Tag: Jesus knows us

Under Pressure, What Might You Say?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2022-08-31
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Mark 14:70-72
TRANSLATION: Amplified Bible (AMP)

BIBLE TEXT:  70 ….. the bystanders again said to Peter, “You are in fact one of them, for [it is clear from your accent, that] you are a Galilean, too.” 71 But he began to invoke a curse [on himself] and to swear [an oath], “I do not know this man you are talking about!” 72 Immediately a rooster crowed the second time. And Peter remembered what Jesus said to him: “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And thinking of this, he began weeping [in anguish].

APPLICATION: There are times when our best friend may embarrass us in public, and we might kid around by pretending that we disown them! However, how much worse will that condemnation get if you are spotted together and one of you are wanted by law enforcement for questioning on a recent murder case? In such a scenario, or as in the case of Peter when questioned about his relationship with Jesus, or in the case of our friends identifying us as Christians outside of the church walls, we may choose to be silent, or we may even choose to play the part of Peter and deny Jesus Christ. I know, many readers and listeners are probably shaking their heads east to west right now, as you might be much like Peter when he told Jesus that he would never deny Him. So, what happened to Peter, and what happens to us in times like these? I believe it is time that we face reality and acknowledge that others may see us dressed for church on a Sunday morning and carrying our Bible, but not in beach attire like they might be. They may see us bow for prayer over our food, or when asked to in a public place. They may notice that we don’t laugh at the dirty office jokes anymore. They may notice from our speech, that we are blessed by the Holy Spirit to speak like Jesus, and not like the world. So why did Peter, and why do we, lose hope and courage when questioned or identified in public? Are we ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or the One who gave up His life for our eternal salvation? Do we regret making the decision to follow Jesus, know Him intimately, and share in His life, death and resurrection? Jesus had been arrested, and I’m sure that Peter knew that he could just have easily been arrested next, and lined up for crucifixion, if the authorities knew that he was just like Jesus. Is that what happens to us? Or are we afraid that we would lose our earthly status, or our youthful nickname, or never be invited to awesome parties again, but instead stand out as a sore thumb when around our ‘old’ friends? Jesus knew what Peter would do – that’s why He quickly told him in advance what he would do. Jesus also knows what you and I will do, that’s why He challenged us in the Scriptures by telling us that those who claim Him publicly here on earth, He will also claim us before the Father. But for those who are ashamed of Him here on earth, He will disown us before the Father. So, I believe that our challenge for this last day of August in 2022 is to truthfully consider that based on our words, actions and thoughts over the last few days, what might Jesus be saying to His father at this very moment? Rejoicing over a sinner saved by His wondrous grace and living a life worthy of His love and admiration, or is He shaking His head in shame and disappointment that it is very clear that we have not been serious about our decision to accept and serve Him? Your pastor, wife, mother or father can’t answer that one for you, but Jesus will gladly point you towards the right path that He has set out for you. One-on-one time with Jesus will help you continue your walk with Him, if you know Him as Lord and Savior, otherwise He will gladly draw you to Himself, if you share your desire with Him. I pray that you will make time to be with Jesus today and open to listening to His still small voice to lead you on.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: ‘Jesus knows all about our struggles, He will guide til the day is done‘

PRAYER: Thank You Jesus that You know all about our struggles, and that You have the power and willingness to guide us through each and every day. Please help us to step aside and allow You to have control. We tend to blame our weakness on us just being ‘human’, but Lord, help us instead to look at, remember, and always allow the awesome power of our King to rule, reign and have His way in us. Through Your power, under your inspiration, and with Your constant encouragement, we can overcome! Peter struggled, and so do we. But with You in the wheelhouse of our lives, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Use us Lord as Your instruments to touch the lives of the unsaved and uncommitted 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!

Jesus Knows All About You

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

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2021-11-02
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: John 1:46-49
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 46 Nathanael sneered, “Nazareth! What good thing could ever come from Nazareth?” Philip answered, “Come and let’s find out!”
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said, “Here comes a true son of Israel—an honest man with no hidden motive!”
48 Nathanael was stunned and said, “But you’ve never met me—how do you know anything about me?”
Jesus answered, “Nathanael, right before Philip came to you, I saw you sitting under the shade of a fig tree.”
49 Nathanael blurted out, “Teacher, you are truly the Son of God and the King of Israel!”

APPLICATION: Children are usually amazed that mom and/or dad knows about what they did while they were with friends or out of their sight! But for the child of God who gets into His Word, we are reminded that God is fully aware of our words, actions and even our thoughts. Isn’t it interesting that when we are confronted with our sin, we tend to act like Nathanael and question ‘who me’, or quickly declare ‘not me’. Friends, notice that Nathanael must have really been embarrassed that Jesus knew all about his snide remark when invited by Philip to join he and the others as followers of Jesus. But also notice that Jesus readily accepted Nathanael and basically honored him for his honest response to Philip. Perhaps many of you are like me, and we try to be so politically correct, or kind to everyone, that we often hide our true opinion. I believe it is good that we don’t poison the whole group with our negativity, but I also find it amazing that Jesus understands our heart-felt opinions, and He works with us to either correct the inward man, or teach us His way. Friends, I am convinced that from the depth of our heart, come the words that spew from our mouths. Therefore let us enrich our hearts daily through close communion with our Savior. For it is His love that we need to have ready to share with others; His words that we want to be encouraged by, instead of allowing the evil of this world to get to us. Remember, God loved us while we were unlovable and so drenched in sin, that no one wanted to hang around us. Furthermore, He gave His very best for us, even while we were still sinners in need of a Savior. My desire is that each day I will enrich my heart with more of God’s love, and that I will reach out to Him for encouragement, even when life seems to be at its worse. Then, filled with His goodness and love, perhaps I then can show love to others – the love of Jesus my Savior. Of course, it would be my desire that each reader and listener would also reach out to Jesus each day and seek His face for more and more of His grace, so that others will see our Lord, and not our ugly selfish likes and dislikes. ‘Oh that they would see Jesus’, is my sincere desire, and I hope it will be yours also.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Jesus loved Nathanael in spite of his snide remark about Him and His people. I believe He loves us also, even though we may appear to the world as unlovable.

PRAYER: Lord, I acknowledge that You created us. But we mess up so often, I have to question at times how could You possibly still love us. But in our Scripture today, You saw beyond the snide remarks of Nathanael and right into his honest heart. Please Lord, work on us each day so that we may fill our hearts with more and more of You. We want others to see Jesus, and not our rotten attitudes that seem to, unfortunately, come through in our words. Please use even us to reach unsaved friends and loved ones. May they always be reminded of, and see Jesus through our words and in our actions. 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!