Honoring God through Obedience to Authority

On 2025-05-26 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Authority, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s Word, ObedienceLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Monday, May 26, 2025, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa at Hunter Road, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Ecclesiastes 8:2-8 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the New Living Translation (NLT).

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
Almost 40 years ago my wife and I migrated to the United States and some years later we were accepted as as citizens with full rights in the USA. We pledged to agree and honor many laws, regulations and authorities in order to be a part of this country. Almost 50 years ago I accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord and I pledged to honor Him and all that He stood for, as relayed in His Holy Word. These two pledges were linked, as I promised God that I would honor His Word, part of which deals with His ruling over the nations and in the election of their rulers. I was reminded of this as I meditated on Solomon’s words in Ecclesiastes today. And because these wise words of Solomon are inspired by the Holy Spirit, I am confident that I will be blessed if I honor and obey God’s teachings, for He is my ultimate King who will rule and reign long after our earthly presidents, kings, prime ministers, and other leaders have graduated from their earthly rules. In my working career, I once worked as an auditor who looked over the shoulders of employees and made sure they followed company rules and regulations. If we felt that an employee violated a regulation, we would write them up and quote the rule or regulation they broke. As believers, we too must learn to focus so much on the Book containing God’s instructions (the Bible) and ensure that we are obeying our Father. In Romans 13:1-2 we are instructed to obey our governing authorities for they are appointed by God, and if we find it in ourselves to disobey the authorities, we are therefore disobeying God Himself. In 1 Peter 2:13-17 we are ordered to obey government institutions, for they are provided by God to punish us when we do wrong, and honor those who do good. Dear friends, know that our Scripture today was not just a ‘wild hair’ thought up by Solomon, for he was merely honoring the word he received from our Father on high. There are several other Scriptures that support what the Holy Spirit whispered to Solomon on our behalf – several in addition to the above ones I added. See also Proverbs 24:21-22; Matthew 22:21; Titus 3:1; 1 Samuel 24:6; 1 Samuel 26:9-11 and I’m sure that your study will also reveal more. I was tickled by the latter part of verse 5 where Solomon spoke of finding time to do right. In our busy, busy, lives today we probably hear these words way too often: ‘I just didn’t have time’. At one stage of my Christian Walk, I was challenged to use the more challenging words: ‘that was just not a priority for me”. Let me encourage you to use this terminology friends, for it more accurately puts the blame on you, rather than finding excuses in saying you didn’t have time! Some may be tempted to disobey the authorities because they didn’t elect them, but in a free land where democracy thrives, authorities elected by the majority becomes the authority of us all. God tells us in His Word that He has placed them there for a time such as this. So, enough with the excuses, let’s all be mindful of the wishes of our King and always obey our earthly kings and authorities. In everything that we do, let us be awesome examples of the One we represent, Jesus Christ our Lord.

PRAYER
Thank You Lord Jesus for creating us, and this earth, for us to enjoy Your every blessing. Often, we may feel like our government authorities may be working against us, as their rules and regulations seem onerous and overpowering at times. But thank You Father for Your reminder today that You have placed them here for our good. And because You have placed them here for Your will and purpose, believers are obligated to obey, and pay allegiance to, our ultimate King! You are above all, and greater than all, so there is no question about what Your will is for us in this environment. Please remind us to stay committed to You in all walks of life and obedient to the commands You left for us in Your Word. I believe that for You to be glorified and lifted up through us, we must be operating within Your instruction and design for us. I pray that You will find us faithful, Oh Lord, my God. Amen!

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. One of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals or subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you make every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!

Finding Faith: Embracing the Call to Discipleship

On 2025-01-23 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, Disciple, God Cares For Us, God’s WordLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Thursday, January 23, 2025, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa at Hunter Road, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) and found in John 1:41-43; 45; 47-48;

THE SCRIPTURE READS
⁴¹Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”).⁴²Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”). ⁴³The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.”
⁴⁵Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”
⁴⁷As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.” ⁴⁸“How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.”

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I was once reminded that when an unsaved person asks you about things of the Lord, know that the Holy Spirit is working on that person, for Satan would never incite his follower to do such a thing! So when you wake up one morning and decide to visit a church down the road, don’t assume that you are doing your pesty friend a favor to get them off your back, just be obedient to the Holy Spirit and visit the house of the Lord. Unfortunately, believers in Jesus Christ, and especially unbelievers, find every excuse in the books to avoid the voice of the Holy Spirit and stay away from church attendance or even being around committed believers willing to share their ‘Jesus’ story. However, having shared that, I want you to meditate with me carefully about the cases in our Scripture today, and try to apply this to real life as you experience it today. Notice that Jesus found Andrew, and Andrew immediately had a desire to go and find his brother, Simon. Hopefully in your case, Jesus found you, and you were convicted of your sin after realizing that Jesus was the only source of Eternal Life, and you surrendered your life to His lordship. But, after this miracle of new birth took place, a new life in communion with Jesus Christ, I hope that it was too good to just sit and sour in the church pews, so you immediately thought about others who needed the same joy that you found in knowing Jesus, and you started asking Jesus for open doors to introduce them to your Lord. Like Andrew, I hope that you decided to go in search of that brother, pray for him, and invite him to join in your new-found faith. Now, notice how Jesus shows us about the new life and amazing opportunities He has in store for us. He changed Andrew’s name to better reflect the image of what he was to become in his new-found relationship with Christ, and his new kingdom work. Just imagine, Peter would be known as a ‘rock’ that would represent the solid footing believers would have in Jesus Christ. Ever wondered why so many church names include the name of this great disciple – ‘Peter’? Part of our salvation experience is in turning from our life of sin and the world, to a life dedicated to, and patterned after, our Lord and Savior. Unless this change takes place, it is impossible for others to see the handiwork of Jesus in us, and our lives would not properly represent the Savior in whom we are verbalizing that we have placed our trust in. Next in today’s Scripture, we see where Jesus found Phillip, and He invited Phillip to follow Him. While each of us are super important to God, He may often have much bigger plans for us than we could ever imagine. For I believe that Phillip had an immediate mission, to reach out to Nathaniel, a somewhat outspoken Israelite. Plus, Jesus had a teaching moment for all those already following Him, when He showed Nathaniel how much He already knew about him, even before they ever met in person. Friends, the story of the cross has a very similar message. For Jesus went to the cross for ALL mankind. The ones who attend church and can’t make a decision to accept Jesus, and for those who are deep in sin and see no need for Jesus. Yes, Jesus died for me, even while I was still a sinner. Dear friend, Jesus knows your name, and He knows how many invitations you have already avoided, shunned, and declined, to come and know more about Him. Yet He willingly went to the cross and died a criminal’s death, so that He could fulfill the mission of His Father in rising again so that you, I, and all mankind could have our sins forgiven, and ready us for Heaven. Jesus showed this compassion to Nathaniel, and He is reminding us again today, that He is the only way to see the Father. In John 3:16 we are reminded that for all who believe in Him, we will see God – we will have eternal life! Know Him today precious friends and know that peace that exceeds all human understanding! Prepare now so that we all may kneel together at the feet of our Father in heaven one day – soon!

PRAYER
Dear Lord, I am reminded once again that just as You sought after these first disciples, You are still seeking after the hearts and lives of men and women today that are destined to fulfill Your kingdom work right here where we are at. Thankfully, You got my attention many years ago and You have been faithful through every circumstance of life. So many times I can reflect on the mystery of Your handiwork, the miracles wrought in so many areas of my life and that of my family, friends and church. Some who will meditate on this devotional will identify where they are at in their spiritual walk today. I pray that all will follow in the example of these first disciples, by dropping everything to follow You. From every indication, the day of Your return is sooner than any of us would care to acknowledge. Oh that we would be ready to hear Your ‘WELCOME HOME’ greeting and Your compassionate acknowledgment ‘WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT’. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. I would also suggest that you speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com and share your good news! Perhaps one of God’s servants will 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. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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 being a part of that, while also growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

The Crown of Life: A Promised Gift

On 2024-12-26 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, Eternal Life, God Cares For Us, God’s Word, TemptationLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Thursday, December 26, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa at Hunter Road, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Quoted from The Living Bible (TLB) and found in James 1:12-16

THE SCRIPTURE READS
¹²Happy is the man who doesn’t give in and do wrong when he is tempted, for afterwards he will get as his reward the crown of life that God has promised those who love him. ¹³And remember, when someone wants to do wrong it is never God who is tempting him, for God never wants to do wrong and never tempts anyone else to do it. ¹⁴Temptation is the pull of man’s own evil thoughts and wishes. ¹⁵These evil thoughts lead to evil actions and afterwards to the death penalty from God. ¹⁶So don’t be misled, dear brothers.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
Perhaps as we reflect on Christmas, we remember the idea from a child’s point of view that if they’ve been good, they will receive good gifts at Christmas. Now with that in mind, re-read today’s Scripture and take note of God’s promise to us through His servant writer James. But more than that, let’s look into this Scripture and use the rest of the Bible to help us understand what we believe James is teaching us here. First of all, let’s look at why mankind might give in to temptation. I believe that when one has mixed feelings about their commitment to someone, or something, then it takes very little convincing for them to walk away or be unfaithful. Many marriages fail because of weak or nonexistent commitment to the spouse they promised God they would love till death parts them. We blame one another for weakening relationships, but the truth is that we each must take personal responsibility for our promises to God and to each other. But looking at the topic from James’ point of view, he wants us to see how God looks at the faithfulness of His children. You see, it becomes much like our gift giving at Christmas. Very often we give gifts because someone has given us a gift – either in material form or in being especially good to us. God says to us in today’s Scripture that if we stay firm in our commitment, love, devotion, to Him, and if we stay firm, He will gift us with the crown of life – life eternally in glory with our triune God. This idea of being rewarded a crown was also spoken of in Luke 19:11-27 when a certain nobleman told a servant that because of his diligence in investing the money given to him, he would rule over 10 cities. The thing is, God has given each of us many gifts to use in our cities today also. In your opinion, based on your investments of the gifts given to you, will He crown you as ruler over 10, 5, or perhaps no cites in His Kingdom? However, the impact of verses 13-15 will hit home for many of us today. So often we seem to instantly try to find a scapegoat – someone else to blame, for our lack of commitment, and/or our failure to use the gifts given to us by our faithful Father. Unfortunately, while some will buy into those excuses out of respect to you, God is able to discern the faithfulness and honesty of your heart. There is a well-known gospel song entitled ‘He knows My Name’, a favorite of mine. The Bible also tells us that God knows our very thoughts, not just what others hear from our lips. So, can we be very, very personal with God today and either rejoice with Him over our honest thoughts and works, or confess to Him our inadequate actions and degree of commitment to the gifts granted to us, while also asking for His strength, power and love to help us overcome these things and press on to greater heights in His Kingdom? If not my friends, we might easily become misled by what the world wants us to think. Now it’s your turn with God, go for it!

PRAYER
Oh Lord Jesus, we are unworthy of Your love and Your sacrifice on Calvary, for although we have invited You into our hearts, we often struggle with surrendering lordship of our lives to You. In this world, we are impacted by the attitude of seeking relationships with those from whom we can gain or improve our status or position in life. But You have shown us throughout Your life, and especially on the cross, that love is best understood by what you do for others. You sacrificed Your very life, even while we were yet sinners and participated in every way with Your crucifixion, so that we who accept You as Lord, can have eternal life. Please forgive us Lord, and today begin a new work, a godly attitude in us, to help us show the world that the Jesus we claim to exist inside of us, is being reflected in our attitude: towards our crazy and dangerous drivers, in our busy and chaotic stores, and our restaurants filled with selfish and ungodly patrons who are rude to waiting staff who may not provide for their every need. People so badly need Jesus, not more of our selfish and worldly attitudes. Please fill us to overflowing with Your character and Your heart so that every word and action that exudes from us might impact others for the Kingdom. AMEN!

Answering God’s Call: Overcoming Our Excuses

On 2024-12-01 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, Excuses, Faith, Faith in Action, God Cares For Us, God’s Word, Obedience, Personal testimony, Testimony, TrustLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Sunday, December 1, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa at Hunter Road, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Quoted from The Living Bible (TLB) and found in Jeremiah 1:4-8

THE SCRIPTURE READS
⁴The Lord said to me, ⁵“I knew you before you were formed within your mother’s womb; before you were born I sanctified you and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.”
⁶“O Lord God,” I said, “I can’t do that! I’m far too young! I’m only a youth!”
⁷“Don’t say that,” he replied, “for you will go wherever I send you and speak whatever I tell you to. ⁸And don’t be afraid of the people, for I, the Lord, will be with you and see you through.”

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
From a very early age, we learn how to give excuses when we don’t want to do something. But what about when God calls us to His service? I am convinced that whenever we feel the tug of God’s call on our life, we can rest assured that He has the ‘how’, ‘what’, and ‘where’ all worked out. Furthermore, let’s never forget what Jesus said in Mark 9:23 to the dad who asked Jesus to heal his child: ²³Jesus said to him, “[You say to Me,] ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!” Friends, it seems to me that our faith is truly tested when asked to do Kingdom work, and less you shrug this off as never being asked to do anything, let me remind you that it is important to listen closely as your pastor and church leaders ask for help in various ways when you meet together to worship. Some examples might be:
** Pray for a certain family who is struggling at this time – In James 5:16, the Bible says: ¹⁶Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]. Interesting that YOU would be healed as you pray for others!
** Give to this need, or that need – You may feel like you can hardly afford to meet your own budget needs, much less giving to the needs of others. But in Luke 6:38 Jesus said: ³⁸Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over [with no space left for more]. For with the standard of measurement you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return.”
** We could use your help in…. – For people who are already stretched to the limit with their time and energy in working hard and taking care of others, these words are normally ignored when church leaders plead their case. But read about how God implores us to labor with the right attitude until He returns. Colossians 3:23-24: ²³Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve.
Let’s be careful about second guessing God. Often, God will test us with things that we could easily see others doing better than us, but what sort of blessing would we receive for that referral? Does God not see or understand who He wants to do the task He is asking us to do? At one point in my younger days, I led a choir and the congregational worship at my church. It was a God thing, as I had no musical training or talent. It was God using His instrument to lead His people into times of worship and singing praises to Him. Each of you are at the same level as I am on earth, and we all have the same access to our powerful God. Please open your heart, soul and mind for His work in and through you, so that others may be drawn close to Him while you are also being blessed beyond anything you can think or imagine. We serve an awesome and all-powerful God, dear friends. Submit to Him and be blown away by His miraculous works, even through you!

PRAYER
Jeremiah immediately found an excuse why he shouldn’t be challenged outside of his comfort zone. But God knew what Jeremiah needed, and He also knew that Jeremiah was the man he wanted to accomplish His work through. Lord God, You are still the same awesome and all-powerful God that we serve today, and I’m sure that the needs are probably even more acute and plentiful today than ever before. I am also sure that You are still using Your children who are called by Your name, and have humbled themselves before You, to stand in the middle of today’s storms and challenges and allow You to minister to unbelievers, and also believers needing a touch from their Master. Please Lord, impress upon us, just as You did to Isaiah, and recorded in Isaiah 6:8 – ⁸Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” AMEN!

Your Customary Place

On 2022-11-092022-11-09 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Example, Example of Christ, Godly example, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2022-11-09
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 4:14-16
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹⁴Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit, and soon people across the region had heard news of Him. ¹⁵He would regularly go into their synagogues and teach. His teaching earned Him the respect and admiration of everyone who heard Him.
¹⁶He eventually came to His hometown, Nazareth, and did there what He had done elsewhere in Galilee—entered the synagogue and stood up to read from the Hebrew Scriptures.

APPLICATION: I once heard a sermon entitled ‘Saints on vacation’. The pastor brought to light that although we may be in a different town, or even on vacation, there’s no excuse to not go to your customary place on the Lord’s Day. My wife and I went on a long, 3-month trip last year. We planned to stop for 2 nights before resuming our travel on the 3rd day, so that we would be well rested. However, each week we always stretched that 2-night stayover to include a Sunday so we could attend a local church service. We could have watched on television the service from our home church, but there is nothing like meeting in person with God’s people! Friends, this is in no way bragging, for we are nothing without Christ. However, those Sundays were some very special times as we joined hearts and hands with some fellow Brothers and Sisters that we expect to see around God’s throne someday soon. It actually feels weird when we are not in our ‘customary place’ on Sunday mornings. But I especially want to challenge Christians in this devotional. Some of you have become very comfortable staying at home during your ‘customary time’ of worship, since that is what you did for almost 3 years during the height of covid. Furthermore, you are still hearing others use the excuse that they don’t want to catch whatever other church members have, and that seems to work for them. Dear friends, my mom always asked if I would follow my friends if they wound up standing before Satan. In other words, I make decisions for myself based on what I know is right, and is Christlike. I make decisions based on the teachings and will of the God in whom I have found salvation. In our Scripture, you might recall that Jesus had just returned from the wilderness where he was tempted by the devil. He didn’t need time to recover from the disturbing temptations he experienced with Satan, nor did He look for pity from the church leaders who may have learned He was in town. I bet He couldn’t wait for the doors to open and the people to gather, so that He could join in with them and actually open the Word of God for their benefit. As Christians, we are called to be an example of our Lord. How careful are we to follow His example in being present when others are worshipping and learning from the Word? Let me encourage you to daily examine your words and your actions and place yourself before the Master for His evaluation on what He thinks. I believe we know where our ‘customary place’ should be. May God be our encouragement and provoker to help us be the follower of Christ He is looking for here on earth.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Jesus set the example for us to be in our ‘customary place’ when the time and opportunity presents itself! Oh, that Christ-followers would be faithful in following in Jesus’ example of church attendance!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for reminding me that I have no excuse about doing what You exampled before us. You had every reason to seclude Yourself and try to recover from the serious time you spent in the Wilderness, but You stayed on track in following the Father’s will. Please Lord, teach us to follow in Your footsteps and not let anything distract us from being Your follower in all walks of life. Although we would not expect an incentive, I pray that You will quietly use our example to help others be more closely aligned to You and Your perfect will for their life. Be glorified in us oh Lord. 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!

God Will Not Accept Excuses

On 2022-03-192022-03-20 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Excuses, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Saturday, 2022-03-19
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Romans 1:18-21
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹⁸But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, evil men who push away the truth from them. ¹⁹For the truth about God is known to them instinctively; God has put this knowledge in their hearts. ²⁰Since earliest times men have seen the earth and sky and all God made, and have known of his existence and great eternal power. So they will have no excuse when they stand before God at Judgment Day. ²¹Yes, they knew about him all right, but they wouldn’t admit it or worship him or even thank him for all his daily care….

APPLICATION: As I reflected on this Scripture I couldn’t help but notice how, immediately after Paul’s introduction, he got straight to the point about the purpose and drive behind his ministry. You see, there are certain things that we identify with, and that very thing becomes the fuel and drive for our ministry. We must remember that the former Paul (Saul) was heavily involved in doing some of the same things that he is now bound and determined to address with those who are still committing those sins. There are times that you and I might see a Christian doing something that we have personally been convicted about before, and we want to say something to them, but we are soon reminded that our lives are not squeaky clean. So you may wonder what should we do. I believe that this message from Paul is very revealing. Yes, Paul had been quite a character and done some very evil things, so we may wonder where he get off at in telling his audience about how bad it will be for them. Friends, we must always remember that the message we are to share is that of Jesus Christ – the Gospel. At the foot of the cross, the ground is all level, and we all stand before the Father on bended knees and a heart looking for His acceptance. A changed heart is one that has a desire to be of service to our Lord, and preach His message of salvation to other beggars much like ourselves. While left on this earth where Satan is roaming about, we will be tempted and we will sin. However, we have an advocate who sits at the right hand of the Father petitioning on our behalf. Additionally, the Holy Spirit is housed inside of us as our Guide, our Protector and to fill us with wisdom. So God has provided all the support that we will need. Let’s learn to preach the Gospel, because the examples given by Paul is still prevalent today. Unbelievers are watching closely to see if their way of life will cause us to return to our sinful life. Like Paul, let’s be strong in our faith and fully dedicated to our Lord, while preaching and teaching His Word that is capable of saving even the worst of sinners. There’s no need for excuses, for God knows every action and even every thought, so we can’t hide our sin from Him. Look to Jesus my friend! He will forgive your sins, save your soul and welcome you into the heights of heaven on Judgment Day!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: I can only sing ‘On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand’! God being my helper, I pray that I will stand firm with my hand in the hand of the One who died for me!

PRAYER: Precious Lord Jesus, we were reminded that without Your saving grace, we will not have ‘a leg to stand on’ come Judgment Day. Furthermore, without that grace and without the powerful hand of Jesus upon our lives, we will constantly mess up while here on earth. May it be evident from our heart, that our minds are fixed on You as we walk this challenging life here on earth. Please guide us into all truth, and help us to boldly share the Good News with all that we come into touch with. AMEN!

About Following Jesus

On 2022-02-022022-02-02 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Follow Christ, Follow Jesus, Missions, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Submission, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2022-02-02
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Matthew 8:18-22
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹⁸At the sight of large crowds gathering around him, Jesus gave orders to his disciples to get ready to sail back over to the other side of the lake. ¹⁹Just then, a religious scholar approached him and said, “Teacher, I’ll follow you wherever you go!”
²⁰Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens, birds have nests, but the Son of Man^[n] has no true home in this world.”
²¹Then another man spoke up and said, “Lord, I’ll follow you, but first I must take care of my aged father and bury him when he dies.”
²²But Jesus said to him, “Now is the time to follow me, and let those who are dead bury their own dead.”

APPLICATION: We once had a friend who would agree to go with us anywhere we invited them to go. However, when it was time to go, we found that something more attractive came up and that friend backed out on their commitment to us! In essence, that individual was saying yes to us, provided that nothing better comes up in the meantime! Perhaps you are also guilty of this, but today I want us to assume that we are a disciple of Jesus Christ, and I hope that many of you are exactly that. Let’s continue to assume that Jesus is about to leave our town and make His way to a nearby town. Initially I believe that many of us would agree to the initial invitation from Jesus to come along with Him. But supposing that you hear about the long walk to get there? Suppose you hear of the daily visiting with the town’s officials as you seek to challenge them on their pagan beliefs? Suppose you hear the whispers from group members about the sleeping conditions once you leave home? Suppose you hear that there are no organized meal times nor food items being taken along with you? Are you starting to look for excuses yet that might help you get out of the commitment you made at first? In our Scripture, the religious leader liked what he saw, and he was convinced that he wanted to go along, so he immediately agreed to go along/follow the Great Healer/Master/Deliverer. But Jesus warned that it won’t be pretty. You see, Jesus didn’t want this leader to assume that there would be lavish hotels along the way with scrumptious meals. It wasn’t like that at all. One who called themselves a disciple of Jesus, suddenly remembered that his ailing dad would have no one left to take care of him and bury him. But Jesus said to this disciple what I believe He says to each of us today: Enough with the excuses, these things will take care of themselves. My work is most urgent, because it involves saving souls. Nothing is more important. No excuse in delaying response to my calling. Perhaps to some of you reading this devotional, Jesus may be saying to you: today is the day of salvation, tomorrow will be too late; My work revolves around saving souls from the pit of Hell and from the evil one. Imagine looking into the eyes of one that you ‘didn’t have time’ to minister to, and see them fade away into eternity with Satan? Are you sure you have something more important to do right now than to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ? Perhaps your church is calling you to join them in ministry. Perhaps the Missions committee wants you to join them on a trip to share Jesus with a group living way out in the country. Will you go, or are you still searching for excuses?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: The rewards for following Jesus are ‘out of this world’! Praise God, Jesus loved us enough to forgive us of our sin and reveal Himself in all of His righteousness to us, so that we may desire to know Him personally and eternally! Oh what joy to trust in Jesus!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for supplying every need to those of us that are in need. Thank You for considering to use us in Your service/ministry here on earth. We are no different to the Religious Scholar in today’s Scripture, nor the disciple who felt it more important to stay and take care of his dad, for we all search for excuses to avoid doing things we may presume will be uncomfortable for us. Please Lord, embed into our minds the importance of seeing a lost soul come to know the Lord Jesus. In agreeing to follow Jesus, we will be led to times that we may have to challenge someone about their lack of faith in Jesus. We will probably end up in very uncomfortable living conditions as we travel to, or stay over in their town. Please remind us as You did in today’s Word – TODAY is the day to follow Jesus – whether it’s across the waters to a new mission field, or whether it’s in the darkest neighborhood of unfriendly nations. We ALL need Jesus and to know Him personally, if we ever hope to join Him and the Father in heaven when we die to this world. Use us Lord in Your challenging service, so that others might see proof of one who knows You personally. AMEN!

Our Rewards For Doing Good

On 2017-09-20 By Ed AlgreenIn Commitment, Committed, Rewards, Totally committed, Unconditional commitmentLeave a comment

Post Date:	Wednesday, 2017-09-20
SCRIPTURE
From:	Galatians 6:9-10 (GNT)
Text:	9 So let us not become tired of doing good; for if we do not give up, the time will come when we will reap the harvest. 10 So then, as often as we have the chance, we should do good to everyone, and especially to those who belong to our family in the faith.
OBSERVATION:
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul recognized that the followers at Galatia had become very self-minded, in spite of the dire needs all around them. Paul taught them how serving self, led to spiritual death, versus helping the needy would please the Spirit and bless them personally with a great harvest. I believe that God wanted this in His Word because He knew that one day we would be very much the same. Let’s dig in….
APPLICATION:
I believe that Satan is just as prevalent today as he has always been, in trying to distract Christians from their personal time with the Lord, and also their corporate time in worship to God, and fellowship with other believers. What this results in, is folk who are either overindulged and/or over over-committed at work, and therefore causes folk to look inward for respite on the weekends. This means that many will only find time for their personal favorite pastimes over the weekend, or who use any excuse at all to avoid outside obligations on their ‘personal time’. That’s when we start using excuses like: Well that’s my only day off, so I had to…..; or that’s my only morning to sleep in, so…..; or I have cheated my spouse and kids of time all week, now it’s their turn. Friends, these sound like reasonable excuses to us, but what do you suppose Jesus might say in response? What if Jesus used excuses like these when he was being led to Calvary to ultimately rescue us from our sin? What if we missed an opportunity to hold the hand of a friend at church and lead them to the altar of salvation? Do you suppose these excuses come from devout Christians who opened the Word each day, and dropped to their knees in prayer before a holy and righteous God before leaving for their busy day? Friends, may I suggest that you look deeply into your heart and your personal relationship with God when you start using excuses to meet with Him, or to help others. Natural disasters such as hurricanes or earthquake really bring people together, and extreme love is shown towards those who were impacted. Churches are often filled when folk feel incapable of helping themselves. Folk call out to God like faithful followers when they feel helpless. Oh that we will always call out to Him each and every day, so that our relationship might grow in Him and be filled with the same characteristics that He displayed while on earth. May that inward excitement overwhelm us and push us towards corporate worship so that we might encourage others and help lead the unsaved to Jesus. May we develop an inward drive to help others, like Jesus did. When we stand before the throne on Judgment Day, may God recognize us as a true and faithful follower who helped many along the way.
PRAYER:
For all You have done for us dear Lord, may we be more diligent and dedicated in our time with You and in displaying Your love through helping others here on earth, for thine is the kingdom, the honor and the glory, 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 Highlands County, 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’s Responsible For Your Faithfulness?

On 2017-09-052017-09-05 By Ed AlgreenIn Committed, Faithful, Faithfulness, Totally committedLeave a comment

Post Date:	Tuesday, 2017-09-05
SCRIPTURE
From:	Judges 8:33-35 (TLB)
Text:	33 But as soon as Gideon was dead, the Israelis began to worship the idols Baal and Baal-berith. 34 They no longer considered the Lord as their God, though he had rescued them from all their enemies on every side. 35 Nor did they show any kindness to the family of Gideon despite all he had done for them.
OBSERVATION:
Through Gideon’s faithfulness, commitment to God, and his dependency on God to do all that He said He would do, God was very faithful and brought Gideon and his people through many difficult and challenging times. As long as the people were reminded of the love and power of God, they listened to Gideon and followed him. The real proof of their faithfulness came when Gideon passed from the scene and was no longer with them. We are challenged by this, because we also face similar times as the Israelites faced, so let’s see how we should apply this…..
APPLICATION:
Vacation time is probably one of the greatest tests of our faithfulness. Of course we should sleep in, we’re on vacation! We won’t have to worry about the embarrassment of having to respond to the pastor when he calls to check on us, and because we told the Sunday School class last week that we would be on vacation, no one will call us. If we are vacationing near the beach, why the ocean waters have not been this calm since we started our vacation. The skies are clear and the beaches are extremely inviting. Oh but wait a moment, you slipped it out in conversation with another couple in the pool that you attended XYZ church back home, and they might question where you went Sunday morning while on vacation? Friends, what about your commitment to God? In return for hearing the gospel message and feeling a tug on your heart’s door, to accept Jesus as your Lord, you surrendered your life to Him. Now when you are looking for excuses to escape being in His presence, and He sends circumstances your way to make you question your whole relationship with Him, don’t you know that He makes Himself even more aware to you and causes you to re-evaluate your true commitment to Him? The Israelites were face with a very similar decision, and they decided to do it their way. What about you friend? Will Satan win the battle, or will you stay true to the Master and be a witness for Him even on vacation? Remember, when we cave in to our old desires, not only do we stand in question by God, but also those who are following our example and our lifestyle. Are you leading them astray, or towards a closer and more committed relationship with their Savior? Another consideration is that the source of the Israelite’s encouragement disappeared when Gideon died. Before you condemn the Israelites, be careful that you are not one who will run when that charismatic preacher is no longer in the pulpit, or that fun and powerful voice is no longer on the praise team, or your best friend who invited you to church moves away. Always reflect on the reason that you got saved; the reason that you go to corporate worship; and the ones who are using your walk with the Lord as their example and encouragement. Remember also that Jesus would have gone to the cross if you were the only one that needed the forgiveness of sin. He never doubted or wimped out for a moment or looked for excuses. Oh that we may be as committed and faithful to Him!
PRAYER:
Lord You are so good to us and Your mercies endures forever and forever. Please forgive us when we falter and fail. When we look for excuses to not follow You or worship You. You have always been good to us, always been faithful to us and went to the extreme to show Your love for us. Lord, please help us to always do the same in return. We have no reason to turn our backs on You, please help us to not listen to the enemy and look for ways. I ask these things in the powerful and almighty name of Jesus, my 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 Highlands County, 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!

About Your Priorities

On 2017-08-142017-08-14 By Ed AlgreenIn Honest, Honesty, Priorities, Priority, True, True to the WordLeave a comment

Post Date:	Monday, 2017-08-14
SCRIPTURE
From:	Luke 14:16-20 (TLB)
Text:	¹⁶Jesus replied with this illustration: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. ¹⁷When all was ready, he sent his servant around to notify the guests that it was time for them to arrive. ¹⁸But they all began making excuses. One said he had just bought a field and wanted to inspect it, and asked to be excused. ¹⁹Another said he had just bought five pair of oxen and wanted to try them out. ²⁰Another had just been married and for that reason couldn’t come.
OBSERVATION:
One of the disciples sitting with Jesus was reflecting on the joy that would be theirs as they are welcomed into the kingdom. Jesus demonstrated how easy it is for the non-committed to find excuses, because of other things that suddenly consume their time. This still happens today, so this teaches a valuable lesson to us.
APPLICATION:
Throughout life we hear it over and over about how busy we’ve become and how we need to cancel some of our plans because of other more important things that have since developed. Our most common excuse for not doing certain things for God, or for the church, or for the pastor, is we just don’t have the time. To help you get your priorities straight, may I suggest that in lieu of not having time, that you always respond “that was not a priority for me”. Think about it, the meaning is the same, but I believe it more accurately reflects what we allowed to happen in our lives. Suppose God directed me to visit someone in hospital, to encourage them and pray with them. However before my visit I received a call from a friend who wanted me to take a leisurely ride in a beautiful boat near by. Realizing how badly I need some relaxation in my life, I accept the ride in the boat. I can truly say to the friend in hospital that I really didn’t have time to visit yesterday, or I can more accurately say to him that I didn’t make my visit a priority and it got missed. It would really hurt to say the latter, but we do that all the time with things that we promise to God. It’s almost like we promise something to God under the premise that it will be done, if nothing more important comes up. But, standing before God on Judgment Day, do you feel like you could honestly tell the King of all kings and Lord of all lords; the Creator of this universe and you and me; the one who knows ever deed and thought we ever had; that He was always top priority in our lives? Think about it friends. The example in our Scripture was over attending a dinner. Would we have responded any differently if the Savior was inviting us to dine with Him?
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, please let our yea be yea and our nah be nah. May You always be top priority in our lives, and may we earn the respect of those that we mix with as being a child of the King in every aspect of our lives. Thank You Lord Jesus for making us Your top priority in everything Your did, including Your sacrificial death on the cross. Lord, we are looking forward to dining with You one day in glory! Come soon Lord 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 Highlands County, 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!

Nuggets From God's Word

Tag: No excuses