Tag: Know Jesus

‘Faith’ Is The Answer

On By Ed AlgreenIn Believe, Know and Believe, SalvationLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Romans 9:30-32 (TLB)

TEXT:  30 ….. God has given the Gentiles the opportunity to be acquitted by faith, even though they had not been really seeking God. 31 But the Jews, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping his laws, never succeeded. 32 Why not? Because they were trying to be saved by keeping the law and being good instead of by depending on faith….

OBSERVATION:   There was a wide divide between the Jews and the Gentiles in Paul’s day, and he made an effort to not only correct that divide, but also to help the Jews in truly understanding the Scriptures, even though they often boasted about how studious they were in the Scriptures. Because these were faithful men in obeying the law of God, I am often concerned for those who obey God’s command today by attending church, but never seeking God’s face and committing to a personal relationship with Him. Let’s dig deeper into this, because we can’t afford to be misguided in the truths of God’s Word.

APPLICATION:   I once heard of a skilled acrobat that walked across the Niagara Falls on a tight rope/cable. On his returned trip, he pushed an empty wheelbarrow across the cable. No sooner than he hit solid ground, he was congratulated on how well he did and how skilled he truly was. So he felt compelled to offer one of his well wishers the opportunity to ride in the wheelbarrow for another trip across. But, of course, he quickly rejected the offer! Perhaps because his faith in the professional was not enough to trust his life in the hands of the acrobat! Is that why many have refused to invite Jesus into their lives, because they don’t have faith to believe that He would do what He promised in His Word? Friends, we are really backed into a corner on this. God says in His Word that there is only one way to be saved, or get to heaven, and that’s through surrendering your life over to His Son, Jesus Christ. God says that whoever believes in the Son of God will have life eternally with He and His Father. Conversely, if you don’t do this, and feel like you are good enough by not killing, nor stealing, nor breaking any of the other commandments, oh and you actually attend church at least once a month, then you should be allowed into heaven. NO, in man’s eyes you might be considered a good person, but in God’s eyes, unfortunately, you are just as loss as any other sinner on earth. Men would use the above illustrations as an indicator on whether we are dealing with a good man, or with a man you possibly may question. According to the Word of God, He looks at the redeemed of God and those without the Savior. In which group do you belong dear friend? Can you point to a time in your life where you knelt before the King of kings and Lord of lords, asked for forgiveness of your sin, and invited Jesus into your life to rule and reign until He returns to take us home to glory? If not, why not? Life could end for you today, just like it did for many yesterday – what will Jesus say to you, welcome home my child, or go away for I do not know you? Please use the link ‘To Know Jesus’ below in my Footnote, for more information on this, if need be.

PRAYER:   Precious Lord, please don’t give up on us. You created us, You sent Your one and only Son to die a cruel death on a cross, so that through Him we might be saved from the sin and strife of planet earth. Yet we stand and proclaim that we know better than You. In fact, some teach that they can choose any part of Your Word and make your stand on it, then perhaps they would be saved. What a chance Your children are taking, for it would seem like it is much better to follow Your total Word completely; know for sure that you are saved; and that heaven is your eternal home with the Father Son and Holy Ghost. The alternative is like taking a chance to look good before men, knowing that your eternal home will be with Satan and his never ending lake of fire. The choice seems obvious dear friend, will you decide today to follow Jesus? I really want to see each of you in Heaven whenever God calls us home to Himself! Please don’t disappoint me, nor God, 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Sebring, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! 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!

 

What’s The Difference?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Humble, Humbleness, Power of Prayer, Prayer, Reaching the LostLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Nehemiah 9:3 (NLT)

TEXT:  3 They remained standing in place for three hours while the Book of the Law of the Lord their God was read aloud to them. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the Lord their God.

OBSERVATION:   The Israelites came to themselves, realized their hopeless condition, recognized that God was the only one that could help them, and they turned to God. What’s so different about them – and us?

APPLICATION:   Just like the Israelites, I believe that we are plenty smart enough to recognize that we have no control of everything that is going on in this world in which we live. In fact, we should all recognize that we really don’t have full control of our own world – the surroundings in which we find ourselves every day. Yet, in our stubbornness we try to convince ourselves that there are many others out there much worse than us, so we can’t be that bad after all. Here are some things that I would suggest we stop to consider and pray about:

  • Our lost condition – I know, mom took you to church as a young child and she introduced you to the preacher. It sounded to you like he had everything under control, and he made it sound like God cares for you, so you have nothing to worry about! May I remind you friend, that the Word of God says that unless you have personally invited Jesus into your heart and life and believe on Him as your Lord  and Savior, you are personally headed for a sinners’ Hell;
  • No time for church, Bible study or prayer – Notice that the Israelites spent a quarter of a day (3 hours) hearing from God, through the reading of His Word, and another 3 hours in prayer and worship. This was a great sacrifice from their day of work and/or family, but they made it a priority. Do you find time in your day to read God’s Word, pray, and worship your Father? At the end of each day, try bending your head in reverence before God and tell Him how none of that was a priority to you. If you then feel OK and able to sleep, then you are not yet ready to totally commit yourself to God;
  • Humbleness – Whenever we stop, listen to God and seek God’s face with humbleness of heart, we will recognize God for who He is, and be willing to listen to Him regarding who we are and who He wants us to be. Friend of God, we are to be His duplicate here on earth, so read His Word and learn the mind of Christ so that you will understand the character of our Lord. People need the Lord, not us.

PRAYER:   O what a Savior! O what an example for us to follow! Thank You Lord for saving my soul, thank You Lord for making me whole, thank You Lord for giving to me, Thy great salvation, so rich and free! Thank You also dear God for providing examples of the Israelites as we read in today’s Scripture, for it serves as a wake-up call for us, for it opened our eyes to our weaknesses today, and led us to the cross to seek Your face in forgiveness. Lord, now use the words of Your servant to also touch the hearts of those that may read this devotional today. Speak to Your children Lord and draw them close to You. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Sebring, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! 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!

 

The Greatest Love!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Love, Love God, Love of God, The Father's Love, The love of God, Unconditional loveLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Romans 8:38-39 (TLB)

TEXT:  38  … I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, 39 or where we are—high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean—nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us.

OBSERVATION:   It seems like Paul must have been dealing with accusations around the subject of how temporary the love of God is. No different to questions that might be asked today, I’m sure. So we should be prepared to respond to these questions anytime that we are faced with them as well. After all, as Christians, we promote the greatest love there ever was, by the greatest person that ever lived. So we should be ready to share the hope that lives within us at any time and with anyone who asks!

APPLICATION:   If asked the name of our spouse; if we love them; and why do we love them; we will all have a quick response – and it wouldn’t matter if we were told that our response might be aired on public television, with the possibility of it going worldwide, I bet that we would all just share our heart very openly. And I believe that God and the world will congratulate us for doing so! Now, let’s assume that you are a faithful church attender and you were accused of serving a God who: only loves you when you’re good; will only look out for your good as long as you are paying your tithes; and who can only refer you to a doctor for your illnesses, because He has no healing power. What would you say? I’m not suggesting that you pull out the biggest Bible in the house and read multiple verses to this critic, although it may help if you had a few verses readily in mind that would support whatever you decide to answer. But friends, I believe that if we truly know God; have a personal relationship with Him; truly trust Him to do whatever we ask in His name; and we truly believe that He has an eternal home for us in heaven, then the personal words from our heart should flow forth like water. Believe me, there is nothing to be embarrassed or frightened about. When you speak from your heart, it is your personal response to a question. I can’t help but believe that if you are in the Word of God each day, trying to grow your relationship with our Savior, then I’m sure that God will do for you like He did for Paul, He will give you words of wisdom to share, that will not only speak to the heart of the person asking you questions, but will speak to those around, just as this Scripture is speaking to us today. Paul said that he was ‘convinced’ that nothing could separate him from the love of God! Are you convinced? May I suggest that church attendance alone may never convince you? Remember when dating, you may have attended many events that your girlfriend/boyfriend also attended, and it was good to see them, but it was not until you developed a personal relationship with them that you truly came to trust them; love them; and believe in them. I believe that your relationship with God is much the same way, and without that personal relationship, I’m not sure how you will defend the God that you serve. So create, or deepen your relationship with God today dear friend, it’s the Greatest Love ever known – one that you can easily defend!

PRAYER:   My Jesus, my Savior, there is nothing like the love You have shown to me, nothing ever so sacrificial that has been demonstrated for me. Thank You Heavenly Father! Lord, please touch the hearts of each reader today. Draw them close to You. Never let them go. May they develop such a sweet communion with You that they will always have something to share with others about the deep, consistent love that lives inside of them. May others who know them, also know the greatest love in their life – the love of Jesus! 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Sebring, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! 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!

 

In The Strength of The Holy Spirit

On By Ed AlgreenIn Commitment, Committed, Totally committed, Unconditional commitmentLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Romans 8:26-27 (ERV)

TEXT:  26 Also, the Spirit helps us. We are very weak, but the Spirit helps us with our weakness. We don’t know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit himself speaks to God for us. He begs God for us, speaking to him with feelings too deep for words. 27 God already knows our deepest thoughts. And he understands what the Spirit is saying, because the Spirit speaks for his people in the way that agrees with what God wants.

OBSERVATION:   Throughout the New Testament we are reminded that we have an advocate that speaks to God on our behalf; We have a Savior who loves us so much that He suffered, bled and died on our behalf; and we sing an old gospel hymn ‘Nobody knows the trouble I’m in’. But Paul reminds us that the Spirit helps us in times like I just mentioned and even more. 

APPLICATION:   I wonder if you could think of a time when you were speechless before God? You know, the words would not come to you for the urgent prayer that you felt should be going up at that time. I’ve had at least one experience like that. I was taken to a larger city and hospital because of chest pains. Everything was aligned for a cardiac catheterization the next morning, and the many risks were thoroughly explained to me. I knew deep inside that only God could guide the sensitive hands of the physicians, and only He could calm my nerves and give me confidence, but my mind was confused and I just couldn’t concentrate on prayer. But to give you an idea of how awesome our God is: He not only provided His Holy Spirit to intercede on my behalf, but He also sent a friend 100 miles to pray with me that morning, relatives drove about 300 miles to pray with me, a pastor prayed for me over the phone, and I have a praying wife. I went through the test in great confidence, and the doctors were looking for excuses why a blockage seen the day before, no longer existed!! That’s how awesome our God is friends! I believe that it’s just like parenthood – when the Holy Spirit sees the need, He steps right in and meets the need on our behalf, just like any good parent would do. The question for each reader today is: ‘Do you know my Jesus?’; ‘Does the Holy Spirit live inside of you, as He does with believers?’; ‘Let me remind you that the Holy Spirit will not reside where sin abounds. He takes up residence in every believer’. Do you know Him, my friend? If you don’t. May I introduce you to my very best Friend; my Creator; my Savior; my Deliverer; and my Intercessor! Know Him and know peace. No Him and there will be no peace!

PRAYER:   Father thank You for the Holy Spirit that You sent to live inside of me, and inside of other believers. For all my friends that may read this devotional today, but don’t know You as Lord, please speak intently to their heart today oh Lord, so that they might sense Your Holy Spirit, and concede to the will of the Father. That You Lord Jesus for doing just that to me many years ago, and for helping me stay on track ever since. I am determined to serve thee to the end, may others make that commitment to You today as well. 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Sebring, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! 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!

 

Who Controls Your Thinking?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Evidence of Faith, Faithful, Genuine Faith, The Mind of ChristLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Romans 8:6-8 (ERV)

TEXT:  6 If your thinking is controlled by your sinful self, there is spiritual death. But if your thinking is controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace. 7 Why is this true? Because anyone whose thinking is controlled by their sinful self is against God. They refuse to obey God’s law. And really they are not able to obey it. 8 Those who are ruled by their sinful selves cannot please God.

OBSERVATION:   Paul taught the church how they could know who their minds are controlled by, and that the determination of that will help them understand what their eternity will look like. This is still true today, so I wanted us to look closely into this and be reminded what our consequences could be.

APPLICATION:   It seems like in today’s society, Paul might be labeled a psychologist, because of him evaluating what is going on in the mind! However, it is quite simple, for we were already told that God not only knows what we say and do, but also what we think. So with that in mind, let’s look at the two types of people we will come across, or that we will fit into:

  1. Minds ‘controlled by your sinful self’ – Paul warned the church, and he is warning us, that those who are stuck on doing everything that self desires and dictates, and who wants nothing to do with Christ, will wind up in spiritual death (eternity in Hell). However,
  2. Some are controlled by the Spirit – and we know this to be the case when we have surrendered our hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ, for He promised us that when we do, His Holy Spirit will come and reside inside of us. And for those whose minds are controlled by the Spirit, there is life (meaning life eternally in heaven with God) and peace (meaning peace with self and with God, because you belong to Him).

So each of us can determine who controls our minds, and each of us meditating on this devotional can evaluate what our destiny looks like. Are you pleased with yours? If not, and if you desire a prayer partner to help you deal with issues that might challenge you to change, please consult with your home church pastor, or drop me a note and I will be honored to pray with you.

PRAYER:   Lord Jesus, with a heart of thanksgiving, especially after being reminded this past weekend of all that You did for us on Calvary, we want to thank You for providing the means for us to live at peace here on earth, knowing that for those who’s mind is fixed on You, our day of celebration is just around the corner, as we see You face to face. Thank You Lord Jesus for being so good to us. May we be found faithful, is my humble plea! 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Sebring, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! 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!

 

I Want To Be Just Like You!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Example of Christ, Genuine example of Jesus, Godly exampleLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Romans 7:24-25 (Voice)

TEXT:  24 I am absolutely miserable! Is there anyone who can free me from this body where sin and death reign so supremely? 25 I am thankful to God for the freedom that comes through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! So on the one hand, I devotedly serve God’s law with my mind; but on the other hand, with my flesh, I serve the principle of sin.

OBSERVATION:   Paul arrived at a time that he had a conversation with God about how he really felt his life was going. He knew that he wanted to follow Christ wholeheartedly, like many of us, but he was frustrated with himself because he kept finding himself struggling from doing what he was determined to do. In fact, he was often swayed into sin, which is totally opposite from his goal. Since this is so much like us today, I thought we could take time to sort this out and look at ways that might help us stay on track for God.

APPLICATION:   Have you heard it said that the Holy Spirit could leave some churches and it may take a while for members to even notice that He did? Well that may sound a bit funny to some, but when we remember that the church is made up with folk like you and I, then I believe that saying becomes a lot more personal. I believe that the bottom line is for us to stop and think about the type of relationship we have with the Lord Jesus Christ. Obviously Paul had an intimate relationship with God, yet he got to a point where he felt like he had lost touch with Jesus, and that sin was having it’s better way with him. So let’s also consider how we might stay closer to God, and how we might be more obedient to the Holy Spirit that dwells withing us. My mind went onto times that I’m on a diet. I am more convinced then than ever that I should stay clear of sweets, yet if offered ice cream or cheesecake-flan I would probably take a small bit of it. No longer than I start eating it, I start chastening myself for cheating. Similarly, because I have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and through His help, I have certain disciplines around Bible Study and being faithful to opportunities at church to learn more about Him, and to draw closer to Him through other believers. When I miss any of these opportunities, or especially if I miss my personal Bible Study, I feel like I have cheated on God, or at least shorted myself of quality time together. Friends, we will speak and act from what our heart is filled with. I pray that each one reading this blog might say like myself, that our desire is to be so filled with the goodness, wisdom and love of Jesus, that we might often be mistaken for Him. There’s a song entitled ‘I want to be just like you’, and I often pray that God would give me the strength and fortitude to sing that song as I talk with Him and walk with Him each day!

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us the way to walk and talk ‘just like You’. Lord You are awesome in every way, and You have welcomed our desire to draw close to You and be like You. Please help us to set priorities for getting into Your Word so that we could learn more about You and also hear responses to our prayers. Please give us boldness in our walk and steadiness in our desire to live for You every day of our lives, so that we may set an example for others to follow. Thank You Heavenly Father! Thank You Jesus! 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Sebring, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! 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!

 

Free Gift!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Easter, Gift, Ressurrection, SalvationLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Romans 6:20-23 (NLT)

TEXT:  20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. 21 And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. 22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

OBSERVATION:   Paul relays to the church that there is a different mindset and a different lifestyle when one is transformed from the kingdom of darkness. Old values fade away, and a new life in Christ begins, with new values such as holiness that causes you to be ashamed of the old life that you once lived. There is a freedom that comes with your new life, that causes you to become slaves of God, as you quickly realize that He offers the free gift of eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ.

APPLICATION:   Paul found in his day that believers needed reminding of the world from which they came, and this was such a key point to them that he assured them that they don’t even want to think about it, because it makes them ashamed. This however, reminds the Christian of where our neighbors, family and friends might be at in their lives, and therefore give us a deeper yearning to share the Word of God with them. Friends, in verse 21 we are told that the end for the unbeliever is eternal doom. Is that what we want for those we love? I pray that this lesson today may be a reminder that time is short before the Lord returns to take His church home to glory. We have friends and family who are destined for hell – eternal doom; are we OK with that? As we celebrate this Easter, and the new life we have in our risen Lord, may we be careful to pray for those who are still deeply involved in sin and struggling to see the light and hope that we have in the glory of Easter and our risen Lord. This is a great time to encourage our loved ones to attend church with us, so let’s show them that we care, and pray earnestly for them that God will open their hearts to hear the truths of His Word this weekend.

PRAYER:   Lord, in the same way that we would be seriously upset over a neighbor or some other friend perishing in a fire, please make us just as upset in knowing that they have not accepted You as their Lord and Savior, for both brings death. Easter celebrations is all about You, our risen Lord. But please make us ever mindful of the new life the sinner might have in knowing You as their personal Lord and Savior. May this truly be a Resurrection Sunday for many who are lost in the darkness of sin and need You as their Risen Savior.  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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Sebring, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! 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!

 

The Greatest Love Ever Shown For Us

On By Ed AlgreenIn Easter, Forgiven, LoveLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Romans 5:6-9 (TLB)

TEXT:  6 When we were utterly helpless, with no way of escape, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners who had no use for him. 7 Even if we were good, we really wouldn’t expect anyone to die for us, though, of course, that might be barely possible. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since by his blood he did all this for us as sinners, how much more will he do for us now that he has declared us not guilty? Now he will save us from all of God’s wrath to come.

OBSERVATION:   The real story of this week ending with the joyous celebration of Easter – the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, is all revealed in these few verses. For last Sunday we celebrated the awesome, sinless Son of God entering into a city filled with sin and with no hope. Yet by the end of the week Christ had risen from the dead for sinners just like those who had mocked Him, those who had lied and convicted Him, those who judged Him, those who led Him up to the hill of Golgotha, those who stood by and mocked Him as He was crucified, and for those who nailed Him to a cross and crucified Him.

APPLICATION:   Our verses remind us that it would be extremely challenging to find someone willing to put their life on the line for us, even if we were very close to them. But just so that we may best understand the Scripture here, let’s think of someone you have really been mean to, or perhaps even fought with verbally or physically. In fact you really feel like they may even hate you. However, one day you receive a call and although you don’t recognize the voice on the other end, they seem to be sobbing and very distressed, as they ask you to urgently come and help them out of a very dangerous situation. You determine that it’s the person that always opposed you and fought with you, and it sounds like you would have to put your life on the line in order to help them. What would you do? God had a very similar scenario to deal with, for He created perfect human beings, to be the smartest and most loving species He had made. However, Satan had found his way into their lives, and they were totally sold on all the parties and sinful things that Satan made so appealing to them. In fact, they would seldom think of attending church anymore, because they were so involved in all of the joys that Satan made possible for them. Saints on earth had given up on them because of the hopelessness they saw in them, and they were convinced that Hell was the only option for them. HOWEVER, in steps Jesus, and He says to you in a very convincing and loving manner “It’s OK my child, I once gave my life for people just like that, and because of their desperate plea for forgiveness and help, I have just washed them as white as snow. The sin you once saw in them have been washed into the sea of forgetfulness, and because of the blood that I shed on Calvary, they have been made eternally fit for the Kingdom of God”! Friends, this illustrates the forgiveness that is now possible since that first Good Friday when Jesus hung on the cross and died for us. We can now go to Him for the forgiveness of our sin, and rejoice in the risen Lord, that we celebrate at Easter. He lives my friends! You ask me how I know He lives, He lives within my heart! Today you may fit in with the crowd that nailed Jesus to the cross. But friends, my prayer is that your heart might become tender this weekend and you may say ‘YES’ to the repeated plea by Jesus, and that Sunday you can celebratewith Christians all over the world as we reflect on the joys of our risen Lord and King!

PRAYER:   Lord Jesus, I am so thankful for all that you did for us at Calvary, for had it not been so, where would I have been today? Lord, You made it possible for sinners to seek forgiveness and live in the new life that You offer to all those who could do nothing for themselves. I live in a community where statistics show that only about 30% of the population is churched. No, I’m not in a distant land where the Word of God has not been openly shared with everyone, I live in a small county in central Florida, in the United States. This means that people have heard the Word, and chosen instead to live life unassuming but very consumed in sin. Oh Lord, please catch hold of the stubborn hearts and show them a glimpse of Heaven this weekend. May we see many surrender their lives to the New Life that only You can offer – Eternal Life! 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Sebring, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! 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!

 

The Promises of God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Easter, Forgiveness, Sacrifice, SalvationLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Romans 4:23-25 (TLB)

TEXT:  23 Now this wonderful statement—that he was accepted and approved through his faith—wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. 24 It was for us, too, assuring us that God will accept us in the same way he accepted Abraham—when we believe the promises of God who brought back Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He died for our sins and rose again to make us right with God, filling us with God’s goodness.

OBSERVATION:   Abraham was blessed, and he benefited from the wonderful gifts of God when God blessed he and Sarah with a child in their old age. Paul wants us to know through this Scripture today that God’s grace is all sufficient for His children today, if we would trust in the very One whose death and resurrection we believe in, and celebrate this very week on our church calendars.  

APPLICATION:   The Scripture today is probably one of the most important ones that we could have come across, especially at this time of the year. For centuries churches have celebrated Holy Week, with the Good Friday and Easter weekend being only second to that of Christmas. On Good Friday we remember the death of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Bible. For those who have not yet accepted Jesus as Lord of their life, or you’ve been playing around with the relationship that you once started with Jesus, let me remind you that the only reason Jesus died on that cross at Calvary was to satisfy your sin and the sins of mankind. Are you rejecting His sacrifice and turning your head to the sacrifice that someone (Jesus) made just for you? Please take the opportunity this Easter weekend to accept the gift of eternal life, through the forgiveness of your sin, offered through the death of Jesus on the cross. The Bible says in verse 24 above, that God brought Jesus back to life on the 3rd day, signifying that He made Abraham, and us (His born again saints of God) right with His Father (God). Friends, that was quite a sacrifice that Jesus made, just for the sin of mankind. Will you reconsider and accept that gift this week? Easter will bring a fresh encounter for you as you join other saints in worshiping and praising the risen Lord next weekend!

PRAYER:   Lord, Your love is beyond anything mankind can imagine. Our Scripture reminds us today of the extent of Your love, and the sacrifice You made to demonstrate that love to us. Never before, and never again will we be blessed with such love and such awesome gifts. Please forgive us when we are unappreciative and reject Your offer of salvation. Lord we offer ourselves to You in return for Your gracious gifts, and we look forward in great anticipation to the day when we see You face to face! What a day that will be! 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Sebring, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! 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!

 

How Evil People are Made Right

On By Ed AlgreenIn Acceptance, Forgiveness, RighteousnessLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Romans 4:5-8 (ERV)

TEXT:  5 …. people cannot do any work that will make them right with God. So they must trust in him. Then he accepts their faith, and that makes them right with him. He is the one who makes even evil people right. 6 David said the same thing when he was talking about the blessing people have when God accepts them as good without looking at what they have done:

7 “It is a great blessing when people are forgiven for the wrongs they have done, when their sins are erased!
8 It is a great blessing when the Lord accepts people as if they are without sin!”

OBSERVATION:   Paul addressed the church as if they were looking down their noses at people who were not just like them, especially those known for their evil deeds, or who were not Jews. He reminded them that there is nothing good that can be done to excuse the sins of mankind, but there is ONE who can forgive them of their sin and make them right with God! I believe that we could probably do with Paul preaching that sermon in some of our churches today, because it is still very easy for us to think that we belong to an exclusive club and others are just too evil to ever make it in. Let’s look closer at this…

APPLICATION:   I believe that it’s Scripture like this that causes us to do a system-wide check-up! I really don’t believe in coincidences when it comes to God’s Holy Word. For if He took us to this Scripture, and He causes a Brother to share his heart on the matter, then God probably wants us to stop, listen, meditate, analyze our current situation personally and as a church, and act on what God is teaching or instructing us to do. You see, there are huge percentages of people in our own cities – family, neighbors, friends or acquaintances, that do not attend church. Did we look down our noses one too many times that they felt intimated by, or unwanted in, our cliques at church? Or perhaps unministered to because they are not the same color or race as us, or live their lives differently to what we consider acceptable? May I just remind those who know the Lord, about the clear facts of what our condition was before we met Jesus? I want you to reflect back to your condition before Christ, and compare that to the holy Son of God, not to those friends who are not attending church. Now, do you see any reason why God should have accepted you into His kingdom? Then why do we find it impossible to minister to those I referenced above from our communities? Friends, Jesus is coming again, and I believe that it will be soon. What will you say to Him when asked about the absence of your circle of family, friends, coworkers and loved ones?

PRAYER:   Lord Jesus, we are such a blessed people. When we think of the love You poured out for us, when You took into account all the sin of this world, and still You went to the cross anyway, so that we might have the opportunity of becoming right with the Father. Thank You, thank You Heavenly Father for sacrificing Your only Son to prove Your love for us. Please help us to show our love for You and our circle of influence, by sharing Your Word with them so that they also may come to know You in a very personal way. Oh that I may make Psalm 32:2 a daily part of my celebration: ‘It is a great blessing when the Lord accepts people as if they are without sin!’. Thank You Jesus! 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Sebring, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! 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!