Tag: Discipleship

Finding Faith: Embracing the Call to Discipleship

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

DATE POSTED
Thursday, January 23, 2025, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa at Hunter Road, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) and found in John 1:41-43; 45; 47-48;

THE SCRIPTURE READS
41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”).42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”). 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.”
45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”
47 As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.” 48 “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.”

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I was once reminded that when an unsaved person asks you about things of the Lord, know that the Holy Spirit is working on that person, for Satan would never incite his follower to do such a thing! So when you wake up one morning and decide to visit a church down the road, don’t assume that you are doing your pesty friend a favor to get them off your back, just be obedient to the Holy Spirit and visit the house of the Lord. Unfortunately, believers in Jesus Christ, and especially unbelievers, find every excuse in the books to avoid the voice of the Holy Spirit and stay away from church attendance or even being around committed believers willing to share their ‘Jesus’ story. However, having shared that, I want you to meditate with me carefully about the cases in our Scripture today, and try to apply this to real life as you experience it today. Notice that Jesus found Andrew, and Andrew immediately had a desire to go and find his brother, Simon. Hopefully in your case, Jesus found you, and you were convicted of your sin after realizing that Jesus was the only source of Eternal Life, and you surrendered your life to His lordship. But, after this miracle of new birth took place, a new life in communion with Jesus Christ, I hope that it was too good to just sit and sour in the church pews, so you immediately thought about others who needed the same joy that you found in knowing Jesus, and you started asking Jesus for open doors to introduce them to your Lord. Like Andrew, I hope that you decided to go in search of that brother, pray for him, and invite him to join in your new-found faith. Now, notice how Jesus shows us about the new life and amazing opportunities He has in store for us. He changed Andrew’s name to better reflect the image of what he was to become in his new-found relationship with Christ, and his new kingdom work. Just imagine, Peter would be known as a ‘rock’ that would represent the solid footing believers would have in Jesus Christ. Ever wondered why so many church names include the name of this great disciple – ‘Peter’? Part of our salvation experience is in turning from our life of sin and the world, to a life dedicated to, and patterned after, our Lord and Savior. Unless this change takes place, it is impossible for others to see the handiwork of Jesus in us, and our lives would not properly represent the Savior in whom we are verbalizing that we have placed our trust in. Next in today’s Scripture, we see where Jesus found Phillip, and He invited Phillip to follow Him. While each of us are super important to God, He may often have much bigger plans for us than we could ever imagine. For I believe that Phillip had an immediate mission, to reach out to Nathaniel, a somewhat outspoken Israelite. Plus, Jesus had a teaching moment for all those already following Him, when He showed Nathaniel how much He already knew about him, even before they ever met in person. Friends, the story of the cross has a very similar message. For Jesus went to the cross for ALL mankind. The ones who attend church and can’t make a decision to accept Jesus, and for those who are deep in sin and see no need for Jesus. Yes, Jesus died for me, even while I was still a sinner. Dear friend, Jesus knows your name, and He knows how many invitations you have already avoided, shunned, and declined, to come and know more about Him. Yet He willingly went to the cross and died a criminal’s death, so that He could fulfill the mission of His Father in rising again so that you, I, and all mankind could have our sins forgiven, and ready us for Heaven. Jesus showed this compassion to Nathaniel, and He is reminding us again today, that He is the only way to see the Father. In John 3:16 we are reminded that for all who believe in Him, we will see God – we will have eternal life! Know Him today precious friends and know that peace that exceeds all human understanding! Prepare now so that we all may kneel together at the feet of our Father in heaven one day – soon!

PRAYER
Dear Lord, I am reminded once again that just as You sought after these first disciples, You are still seeking after the hearts and lives of men and women today that are destined to fulfill Your kingdom work right here where we are at. Thankfully, You got my attention many years ago and You have been faithful through every circumstance of life. So many times I can reflect on the mystery of Your handiwork, the miracles wrought in so many areas of my life and that of my family, friends and church. Some who will meditate on this devotional will identify where they are at in their spiritual walk today. I pray that all will follow in the example of these first disciples, by dropping everything to follow You. From every indication, the day of Your return is sooner than any of us would care to acknowledge. Oh that we would be ready to hear Your ‘WELCOME HOME’ greeting and Your compassionate acknowledgment ‘WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT’. AMEN!

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

Your Faithfulness Will Prove To Whom You Are Faithful

On By Ed AlgreenIn Disciple, Faithful, Obedience, TeachingsLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE (New Living Translation – John 8:30-32): 30 Then many who heard him say these things believed in him. Jesus and Abraham 31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

THOUGHTS: I believe that the phrase where I bolded two items (in verse 31) is really very applicable to many areas of life. For one will be fired if they were not loyal to their employer; or military authorities would not permit a soldier to serve unless he could be loyal to his/her country. So why then would we ever think that the God of this universe, the Creator of everyone and everything, would sit idly by and permit us to serve any god we want, or to blatantly disobey His teachings and still be acceptable in His sight? Friends, in the very words of Jesus, the evidence of whether we are His followers, or His disciples, is whether we remain faithful to His teachings. So what is your evaluation about yourself? Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ? Often a good accountability partner would be very helpful to you with this, for they will look beyond your excuses and compare your actions with the Word of God – God’s teachings. If you don’t have an accountability partner, may I suggest that you look for one? Make sure this is not a ‘Yes’ man or woman, because you need their honesty and you need them to help you draw closer to God and His Word, not make you feel better about what you are doing. Friends, the time for us to meet one on one with Jesus is drawing near, for the signs of the times are very near. Please look closely into God’s Word and be obedient to His teachings. It’s for your own good! Based on your actions yesterday, to whom do you suppose the world think that you are faithful to?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your awesome Word – Your directions for righteous living and for testifying of Your love and care for mankind. Please work in my life today that I may be honest in all my ways and may my actions be a true reflection of You and show obedience to Your teachings. For all my readers, family and friends today, Lord may their eyes also be opened to the importance of declaring their loyalty to You through the things they say, do and practice. You know our hearts Lord, so You know where we stand. May it be evident to our family and friends through our actions today, I pray. I humbly ask these things in the wonderful and outstanding name of Jesus, my Lord, Savior and soon coming King, AMEN.

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or read through Biblical truths on How To Know Jesus, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will 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 www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely 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, Sebring, FL! 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!

Prepare for Trouble

On By Ed AlgreenIn Uncategorized1 Comment

The Holy Bible (The Message – 1 Thessalonians 3:3-5): Not that the troubles should come as any surprise to you. You’ve always known that we’re in for this kind of thing. It’s part of our calling. When we were with you, we made it quite clear that there was trouble ahead. And now that it’s happened, you know what it’s like. That’s why I couldn’t quit worrying; I had to know for myself how you were doing in the faith. I didn’t want the Tempter getting to you and tearing down everything we had built up together.

Thoughts: As human beings we are easily discouraged and we easily feel defeated. Yes, this happens to even Christians who serve the God of this universe! The great apostle Paul shared in the highlighted verses that he was worried that Satan had stepped in a discouraged the Christians that were impacted by his ministry while he was with them. Friends, I believe that we need this reminder today, to help us understand that even though we might surrender our hearts and lives to Jesus, as long as we live here on this earth, we are still human, and prone to the same temptations that other humans face. The difference for us (Christians) is that we have a Comforter, a Savior, a Friend, our Creator who protects us from the Evil one, and stands by to comfort and cheer us. Think about this as you would in a marriage scenario. When you were single, you had no one to share your burdens with, and no one who really cared about what happened in your day (except perhaps your parents) however, after marriage you were able to share your ups and downs with each other. Likewise, Jesus has promised never to leave us or forsake us! He cares for us and will protect us, and comfort us as needed. The other Truth in these verses is that no matter what we do for Christ, or what He does in and through us, Satan is standing by with all of his cohorts to break down that good work. This is what Paul worried had happened to the Thessalonians after he left them. Friends, we must be reminded that we can only lead someone to the Lord. It is up to Him to convict them of their sin and save them from eternal damnation in the pit of Hell. I am also reminded that we must be careful to disciple, and or encourage a new Christian to immediately get involved in good Bible teaching so that they might take on that armor of God – their encouragement and protection when the Evil one comes up against them. After all, just like we wouldn’t leave a newborn child to fend for themselves, we must be consistent in helping newborn Christians to grow in the ways of God, for His ultimate glory, and for their good.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know better than us how much opposition we will face in this world, both in our personal lives and in the lives of the ‘babies’ touched in some way by our witness and/or ministry. We are prone to worry about this because of our vested interest and hard work, however I pray that just as You have reminded us in Your Word this morning, we might quickly learn that You are in control and will protect Your own. I know we should care a lot about what happens to those that we have ministered to, but help us to surrender them to Your care while continuing to love them, encourage them, offer godly direction to them and earnestly pray for them to overcome the temptations of Satan that will rise up against them in their new Christian walk. Please continue to encourage Your messengers of the gospel, and give them guidance on ways that they might follow through with godly discipleship to aid in new believers’ Christian walk with You. We are prone to worry Lord, but help us that we might learn to do our part well, then allow You to assume the love and direction that You have promised to all who believe on You. We need You for ongoing ministry to the lost of our community, but we need You equally as much to impact the lives of believers so that we might grow in You and impact this world on Your behalf. I ask these things with sincere belief in You and with dependence on You to do Your perfect will in our midst dear Lord, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will 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 blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely 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, Sebring, FL! 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!