Too Late

On By Ed AlgreenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Scripture: Luke 16.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Luke 16:24-28 (NLT)

24 “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’ 25 “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’

27 “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. 28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’

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

Week after week many of us sit in church and listen as our pastor encourages us to make a decision for Christ. To some that means that they need to give up their life of sin and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives. To some, it means that we need to lay aside the idols in our lives (as noted in another passage I read this morning in Joshua 24:23) and turn away from our idols of greed, wrong priorities, jealousies or prejudices that tend to interfere with our worship, our commitment to God and His work, and that tend to adversely affect our witness to those we come in contact with. Friends, this passage tells me that for those of us who procrastinate on such decisions, we could very easily get caught in the unfortunate trap of the rich young ruler referred to in Luke 24. Over recent days I heard of an incident where a man travelling with his work equipment was called out of this world. I’m sure that this was the last thing that this man or his family thought could happen that day when he left home. Another incident of a 15 year old young man who was taken out of this world that left a whole church body questioning what God could possibly have been trying to say to them. My point is, that when things like this happen, there is immediately a great wall (chasm) that separates that person from ever coming back to make different decisions, or do a better job of witnessing, or being kinder to his family and friends, or even accepting the Lord. There comes a time when it is just TOO LATE. I pray that this will be a day of decisions for anyone reading these thoughts. I pray that we will wholeheartedly surrender our lives to Christ so that we can: 1). Be assured of where we will spend eternity; 2). Become so filled with God’s Holy Spirit that we could be His witnesses in every avenue of our lives, and 3). That we could spend whatever time allotted to us here on this earth being totally committed to God, and give up those idols/sins that tend to hold us back or destroy or hinder our witness to family, friends, coworkers or others. All of this can only be done through the power of the only true God, our Lord and Savior! Jesus is the answer, friend!

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

Father, I know that You alone holds the key to all that frustrate me in my limited sight and strength. You possess the power that I need to overcome the sin and temptations of this world. You alone can gives me strength to live a Godly life and be a witness of You and for You to a lost, sinful, dying world. Please cleanse me of this world and all that negatively influences me. I know that You are the answer, and I ask that You guide and direct my path, my speech and my actions this day so that others may truly see You in all that I do and say. My I reflect on this day without regrets, knowing that I allowed You full control and direction, so that Your work will may be accomplished in and through me. In Jesus precious name I pray, amen!

 

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.
ß

Building Memorials

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Celebrate God, Christian, God ReignsLeave a comment

Scripture: Joshua 21-22.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Joshua 22:34 (NLT)

34 The people of Reuben and Gad named the altar “Witness,” for they said, “It is a witness between us and them that the Lord is our God, too.”

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

Each day of our lives we see God at work, and often we meet to celebrate in praise everything He has done in our lives. Too often we generalize and say, “Yes, God is good” but we fail to say specifically how He was good to us. We hardly ever write those specific things down so that our children, or future generations can grow from our experiences. We fail to erect a memorial in honor of the awesome work that God does in our lives. Imagine how awesome it would be for us to go to a ‘memorial’ that our ancestors built in celebration of an accomplishment they recognized God’s mighty hand at work in their lives? The people of Reuben and Gad had seen God work in so many marvelous ways during the time they were altogether with Moses, Joshua and the Israelites. Now that they were going to settle down and be separated by the Jordan river from the Israelites, they wanted their future generations to be reminded every time they saw or passed by this memorial, that the God they served was powerful and had worked in wondrous ways in the lives of their ancestors as a united people, and that they too could place their faith and trust in this same, infinitely powerful, God who could also see them through their daily struggles. What are some things that we might build a memorial for today? Perhaps God used our church during special services to reach a large hoard of people where many were saved – when we build a memorial to remind our future generations about this, we are giving them confidence that the same God who worked amongst Moses and the Israelites, also performed miracles during the lifetime of their ancestors and therefore they would have confidence to realize that God could do the same for them! There may be miracles, or God-sized achievements in our lives today that we rejoice over, but unless we do something to preserve (memorialize) that, it is very possible that our future generations would have nothing to fall back on, or give them confidence in. Furthermore, unless we can do something to preserve the good that God has done in our lives, unfortunately the bad, or unfortunate things we may have done, will be long remembered! Perhaps at annual family celebrations, such as Christmas, or Thanksgiving, or Homecoming, we should reserve time for families to not only tell about the accomplishments they credit to God, but to do this through a memorial of sorts, that can be long remembered by future generations of the work of the Lord in our lives.

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

Lord, I acknowledge today that You are certainly awesome in so many ways in and through me. Please help me to regularly build altars, or memorials to celebrate these accomplishments so that future generations may be encouraged to seek after the same loving, powerful, awesome God that I serve and give witness to. Thank You for loving and working through the people of Reuben and Gad. Thank You for being God to my ancestors and working miracles for them and through them, and thank You for blessing even me in so many ways. Please help me to not hide these miracles under a bushel, but to let them shine to a world that has little hope, aside from You!

 

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.
ß

Heavenly Celebrations!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Celebrate God, Encourage, God Cares For UsLeave a comment

Scripture: Luke 15.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Luke 15:3-7 (NLT)

3 So Jesus told them this story: 4 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’

7
In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!

8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’

10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”

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

For those that we invest our interest in, through prayer, caring and/or some other tangible way, we tend to rejoice over their successes in life! This is because we have a vested interest in them. God’s Word says that there is rejoicing in heaven also when one sinner repents and returns to God. I love that word ‘RETURNS’ because it is an indication that we were God’s, but strayed away and now seen the error of our ways and have come back to God. I believe that if our churches today did a better job of investing ourselves in the lives of those that we say we are ministering to, then there would be a big party or celebration every time someone walks the isle and announces to the church that they are ‘returning’ to the God who loves them and have always cared for them. I don’t know about everyone else, but I need to get busy about the work of the Lord, and I don’t mean another committee, but rather busy about ministering to those who have strayed away from God and need to return to Him. While I am not a big party person, I would love to join in the heavenly celebration every service time as sinners return to God, especially if I had a small part in encouraging, or praying for that person. Christians, let’s re-focus on the main purpose of the church – a people drawing closer to God through personal development in the Word, and in encouraging others to ‘return’ to God so that they too can join the party! We have a Savior who loves us so much that He gave His very life for us – talking about a vested interest in us?

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

Lord Jesus, I know that I could spend all day just finding ways that I need to draw closer to You, but additionally I feel such a burden for those that need to ‘return’ to You and surrender their lives to You. Please give me the boldness to share words of encouragement with someone today. Please burden my heart with individuals that I may specifically pray for and encourage so that Your work may be accomplished. Thank You for loving me so much that You encouraged me back to You and away from a world that has no desire to see me succeed or live eternally with You. I rejoice in that today, and I look forward to rejoicing next Lord’s Day as I see others ‘return’ to You!

 

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.
ß

Excuses, Excuses….

On By Ed AlgreenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Scripture: Luke 13-14.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Luke 14:16-20 (NLT)

16 Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. 17 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ 18 But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’

19 Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 Another said, ‘I now have a wife, so I can’t come.’

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

I wonder what God must think of us sometimes when we come up with so many excuses as to:

  • Why we are not ready to surrender our lives totally over to Him – perhaps because we feel like we have so much to enjoy in this old world before we could make such a commitment;
  • Why we can’t attend church – perhaps because that is the only morning we have to sleep in, or that is the only day we have for family time, or because there are too many hypocrites at the church (and we don’t want to add one more!!!);
  • Why we can’t find time to get into God’s Word – because we are too busy, or there are just not enough hours in a day, or…..
  • Why we don’t witness to our neighbor – because we don’t want to lose their friendship, or because we are afraid we wouldn’t have the right words, or they might ask us a Bible question that we couldn’t answer;

Friends, I believe that you will agree with me that these are really excuses to keep us from doing the work of the Lord. Often our excuses revolve around finding time to do things. I had a friend tell me one time when I said this, that there are still the same number of hours and minutes in a day as there has always been, we just have replaced some things with something that we felt had a higher priority. Ouch! That hurts when you think about things in that way, but it is so very true. The next time that we are tempted to say that we just didn’t have the time to do something, try saying that the very thing you are referencing was just not a priority to you! Realistically, this will be the ultimate truth, but what this does is helps us to acknowledge which things we have allowed to be a priority in our ‘awake’ hours. Many times we will be ashamed to repeat to anyone what really is a priority in our day! In Jesus’ story He said the man holding the banquet then basically said, “well, let them be and invite anyone interested”. Wouldn’t it be awful for us to hear Jesus say “well, I just wouldn’t be with ??? today, because he was not interested enough to find time for me today”? Oh my, I would be crushed to hear those words from my Lord, and I believe that you would be too. Then let’s put the excuses aside and make God a priority in our day and in our lives. He deserves it!

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

Father, this has really spoken to me today, because I can find time for just about everything in my day, and often I make those things a priority over time I need to spend with You, or doing Your will for my life. There were no excuses when You gave Your only Son to die on Calvary so that I may have a means to enter Your heaven. I am ashamed of the excuses that I make at times, please forgive me and teach me Your ways, Your priorities for my life, Your direction for my life, and teach me to be more like You each and every day. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!

 

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.
ß

The Results of Half-Hearted Cleansing

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Defeated foe, Pleasing to God, Power of PrayerLeave a comment

Scripture: Joshua 12-15.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Joshua 13:13 (NLT)

13 But the Israelites failed to drive out the people of Geshur and Maacah, so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.

Joshua 15:63 (NLT)

63 But the tribe of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites, who lived in the city of Jerusalem, so the Jebusites live there among the people of Judah to this day.

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

Over the past chapters we read where Joshua and/or Moses were, with the help and direction of God, successful in overcoming a number of countries and their respective kings. I found it odd to read the two verses above where the Israelites were unsuccessful, or perhaps failed, in driving out the Jebusites and the people of Geshur and Maacah, because I know that the God they served, and of course the same God that I serve today, is very capable of overcoming all obstacles. In my further study I found where these same people that failed to fully conquer, were the same ones that caused unending difficulties for the Israelites, as recorded in the book of Judges. This sounds like there may have been personal reasons that the Israelites just didn’t push hard enough to really oust these people, and it reminds me of us when we fail to seek God’s power to really rid ourselves of certain sins. Often these little sins that we hold dear to our selfish little hearts are the very same things that come back to bite us and cause us extreme difficulties. I believe that God is always looking for folk that he can use who are totally sold out to Him, where we have surrendered everything to Him and cleansed ourselves of all sinful things. In fact, to substantiate my belief on this, please refer to chapter 14 vs 9 where we read that Caleb was given special favor with God because he ‘wholeheartedly‘ followed God’s commands. I believe that seeing where God gave up everything for me, yes His one and only Son, so that I might have life eternally and more abundantly, then the least I can do in return is to surrender ALL sin – yes everything that does not align with God’s Word, His will and commands for me. There is no room for half-heartedness – may we all be totally sold out to Jesus!

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

There is only way that I can be the totally true, unselfish, child of God and overcome daily temptations and sin, and that is to seek Your help O God and look to You in all humility for strength and guidance to live as You would have me live – so that You can receive full benefit (ministry) in and through me. May I be a vessel usable by You – a holy and just God. May others come to know You as Lord, as you find the freedom to use this unadulterated child of Yours. Please forgive me where I have been deliberately selfish and weak and given in to sin. This is unbecoming of a child of Yours and I need Your forgiveness and strength to overcome and live a life totally sold out to You.

 

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.
ß

Are You Ready?

On By Ed AlgreenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Scripture: Luke 12.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Luke 12:39-40 (NLT)

39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

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

Summer is here and many will be planning vacation trips, perhaps making hotel, airline or rental car reservations, making sure the suitcases are ready for packing, etc. All of these things are important when planning a successful vacation. Similarly we are very careful to plan each day so that we may be successful and efficient in what we do. Yet many of us never stop to make sure that we take care of ourselves, and to insure that we personally are prepared for life itself. Jesus reminds us in this passage that it is even more important that we be fully prepared for His return and/or our end of life as we know it here on earth. Throughout this passage Jesus carefully told us a few things that would help us know that we are ready, because He shared qualities of a person who is ready. He taught us in:

  • Verse 1: That we should not be hypocritical – knowing, believing and teaching the right thing, but un-thoughtfully reacting and disobeying what we know and teach (not sincere);
  • Verse 4-9: That we not be fearful, but always ready to witness;
  • Verse 25-26: That we not be worried, but always trusting in the power and might of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ;
  • Verse 34: That we not be greedy, but always generous, both with our financial blessings, our God-given talents, our time and our energies;
  • Verse 37: That we not be lazy, but always diligent and ready to do the Father’s will and work;

May we strive to be more like Christ every day, so that when He comes, we will be ready to greet Him – joyfully!

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

Father, I acknowledge that I want to be more like You every day and in every way, but I know that I need Your almighty hand to guide me, mold me and strengthen me so that others will see the love of Jesus in all that I do and say. Most of all, so that You will see one of Your children totally dedicated to You and Your teachings, without hypocrisy. Thank You for showing me the way through the teachings of Your Word, and thank You for providing Your Holy Spirit to lead me every day. May You find me faithful in all things.

 

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.
ß

Nothing is Too Big For God!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Ask and Receive, Bible Believing, Celebrate God, Christian, Listen to the Word of God, Victorious LifeLeave a comment

Scripture: Joshua 9-11.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Joshua 11:19-20 (NLT)

19 No one in this region made peace with the Israelites except the Hivites of Gibeon. All the others were defeated. 20
For the Lord hardened their hearts and caused them to fight the Israelites. So they were completely destroyed without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

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

This passage reminds me that nothing, absolutely nothing, is too big or impossible for God! Praise the name of the Lord! I feel like so often in our lives today we limit God and our requests to Him by what we can see as a possibility. In this passage this morning I saw where kings for several nations joined together to fight and try to keep the Israelites out of their territory, but as noted in these two verses, God was preparing the land that He had promised to the Israelites when they left Egypt, and these folk had to go. God hardened their hearts and caused them, or provoked them, to fight the Israelites, and no matter the size of the joint army, God had already won the battle for the Israelites. This tells me that in today’s society where there are folk that are so hardened and don’t want to hear about the Lord, and when we, as Christians or children of God, decide that those folk are unreachable or untouchable, we are truly limiting the power of God. We know what the book says – God will be victorious over Satan and all of his forces, and I have a pretty good idea that it will not be because of what we do to help Him! We serve an awesome, powerful God. Let’s not limit Him in our prayers, in our families, in our churches, in our workplace nor in our towns. He will overcome this world! He will be victorious! Let’s not stand in His way. Instead, let us be steadfast in prayer, obedient to His Word, and follow His every direction – for He holds the keys to winning our church, our town, our state and our nation. Let’s be ready to join the victory party in heaven, instead of sitting on the sidelines and doubting if our God can overcome the people and the evil things that we see going on around us – for Nothing Is Too Big for our God!

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

Father I pray that I can see through Your eyes and not be obstructed by the limitations of my eyes. Please help me to set aside my personal agendas, my limiting expectations and my projection of what I can accomplish, and instead fill me with the awesome realization that I serve a God that knows all things and can do all things. As I sit aside and see Your awesome power at work, may I be the greatest cheerleader and servant to follow Your every command. You deserve all my praise and adoration for the awesome power that You portrayed to my forefathers, and for the power yet to be displayed as You win the victories over sin and death that I see all around me. Praise God that I am on the winning side!

 

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.
ß

Are You Clean Before God?

On By Ed AlgreenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 4.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

24 On the way to Egypt, at a place where Moses and his family had stopped for the night, the Lord confronted him and was about to kill him. Ex 4:24 (NLT)

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

This verse really caused me to stop and ponder a while. God had elected Moses to set His people free and to lead them on an awesome journey, to a country where both milk and honey flowed, according to the Word of God. However, in sending him from one place to another to make final arrangements for the journey, God took advantage of a time that Moses and his entourage stopped for the night to confront Moses about a situation, and this was confrontational to the extent that He was about to kill Moses. Bottom line is that Moses had not followed one of the God-based laws of that day, to circumcise his own son. I believe that regardless of what sin it was, God did not want a man leading His people out of Egypt when there was sin in his life. This then opened up my eyes to remind me that just because we may be leading a ministry, or perhaps teaching others about Jesus’ love, and even thought we may feel very much led of God to do that, I was reminded that God wants to use clean vessels to perform His work. Yes, I know that none of us are perfect, but I feel like this passage was appropriately placed to show us that we must not only make a onetime clean-up in our lives, but that we are to be ‘clean’ as Jesus is ‘clean’ if we are to represent Him before His people.

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

Lord, I pray that as You have spoken to my heart this morning that You will also open up my spiritual eyes so that I may clearly see any sin that separates me from You, yes any sin that would prevent the effectiveness of Your ministry through using me as Your vessel here on this earth. I pray that You would forgive me where I have failed in this, and instead open my eyes clearly to Your ways, Your attitudes and Your commands. May You find a clean, contrite heart ready and willing to serve You wherever and whenever You issue the call.

Don’t Expect God to Work Where Sin Resides

On By Ed AlgreenIn All have sinned, Humility, Listen to the Word of God, Our Help comes from God, Reaching the Lost, Reflecting ChristLeave a comment

Scripture: Joshua 7-8.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Joshua 7:12-13 (NLT)

12 That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction.

13 “Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the Lord. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you.

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

Instructions were given to Joshua about what to not remove from the city of Ai, because the things actually belonged to God. Like us many times, Achan saw something he liked so he took it, and knowing that it was wrong he hid it (buried it under his tent). This sounds so much like us when we do something that we know is not pleasing to God. We cover it up, or hide it from other smart humans! Evidently no one in Joshua’s camp knew about Achan’s sin, because God had to single him out when everyone was presented before the Lord. Bottom line is that innocent people were killed, an army defeated, leaders totally discouraged (because they thought that they had failed in God’s command for their direction), all because of the sin of one man in their camp. Friends, we see individuals struggle in life and we sometimes wonder why Lord. We see families go through more than we could ever imagine and we wonder why are they so unlucky Lord. We see churches – yes churches, fail and are often defeated in their mission to win the lost and disciple the saved, and we question what God must be saying to the church. After meditating on this passage this morning and being reminded that God expects us to be obedient to Him and His commands, He expects us to be holy as He is holy and He expects us to look just like Him if we consider ourselves to be ‘Christian’. When we’re not, then I believe that we should expect no better than what God did to Joshua and the Israelites, for He will withdraw from us and He will destroy us. In verse 12 God said that He would not remain with them unless they rid themselves of the sin in their midst. In verse 13 God told the Israelites that they would never be victorious until they remove the sin from their midst. In our world today I believe that God is still saying to us that He will not work among us until we come clean before Him – get rid of the sin from our personal lives, our families, our churches and our towns. God desires a clean and contrite heart in which to live and work through. Let’s seek His forgiveness today. Let’s rid ourselves of those sins that we think no one else knows about and let’s pray that God will return His favor on us to reach our lost family members, neighbors, church members, coworkers and acquaintances.

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

Father, You know my inmost thoughts, my desires and my every action. Thank You for reminding me of this this morning so that I may be sensitive to following Your commands and being transparent before a God that knows it all. As I worshipped through the song “Change My Heart oh God” I am also reminded that You are the One who could unlock the hardened heart of sin, You alone can reveal the sin that prevents me from being a clean and holy vessel in Your service. Today Lord, please change my heart and make it ever true – pure as snow, so that I may be blessed into perfect service for You, and that I may not be a hindrance to Your work that You would like to do through me, my family, my church or my town.

 

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.
ß

Whose Side Are You On?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Eternal Life, Evangelism, God Cares For Us, God our Provider, Obedience, SurrenderLeave a comment

Scripture: Luke 11.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Luke 11:23 (NLT)

23 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

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

In chapter 9 vs 50 Jesus said something similar, when he told His disciples that if someone is casting out demons they are on the same side as them. In this passage Jesus is actually illustrating how there is no middle ground. A person, you or I, are either committed to and actually serving God daily/on the Lord’s side, or we are on Satan’s side and living a life separated from God. Ouch! God has already won the battle, so why would anyone opt for the losing side? I don’t think that anyone in their right mind would do such a thing, but friend, we must not straddle the fence. We are either totally sold out, practicing our faith, and following God’s commands, or if we are not, then we are children of Satan. Is it clear whose side you are on, friend? We might fool some of the people some of the time, but God knows ALL things – we can’t fool Him. If we are not actively serving Christ, then we are against Him. I not only prefer always being on the winning side, but I am one who is dedicated to the one that I love and have committed my life to. Jesus laid His life down for me, I will do all within me to serve Him faithfully until the day He calls me home to be with Him. How about you? Please contact me if I can pray with You for strength and commitment to serve Christ daily, of if you don’t know the One who I love, adore and am committed to. Please allow me to introduce you to Him. He’s the best friend you will ever have, and He will never leave you alone. He loves you unconditionally!

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

Lord Jesus, my King, my Savior and my Lord, thank You for giving Your life so that I may live eternally with You. Thank You for being by my side day in and day out. I pray that You will continue to give me strength for life’s daily journey, to overcome Satan’s darts, temptations and distractions, for my desire is to serve You faithfully each and every day. I want it to be evident to You and to this world, whose I am, and who it is that I serve. May that evidence lead to someone coming to know You today. May I represent You in such a way that others will want to know the source of joy that exudes from me!

 

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.
ß