay here on earth, please fill me with the desire and the boldness to share You amazing love with as many as possible, especially my dear family and close friends. I’ve seen You work in many of their lives already, and I believe that as long as they remain on earth You will not give up on them. Please use me, if need be, to encourage them and to show them Your miraculous light, with great hopes of them one-day surrendering their lives to You before its a day too late. Bless Your children again today with a refreshed hope of sharing Your love with someone that we may come into contact with today. For I ask these thing in the name of our risen and victorious 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!

The Prospect of Seeing Jesus Motivates Us

On By Ed AlgreenIn Christ's Return, State of ReadinessLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE (The Message – 1 John 2:28-29): 28 And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then we’ll be ready for him when he appears, ready to receive him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when he arrives. 29 Once you’re convinced that he is right and righteous, you’ll recognize that all who practice righteousness are God’s true children.

THOUGHTS: I want us to take a moment and think about the motivation that floods our minds when we center our hearts on certain things. Perhaps your spouse has been away for a while, and you learn about their returning home soon. Think about the energy that builds as you scurry around to make your home presentable; the nice meal that you labor over for hours; and the extra effort to make yourself look exceptional! You want that moment of re-entry into your home and marriage to be extra special and meaningful! Now on the flip side, imagine if your spouse returned without notice and you didn’t have time to make all of the above preparations. I know for some that would be a problem, because you are not as careful to keep everything in order when you know it’s only you there to see the mess! Friends, John is presenting a case to us today whereby he is recommending that we keep ourselves in a state of readiness at all times for Christ’s return. After all, He could return even today! We are admonished to live ‘deeply in Christ’. That gives me the impression that we should live holy and dedicated lives to the Lord, as if He is in transition to get us right now. We know Jesus is coming back to get us to take us home with Him for all eternity, so why be careless and sneaky? Let’s live in the full light of His return; in full light of His constant presence with us every day; in full obedience to His Word; so that we would not be ashamed at any time that the Lord returns to gather His bride – the church/us. Friends verse 29 caps off this devotional by adding that as we strive for righteous, holy lives, we will not only stay in a state of readiness to welcome the Father’s return, but we will show that we are God’s true children! Can others see enough evidence in your life to know that you are a child of the Almighty? God knows, hears and sees all things, does He see the evidence that you belong to Him?

PRAYER: Father in heaven, thank You for loving us enough that You showed evidence at the cross that Your love is beyond anything we could ever imagine or rival. Thank You for Your Word, and the energy and determination to dig into Your Word each day, so that It may be a light unto our path and a guide towards righteousness. Lord, may my readers and I find ourselves faithful to You in every way, so that there will be nothing that hinders us from a sincere, open, welcoming return when You come to take us home to glory with You. Today might very well be the day, so may we find ourselves in a full state of readiness today. Please forgive us for the times that we so easily allow Satan to barge in on Your reign over our lives. May we commit today to You, our sovereign, loving, caring and soon returning King! May our lives be such a strong representation of You that others will see the need for our Savior and surrender their lives to You before it’s eternally too late. I ask these things in faith, and in the strong name of Jesus, my 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 read through Biblical truths on How To Know Jesus, 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 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!