Wisdom for Men

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, Wisdom, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Sunday, 2023-05-14
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL
PODCAST: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edward-algreen/episodes/Wisdom-for-Men-e241plm

SCRIPTURE FROM: Proverbs 5:1-4
TRANSLATION: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

BIBLE TEXT: Son, listen to this piece of wisdom from me. Pay attention to what I know to be true. Remember to live wisely, and what you learn will keep your lips from saying the wrong thing. Now, another man’s wife might be very charming, and the words from her lips so sweet and inviting. But in the end, she will bring only bitterness and pain. It will be like bitter poison and a sharp sword.

OBSERVATION: For obtaining great fishing advice, one might run to the most successful and long-term fishermen that they know, and not to the casual weekend beach lubber living next door. When listening to a banker explaining the best way to take advantage of the best banking options, one interested in saving or investing money will tend to draw closer to them to not miss a word of advice being given, instead of listening to the drunk at the local pub who tries to tell you how to save or invest. Solomon had a record 1000 wives and concubines, so can’t you imagine that the words of wisdom shared in our Bible verses today really got the attention of his sons? These words of wisdom were carefully chosen to share with men throughout the ages, don’t you think that we should draw close to God while meditating on these wise words of Solomon?

APPLICATION: Surely Solomon, with so many wives and concubines, saw massive opportunities to share his wisdom learned over the years. But being a man of God, Solomon was led to not only share his advice with his sons, but to share this with all other men who are tempted into unpleasant, illegitimate, and/or sinful relationships. I believe we must realize that gaining great advice and/or permitting change in our lives, is more than having a good mentor or example. We all have our own sense of reasoning and a free will to accept good advice or reject it. As a father myself, I have learned that all we can do is to share advice and personal experiences with our children, but they are the ultimate ones who will decide to accept or reject the advice. Let’s be honest, there are some parts of our lives that we would prefer not seeing repeated, for we now realize that we had fallen away from God and allowed Satan to promote his evil ways in and through us at certain times. But the difference is, that in our example before us today, God is saying like many Facebook users say, ‘Do this‘! For you see, God used a worthy and acceptable individual in the sight of God to share this valuable information. Think about it, Solomon was the son of David, who was a man after God’s own heart; Solomon determined in himself to be obedient to God and His perfect will; Solomon was known throughout his kingdom as a very rich and wise king, and who wouldn’t want to learn as much as they could from a known wise man? Solomon was a loving man, and as such, he wanted the very best for his beloved sons. In fact, Solomon imitates our God in many ways. For God so love the world that He not only gave awesome advice personally and in written form to His children, but He also saw the need for us to have a clear understanding of what we must do to eventually wind up in heaven with Him. So God sent His Son Jesus into the world, and although Jesus made excellent use of His time while here on earth, yet God had a greater purpose in mind for Him and for us. For God to meet that purpose, He allowed Jesus to be captured, sentenced by an earthly king, humiliated in the streets and crucified on a cruel cross. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for the sin of all who would believe on Him and accept His sacrifice. But God ensured that His Son would not remain in a tomb, because mankind would hesitate even more in serving a Savior who is dead. So after just three days in the tomb, God raised His Son from the dead – glory to God in the highest heavens! So the wisdom in all that Solomon shared with his sons, sounds amazing and so very helpful, but to think of a Savior who did even more than this for us, is beyond anything we could think, imagine or comprehend. Our wise God loves you dear friend, and He would like nothing better than to share His love and wisdom with you, for the best life you can imagine and enjoy here on earth. Give Him a chance to do this, won’t you?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Live wisely and enjoy life under the plans and direction of your loving God!

PRAYER: Lord, I can’t imagine what good I could ever do to deserve the sacrifice made by Your own, precious Son. Solomon gave very wise advice to his sons, some of which are included in Your precious Word. But Your Word is filled with the wisdom You shared with us to enjoy life at its fullest. Please forgive us for showing our ungratefulness more often than our deepest appreciation for You and all mankind. Oh that we may look to You for all things precious Lord. With so many unanswered questions in life, may we be consistent in looking to You for the wisdom we need to live according to Your will. Open our eyes precious Lord, so we may see You in All of Your glory! 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!

Order In The Church

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, 2023-05-11
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Timothy 3:14-15
TRANSLATION: Amplified Bible (AMP)

BIBLE TEXT: I hope to come to you before long, but I am writing these instructions to you in case I am delayed, so that you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

OBSERVATION: In our homes, we are raised with certain rules that we just fail to see the reason for, at times! In school, there’s more of the same, and also at work. There just seems to be an ongoing reason for rules, rules, rules! In starting out in ministry, Timothy needed lots of guidance and wisdom to continue leading the church in the order handed down from his ancestors. Paul offered guidance to Timothy, and the Holy Bible offers guidance to us today. Our meditation on the Scriptures today should help us better understand why we have rules.

APPLICATION: Until we understand the reasons for certain rules, it is challenging for us to change our worldly habits and follow the rules. I recently posted a devotional concerning the character expectations and integrity of a church leader. To the world, those rules from the Bible may seem unrealistic, and they may challenge believers on the reason for such rules. Sure, we can tell those questioning that it’s because God said so, but in our Scripture today we are actually told the reason for the rules and how it should be easy to understand the reason. It seems like whenever our government leadership thinks about changing certain national policies that might affect morale, they tend to ask leading church leaders for their opinion. Whenever an unbeliever walks into a church sanctuary, such as when attending a wedding or funeral, they tend to fall into place with everyone else in respecting the building as God’s place to meet with His people. From the understanding of today’s verses, it seems like Paul may have thought that questions may arise if Timothy instituted the rules he advised for the character and behavior of church leaders. So, Paul went on to explain the reasons why he wanted church leaders to be a special kind, or set apart, one who adheres to and respects the work of Christ in the local church. In some churches today, many of these rules are still in place, and here’s why: People will follow what their leaders say and do, and not so much what they demand in words alone. Church leaders will either teach, preach, or show by example that they represent a higher power – One who is above all mankind; One who has prepared a place for us to transition to when life here on earth is over; One who is perfect in every way, and has given His instructions for us to follow as we aim towards a life of perfection, like Him. Without observing the rules given by our Maker, we will instinctively follow the free reign of the evil one. Notice in the latter part of today’s Scripture, Paul reminded Timothy that the church belongs to, and should look like the church of the living God, for it is the pilar and foundation of the truth, and Jesus is the Truth, the Light and the Way. Friends, for those of you that sit in a congregation of church goers, we must all respect our leaders, but we must also keep them accountable – according to the rules and commands of God Almighty. For when they show us by example who it is that they worship, adore and serve, we will also be more apt to do the same. As a child, we played a game called ‘Follow the leader’. Perhaps it wasn’t a game after all, for we still do that at church, at work, and even at home. I believe the bottom line in what we should learn from this teaching today, is that each of us are called to ‘Follow the leader’. I must live in a way that my child will follow me and find that they are learning and following the ways of Jesus Christ. This will carry through in my workplace and in my church. Paul said that the church is the foundation of truth. I interpret that as saying that anytime one looks for an example of the Truth, they can look at the church. It only goes to say that the church must always be the church, or truth, God being our Guide and our Helper, so that others will not be misguided.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Representing our family heritage is one thing, but representing the holy Son of God is quite a challenge for us while living in the world with the opposition so prevalent. Praise God, we are children of the King!

PRAYER: Thank You Heavenly Father for Your mercies, and for Your commands and instruction, for without them, we would be deep in sin and living in the way of the evil one. Lord, some will go to church looking for love and for ideas to help improve their outlook on life. Some will search for a greater and higher being, but I pray that everyone that reads this devotional will find Jesus, the resurrected One the next time they go to church. The same One who provided salvation for all mankind from their sin and evil doing. Lord, please place it on our heart to pray for our church leaders, so that they may live in true and honest companionship with You, and in strict obedience to Your Word. Together we must be the church – Your truth, Your pilar and Your representatives that will lead the unsaved to Jesus. AMEN!

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

The Excuses For Non-Attendance

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: Tuesday, 2023-05-10
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

Also available via Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hcebkMndfK3GZKWjG8rvT

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 14:15-20
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!” Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

OBSERVATION: Unfortunately, things are not much different today than in the day of Jesus’ teaching. Jesus warned then, and I believe He continues to warn today, that when a banquet is prepared for us, and we are duly invited, there should be no reason for us to find excuses for not attending. I believe the Holy Spirit inspired me to compare this story by Jesus to the spiritual banquet that is prepared every week for us to meet with other believers in the presence of the King of all kings and receive the blessings of God, just as we would do at a banquet table with food. Take a few minutes to meditate on this with me today.

APPLICATION: I was touched as I read this story this morning. Perhaps for the first time I saw the tie between the direction Jesus gave to the Pharisees about hosting a banquet and the parable, or story that followed concerning the invitations to attend the banquet. I saw a deep parallel between the parable and our regular church services each week. I believe that if any of us knew, and was concerned about, the sacrifice, preparation time, study and research time, prayer and concern that went into preparing for our time together each week, we would probably bend over backwards to attend church and be thankful for the work of our pastors and church leaders. But could it be that we have become so self-centered and hardened to anything done for us by others, that we have forgotten everything our mom ever taught us about appreciating any and all things others may do for us? If we are truly following the will of God, is there anyone too good, or too evil, for us to share the love of Jesus with? Perhaps if we could take a close look at today’s Scripture and ask God to bring this to remembrance every time we push others away, or reject their invitation to be with them, we might seek the face of Jesus more frequently and beg His forgiveness while asking Him for strength to follow His will for our lives in all walks of life. Friends, this whole idea of accepting one another, and sacrificing a little bit of self in order to be a part of their joys and sorrows, all started with God, for He caused a Son – His only Son, to be born through miraculous means, so that He would ultimately be a substitute for the sin of all who choose to accept Him. This was done for those who we tend to turn away from, like criminals, known sinners, those who reject Christ, and of course, our God saw fit in doing this miraculous act for those He knew would accept His Son Jesus as Lord of their life. Nationality, nor color, nor male, nor female were exempt from the provisions made by God to enable our acceptance into heaven. I wonder how God must feel when He watches as we segregate those, we feel are unworthy? If only we would learn to do what God expects and commands of us, while letting Him be God and touch the hearts of those whom He loves and cares for. The Bible says that when Jesus arose from the dead, He went on to Heaven to prepare a place for us. It is totally God, in all of His wisdom and love, who will accept and/or reject those who will make it to heaven’s doors. We are not expected to help God decide on the sentence for each one. However, the Word of God teaches us that we are to love, encourage and spur one another on to the joys of heaven and our living God. It is virtually impossible to do that while allowing Satan to have his way in forcing a wedge between us and those God has placed in our path. So when we think of a banquet being prepared for us, think of the one meant to welcome us home to glory, and also the one each week where God chooses to soften our hearts so that we may not only hear His Word declared, but also allow it to minister to our heart. Prepare yourself for loving your ‘neighbor’ as much as we all love ourselves. God is love, so any thought we hear of hatred, revenge, or staying away from His church and His people, is a sign that Satan is way too active in our lives.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Time with Jesus will cause us to desire eternity with Him!

PRAYER: Lord, I believe if You made us as sick as we claim to be when it’s time for church, or as poor as we claim to be when we neglect giving to Your ministry causes, or any of the other multiple excuses that we make in life, especially when You are just waiting to bless us, we will be in deep trouble. Please Lord, forgive us for our ungrateful and evil ways. With the mouth, we say that we are Your child, but way too often we still act as if Satan is still in charge of our lives. Lord, I am serious about Heaven, and also about pleasing You in all that I do or say while still here on earth. Please give me strength and determination to live more in line with Your commands, Your will, and Your desires for me to be of Christian service to others that I come into contact with. I want others to see so much of Jesus in my life that they will desire and commit to a personal relationship with You. Please touch the hearts of all who will read this devotional. If they already serve You, I pray that they will become more committed to Your will and way. If they are still following the evil one, I pray that their hearts will be softened, and their eyes opened to You saving grace. May this be a day of decision and drawing closer to You in every way. 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!

Led By Righteousness or Blinded by Sin

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: Sunday, 2023-05-07
WRITTEN AT: Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, Bahamas

SCRIPTURE FROM: Proverbs 4:18-19
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over.

OBSERVATION: In our Scripture, we see where Solomon was passing wisdom on to his son, just as he had gained from his father, David. Jesus said in John 1:12 that those of us who have accepted Him as Lord, we are also His children and, as such, He will lead us into all righteousness. Is there reason then for us to whine, complain and think of failure in life, if the Son of God gave us hope and opportunity for eternity with Him? Stay with me as we meditate on this important thought today!

APPLICATION: I feel like the Holy Spirit led me to remember and recognize that there is righteousness and truth in following Christ. And it is easy to understand how we fail so often and become overwhelmed in the things of this world, for we take our eyes off Jesus. If we are to be led by Jesus, then we must communicate with Him. Of course, I believe that all of you know that communication involves words and actions between at least two people. If I am to do this with you, you may ask questions of me, and expect for me to respond. If you ask me to do something that either you are commanding, or asking a favor, or strongly suggest that I do because of all the reasons you give me, then you expect me to follow your good advice. If I don’t respond in deed or in words, then you will probably doubt if I care, or if I truly listened to you, or if I want to see change. Communication with God is no different. He is looking to build a relationship with us. To begin the process, I believe He is looking for us to accept the free gift of eternal life that He sacrificially provided for us. For a personal experience, let me share that I recently spoke with an elderly lady at the church I attended. I had just seen her come through a food line, but she shared with me how she labored over making cookies for the shut-in ministry of the church. I admire people who will find ways to help, even if they couldn’t ordinarily afford to help financially. However, I know of recipients of that ministry who quite frequently trash the food given to them because the items may not be as presentable as they had hoped, or taste like the ones they make. Knowing the sacrifice made, don’t you agree with me that the recipients were very selfish and ungrateful? However, the Bible tells me that God sent His Son as an infant – a time that we actually celebrate – Christmas. This Son performed miracles and showed love to the unlovable while He was on earth. God then commanded that He die at the hands of a wicked king, so that through His death and ultimate resurrection, those who accept Him as Lord, could enjoy eternity in Heaven with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Similar to the story of the lady at my church, we see here the ultimate sacrifice made for us. Following in the steps of our Master and Lord, Solomon is telling us that we will become righteous and shine before a dark and sinful world as brightly as the midday sun! Is that something that sounds appealing to you, that you could represent the King of all kings? And that no matter how despondent the world might become, this one light of hope to those in your circle of family and friends will go a longs ways in helping them see Jesus. The reality of life is that not everyone will accept this gift, for they are determined to be as miserable in their old skin, their sin and despondency. Sadly, Solomon also shared with us what happens next for these unhappy and disobedient children also. Unfortunately they will continue to stumble, whine and complain without realizing what caused them to stumble. Don’t we see this very often in life – the folk that enjoy being miserable and who others hate to see coming towards them? There is hope my friend! Jesus stands willing and ready to accept your call for mercy and eternal life! If you are sick, most will quickly find a doctor. Today I am happy to tell you that if you are still in darkness, unbelief, doubt and despondent about life, there is a ‘doctor’ for that as well. Jesus specializes in saving such individuals from sin – if they do their part, by believing in the holy Son of God and trusting Him unconditionally, He will save you and redirect your life to live in obedience to His commands – His Word – the Bible. Help is available to you in my ‘FOOTNOTE’. Please decide today to believe on the name of Jesus – the only Son of God!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Regardless of what all is going on around us, we can shine as brightly as the noonday sun, because of the Son who lives and reigns inside of us!

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for everything You have done for us to help us dig out of our lives of pain and misery here on earth. Not only can we find peace for today, but You have promised us eternal life in the glories of heaven also. Lord, I believe! Please continue to mold me into Your likeness, so that others will see and believe in the wonders of heaven and the hope that is ours. Life here on earth is very challenging, so we look forward in great expectation and wonder, for all that You will bless us with presently, and in the world to come. Please forgive us when we seem unappreciative and ungrateful, like in the above story. 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!

Guard Your Heart

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

DATE POSTED: Thursday, 2023-05-04
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Proverbs 4:23
TRANSLATION: New International Version (NIV)

BIBLE TEXT: Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

OBSERVATION: At the top of the list for dads to teach their children, should be the importance of guarding their heart above everything else. Solomon spoke intently to his son on this matter, and fortunately he lived the life to support the advice he was giving to his son. Stay with me as we look into the possible reason why God also saw this necessary for us today.

APPLICATION: The most challenging thing in you giving advice, is the importance of you living the life that you are teaching others to do. Solomon was known as the wisest man on earth. Isn’t it interesting how he was also known as the richest man on earth? I wonder if there is any correlation! In our world today, we hear a lot about folk with heart disease, in fact, I have been diagnosed with it, but when we go to bed at night with our home doors locked shut, possibly bars on our windows and doors, and possibly a loaded gun under our pillow or in a bedside drawer; or if we constantly worry about money being stolen from our bank account; or a gunman firing his gun in a crowd where we may be celebrating a joyous time; could it possibly be that many are suffering from a heart that is spiritually diseased? However, I find it interesting that this was really addressed by Jesus in His day on earth where, in Matthew 15:18-20 He said: “But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile him. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defiles a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.” Friends, when we guard our home, we protect everything inside in ways already mentioned, locked doors, etc. When we protect our kids or our spouse, we become bold enough to stand in the way of a speeding bullet, or even fight the biggest, ugliest, meanest, man who threatens their safety. Yet, we sit in front of our televisions for hours on end and allow the filth and sin-laden actions of twisted movie makers to intoxicate our hearts with the ways of the world – in absolute and total opposition to what God commands of us. In fact, many of you will opt for this, instead of meeting with God’s people for worship to our Lord and Savior. What if we start protecting our heart like we do our money, or our belongings? Do you suppose we will find greater peace with God; healing from the great Healer; wisdom from the wise and almighty God; protection from the evil one, by the Holy of Holies? Please consider this challenge before you call on God out of desperation again. You might have a clearer conscience in approaching God, and you might expect more from the God with whom you have made an effort to develop a relationship with.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: It’s from the heart that we love others and God. From this, we develop relationships with the ones who make a positive impact in our lives and gives us hope for every tomorrow!

PRAYER: You have been so good to us Lord! Thank You for the privilege of life itself, and thank You for providing the means by which we could enjoy life in peace, knowing that our eternal home in Heaven is assured and awaiting our arrival. Praise God, this will be the opportunity for us to meet Jesus face to face and spend all eternity worshipping our Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the purity and sincerity that only Heaven can give. While on earth, please use us for Your glory as we try to bless others and love them like they expect from You. Please use every possible opportunity today to humble the hearts of those who have decided to live life here on earth without You, as their negligence will only lead to eternity in Hell with the evil one. May this be the day that many will be touched by Jesus and/or drawn to You without reservation. 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!

Biblical Qualities of a Church Leader

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

DATE POSTED: Sunday, 2023-04-30
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Timothy 3:1-3
TRANSLATION: Good News Translation (GNT)

BIBLE TEXT: This is a true saying: If a man is eager to be a church leader, he desires an excellent work. 2 A church leader must be without fault; he must have only one wife, be sober, self-controlled, and orderly; he must welcome strangers in his home; he must be able to teach; 3 he must not be a drunkard or a violent man, but gentle and peaceful; he must not love money;

OBSERVATION: Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul had important advice for Timothy as he searched for and indoctrinated leaders into churches he started and/or while ministering at some that Paul had already started. Surely God has not relaxed His qualifications because of the times we are in today, for the ‘times we are in’ churches seem to have merely relaxed their demands because of Satan’s push for less stringent rules. So, let’s not skip this aspect of the Scripture that we will come across as we commit to read, understand, and obey, the full Word of God.

APPLICATION: I would suggest that you click on the Bible reference above and read the full chapter, as I chose only a few verses to introduce the subject and remind you of the importance of obeying God and His teachings in this important aspect of His church. Let me say right at the very beginning of this study that every child of God has a place of ministry as they give witness to the God who saved them from a life of sin and eternal damnation. However, for those who will lead God’s church, He had Paul instruct how important it is that we get it right, at the very top of the chain of command. Having served for 47 years in the banking industry, I can assure you that the bank would not hire less than perfect individuals to serve in leadership positions in the bank. After all, can you imagine how thousands of bank customers would react if they became aware of an unworthy, unqualified, known criminal who was making leadership decisions over their hard-earned savings at the bank? Would it not be even more important that we make similar precautions when it comes to the leadership God’s church here on earth? Sure, we live in an imperfect world, but I had a pastor once say that he would choose to recommend that the church elect no deacons at all, if they couldn’t find biblically qualified deacons. Friends, we will be answerable to God if we choose leaders based on popularity, or their known financial worth, or a pushy individual who can demand quick decisions from a church. I have always heard of this Scripture, as it referred to Pastors, and in some cases, elders. However, one commentator said: ‘Because the words “bishop,” “pastor,” and “elder” are used interchangeably throughout the New Testament, Paul’s instructions concerning bishops apply to anyone who wants to be used by the Lord’. This makes more sense to me, because in most churches church leaders other than the pastor, give advice and/or direction to the pastor. It would therefore be important that such ‘leaders’ be faithful, biblically minded men of God. I’m sure you are probably nodding your head that this is really key information for church leaders, but wondering why God would have everyone learn this, and become liable for obeying this. In most churches you, the church membership, elect your church leaders. I believe that Paul, and especially God, are very interested in you choosing your church leaders in line with God’s instruction. In the same way that I go off and research the autobiography, records and references of political leaders I plan to vote for, I would highly recommend that you do the same when it comes to voting for your church leaders. If this is done at a regular church business meeting, then it is incumbent upon you to be at the business meeting and elect to vote your God-given conscience. This is also a good place to ask questions of the leaders you are being asked to vote for. If they are not present, perhaps that’s your first indication of the lack of dependability by the official running for office. Friends, it takes obedient, practicing, godly men to lead a godly church. If you are one asked to serve, please be sure that you are in full obedience to the Word of God. If you are one asked to vote for such men, do the same – make sure they are qualified, proven and ready to serve with all their might! We must all ensure that visitors to our church will find no reason to reject the call by God on their life. I pray that they will never be distracted by seeing men serving on my church’s leadership that are questionable in the community.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God showed us the way to have our churches led by holy and righteous saints, now may we do our part as a congregation to insist on the same.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we thank You for preserving holy men to lead our churches. Please help us to always choose to ignore Satan when encouraging us to choose otherwise. It is so pleasing to most congregations to choose the most popular, the richest, the longest attending and the most likable, without checking off all those who do not meet the qualifications mentioned by You. Lord, may we be found faithful in all that we do to preserve the holiness of Your church, so that we would never be a ‘turn-off’ for those seeking to worship with an honest and God-honoring body of believers. 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!

A Lesson In Humility

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

DATE POSTED: Saturday, 2023-04-29
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 14:7; 10-11;
TRANSLATION: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

BIBLE TEXT: 7 Then Jesus noticed that some of the guests were choosing the best places to sit. So he told this story: 
10 “So when someone invites you, go sit in the seat that is not important. Then they will come to you and say, ‘Friend, move up here to this better place!’ What an honor this will be for you in front of all the other guests. 11 Everyone who makes themselves important will be made humble. But everyone who makes themselves humble will be made important.”

OBSERVATION: With as much as we learn, it sometimes becomes quite challenging in deciding our best move in certain circumstances. For example, some taught that if we don’t promote ourselves, no one else will. Others taught that we assume our rightful place when among others who consider themselves influential. However, for the child of God, we are to always follow in the example of our Master and Lord. Having learned His teachings, we become appreciative of His life-lessons and easier for us to follow in His example. Meditate with me as together we look deeper into this lesson today.

APPLICATION: Let’s take a moment to reflect on a few of the ways that Jesus showed Himself humble. Riding into Jerusalem while being escorted by his disciples and followers, Jesus was comfortable riding on the lowliest of animals – a donkey. Notice how unimportant that particular piece of information was to Jesus. He didn’t need a long processional, nor the protection of the town’s security forces, yet the people waved palm branches and sang songs as Jesus proceeded through the crowd, for He was their King! He ate at the table of the Tax Collectors, a group ridiculed by their own people for their dishonest dealings with the people. However, Jesus was more concerned with their heart’s condition and their readiness for heaven. Don’t we tend to stay away from such people as we are afraid the church might consider us one of them, or that we agree with their dishonest practices, if we mix with them? In our lesson today, Jesus saw how everyone was scrambling to be near the seat of honor. In today’s world and in a similar situation, we may say that they were trying for a photo op that would show them in close proximity to the host of the party! One of the best lessons taught by my parents, and shown by their example, is to take the back seat so that we do not show off our pride in being invited to such an event. Friends, if we did anything worthy of mention by the host, they would recognize us, no matter where we sit. But is there really something that forces us to be puffed up about, or smear in the faces of those who chose to sit near the back? In another part of the Scriptures, Jesus said that unless we humble ourselves as a little child, we would not be accepted into heaven. Think about the differences in what you find in a child vs an adult. They tend to listen closely to those in authority, and obey what they are told; they are very trusting of people they know, and willing to trust their lives into the hands of these people; They accept what adults tell them, assuming it to be the truth; they tend to tell the truth, even if they know it might get them into trouble; etc. Friends, when we humble ourselves like a child, we become moldable by our Father; We take Him at His word and trust Him to heal us when He tells us to trust in Him for all our cares and worries; We give credit to God for His kind and gentle touch that He promised, because He said in His Word that He cares for us and will meet our needs. If we are humble ourselves before the King of all kings, I believe that it would be natural for us to be humble before others. Proverbs 3:5-6 says: Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Everyone who makes themselves humble will be made important.

PRAYER: Lord, You know how this world teaches us to focus on self as number one. Often through selfies, social media posts where we could promote ourselves. Unfortunately, we sometimes take this into the church, where we spend more time promoting self than we do in teaching the Word. Please forgive us Lord, for You are the One that we adore, and without You we are nothing. But because we are so self-centered, it becomes more challenging to truly become humble, and instead lift up Your holy name. This tends to flow over into our life that others see also, whether it’s in leadership, or even while serving You. Thank You for this reminder today on the importance of being humble, just as You were humble. Lord, we want the world to see Jesus, so please impress upon us the wrong in prideful acts. They want to see Jesus, so please help us to step aside and let Your light shine brightly through us so that the world will see and believe. 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!

How To Live a Long and Satisfying Life

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

DATE POSTED: Thursday, 2023-04-27
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Proverbs 3:1-6
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: 1-2 My son, never forget the things I’ve taught you. If you want a long and satisfying life, closely follow my instructions. 3 Never tire of loyalty and kindness. Hold these virtues tightly. Write them deep within your heart. 4-5 If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself. 6 In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.

OBSERVATION: Do you suppose that we would have a better world today if every father took his child aside before leaving his home and shared such wisdom with them as Solomon did with his son, as detailed in our Scripture today? I bet we would have a much better world! Therefore, let us meditate on a few of the things that Solomon shared, as they are very similar to what God teaches throughout His Book for us to follow.

APPLICATION: I have found that it was not until certain circumstances started occurring in my adult life that I heard the teachings and advice given to me by my dad during my days of training and working by his side. Perhaps that’s how God intended it! However, these lessons by Solomon, to his son, were so important in the ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit, that God permitted it to be included in His Word. Let’s delve into the lessons as we ask God to embed His Word into our minds, for our good, and for His glory:

  • Never Forget – As time goes on, don’t we tend to brush aside old habits and lessons, thinking that we should live more in line with the times? But Solomon saw fit to make this one of his very first instructions in this lesson today. Just as these instructions of Solomon are reinforced by God himself, we too are also called to never forget the instructions taught to us by important people God placed in our life – our parents.
  • Hold fast to the Virtues taught – The dictionary shows the meaning of ‘Virtues’ as: ‘behavior showing high moral standards‘. God wanted us to know that these virtues given by Solomon will go a long way for us today also. From a very young age, our parents try to embed awesome virtues into their children. Often, we might think they are pre-historic and only suited for the very early stages of creation when they were born! But let’s hold tight to what God is telling us in His Word. These are things we must take seriously.
  • Closely follow his instruction – I sometime wonder whether God will hold us accountable for knowing His Word, yet adding our own little twist on what we assume He must have meant. We do the same with man’s laws. The speed limit may clearly show 45 mph, yet we become upset with the Highway Patrolman who tickets us for doing 48 mph, because we stayed under the assumed limit suggested by our friends! I had a relative who changed recipe ingredients to suit her liking, but she complained when the finished product didn’t taste like the first one she tasted! No doubt Solomon knew that his son would try to make his own adjustments, but if he expected to achieve the end result of knowing that God would bless him with a long and satisfying life, then he had to following his dad’s instructions closely, and so should we learn to do the same with God’s instructions.
  • Loyalty & Kindness – I love one translation that reads that his son was to never tire of living a life of integrity. To live a life of kindness, is to meet the needs of people who cross your path, instead of making every effort to avoid them. The world will turn their heads to avoid a person with needs, but since God met our greatest need by sending His one and only Son so that we could live eternally with Him, then as His imitator we must be willing to do the same.
  • Trust God completely – Our minds, our thoughts and our actions are often marred by the world in which we live. It is critical that we avoid our own distorted minds, will and thoughts, and trust God completely. He created us, He sent His Son so that we might live eternally with Him, so He has our best interest at heart and will direct our path in a way that would enhance His kingdom through His children.

Perhaps God is trying to let you know what you must do to have eternal life, and also how to live a long and satisfying life. His Word is of super importance, as it contains His instructions for life. Listen carefully and commit yourself to follow His instructions, and you will surely be blessed with a long and satisfying life.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Our Father gave us His full instruction for life, just as Solomon did for his son. Praise God we, who have accepted Him as Lord, can live a long and satisfying life knowing that our eternal home will be even greater than any joy we might have here on earth!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I’m sure You are well aware of the struggles we face every day and the challenges that meet us in every walk of life. Praise God we serve such an awesome Lord! In spite of our sin, You sent Your Son to die on a cross at Calvary, so that we could choose to accept Him for the forgiveness of our sin and enjoy the surety of our eternity. Please open our eyes and our understanding to Your instructions and give us boldness to follow with integrity the instruction and example of Your Son. Please give us purpose in living this life and the determination to follow Your instructions faithfully. 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!

Dress and Attitude of Worshippers

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

DATE POSTED: Monday, 2023-04-24
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Timothy 2:8-11
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: 8 …. Men, pray wherever you are. Reach your holy hands to heaven—without rage or conflict—completely open. 9 Women, the same goes for you: dress properly, modestly, and appropriately. Don’t get carried away in grooming your hair or seek beauty in glittering gold, pearls, or expensive clothes. 10 Instead, as is fitting, let good works decorate your true beauty and show that you are a woman who claims reverence for God. 11 It’s best if a woman learns quietly and orderly in complete submission.

OBSERVATION: While most of us go to the Bible to learn about God, I wonder if God doesn’t often teach us more about ourselves than we would care to know, particularly what we should look like and act like as His child, or His representative. These verses should open our eyes and show us more about how we may tend to abuse our act of worship before the One who deserves all worship, praise and honor from us, His children.

APPLICATION: I don’t believe that our God ever shows disrespect, or dishonors us, as His children – His creation. So, let’s remove any and all ‘chips’ from our shoulders as we meditate on His Word today, knowing that God spoke through His servant Paul, for our good and for His glory, out of a heart of love. It is so easy for us to read Scripture and discern exactly who God must have ordained that Scripture for! 99% of the time, we see the faults in others, but only good in ourselves. I want to break down my thoughts in two areas today, since the verses seem to address men and women, and what is expected of each. While meditating with me, please remember that all churches are not necessarily ‘perfect’ like your church! So, if the lesson seems pointed at others and not you or your church, then perhaps you should relax and just ask God to open your eyes, mind and heart to truly understand the issue. Some translations indicate that Paul is addressing issues at Prayer meetings, while others seem to indicate that these are issues are with worshippers, period:

  • MEN – When you pray, and remember this should be everywhere – pray in our prayer closets, pray in your families, pray at your meals, pray when you are on business trips and vacations, and pray in the solemn assemblies (church), whether in public or in private. You are kneeling before a righteous and holy God – the Creator of heaven, earth and all living beings. So don’t come brashly and arrogantly, but instead honor the One to whom you are praying. Although Paul didn’t highlight this, I feel compelled to bow my head before royalty, and especially before the King of all kings. We should lift up holy hands as an indication that we are releasing self and lifting up ourselves to the only, righteous and holy God. Because God knows our words, actions, thoughts and past history of wickedness, we should approach Him only after having begged for the forgiveness of our sin and recognizing His righteousness. We must never approach God in a rage over something that has happened in our lives, nor while we are in a rage of conflict with one another. Friends, for us to be completely open in our time with God, we must have nothing bearing on our mind, nor any kind of guilt, because He deserves our undivided, sincere, truthful and honest attention.
  • WOMEN – You must also pray in like form to the men, but there are some distinctive instructions given to women by Paul: Dress modestly, for Godly character is to be reflected outwardly in godly apparel. This doesn’t mean women are to wear ugly rags. It means they must not let the world determine their fashion preferences. Worldly standards are often unacceptable—and this is sometimes true when it comes to clothing choices. Do not dress in a way that brings inappropriate attention to yourself by either underdressing or overdressing! Very important – Paul is not forbidding women to wear nice clothes; he’s saying that nice clothes are not what Christian women should be known for. Women who profess to worship God should be known more for their decency, their good sense, and their good works than they are known for their expensive apparel. If you claim to be a Christ follower, proof should show up in your actions. So walk in godliness, dress with godliness, and be worthy of respect.

I acknowledge that these topics are very sensitive in nature but are probably necessary because of men and women pridefully trying to ignore proper training from God, while making every effort to outdo their neighbor, or fellow church member. Friends, we must decide in our heart that God is the ultimate, and most important aspect of our lives. He should be the focus of our lives, the One we live to please, the One whose instruction we live to obey and follow, knowing that praise will be lifted to Him and not to ourselves. Dear friend, you fall into one of the above categories, so it should be clear to you if there are any aspects of your life that God may want to see changed. Honor God today by surrendering your sin and bad indentations to Him while asking for His guidance and strength to overcome the world so that you may totally fix your eyes on Jesus and determined to follow His commands, no matter how sensitive they are! The world will notice Jesus in your life, but they really become confused when they hear you speak of Jesus but live like the world.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Determining to follow Christ in full obedience means totally committing our prayer life to Him, and also dressing in a way that will help others keep their eyes focused on Jesus, and not us.

PRAYER: Lord, it is so interesting to read Your Word and acknowledge how all aspects of our life must be surrendered to You. Unless we do this, there will be parts of our life that may indicate worldly action, fashion, or impurity, while our mouths speak Your Word and the things You expect of us. Forgive us Lord, especially the many times that we claim You as our Lord but live like the world. Please help us to come out from the world and be so in love with You that our words, actions and thoughts will reflect You, the very One that we accepted, and strive to live for. 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!

God’s Desire – All Saved and Know the Truth

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

DATE POSTED: Saturday, 2023-04-22
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Timothy 2:1-4
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: 1 So, first and foremost, I urge God’s people to pray. They should make their requests, petitions, and thanksgivings on behalf of all humanity. 2 Teach them to pray for kings (or anyone in high places for that matter) so that we can lead quiet, peaceful lives—reverent, godly, and holy— 3 all of which is good and acceptable before the eyes of God our Savior 4 who desires for everyone to be saved and know the truth.

OBSERVATION: I wonder if our churches will look differently, and there will be fewer splits or closures, if we placed our focus on Paul’s instruction to Timothy. If our focus was on ‘Desiring that everyone be saved and know the truth’, don’t you see where many things would be changed in our current-day churches? I believe we can all agree that our churches exist for the same reason Paul gave in these instructions to Timothy, but have we succeeded in following the teaching God ordained through Paul in our Scripture today? Let’s examine this in more detail.

APPLICATION: The church of Jesus Christ thinks big today, as they try to reach a much larger area of the world population than just those in our local communities. I realize this is good when trying to be obedient to Matthew 29:19 where Jesus taught us to go and preach the Gospel to all nations. But after being reminded today in our Scripture of the things that God is passionate about, it may be best if we filter all our personal plans, and insist that the goals of our respective churches will also be tested through the lens of what God desires for His church. For example, there may be a proposal from a prominent couple of your church to have a get together at their home once monthly in the name of the church. The church leaders should analyze whether this (and all plans) will lead the unsaved to the Lord, or will the activity be an avenue for believers to learn more about the love of Jesus. That may seem a very trivial example, but dear friends, many times you will find things going on at church, or in the name of the church, that’s nothing more than an avenue to share gossip between groups of similarly minded people who try to hide under the disguise of the church. Unfortunately, for most churches, I believe that their priority has become maximizing the size of their congregation in order to see their debt paid off. Altar calls, visitation, phone calls and just genuine follow-up has become a past event that has outlived its usefulness in current day churches. Yes, filling our churches with people will expose more people to the preaching of the Word, but how do you suppose your church does in challenging attendees to make a 180 degree turn in the way they act and speak to others throughout the rest of the week, or challenge each one to strive for a heart like Jesus and desire, above all else, to see every family member and everyone in your circle of friends saved? Are you committed to daily Bible Study and strive to attend a group Bible Study so that you would be challenged in, and well-versed in the Word of God? Please decide to never invite a friend to Bible Study if you are not committed to being there whenever that person arrives. Unfortunately, the world is out to soften and even defraud the name and teachings of Jesus Christ, so in an effort to help those closest to you to know the truth of the Gospel and its main character – Jesus Christ, it will be necessary for you to show how important this is to you, through your example. Also, I implore you to take note of the very first thing that Paul taught on in the chapter – prayer. With less than 5% of church congregations finding it unimportant to take time out for daily prayer with their Father in heaven, or attend corporate prayer meetings, is there any wonder why Paul found it necessary to encourage those to whom he preached, to give priority to intercessory prayer with their Master? But in spite of Paul, Timothy, and our own pastor’s preaching and teaching, yet this remains a weak point in our churches today. Why? Is prayer important enough to be a priority to you? Without this important practice in your life, can you truly say that either of Jesus’ other two practices – a). A desire to see friends and loved ones saved; and b). A desire to see them learn more of the things God demands of them; are important to you?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: I love when we are not just given instruction in God’s Word, but how we also learn why His teaching is important. Notice in today’s Scripture where we are told: ‘so that we can lead quiet, peaceful lives—reverent, godly, and holy‘! Imagine how our families and our cities will improve if God’s people led in these characteristics!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I pray that we will learn to live in full obedience to Your Word, Your teachings, Your example and Your desire for us. May the world be a better place because of You, and Your precious love for Your children who will follow Your teachings and Your example. May each reader and/or listener commit to a deeper personal relationship with you, so that the world will see Jesus in us and not our mistakes and failures that make us no better than they are. Please give reason for others to see enough of Jesus in us, that they will desire a real and personal relationship with You. 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!