Tag: Goodness

The Rewards of Doing Good

On By Ed AlgreenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

(Bible Translation and Location: New Living Translation – Galatians 6:9-10)

Thoughts:
These verses follow a short discourse from Paul to the Galatian church where he was reminding them that they would reap what they sow. These thoughts remind us that there are two sorts of sowing, one to the flesh, and the other to the Spirit. Those who live a carnal, careless, non-godly, unrighteous life, must expect no other fruit from such a course than misery and ruin. But those who, under the guidance and influence of the Holy Spirit and in whom they have placed their trust, live a life of faith in Christ, excel in Christian love and grace, and live a life dedicated to the Spirit that result in reaping life everlasting. We are all very apt to tire in doing good daily to everyone, especially when doing good to those who either reject you, intentionally do things to hurt and/or harm you or doing good to those who selfishly never give back to those around them. However, these are the times that Christians must carefully watch and guard against. For perservance in well-doing, there is a reward promised in these verses, for it says that we will reap a harvest of blessing at a time we least expect! I can assure you friend, if for no other reason, It Will Be Worth It All When We See Jesus – a song I like to sing over and over, especially when I’m feeling discouraged! So keep on doing what God says Brother, through the rough times and through the times when it is obvious that a heart has been touched. There’s no better time to reflect on this than during this Christmas season, a time when God sent His only Son as a precious gift to us! We too have lots that we can ‘give’ to others.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, please forgive us for our selfishness in not freely sharing all that You have blessed us with. I am reminded of another song, “Lord You Are Good and Your Mercy Endureth Forever”, because You bless us beyond all measure each and every day! May we willingly share Your love, Your mercy and Your bountiful gifts with all that we come into contact with, is my humble but sincere prayer that I ask in Your wonderful, bountiful name, 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!

Gifts For Believers

On By Ed AlgreenIn Gifts of The SpiritLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

(Bible Translation and Location: New Living Translation – Galatians 5:22-26)

Thoughts:

If I told you that I was going to send a little stranger kid to college next year, there would be a few questions you would have for me, such as how do I know the kid, how long have they shown a desire to want to attend college, etc. Similarly, in these verses today, we should ask a few questions or rather, observe a few obvious answers:

  1. The Holy Spirit produces the mentioned fruit in those who have accepted Jesus and have a desire to live like Him. Others who do not know the author of the gifts would either not appreciate the gifts or recognize them as coming from God;
  2. These gifts are not given to make us proud, but rather to reflect more of Jesus in our lives – the author of these gifts;
  3. The gifts are beneficial, as they are given to folk who have totally surrendered the passions and desires of their sinful nature. In other words, they are given as a needed replacement for the sinful gifts already surrendered at the foot of the cross;
  4. The gifts serve the purpose of helping us not become conceited, or agitated with one another, or jealous of one another, but instead lead us towards loving one another as Christ first loved us.

By meditating through these verses, I believe you will see where there will be times when you might recognize a few of the characteristics in #4 sneaking back into your life. Please note that these are not of God and should automatically put you in a mode of constant and serious prayer, asking for help from Jesus so that you may see the gifts mentioned in verses 22-23 return to you. Many of us are looking forward to gifts at Christmas. It can be Christmas every day for Christians as God, through His Holy Spirit, showers us with the wonderful gifts mentioned in these verses.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I pray that there will be friends who will read this devotional today and wonder why they are not receiving the gifts mentioned in these verses, because that will indicate a soul that is either strained in their relationship with you or who do not have a relationship with You. It will also indicate that they have been led by You to the truth of Your Word and how it could apply to their life, if only they would surrender their life to You. Father, I pray that many will be impacted by the greatest gift of all this Christmas, Your Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ. As You shower us with the gifts mentioned in these verses, may we allow You to use us as Your representatives to bring joy, peace and love to those that we come into contact with. Please soften the hearts of those we love, who need You as Lord of their life, is my humble plea this Christmas season, and I ask all this in the wonderful name of Jesus, 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!