DATE POSTED: Friday, 2023-03-10
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 11:31-35
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: ³¹ The queen of Ethiopia will stand to condemn the people of this generation on the day of judgment. She, an outsider, came from so far away to hear the wisdom given to Solomon, but now, something greater than Solomon is here: how are the people of this generation responding?
³² Similarly, the people of Nineveh will stand to condemn the people of this generation on the day of judgment. They, outsiders, responded and changed because of the preaching of Jonah, but now, something greater than Jonah is here: how are the people of this generation responding?
³³ You need a light to see …. ³⁴ Listen, your eye, your outlook, the way you see is your lamp. If your way of seeing is functioning well, then your whole life will be enlightened. But if your way of seeing is darkened, then your life will be a dark, dark place. ³⁵ So be careful, people, because your light may be malfunctioning. 

OBSERVATION: I believe even today; we still ask for signs. Lord, shown me a sign that this is the right girl for me to marry. Lord, show me a sign that this is the right job for me to accept. Yes, Christians and non-Christians alike still ask for a sign from God. However, in our scripture for today, Jesus tells us of the primary sign that He will promote for all times. Let’s open our hearts to the Word of the Lord today, dear friends.

APPLICATION: This is not the first time that we read in the Scriptures where people asked Jesus for a sign, and as I said in my ‘Observation’, the practice continues today. Jesus declared that the sign of Jonah is the main sign He will promote. Remember, Jonah was in the stomach of a large fish for three days, and he survived to go on with the mission God had ordained for him – to evangelize the people of Nineveh. In like manner Jesus was in the heart of the earth for three days, and He also survived and overcame death, to go on with His mission of saving the lost of this world. I believe that Jesus wants us to identify with that example of Jonah, and the actual crucifixion, death and resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ, for in accepting that, we understand the only way to eternal life. But Jesus goes on to challenge us about other spiritual examples that mankind has grown blind to. I recently read the story of how the queen of Sheba went to visit with king Solomon. She had heard of his wisdom, and of course of his riches. Her visit revealed to her that she had not heard the half of it, for his wisdom, his riches and his godly attitude towards life and to others, way exceeded anything she had heard. Wonderful story, right? Well, Jesus reminded us that Solomon’s wisdom was nothing compared to that of the Son of God. Yet every generation have chosen to go their own way and accept their own vices to help them through this life here on earth. Why?? Secondly, the people of Nineveh, who were considered outsiders to the Jews, yet revival broke out when Jonah finally got on track and preached the message of God to the people. But wait, we have a message much greater than anything Jonah could have shared to gain the attention of the Ninevites. For there is One much greater than Jonah – He is the very Son of the living God. God sent His Son, Jesus, so that whoever accepts the free gift, or believes in Him, will not perish from the damnation of Hell, but will be blessed with eternal life in heaven with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Yet many choose to reject the free gift, while some accept it from a peer pressure perspective, or to please loved ones. So their eyes are still blinded to the pure, righteous, unconditional love that Jesus has to offer. Why?? Friends, unless we see Jesus clearly and accept Him honestly and unconditionally, then our eyes are blinded by the dark, just as those who have never heard of or accepted Jesus. Please don’t listen to religious leaders who try to lure you into their fellowship because they accept every form of person, or whether they truly believe, practice and adhere to the living Word of God. For you may very well have a spiritual malfunction in your eyesight. Remember, Jesus is who He said He is – it’s all in the Book – the Bible. When earthly ministers try to convince you otherwise, they are trying to blind you from the truth of God’s Word. Read the Book, my friends, and learn who God is and what He desires of you. He died for you, so that you might live in total 20/20 eyesight of Him and His kingdom. He made the way clear for you and nothing else will do. It’s impossible to follow any other path and end up in heaven with God. Jesus alone is the way, the truth and the light!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: There is only one way into heaven for mankind. Any other line handed to you is merely distracting from your mission to know Jesus personally and to follow His way!

PRAYER: Precious Lord Jesus, You did so much for us, including Your sacrificial death on the cross. Please bound the hands of Satan from distracting Your children who are seeking to know, accept and serve You personally. Please clear the fog in our eyesight so that we can see You clearly. May that knowledge impact our hearts to desire a life fully committed to You. Please touch the lives of those who will read this devotional, may Your Word impact their hearts and bring eternity into focus. Only You can give us the strength to overcome the fiery darts of Satan, so I pray that each one will totally surrender to You and commit themselves for all eternity. May Your kingdom increase because of the eyes that will be opened today. AMEN!

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