Scripture: Jeremiah 15.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Jeremiah 15:19 (NLT)
¹⁹ This is how the LORD responds: “If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you!

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

When we look at all that is going on around us today, many times we stop and ask ourselves if sin and evil has ever been this overwhelming in our history, and even more importantly, will it ever get better. God was dealing with Jeremiah in this chapter, much like I believe that He would deal with us if we questioned Him today, for I believe that God is dealing in the hearts of Christians to live the life that He expects of us. Almost as important, is that we live the life that will separate us from the world and be an example to them. It is sad today to walk into a party, or visit a restaurant, or attend a wedding, or any other normal place that we could find ourselves today where there may be a mix of people, and not be able to discern Christians from non-Christians. Often I will compare married life to that of Christianity, for I believe that a similar commitment should be evident in both. Imagine me walking into any of the above examples and could not detect the married folk from the singles? What would that say about our marriages? Similarly, what impact would Christians have on the unsaved world if they can’t see a difference in us? I love the last sentence in verse 19, where God said to Jeremiah, and I believe wholeheartedly that He expects from us: We must influence the world for Christ, the One who lives and reigns in us and operates through us, and not allow the sin of this world to rub off on us, or influence us. How strong is your influence on an unbeliever, Christian friend?

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Lord God, You have shown me today how important it is for me to influence the world for Your glory. You have further shown in other parts of Your Word how important it is that we be light in this dark world, and how we be salt to this world that has become so bitter towards You and Your people. Lord, May this be a day that You might be glorified through me because of someone seeing the character of You in me. May their eyes be opened to Your love and Your grace, and may they want to also have a relationship with the Creator of this universe, my Master, my Friend, my Lord and my Savior!

 

**Words underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com
**

Scripture: Jeremiah 11.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Jeremiah 11:3-5 (NLT)
³ Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Cursed is anyone who does not obey the terms of my covenant!
⁴ For I said to your ancestors when I brought them out of the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt, “If you obey me and do whatever I command you, then you will be my people, and I will be your God.”
⁵ I said this so I could keep my promise to your ancestors to give you a land flowing with milk and honey—the land you live in today.'” Then I replied, “Amen, LORD! May it be so.”

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

In reading this passage this morning I could only think that today we are no better than the Israelites that God brought out of Egypt. If anything, we have probably falling a few steps below the sinful nation that they had become. I have therefore taken what God said and applied it to my life and to our nation. If we obey Him and do whatever He commands us, then we will be His people and He will be our God. In another recent study I was reminded that when I don’t see God answering my prayer, I need to examine myself, and better yet ask God to examine me, and see if there is sin separating me from God. God is opposed to sin and He will not work in our lives when there is sin present. Let us therefore examine ourselves and clean up our act before a holy God. I can only imagine how awesome it will be to see Him smile and perform mighty acts for us as He sees us making an effort to be obedient to Him. He is holy and worthy of our praise! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Lord God, You know all too well how difficult and challenging it is for us to face the trials of each day here on this earth, yet You have left us here so that we might be representatives of Yours and live a life like You have exampled before us. Please help me to constantly seek Your face and ask for Your power to help me through each day as a pure example of what You have taught in Your Word.

 

**Words underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com
**

Scripture: Jeremiah 9 and 10.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NLT)
²³ This is what the LORD says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches.
²⁴ But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the LORD, have spoken!

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

In my study today these two verses stood out and caught my attention more than anything else. I believe that God said to me, and in turn is saying to our nation, that you may be proud of your accomplishments, your wisdom, your defenses and so much more, but yet let Me tell you about the most important thing that really matters at the end of the day or at the end of your life on earth, and in verse 24 He goes on to tell us about what is really important to Him. Friend, the bottom line is that God created this earth and He created you and I. He blesses us with daily health and strength to meet the challenges of each day. He provides for our future through jobs and any other means that we will one day recognize as a ‘God thing’. When we start bragging about ourselves, we make such a small impact on the world, and oh how disappointing to God that we try to take the credit for all that He has done. I heard a neat letter read yesterday that was written by a Christian leader who had just gotten the news that his wife had cancer, and what an encouragement and role model that leader would be for the Christian community, because in his letter he prayed that God would continue to use he and his wife and allow them to serve faithfully and successfully for a long time. In fact, he prayed as if he was just joining the ministry. The bottom line is that we must learn to celebrate and talk with God at times when we are on the mountain top, with all of life’s successes and good times in our favor, but also to thank God for the times when things seem impossible to us and we are required to lean so heavily on Him. The lessons learned in the latter instance will impact our Christian walk and give us more to brag on God as we celebrate Him in worship. God delights in these things!

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Lord God, I thank You for all that You do for me, in me and through me. I give You praise today for who You are, for salvation through You and for all that You do for me every day. May I be quick to pass any credit pointed at me straight up to You, for I realize that had it not been for Your grace, I would be of no value or help to anyone around me. Thank You for loving me so much! May I always find a place in my heart for worship and adoration to the One who sacrificed Your life for me.

 

**Words underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com
**

Scripture: Hebrews 7.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Hebrews 7:25-27 (NLT)
²⁵ Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.
²⁶ He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven.
²⁷ Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

Jesus should be everyone’s ultimate authority for spiritual life. In our culture today, however, many people have advisers and counselors whom they elevate almost to the role of priest. People look to political leaders, lawyers, physicians, insurance agents, and financial advisers to provide hope, long life, and security against all disasters. Many Christians regard the advice of priests and ministers, Christian friends, and even pop musicians before they consider the words of Jesus written in the Bible. Make sure your first allegiance and priority is to know and follow the advice given by Jesus.
No one can add to what Jesus did to save us; our past, present, and future sins are all forgiven, and Jesus is with the Father as a sign that our sins are forgiven. As our High Priest, Christ is our Advocate, the mediator between us and God. He looks after our interests and intercedes for us with God. The Old Testament high priest went before God once a year to plead for the forgiveness of the nation’s sins; Christ makes perpetual intercession before God for us. Christ’s continuous presence in heaven with the Father assures us that our sins have been paid for and forgiven. This wonderful assurance frees us from guilt and from fear of failure. If you are a Christian, remember that Christ has paid the price for your sins once and for all.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Lord Jesus, thank You for being my mediator before God our Father. Many times temptations, trials and hardships come my way and often before I could take time to whine or complain I notice where the matter soon become pretty irrelevant. Now I understand why, You have intervened on my behalf. Wow, what a Savior! This is an ongoing need, as many things will come my way even today that I may be tempted to throw up my hands and surrender, but I pray Lord that as You have cared for me in the past, today will not be an exception. I place my hand in Yours, and pray that Your will be accomplished in and through me today. Please protect me from the evil one and keep me in the path of righteousness, holy and pleasing to You.

 

**Words underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com
**

Scripture: Jeremiah 7.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Jeremiah 7:9-11 (NLT)
⁹ Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and burn incense to Baal and all those other new gods of yours,
¹⁰ and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, “We are safe!” – only to go right back to all those evils again?
¹¹ Don’t you yourselves admit that this Temple, which bears my name, has become a den of thieves? Surely I see all the evil going on there. I, the LORD, have spoken!

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

As I read a few chapters in Jeremiah this morning I felt like I was always finding negative words to share from my studies. The bottom line though, is that God does not tolerate sin, and He is bold in telling us when we are wrong. The truth is that these verses sounds so much like what the church today is practicing. Too often we act like the devil all week, with little regard for the Savior that we claim as our Lord, then when we come to worship, we dress up and become such a different person. Why do you suppose we do that? Do we think for a moment that we are changing our image because we don’t want God to see us in rare form like we were all week? If for a moment we feel like that then we are obviously saying that God must be in a little box up on or near the pulpit and that He only gets to look down on us while we are in the four walls of our church sanctuary. Friend, I don’t know about you, but my God is a lot bigger than that. I can call on Him at any time and anywhere that I may be. If He is there in my time of need, then my bet is that He is there when we mess up also. We don’t need to pretend to be a different person at church time than we are at any other time of the week. In the last part of verse 11 we are reminded that surely God sees all that is going on in our lives, yes even the evil. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we may often feel like we become perfect like God is perfect. Unfortunately, as long as we remain here on planet earth, that will not be the case. However friend, what it does mean is that we become much more aware of our sin and can immediately speak with God, ask His forgiveness and ask for guidance to help us avoid sin and its ugly affect on our lives. The longer we serve Him, read His Word and seek His guidance, the more we can become like Him.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Lord Jesus, thank You for the reminder that my life is an open book to You. I apologize that it is not always as perfect as it should be, however I know that You are fully aware of my heart’s desire to follow Your example and therefore look more like You every day in the things that I say and the way that I may act. I pray that You may work such a miracle in my life that others may truly see and feel Your love in me and through the things that I may say or do, and that this would all be for Your ultimate glory. Please forgive me for those times that I have sinned and acted in a way that was not pleasing to You. Your guidance and ongoing leadership in my life is paramount in helping me to become more like You every day. Thank You for the assurance of knowing that You will be with me in all things and at all times.

 

**Words underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com
**

Scripture: Hebrews 4.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)
¹⁴ So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.
¹⁵ This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
¹⁶ So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

Seldom will we ever go before an earthly person who is considered a failure in life with our concerns or looking to them for advice or help. You know, one who never listens to advice and therefore goes down a path of self-destruction and defeat. Flip this around and you might say that you would gladly listen to advice from a winner, or someone who has succeeded in life because of their wisdom and self-determination. We read from God’s Word so much about His love for us, so much about His sacrifice for us, so much about how He defeated Satan and in turn, so much about His successes in overcoming life’s challenges and obstacles, yet He did not sin. Friend, let me encourage you today to find confidence in this wonderful Friend of mine, my Master, Friend, Creator of the whole universe, Savior and Lord. He has a proven track record of how much He loves us. We can look around us and see how awesome He is by having created all the natural beauty that surrounds us. He overcame death and the grave, yet He humbled himself as a man so that we could know that He understands where we are coming from when we speak with Him in prayer. The Word says that we should therefore come before Him boldly to seek His face and His favor. Have you built that kind of relationship with Him that you can approach Him in confidence? Place your faith in Him today friend, for He cares for you!

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father God, You created me and also everything around me. You have seen the challenges that Your children face every day, and how it must sadden You to see us turn to everything else for relief from our troubles and struggles rather than to the One who created us, the One who loves us so much that He gave His only Son as a deliverer for us, a Redeemer of our sin. Thank you for reminding me today how important it is for me to turn to none other than You. Please help me to stay focused on Your love for me and therefore surrender my every concern at Your feet and, in anticipation, stand ready to celebrate all that You will still accomplish in and through me. Thank You for loving me this much. Please encourage my friends who may read this to follow You in a similar way.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com
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Scripture: Isaiah 59.

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Isaiah 59:1-3 (NLT)
¹ Listen! The LORD’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.
² It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.
³ Your hands are the hands of murderers, and your fingers are filthy with sin. Your lips are full of lies, and your mouth spews corruption.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

There comes a time in our lives when we feel like our prayers are hitting a brick wall, when they are falling on deaf ears, when we conclude that God must have turned His face on us. Friends I pray that you will see the value in these verses like I saw, when God made it very clear that it is not He that is too weak to save me, not Him that is too deaf to hear my cry for help, but it is my sin that has cut me off from His presence. I believe that we know that God hates sin, He will have no part of it. Yet we do it anyway and then come before Him in our times of desperation and expect Him to plow through the muck and mire and take care of us in our sinful condition. Friends, I am convinced that God loves us unconditionally, and that He made the greatest of sacrifices for us on Calvary, but I also believe that He provided His Word for our instruction, for our guidance, for our good, expecting us to be obedient to it and live in accordance with His instruction. When we don’t follow the commands given to us, God sees us with hands like murderers, fingers filthy with sin, lips filled with lies and mouths spewing nothing but corruption. These things make God turn away and not listen to us anymore, and this is a very bad position to be in, for with God on our side, ALL things are possible, and His love is unrestrictedly expressed to us, in us and through us.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Lord Jesus, when I stop and think of all that You have done for me, I feel so unworthy when I find myself neglecting or disobeying Your commands. I am distraught to think about You turning a deaf ear to me, or ignoring my cry for help. I pray that I will not obey out of selfishness for what You can and will do for me, but Lord I pray that my appreciation for all that You have done for me, and my love for You will go much deeper and that I will have an unending desire to please You and obey You in all that I do. Please fill me, and refill me as necessary, with so much of Your love and Your power, that I will be constantly reminded of my commitment to You and my ultimate desire to please You in all that I do.

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com
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Scripture: Isaiah 57.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Isaiah 57:1-2 (NLT)
¹ Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come.
² For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

Because of our sadness in the passing of a loved one, we often tend to get really upset at God for taking our parent, or child or really best friend. However, at the end of verse 1 we are reminded that God actually loved that person so much that He decided to protect them from the evil to come. Wow, we are frequently reminded of God’s love in our everyday lives, but what an amazing thing to be reminded that He loves us enough that He is willing to snatch us away from undue evil or earthly punishment! There is additional scripture that says that He will not put more on us than we could bear, but have we ever stopped to think that this may include removing us from situations or dangers that may really test us beyond our ability to withstand? We must always remember that God’s ways are not our ways and that things done by God are well done. Think about this: He loved us so much that He gave His only Son to die a cruel death in order that we might have access to Him and His kingdom. How difficult would it be then to believe that He would evacuate us from this evil world before things really impact us and may even cause us to turn away from Him? Love does not always mean being flooded with gifts and good things that are visible to us. Sometimes love means removing us to avoid unrecognized dangers that may otherwise burden us. I serve a God of total love in every respect, would you like to receive Him as Your Lord and Savior today? Please contact me by using the email link below and let me introduce you to my Lord.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, Your Word is filled with nuggets that help me to get a better understanding of You and Your love for me. While this study today may seem morbid to some, I am encouraged that total love means that all quadrants of life would be affected by the results of that love. Thank You for loving me through every aspect of life, even those times when I may not be lovable at all. Please make Your love evident to those that may read this devotional today so that they may have a desire to know You personally and experience that awesome love that is so evident through all walks of life, to those that accept You and align themselves with Your will and way.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com
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