Tag: Good

Rewards For The Righteous

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, Righteous, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Saturday, June 10, 2023, and I was blessed to be at O’Brien, 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 Amplified Bible (AMP) IS FOUND IN Proverbs 10:30-32

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: The [consistently] righteous will never be shaken, But the wicked will not inhabit the earth. The mouth of the righteous flows with [skillful and godly] wisdom, But the perverted tongue will be cut out. The lips of the righteous know (speak) what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked knows (speaks) what is perverted (twisted).

MY INITIAL THOUGHTS: God caught my attention today as I studied in the NLT where ‘The righteous’ was referred to as ‘The godly’. As I prepare my notes for publishing my thoughts, I often think about what a non-believer must think who happens across my Nuggets from the Word of God. So I spent some time studying and thinking about what the Bible means when it refers to ‘The godly’, or as the Amplified and several other versions refer to this cross-section of people as – ‘The righteous’. I believe that God might challenge you today as you meditate on the remainder of this devotional with me.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: The NLT (New Living Translation) refers to ‘the godly’, and I was amazed to discover a meaning of: ‘someone or something as having a religious character, being devout, and conforming to the laws and wishes of God. It can also refer to something that comes from God or is divine. Godliness is more than just external behaviors; it is an inward devotion to God that is outwardly displayed‘. The AMP version that I used above refers to ‘The righteous person’, and I believe that the above description also describes the person who has placed their life under the complete lordship of Jesus Christ, and who strives daily to live a life that is ‘right with God’, and living in obedience to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, as detailed in His Word. Because of the struggles that Christians sometime feel like they are going through, I believe there exists a certain amount of doubt about the true value of being a Christian, or a godly person, or ‘righteous’ in God’s view. However, if you would take a few minutes to read this short chapter in Proverbs, I believe your eyes might be opened to the 11 times that Solomon explained how he felt the godly, or righteous person is benefited, or blessed by Almighty God. From our finances, to our nutritional needs, to the value of the words we speak, to our earnings, etc. This wise man of God also compared in each example how the children of Satan would struggle in each area that God’s children are blessed. I believe that today we should be consciously looking closer at the many ways that Christians are blessed in so many areas, compared to their worldly, unsaved, evil counterparts. Friends, we are children of the Creator of this universe; the One who offered salvation for even sinners who are so undeserving of such wondrous blessings; the King who rules above all kings and lords. We are a blessed people, and the best is yet to come, for when we leave this world behind, we are welcomed into the glories of heaven. What about you dear Christian friend, are you living today as one who has this kind of assurance and a future that is out of this world? What about you, dear one who has chosen death over life; Hell over Heaven; Satan over Father, Son and Holy Spirit? As long as you have life, you can still choose ‘life’ over death and Jesus over Satan. It’s up to you precious friend. Live today with the security of your future being in Jesus Christ! There are helpful tips in my Footnote to guide you in changing the trajectory of your life! Please do the smart thing today!

BLESSINGS WORTH NOTING: Having a mouth filled with wisdom, tells me that the world is watching and listening to the child of God. Let’s be so attuned to the Word of God that we will never disappoint the world in hearing true wisdom, as if directly from God.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Thank You Lord Jesus for blessing us way more than we could ever imagine, or deserve. Please work in us and keep us near the cross where your mercies and grace will always fill our hearts and impact our lives. May the meditation of my heart, and the words from my mouth be used by those who hear them, better know and accept You as Lord and Savior. Please continue to bless us, and always use us for Your glory. 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 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!

Want to be Truly Rich?

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, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Wednesday, May 31, 2023, and I was blessed to be at O’Brien, FL when God inspired me to write this blog post. My Footnote will tell you how to read or listen to this devotional or any past episodes.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE Living Bible (TLB) IS FOUND IN 1 Timothy 6:6-9

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: 6 Do you want to be truly rich? You already are if you are happy and good. 7 After all, we didn’t bring any money with us when we came into the world, and we can’t carry away a single penny when we die. 8 So we should be well satisfied without money if we have enough food and clothing. 9 But people who long to be rich soon begin to do all kinds of wrong things to get money, things that hurt them and make them evil-minded and finally send them to hell itself.

MY INITIAL THOUGHTS: Rest assured that this is not another of those ‘get rich’ schemes that you may receive a lot of emails and spam calls on, so it is safe to meditate with me on the full devotional today! Newbies can easily be trapped by schemes or ‘feel good’ ideas, so Paul wanted to prepare Timothy for everything that might cross his path while ministering in the field without Paul by his side. Perhaps we will find something to help prepare us for the unknowns of each day as we meditate together, so stay with me for the full devotional.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: Some of you may have experienced some of the same challenges of my wife and I, who faced many scenarios and many people of different backgrounds as we moved from one place to another during my working career, and also through our obedience to the voice of God after we entered into retirement. We failed in our faith, closeness to God, experiences of life, and our attitude in our Christian walk at times, but we were also challenged in our faith to new experiences and ministry opportunities, even though I worked in the financial sector. I believe that Paul is indicating possible results like we saw, for he wanted to open his co-laborer’s mind, and ours, to truly understand the meaning of ‘being rich’; contentment; personal value; and the power of God’s love, wisdom and direction in our lives. I’ve heard of parents who sent their children to distant lands for their education, because of the unstable, wicked and evil surroundings of local schools. Guess what? If that child was prone to mix with bad company and become involved in wicked behavior in their current environment, then they will do the same with a different bunch of friends, in their new environment. I believe that’s why Paul wanted to prepare Timothy’s heart and fill him to overflowing with wisdom in so many areas of life. He wanted him to be independently bold, committed, and trained to detect and protect against evil the minute it became evident. Please let me encourage you to take this on yourself. First of all, prepare yourself by reading God’s Word regularly and follow in obedience to what the Master points out to you in His Word. Then, pass that along to your children, and to anyone that seems to be following in your footsteps. The Bible tells us that we are to train up a child in the way they should go, and when they are older, they will remember, and apply, their training. This is also true in the ways you mentor someone, whether they’re your child, coworker, partner or whomever. Because of the poor financial position of my parents, I learned to be satisfied with what I had. Although I have not perfected that yet, I still share that with my child and those who may look up to me in one way or another. Paul is reminding us that we came into this world penniless, and we survived. Let’s be sure to always remember that no matter how hard we work in life today to earn more, our casket will still only carry our skeletal remains – no money, gold, silver or worldly assets. What will matter, is the lives that we touched and the growth that occurred in others as a result of our love, our example, and the wisdom we shared with them. So, listen to Paul my friends, let’s be rich in the good you do and be sure to let your happiness rub off on others, for the sake of the Kingdom.

BLESSINGS WORTH NOTING: We are rich because of whose we are, and truly happy and good because of the royal blood that runs through our veins in being a child of the King of all kings!

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Holy Spirit, thou art welcome in this place. Fill me and make me holy thine. Flow through me to touch the lives of those that I make contact with. Make Yourself at home in the lives of those who accept Jesus as Lord and make them truly rich with all that You have to offer. Help us Lord to live today with the end in mind. We all will die, and we all will meet our Savior face-to-face. I pray that You will see our rich qualities spurred on by Your divine touch, and You will be overjoyed at all those who were touched by the gifts we receive from You. Have Your will and way oh Lord, my Rock and my salvation. 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. 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. Please allow me to 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!