Tag: Called

Why Did God Call You?

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, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED: Sunday, April 14, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Advent Christian Village, Dowling Park, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE New Living Translation (NLT) IS FOUND IN Isaiah 45:4-6

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: “And why have I called you for this work? Why did I call you by name when you did not know me?
It is for the sake of Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one.
I am the Lord; there is no other God. I have equipped you for battle, though you don’t even know me, so all the world from east to west will know there is no other God….

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: Having been a member of several Pastor Search Committees, I can reflect on reasons why someone may have wondered if we were interviewing a super human being, or a very saintly person, or perhaps even God himself, based on the questions and the expectations we had for a prospect. We established many rules for our committee to ensure that our final decision was pure and perfect in the sight of God. However, as I read this Scripture I was caught aback with the choice of God to fulfill the mission He had in mind, for it bore no resemblance to the way we operated our Pastor Search Committees. In trying to learn the heart and will of God, I believe the Holy Spirit caused me to ponder the following:
1. God’s choice of a man who didn’t personally have a relationship with Him – To help you see why I was distracted by this, imagine your pastor and/or elders coming before your church body and announcing their selection for the open church leadership position. While we’re always thrilled to see vacant church leadership positions filled, I’m not so sure we would accept a candidate with no prior church affiliation or experience, nor one who had not accepted Jesus as Lord yet.
2. For the sake of Jacob and God’s chosen people, Israel – If your head elder was presenting this, he might say that this is a man who an old patriarch of the church once told them to keep an eye out for, because he was influential in a nearby town where they were hoping you would open a satelite church, so treat him royally. But most important in this reference, is that God was making an unusual decision for mankind, but primarily due to the prayers, and life of His servant Jacob, and for the ultimate benefit of God’s chosen people Israel. I wonder, would God make decisions because of either of us, and our godly influence in the local church or community? Don’t most of us simply slip into church at the last minute, sit near the back, and dash out the doors the minute you hear the pastor say ‘Amen’? Or, are you truly praying for the work of Jesus Christ in your own life, and in full and meaningful ways in the life of your pastor and your church, so that God would be glorified in your community? Are you taking time to encourage the downhearted and hurting, while also lifting up and promoting the awesome work of those committed to the Lord and His church? Are you showing appreciation for all that God has blessed you with, by giving back to God and His local ministry as taught in the Bible?
Friends, I believe that this Scripture today reminds us that God’s perfect will can be fulfilled in and through each of us, our churches and those committed to Him. He can use anyone and/or anything to align His will in our lives, if we open our heart to accept Him and seek to serve Him. Ours is not to question how God will do all this, or why He would look at assigning a godly assignment to someone who has no godly background, but we are to simply be willing servants who will obey His commands and accept His powerful, and often unusual, alignment of people and things to miraculously work in and through us for our good and His glory. What a Mighty God We Serve!!

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Thank You Lord for the song writer who penned the words to ‘Why Me Lord’, for I’m sure that Cyrus must have said similar words many times as he experienced the call on his life, rather than the holy and righteous, top church officials of that day. But then we are led to also ponder who it is today that God might consider holy and righteous in His sight? We live in a world torn by sin and one that eats away at the very core of our being, whether we consider ourselves righteous or not. Lord, please teach us to stand in a mode of readiness for Your commands, by living out what we learn from our daily relationship and encounters with You. Only You are holy, but I beg You to make us so much like You that others will be drawn to the cross of Calvary and willingly surrender their lives to you. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin or continue your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby your home and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

To Be Called By HIS Name

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Thursday, 2020-08-13
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Jeremiah 14:7, 9b
TRANSLATION: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

BIBLE TEXT: 7 “We know that this is our fault.
    We are now suffering because of our sins.
    Lord, do something to help us for the good of your name.
We admit that we have left you many times.
    We have sinned against you.
9 ….. Lord, you are with us.
    We are called by your name, so don’t leave us without help!”

OBSERVATION: I wonder, would it make a difference in our behavior if we were called something like Christian Ed, or Christ Child Ed, rather than hiding behind a simple ‘worldly’ name like Ed? Would such a change cause us to reflect more often on whose we are, and make us more determined to accurately reflect the One in whom we have placed our faith and trust? Jeremiah felt like his people had failed at this, and therefore prayed that God would heal his land for His own name sake, even though His people were so unworthy. Are we in similar form yet again today? How would you refer to ‘your land’ before a holy and righteous God?

APPLICATION: Given the fact that in our current times we have benefited from the Bible, and all the direction given in it through God’s commands and His Son’s example while here on earth, wouldn’t one tend to think that we would do a superior job at representing Jesus Christ than any of our ancestors managed to do? Does it frustrate you when you see Christians acting and speaking contrary to the Word of God? What if you, like Jeremiah, had been crying and praying for your family; your church; and your friends to simply live out what they were taught through the Bible and through sermons at church? Would you become extremely frustrated and reach a stage where you are about to throw in the towel when you witness their total disregard? Jeremiah was really burdened for his people who was delivered safely into the Promised Land by God, yet they continued their worship of false gods and ignored the God who rescued them from Egypt, delivered them through the Wilderness into a beautiful land filled with milk and honey. He mourned over their condition, because instead of endless worship to the God who saves, they ran from Him and instead chose to build and worship idols. Jeremiah was so troubled that he often cried over the situation. Oh that we would be burdened for our lost world as Jeremiah was. But I believe that while we may be heavily burdened over the concern for our world, and our people, our souls are refreshed when we read the words of Jeremiah in verse 9, where he reminds God that while he and his people had messed up, yet he pleaded for God to intervene for a people who were called by His name. In our current environment, whenever we hear of a preacher, pastor, priest, elder, deacon or any church official, falling into condemnation because of sin, it not only looks bad on them and their associated church, but many lose hope in the God with whom these leaders claimed that they served. Jeremiah pleaded for God to intervene for a people who were called by His name, so that His name may remain reputable and known as Truth, Hope and Love to a lost world. You see, whether we succeed in our reputation to represent God, or whether we fail miserably, God is still above all, and He never fails. That’s why it is so important that we lift up the name of Jesus in all aspects of our ministry, and allow self to diminish behind the scenes. For although we may fail at one time or another, we. Can rest assured that our God never fails to do all that He has promised. Precious ones, live to look like, and sound like, the One that you represent. Allow the world to see how great God is, not how badly you tend to fail in meeting their expectations.

PRAYER: Oh Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all Your hands have made and all that You stand for, who am I that I should even be called by Your name? It’s all about You God, so please humble me to simply teach Your Word and live a life that exemplifies You in every way. The world needs You, and they need to see You active in the lives of those who represent You. I pray that my readers and I will never be a stumbling block in the path of one looking for the Savior. I pray instead that we may be awesome examples of You to a lost world, so that they may witness the God we love, in action in every aspect of Our lives. Be glorified today among Your people oh God, and even through those who represent You, for this is my humble plea, in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. AMEN!

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

Learn to Follow Jesus ‘At Once’

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Christian, Faith, Obedience, Our Help comes from God, SurrenderLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Monday, 2017-01-09
SCRIPTURE

From:

 Matthew 4:18-22 (TLB)

Text:

 18 One day as he was walking along the beach beside the Lake of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—out in a boat fishing with a net, for they were commercial fishermen.

19 Jesus called out, “Come along with me and I will show you how to fish for the souls of men!” 20 And they left their nets at once and went with him.

21 A little farther up the beach he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their nets; and he called to them to come too. 22 At once they stopped their work and, leaving their father behind, went with him.
OBSERVATION:
In religious circles, we hear a lot of caution used to warn students of the Word not to take things out of context. I had been taught this story over and over from even an early age, but until this morning never really caught the context of Jesus calling His first disciples. Beginning up in verse 12 we are told that Jesus went to Galilee, a place known for its unbelievers. Yet as He walked along the lake and saw these fishermen, He simply gave the call to them, and without hesitation they dropped what they were doing and followed Jesus. This story is nothing short of miraculous, friends!
APPLICATION:
I wonder what has happened to cause so many who sit under the teachings of the Lord Jesus to be in such doubt about the same Lord who they’ve heard for years to be a miracle-working, loving, sacrificial, all-powerful God. I would imagine that in many of our local churches Jesus may walk in today, He could call on the pastor, or the elders, or the deacons, or the Christians who have boasted of Him over the years, and they may ‘prayerfully consider’ the request to follow Jesus into the unknown – although on second thought, to leave everything they have and follow Him wherever He may guide them, well that may create somewhat of a challenge for many! One old faithful retired missionary told us that when he was called to missions, he sold everything he had and gave the money to his local home churches, because he felt like if Jesus called him, then he would provide for him. Furthermore, it increased his faith in the one that he knew he would lean heavily on for the unknowns of a foreign land. That really takes ‘faith’ to a whole new level for me! So in my above analogy, we believe that Jesus may stand a chance getting a few to follow Him among our church leadership, but what if He went down just about any old street in your neighborhood, where people hang out for everything but church-related activities? Would Jesus be accepted there, and will the residents follow Him ‘at once’? Friends, I believe that as we study the Word of God, we are often reminded that our Lord is not just ‘anyone’ walking our streets, or the isles of our churches looking for a handout. He knows us by name, and Scripture says that He knows us so well that He even knows the number of hairs on our head. So when He calls us, it will not be a ‘hey you over there in that red shirt’ type of thing, but He could very well call you by name and give you plenty enough evidence that He is calling you personally, in spite of all the guilt you may feel about your inadequate, feeble walk with Him. If you designed and made a particular tool that you wanted to use every time that you worked on a particular engine, or that you might want to cook a particular dish with, you will remember every peculiarity about that tool. Please don’t forget that God made you also friend, and He knows every little dent or nick that you’ve received over the years. He is simply looking for your availability through which He might mightily move in His earthly ministry. Are you willing to respond unconditionally and immediately? If not, why not? Accept Him today and know that peace that passes all understanding, for He cares for you, and loves you beyond anything you can imagine! Read my Footnote if you would like more information about a personal relationship with my Lord!
PRAYER:
Father, You are so amazing! You created us and gave us the freedom to either follow You in faith and savor that enormous love that You have for us, or to encounter the evil of this world where Satan strives daily to destroy us. Unfortunately, it seems like our faith never matures to the state that we are quick to obey and follow You, like these disciples demonstrated to us. Please forgive us for our lack of faith, and our desire to do our own thing, in spite of the normal bad results that we read about, hear about or have witnessed personally. Lord, we need a fresh dose of Jesus every day of our lives, for we are weak and sinful beyond anything we ever thought possible. Only You can save us, and only You can direct us in the paths that You have set out before us. Please fill us with Your everlasting love, power and commitment to be obedient children of the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. For I ask these things in the precious name of Jesus, my Lord and my Savior, AMEN!
FOOTNOTE:
There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’.  If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!