Category: Worship

Respect and Honor the Temple of God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s Word, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Tuesday, February 18, 2025, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa at Hunter Road, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read it in your Bible or click John 2:13-17 to read it in the New Living Translation (NLT).

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
In reading this Scripture today, I believe the Holy Spirit caused me to reflect on what I, and others, might expect when we go to church. I remember back in the day when many went to be inspired by the new clothing and hairstyles, but today many churches have since changed to an atmosphere of ‘come as you are’ to encourage those who don’t have, or don’t like to dress up in order to worship the Lord corporately. In our Scripture, seeing that this was the Temple (of God), I believe that Jesus may have hoped to see many things that represent the holiness and kingship of the His Father. But instead, Jesus found a full-fledged marketplace going on, with greed and disrespect being very evident. But notice, dear friends, that in spite of His disappointment, Jesus didn’t turn around and leave, nor did he seek social avenues to share His frustrations about what He found. Instead, He – the One who was born in a stable, the one who ministered to the lowliest of people, He became indignant when faced with this disappointing disrespect to His Father. But how does this relate to our respective churches today? Would our church be know more as a commercial center? A place of worship? A holy place where God awaits the praises of His people? A salvation station where we are not only entertained, but encouraged to join in worship to our King, the Word of God taught without fear of retribution, and where sin is highlighted while teaching us to seek God’s forgiveness and His strength to overcome our sin? But it gets a whole lot more personal – in 1 Corinthians 3:16 we are told that ‘we are the temple of God’. To all believers reading this devotional, I wonder what kind of response we would see from Jesus if He inspected His temple in us? You know, our lifestyle, our commitment to Him, our obedience to His Word, or our following in His example. Perhaps we should ask our loving Lord to go through our life, overturn the tables, and drive out the cattle so we won’t be ripped off from what He wants to do in and through us. For the unbeliever, or unsaved reader, I pray that you will see from today’s Scripture that although Jesus was firm in responding to what He saw at the temple, yet He was in control and dealt with the dove owners quite differently, not wanting to bring harm to the living creatures. The God we serve is still loving and caring in the same way, and despite the disappointment He may endure by seeing His created ones choosing Satan over Him, I am convinced that He will receive as at any given moment that we surrender our all to Him. Remember, He is holy, and He designed us to be like Himself. Listen to that still small voice that gives you guilt feelings about your sin and disobedience. Turn your life around my friend and seek God’s cleansing of His temple inside of you. Be holy, as your Master and Lord is also holy!

PRAYER
Lord, there are many of us who become disappointed when our children follow in paths unbecoming of what they were taught in our home, and in the church we took them to, so we have an idea of what You must feel when You see us going on in life in our own way, or following the path Satan pushes on this world. Please forgive us Lord and continue to upset our ‘applecart’ of sin and disobedience. Continue to teach us the path we should follow to be more like You, and continue to prick our conscience when we stray. Oh that our commitment may remain strong, and may our desire increase daily to follow in Your footsteps, so that others may be encouraged to know You and live according to Your will for their lives. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. One of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin or continue your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals or subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. Friends, I encourage you to find a church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you make every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!

The Cost of Empty Worship: A Devotional Insight

On By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, Fruit of the Spirit, God Cares For Us, God’s Word, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Thursday, January 9, 2025, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa at Hunter Road, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Quoted from The Voice (VOICE) and found in Jeremiah 6:19-20

THE SCRIPTURE READS
19 Listen, O Earth, for I am bringing this disaster upon Judah. This is the fruit of their own scheming. For My people would not listen to My instructions; They have rejected My guidance—My law—to go their own way. Many people in Judah keep going through the motions of worship; they offer sacrifices and incense to the one True God. They speak superficial words when they think it counts, and they give Him extravagant gifts. But the prophet knows the mind of God, and God is not impressed with any of it. Empty worship is meaningless. In fact, empty worship may do more harm than good. These gifts and actions, it seems, have no meaning unless the hearts of the people are attuned to God, unless they are willing to hear and do what God asks. Obedience, you see, is better than sacrifice.
20 What use do I have of your expensive incense from Sheba or the fragrant reeds you offer Me from a faraway land? I will not accept your burnt offerings; the aroma of these empty sacrifices does not please Me.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
From our current day churches, much is taught about the fruits of the Spirit, and it is exciting for parishioners to gloat in the joy of what God has promised to those who follow in His footsteps and His teachings. But I feel like the Holy Spirit really got my attention today as I read this scripture from the book of Jeremiah. For God, in working through His servant Jeremiah, chose to use a similar reference in ‘the fruit of their scheming‘. Now, Christian teachers and leaders might skip right over this, for we tend to try and find the positive things of the Bible to attract the attention of our hearers. But it is refreshing to be reminded today that God looks at our heart, so He knows our intent, and our reasoning for offering up our sacrifices to Him. From a loving Father, it is important that He teaches us the rewards of our obedience, but also teach us the costs of our wrongdoing, or disobedience. Yes, today we still offer up sacrifices in hopes of the Father giving is a pat-on-the-back. Here are a few ways that we may feel like we are sacrificing: our church attendance; our worship; carrying our Bible with us, especially in public places; the offerings that we give towards the work of the church; the cross that we wear on our lapel or necklace; the jobs that we accept at church; etc. etc. However, let’s keep these things in mind as we look at the things that God is impressed with, and that the prophet emphasized in today’s Scripture:
–> That our hearts be attuned to God – From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. That’s the first thing that comes to my mind! Is it evident from what we say that our words are influenced by our Lord? When our hearts are attuned to God, we want more of Him and we lean towards seeking His will and way in everything we do. Would God find us ‘guilty’ of having a heart that is attuned to Him?
–> We are willing to hear (the Word of God – His teachings) – A heart that is attuned to God will desire to hear what He has to say each day. This will lead to frequent self-examinations as the Holy Spirit will open our eyes to the things that we are aligned with God’s Word on, plus the things we are lacking, or on which we have chosen to let the world have its way with us.
–> We are willing to, (and make every effort to) obey what God asks – We are reminded of the things we tend to do our own way. For the child of God who is attuned to God and willing to hear the voice of God, we must also be obedient to the Word, for obedience is better than sacrifice.
–> We acknowledge and live out true obedience to Almighty God, rather than the material things we might offer up to Him – On one occasion, I had a good friend who tried to convince me that he was sure God would accept his dad into heaven, for he was a good and honorable man who loved to help others. We might know a close relative who fits that same bill. Please be sure that your assessment of one’s life is always based on their obedience to God, and not just on their outward actions. Although I must remind you that it is way more important to look inward before looking outward at anyone else. It truly frightens me when I hear friends speak of their deceased loved one now being in heaven, especially if I am aware of the life they lived here on earth. But this Scripture is specifically wanting us to know the facts of what God is looking for in us. That’s really the only person that we can do anything about. Am I so caught up in the world, that I choose to live my life like the world promotes, or am I willing to change the trajectory of my life to ensure the eternal destiny of my life in heaven one day? This is primarily achieved thru accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and surrendering lordship of your life over to Him. Join me dear friends in reading our Bibles daily, and commune with God in prayer and meditation regularly so that we can know, fully understand and obey the teachings and example of Jesus, our King!

PRAYER
Thank You Lord Jesus for the Word of God and for the truth that it contains to direct us in our earthly path as we strive for eternity in Heaven. It never fails to amaze me how You, our Father and God, cover every aspect of life in Your Word. Especially in today’s Scripture where You challenge us to think of the fruit of our uncommitted allegiance to You and Your teaching. In most cases our decision making is driven by not wanting to follow the law, especially Your laws, so we try to find ways to do certain things that will look like we are obeying, but yet we do it in our own way and, if closely examined, You might really count it as disobedience. You know us better than we know ourselves, Lord, so please continue to lead us in the way that we should go and remind us always of the teachings and laws You have commanded of us in Your Word. People still need the Lord, and I pray that they will see so much of You in us, that they will call on Your name for mercy and forgiveness of their sin. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. I would also suggest that you speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com and share your good news! Perhaps one of God’s servants will pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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 being a part of that, while also growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Share/Preach What You Have Seen and Heard

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

DATE POSTED: Friday, September 13, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Destin, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE New International Version (NIV) IS FOUND IN Luke 24:45-48

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised….

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: Ever notice that when you share someone else’s story it’s not as impactful as telling something that is near and dear to your own heart, because of your first-hand experience? In our Scripture today, Jesus share the Gospel with His disciples, but then He reminded them ‘but you are witnesses to these things’. Think about it: If you are married, like I am, then it is easy to share with someone seeking to unite in marriage; If you have been through a hurricane, like I have, then it is easy, but with a sense of urgency, to warn others that may be threatened with an oncoming hurricane; Likewise, if you have experienced the love of God – the One in whom you have placed your faith and trust, and surrendered your total lordship to Him, then you have a story to tell. I once heard an old preacher describe it as a beggar telling, and showing, another beggar where to find bread. I wonder if Satan doesn’t trip us up into believing that we must be ready to preach, or quote any and all verses in the Bible, before opening our mouths to share with someone else! In Ephesians 4:11 we are taught that some are given the gift of apostle, some teaching, some preaching, and so on. Not everyone in the church will be a preacher, otherwise there would be no skills for music or administration or otherwise. But the Bible specifically tells us that we each have been given a gift from God, and although that gift may not be evangelizing the lost, we each are prone to share our personal experiences, for it’s something that happened to us, or something that we have experienced. I was reminded of two additional things as I meditated on these verses:
1. Notice that Jesus opened the minds of the disciples so they could understand His teaching? When we go to church or Bible Study, try asking God to open your mind to what He has to teach you through His Word that day. We can walk through the doors of the church, sit in one of the comfortable seats, and although very capable of hearing and understanding, if our minds are hundreds of miles away, or wandering around the auditorium, then it may be challenging, if not impossible, to hear, understand and apply the teaching of God’s Word.
2. Jesus told His disciples what to concentrate on teaching and preaching, and I believe this holds true for His disciples, you and I, today. Repentance and forgiveness is to be the main principles of our sharing, and demonstrated through our lifestyle. Repentance is when you turn away from what you were doing, and turn to what you are taught to do through God’s Word. You were in sin, and you were living like the world, following Satan’s evil desire for your life. On surrendering to the rule and reign of Jesus Christ in your life, you accepted His gift of eternal life and you are on a road in life that leads to eternity with He and the Father in heaven. Follow His example and His teachings so that the world will know, and want to change in a similar way. Forgiveness is an acknowledgment that you are very capable of doing wrong, so don’t be so judgmental of everyone else. Be willing to forgive them, just as Christ forgave you.
Friends, we serve an awesome, loving and perfect God. Seek Him while He may be found, and allow Him to work in and through your life so that others may see, know, and also believe in the one true God.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Lord Jesus, please continue to open our minds to truly hear, understand and believe what You say to us through Your Word and through circumstances in our lives. We are the clay and You are the Potter. Teach us to be moldable, especially here on this earth where there are so many side currents and acts of Satan that presses upon us every day. This old world needs Jesus, I pray that as they see and experience us, there will be a huge reminder of Your goodness, Your love, Your forgiveness, and Your salvation, that they too will want to know You personally. Please teach us to seek after and obey Your will for our lives each day. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this 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 you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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!

Eternal Life Promise: Isaiah 64:8-9 Prayer and Reflection

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

DATE POSTED: Thursday, September 12, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Destin, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE The Voice (VOICE) IS FOUND IN Isaiah 64:8-9

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: Still, Eternal One, You are our Father. We are just clay, and You are the potter.
We are the product of Your creative action, shaped and formed into something of worth. Don’t be so angry anymore, O Eternal; don’t always remember our wrongs. Please, look around and see that we are all Your people.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: I’m not so sure that children today still fear the discipline of their parents, but there was a time when children may have feared returning home after a school teacher discipline, for they knew that there was additional discipline they could expect from their parents. As declared in verse 5, the Israelites acknowledged that they had continued in their sin for a very long time, but they came to their senses and realized that their sacrificial, forgiving and loving God was their only hope. Friends, as I read this I believe the Holy Spirit caused me to reflect on myself, my family, my church, my community and my country, for it’s difficult to turn on the evening news without hearing about the atrocious sins committed that day. It’s sad to attend church and look around at the empty seats, while later reading on Social Media about the other priorities and ways in which our friends chose to spend their Sunday. It pains us to see where their priorities were on a day that Christians choose to lift up the name of Jesus and encourage those who need a Savior. It is frightening and difficult to hear the family of a deceased loved one trying to console themselves by assuming that ‘absent from the body is to be present with the Lord’, especially when that loved one, while alive, wanted nothing to do with the Lord, or with anyone claiming Him as Lord. Friends, according to the Word of God, the day of salvation is at hand – now, today, without delay. God says in His Word that there will be a day of reckoning, and some will hear the sad words of the Master say ‘away from me, for I never knew you’. This means that the individual chose to follow their own way, as they wanted nothing to do with Jesus. Imagine how insulting that would be to the individual to hear Jesus claim them when you told Him ‘no’ all of your life. Notice in our verses today, the Israelites came to their senses – they are still alive and able to consciously make decisions to effect their present and future life situation. They pleaded with God to remember who they were and to give them what He promised. I believe that most importantly, they once again recognized who God was. When you approach those in authority over you, there is a sense of trying to honor them, please them, and place yourself into proper perspective. This often leads to you pleading your change of heart before them, for you now need them. It is so easy for us to look at the attributes of God like love, forgiveness, understanding and welcoming us home to glory. But let’s never forget that He is most importantly God – the one who knows our every action, word and thought, and because He will always honor His word, it is up to us to first recognize Him as God, and to honor Him by submitting lordship of our lives to Him, for He has awesome plans for each of us. Where do you stand dear one? When you claim Him as your God, He will claim you as His child for all eternity. If you choose otherwise, Satan is walking about like a roaring lion waiting for those without Christ. The later option leads to eternal damnation and tormenting. Don’t you get enough of that here on earth each day? Why not surrender to Jesus for eternal life with He and the Father in heaven?

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Thank You Lord Jesus for the promise of eternal life! Please teach us to not only plan our tomorrows here on earth, but to also secure our future in heaven with You and the Father. There is only one way, through the relationship we have with Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives. Please help us to never assume relationship if we have never sought You out and accepted You as Lord of our lives. You set the path for eternal life from the very beginning of time, and You cemented that plan into the pages of Your precious Word. Just as we are reminded daily, there is no set time for our departure, so we must latch on to You today, before it is eternally too late. Please speak intently to the hearts of every reader and remind them of the decision they need to make, for salvation is not something that grows on them, or filtered into them because of their earthly behavior. Your Word is a light unto our path, may we make it a part of our daily habit so that we might be reminded of You and Your promises. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this 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 you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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!

Making Godly Choices in Politics and Leadership

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

DATE POSTED: Thursday, August 29, 2024, and I was blessed to be at San Marcos River Resort, Fentress, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM The Voice (VOICE) IS FOUND IN Isaiah 62:2-3

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: Jerusalem, the nations of the world will witness your righteousness, the most powerful world leaders will see your brilliance, And you will be called something new, something brand new, a name given by none other than the Eternal One. And you will be the crowning glory of the Eternal’s power, a royal crown cradled in His palm and held aloft by your God for all to see.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: I heard of a church that struggled at one point because the ‘controlling’ members began withholding tithes until the church leadership listened to, and followed, their instructions. These instructions could have led to controlling who was the pastor, or how the tithes and offerings were used. Awful, isn’t it? But as I meditated on this Scripture today, my spirit was moved because I see the same thing happening in our politics, and in the decisions made by our government leaders regarding world leaders. Think about it – we have the power, so why not use that ‘power’ to control what others do? We have the money, so why not use that ‘money’ to control what others do? We have the arms, so why not use that ‘threat of withholding arms’ to control what others do? However, despite us giving the impression to the world that we are power-hungry and all controlling, they still may choose to listen, and follow, what they discern their Father in Heaven telling them to do. However, should we possibly feel compelled to seek God first in our decisions like the above-mentioned, wouldn’t there be many other decision areas that require change in order to comply with the instructions laid out for us by God in His Word? Why we’ve accepted the choice of some leaders to openly set up clinics to destroy the lives of the innocent, the helpless, the speechless as spoken of in Jeremiah 19:4. We’ve willingly opened our borders to freely facilitate the heart-breaking sin of human smuggling and other atrocious sins that seriously impact our citizens. Friends, I try very hard to stick to the Word of God and simply have my say in politics at the polls, but as I read this Scripture, I realized that we are making a mockery of God by visiting His temple regularly to ‘supposedly’ satisfy our religious obligations, but at the same time we are guilty of promoting and/or permitting these horrible sins in our lives and in our country. I don’t believe we could ever think that God would only bring condemnation on Israel for its sin, and not on the respective home countries of my readers for committing the same sins. I strongly believe that if God would have first place in our lives, then our decisions and lifestyles would be changed to reflect His leadership. This would not only lead to better husbands, fathers, church leaders and/or government leaders, but this change will be reflected in every decision we make – especially those decisions that impact the lives of others. At one time I stopped shopping at a certain, national store, because I learned they were careless with their investments and/or advertising dollars. I am fortunate to live in a country where the election of our leaders is up to voters like me. I feel like it is incumbent upon everyone to learn about the candidates and vote to reflect our personal Biblical beliefs and the teachings we have at our fingertips in the Holy Bible. Let’s pay close attention dear ones, for there’s a country that God holds in the palm of His hand, because of how meaningful it is to Him, and the closeness of its people to His heart. I believe we are called upon to make sure that we also love, respect, promote, encourage and support that country and uphold them in high regard before our Father, for we are to love what He loves, and denounce those sins in our lives that He hates.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Father in heaven, You have warned us in Your Word that Your people should let their yes be ‘yes’, and their no be ‘no’, as Your Word is clear on what is required of us. You’ve also taught us that we are not to dilute our faith by those that promote and/or live in evil/sin/disrespect to our Heavenly Father and Your precious Word. Thank You for allowing us to live in a democratic country where we can vote our conscience, while looking to You for guidance into electing those that best follow Your commands and Your teachings. I believe that Your ways and decisions are intentional, and that no leader is elected without Your approval, for they will rule over Your people, and their decisions may impact Your nation and people mentioned in today’s Scripture. Please continue to impress upon us the lifelong decision to live, honor, promote, and vote in a way pleasing to You and Your plan for our world while we are allowed to exist here on earth. May this all be an important way in which we stand up for You, as our King, and display our obedience to what You direct, so that the unsaved may recognize the One we love, adore and obey. Heaven is our eternal home, please help us to live on earth with eternity in mind! AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this 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 you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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!

Maintaining Integrity and Contentment

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

DATE POSTED: Monday, August 26, 2024, and I was blessed to be at San Marcos River Resort, Fentress, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE Voice (VOICE) IS FOUND IN Proverbs 30:7-9

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: Two things I ask, O God. Sometime before I die, grant these humble requests:
Eliminate any hint of worthless and deceitful words from my lips.
Do not make me poor or rich, but give me each day what I need;
For if I have too much, I might forget You are the One who provides, saying, “Who is the Eternal One?” Or if I do not have enough, I might become hungry and turn to stealing and thus dishonor the good name of my God.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: To protect one’s integrity, they might exaggerate on the truth in order to protect their standing, or position on something. This might be something they said, did, or are being accused of. As a child, I remember my dad being leery of his takeaways from a certain individual, for that person was known to exaggerate about things or add their own twists to a story to make it more dramatic. As I read this plea from Agur, my eyes were opened to the sad state of affairs that many of us still find ourselves in today, for we still ‘stretch the truth’ in order to emphasize our point or make us look better in certain circumstances. But remember the example I opened with? My dad took anything said by his friend with a ‘grain of salt’, for he knew that there could be some truth in his story, but he also knew that much of it was probably constructed with ulterior motives. If we are truly meant to share our God stories with others, and if we are meant to evangelize the unbelievers, and if we are meant to be true representatives of our Lord Jesus Christ, shouldn’t we be clear, truthful and always unquestionable in the honesty of our speech to others at all times? If our words are tainted by untruth, what will we tell them about Jesus, since He is obviously not having an impact on our own behavior? The second request is similarly very interesting and challenging. ‘Teach me Lord to be content with what I have’, might be the proper label for this. For if I have too much, I might get cocky and think that I must have done something right in life and I am being rewarded for how good I truly am! Oh my, shouldn’t we wake up and realize that without Jesus Christ, we are nothing at all? While this is a frequent comment by Christians, I believe it is worth clarifying that no matter what the unbeliever achieves in life, or how much money they pile into their bank accounts, they will find themselves: very alone; with no one greater to call on or be challenged by; and no hope or expectation of a future life in heaven with the Creator of this universe. This sounds like a very lonely, disappointing and uneventful climax to a life on earth where one may have thought they were ‘on top of the world’ because of their personal achievements and success. But the second part of this request is that God would help Agur not be too poor, for he then might be tempted to steal or seek dishonest means in order to survive. Friends, I believe that an honest recap or evaluation of this entire request of Agur is that God would remove any distraction that might cause him to stray from his walk with God. Way too often we ask God to give, give, give, for we want to get as good as, or as rich as, or as favorable as, the richer person. I believe that this writer has shown us that we must recognize one thing only – our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. If He blesses us with riches, then we use that for His glory and for expanding the Kingdom of God here on earth. If He blesses us with just enough to get by, then let’s be quick to bend the knee each and every day as we beg for one more morsal of food or finances to see us through another day. In ALL THINGS let us learn to be thankful to God for ALL His mercies and blessings. May the unsaved, and the world in general, always see and experience God in every form of association with us, every day.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Lord, You are good to us and Your mercies are remarkable, and beyond anything we could ever imagine or ask for. Please Lord, help us to be satisfied in what You have done for us, and what You continue to do for us each and every day. You paid the ultimate price for simple people like us who want to achieve eternal life in heaven with You and the Father. Help us Lord to simply recognize our limitations and inadequacies and teach us to live in the light of eternity, while recognizing Your power and Your handiwork in everything we might accomplish here on earth. Without You, we can do nothing. Please walk with us every day and direct our path to live worthy of the King who gave himself up for our sin. Give us a strong desire to be honest in all we say and do, and to always recognize our all-sufficient Lord and Savior! AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this 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 you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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!

Following God’s Values: Living a Holy Life Despite Worldly Influences

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

DATE POSTED: Friday, August 16, 2024, and I was blessed to be at San Marcos River Resort, Fentress, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE Amplified Bible (AMP) IS FOUND IN Hebrews 13:5-6

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently say, “The Lord is my Helper [in time of need], I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: Something that I believe most of us truly care about, is our character. We will go to great lengths to protect against what others might think or say about our character. I therefore found the opening words of these verses very sobering, as God says through His messenger, the writer of Hebrews, protect your character so that others don’t find you offensive, or greedy, or money hungry. But why is this important? I believe that the minute someone evaluates you as greedy or hungry after money, their ears become deaf to the words you might share or the testimony you endeavor to expose to them through your lifestyle. It appears to me that many today have adopted the beliefs and character of the world, rather than staying true to the Word of the Lord, that God made available to us to teach us His values and His lifestyle, while Jesus was on earth among us. I am reminded that God knew that a major character flaw we might have, is our desire for more: money, things, friends, time doing worldly things, etc. I love it when pastors, teachers and yes, the Word of God, uses Scripture to support the point they are making. In our focal verses today, notice where the Spirit-controlled writer of Hebrews supported his message in reminding us of what God had said (bold print)? Check out Deuteronomy 31:6&8 and Psalm 118:5-8! Wouldn’t this be an awesome lesson for us to adopt and follow? Imagine when asked what our opinion is about a popular situation today, that instead of giving our tainted opinion, or the opinion of a tainted politician or public figure, that instead we respond with thus says the Lord, God Almighty! Friends, when we do this, we are much like a humble Pastor/servant I heard teach his church this week. He merely taught us what the Word of God says about abortion, not what his personal views are, or those of today’s politicians, or what doctors fear most, but instead ‘here is what the Word of God says in Proverbs 6:17 about God hating the sin of hands that shed innocent blood’ and in Prov 31:8 where God warns us that we are to open our mouths for the defenseless and speechless’. It is so easy for a poor person to rain down curses on a rich person and how their riches resulted from their greed. But when we share the unashamed Word of God with anyone who may have attained riches in ways displeasing to God, the battle becomes personal between that person and God. Friends, if you are anything like me, it becomes increasingly challenging to quote Scripture at the spur of the moment, but I am convinced that if God leads us to it, He will give us the boldness and the words to carry us through it. For only God changes lives, not you or me. Today you may be touched by the Holy Spirit to examine yourself for signs of your love for money. Please be open to what the Spirit says, and what He directs you to do to better align yourself with the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. If we spend adequate time on this, I believe that the natural desire for more money, or self-worth will diminish as we recognize the desire for holiness and becoming more like our Creator and Lord becomes more prevalent in us.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for leading the way in showing us how to live like our Creator, God. He designed us, and He has a plan for us, if only we will subject ourselves to His teachings and to the life You lived while here on earth. Forgive us Lord for cheapening ourselves to accept and follow the ways of this wicked world instead. Please embolden us and show us the way to not only surrender our lives to Jesus, but to commit to imitating Him in everything we do and say in every circumstance of life. Our world has become so hypocritical that we struggle to accept anything said by our peers. We humbly ask that You evaluate us daily and deliberately show us our misguided actions. Precious Lord may each of my readers join me in admitting that we can only live like You, if we surrender our lives totally and wholeheartedly to You. Please Lord, may our surrendered lives look more like You each day, and may the unsaved be drawn to You because of our determination and commitment. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this 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 you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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!

A Testimony Resulting From the Presence of Jesus

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

DATE POSTED: Monday, August 12, 2024, and I was blessed to be at San Marcos River RV Resort when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE New Living Translation (NLT) IS FOUND IN Luke 24:35-36

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread. And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: Some reading this devotional today probably have heard about Jesus for most of your lives, and many of you have experienced answered prayer and perhaps even felt God’s presence with you during some of your happy life-experiences, or even in the loss of loved ones. If this is your situation, I bet you are dying with anticipation at the thought of being with Jesus someday soon when God is ready for you to leave this earth and join Him in heaven – a day that all Christians look forward to! But today I want us to try and place ourselves in the shoes of the two disciples that Jesus appeared to while they were walking along the Emmaus Road. They were discussing the impact the Last Supper had on them. When we re-live life-experiences like this, we tend to melt away into the very moment that we are recalling. So, I would imagine that they recalled the love, the compassion, the concern Jesus seemed to have shown for their future and His upcoming arrest and crucifixion. And before any of us dare question their faith in this particular scenario, let’s remember that these men undoubtedly saw Jesus being arrested and perhaps even saw Him on the cross, followed by watching the soldiers seal the tomb of Jesus. Friends, if you were one of these men, what do you suppose you would have done if someone suddenly appeared in your small group and began talking to you? Let’s bring this thought a little closer to home – many of us attend church each week and we sing praises to God, and we do our best to stay awake while the Word of God is expounded. Do you suppose that we would pay closer attention if we look towards the front of the church, and we see Jesus standing there with outstretched hands, inviting us to surrender our lives totally to Him? Will our altars fill up a little quicker at the end of our services rather than the emptiness we see when God’s messenger invites us to respond to the Gospel message? When we pray, do we do it in such earnest that we know we are kneeling in the presence of Jesus, and we expect and or anticipate His miraculous response? When our world is falling apart – perhaps in the death of a very young relative, or if we lost our job, or if our spouse walks away from our marriage, and we are feeling very alone and like we’ve lost everything of value in our lives, does the refreshing Spirit of God fill our hearts and remind us of His undying love, and that He will be with us until the very end? In circumstances like these, we tend to be bitter, and although we cry out to God, we tend to do so with the wrong attitude. What if God made Himself so real in our lives, and so concerned about our circumstances, that we found a place to be alone with God and just allowed Him to love on us, counsel us about where to go from here, and reassure us that His promise is still true that He will be with us until the very end of time and that He is working out His plan in our lives, for our good? Can we handle that? Will you consider asking God to do just that for you? Let’s try to remember that our mission may not change at all, in spite of our earthly circumstances, so let’s learn to lean on Jesus so that He may work out His perfect plan in our lives. This will result in an effective, continued ministry of representing the kingdom of God, to whom we belong, for His eternal good.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Thank You Lord God for the presence and effectiveness of Your Holy Spirit that is always with us, as believers in Your Son, Jesus. Just as in the case of the disciples in our Scripture today, there are times that You pull up alongside of us to reassure us of Your power, Your love, Your ongoing plan for us, and the home that You have prepared for us when we leave this earth. Please help us to keep our eyes fixed on You, and not to be distracted with the circumstances that may hit us hard while still living here on this earth. Just as it is almost impossible for us to know the comfort of a spouse walking through life with us if we’re not committed, and married to one, so it is with knowing how good You are, oh Lord, without a living, dedicated, relational experience with You on a daily basis. Please help us to not wait until the ‘bottom’ falls out in our lives to look for the God of this universe, but instead help us to dedicate ourselves to You today and live a daily devoted life in sweet communion with You. In that kind of relationship, we know that You are with us on the ‘mountain tops’ and in the ‘valleys’ of life. We can then celebrate You in the good times, and when You pull up alongside of us in our most dismal times of life. You are our God, and You will be with us through every circumstance of life, if only we will let You. Today is the day dear Lord, please teach us to accept, and then expect You throughout every circumstance of life. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this 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 you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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!

A Roadblock To Answered Prayer

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

DATE POSTED: Monday, July 22, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Advent Christian Village when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE Contemporary English Version IS FOUND IN Isaiah 59:1-2

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: The Lord hasn’t lost his powerful strength; He can still hear and answer prayers.
Your sins are the roadblock between you and your God. That’s why He doesn’t answer your prayers or let you see his face.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: In a day when the people of Judah felt forsaken by God because of the challenging invasion of the Babylonians, I believe that we too can learn a lesson from what God explained to them through the prophet Isaiah. Many of us have heard such things as ‘it felt like my prayers were going no higher than the ceiling’, or ‘it feels like my prayers are hitting a brick wall’, or ‘is God really there for me?’ Throughout the Bible we are taught: that God will not tolerate sin; God will not be present where sin resides; There is no room in God’s presence for unconfessed sin; etc. But do we ever stop to consider these things when we are intimately and sincerely begging for God’s miraculous touch, and our prayers appear blocked? There are times that a child can merely look into the face of a parent and feel relieved by their love, or feel denounced by their correction or displeasure. Yet, God told His people, and us, that He hides His face from us when sin is blocking an open, sincere, honest and righteous presence with our Holy God. Although I am one of the millions who claim a personal relationship with our Lord, I still stop and often reflect on why a holy God would stop to listen to our cry for bodily healing, or safety for our children, or Godly direction in major decisions, or blessings to overcome life’s desperate challenges, when we are living in open sin – disregard for the teachings of our Lord and His written Word. Perhaps it would be good for us to have these focal verses on the inside of the door to our homes, so that it is the last thing we see before leaving to face the world each day. For, although it is easy to live like God in our ‘safe’ places, like home, or church, or Christian based events, but it becomes a whole lot more challenging to live like that in our workplaces or other worldly events without God’s miraculous intervention in our lives. Yes, we need more prayer and help from God in the latter circumstances, but we must learn to live, walk, talk and act like God in every aspect of life, if we are truly determined to follow in His ways every day. So friend, where do you turn to when your prayers seem unanswered or not reaching the throne of God? I am reminded that I am to look inward first and determine what sin is preventing God’s involvement. May I encourage you to do the same? If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus, my Savior, please know that it is a first step in your need for prayer. Asking dad for help with something, is altogether different to asking a stranger on the street for that same help. Yes, Jesus loves you, but He wants to know that you love Him, have accepted Him as Lord, and that you are serious about following His commands every day – both when things are going perfectly for you, and when you’re in need of His help.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Lord Jesus, I thank You for a Savior to who I can turn to when I’m thankful for answered prayer, and also when life is overwhelming and I need a powerhouse to help me overcome. As a child of Yours, and knowing You personally and intimately, You are my Rock to whom I can turn. I wouldn’t dare say that I never get impatient and frustrated when my prayers are either not answered, or as instructed, but Lord I thank You for teaching me through Your Word today, how critical it is that my spiritual condition be in order. Please dear Lord, teach me to always look inward and clear up any sin that may prevent me from seeing Your face or hearing Your response to my prayers. I don’t believe that I am any different to many who will read this devotional today, so I ask that You please open their spiritual eyes today and help them to understand the truth of Your Word. Yes, this Scripture was directed to Judah, but I am convinced that You are the same, righteous and holy God today, and when we are not, we should never be surprised that You are separated because of our sin. Forgive us Lord when we try to bring our worldly lessons and practices into the mix of our times with You. We are to be holy, just as You are holy! AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this 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 you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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!

A Lifestyle To Pursue

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

DATE POSTED: Thursday, July 11, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Blue Tree Resort, Orlando, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM The Voice (VOICE) IS FOUND IN Hebrews 12:14-16

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, since no one will see God without it. Watch carefully that no one falls short of God’s favor, that no well of bitterness springs up to trouble you and throw many others off the path. Watch that no one becomes wicked and vile like Esau, the son of Isaac, who for a single meal sold his invaluable birthright.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: I am always amazed when I consider, in amazement, how married couples succeed in marriage. Especially when I think about a man and a woman coming together from different backgrounds and upbringing, totally different lifestyles with a myriad of projections for their future life here on earth. Why, without the invitation for Jesus to lead and direct them, I am surprised that any marriage would flourish. God knew that there would be similar cause for concern about someone accustomed to the darkness, hatred and practices of this world and the Evil One, who decides to accept Him and His plan of salvation. In previous verses we see where God led His writer of Hebrews to explain how believers are adopted into His Kingdom of Light. In my previous devotional, I reminded every one of the teaching on setting human desires aside and concentrating on the Master for divine intervention – this was under the label of ‘fasting’. In today’s lesson I love the way that we are drawn to the fact that this Christian Life is not just a solitary, selfish relationship with God for me, myself and I, but that I play an important role in helping those around me to overcome the struggles of this wicked world and anticipate the glories of heaven. You see, this is all possible because of the Savior that taught fellow Christians and I to seek the Kingdom of Heaven and the righteousness of our God. The God who loved us enough to sacrifice His only Son for our eternal benefit. God knew that in coming from a worldly, unChristlike environment, we would need direction to live the new life that we would transformed into as a Kingdom child. But I love the reminder that we are to help others who are after the same goal as we are. I knew of an employer who promoted, through incentives, gifts to recognize the employees who succeeded in their weekly goals. However, it was not enough for an individual employee to achieve their own goal, but the employer added incentives when the whole team was successful. That employer must have read their Bible, for it seems like God is encouraging us to do the same through encouraging all team members to achieve success. Watch that no one falls short. Watch that no one becomes wicked. I don’t believe for a moment that God intended this to encourage nosiness, but rather to promote love, encouragement and cheering our team members on so that we all achieve glory! But friends, let me also remind us that God did all this so that we not only live according to His plan, but that we not throw off the unbeliever who might be looking on to see if this ‘Christian’ thing is for real. They want to know if God truly did change us, before they decide to also commit to our team of believers. Based on your life so far this month, do you feel like they are convinced that Jesus lives, reigns, and is glorified in and through you and your lifestyle? If not, please let me encourage you to join me in asking Jesus once again to teach us His ways and be His ambassadors here on earth, so that others might see Him in us, accept Him as their Savior and Lord, and believe that He has gone to prepare a place for us, that where He is, we may be also!

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Lord I believe, but I ask that You help my unbelief, or doubt, or fear when life is not going exactly as I envision it. Thank You for Your Word, and thank You for teaching us in advance, what is required of us as believers. As Your example here on earth, may others clearly see in us the attitude, words and actions of a Savior that loves them in the same way that I am convinced You love me. May we represent You well today, oh Lord, and may Your kingdom work be fulfilled around the world today. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this 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 you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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!