Show Mercy

On 2021-01-272021-01-26 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Mercy, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Wednesday, 2021-01-27
WRITTEN AT: Paul B Johnson State Park, Hattiesburg, MS

BIBLE REFERENCE: Matthew 9:11-13
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹¹When those known as the Pharisees saw what was happening, they were indignant, and they kept asking Jesus’ disciples, “Why would your Master dine with such lowlifes?”
¹²When Jesus overheard this, he spoke up and said, “Healthy people don’t need to see a doctor, but the sick^[f] will go for treatment.”¹³Then he added, “Now you should go and study the meaning of the verse: I want you to show mercy, not just offer me a sacrifice.^[g] For I have come to invite the outcasts of society and sinners, not those who think they are already on the right path.”^[h]

OBSERVATION: I find it intriguing how we often find in our lives today, very similar challenges to that of Jesus’ day. Perhaps, today as we meditate on this Scripture, we could evaluate whether that might be because of us being human, just like Jesus was dealing with in His earthly days, or whether we have just hardened our hearts to not do what Jesus taught us to do. What if we were ‘tested’ by God today, would we pass the test?

APPLICATION: I believe that the whole idea of a daily devotional is that we keep hoping that as we try to focus our minds on Jesus Christ, we will continue our learning about what He desires of us, and perhaps our hearts might be stirred to doing the perfect will of the Father. Unfortunately, we are very quick to point fingers at what seems wrong to us. Imagine seeing your pastor, or a church leader having lunch with a known criminal, or one from a profession known for its criminal or worldly actions? How would you respond? Perhaps like you never saw him? Perhaps call someone from your church and share your concern (or gossip) with them so that together you could approach the pastor about his actions? But wait, what sin? I believe that we tend to feel a sense of achievement when we could report another Christian for something that appears wrong to us – even if we don’t know all the intricate details of the visit? That’s a similar story to what the Pharisees found with Jesus. He was dining and chatting with questionable people from society, instead of church goers or church leaders. Surely that’s not what a holy and righteous prophet or godly leader would do in all good conscience. Surely He wasn’t meeting with them in hopes of converting them, right? But let’s carefully study what Jesus responded to this accusation. First, let’s assume that God would not go to the extreme of sacrificing His Son, if there was not good reason. If everyone was already saved and looking forward to heaven, they would not need help. But our all-knowing God was well aware that there were many on earth who needed help to turn away from sin and instead live with their minds fixed on God and His home in heaven. So to achieve His purpose, who do you suppose Jesus concentrated on helping and directing? You got it, those who needed it – they needed a Savior. So in applying this Scripture to our lives, who should we be hanging around? Who should we be ministering to? Who should we be specifically showing mercy to? Friends, Jesus emphasized that He wants us to be much more devoted to showing mercy to those who need it, instead of settling for our gifts to send help, or our prayers for others to give help on our behalf. If each of us show mercy that might help at least one person per day, I believe they will see God, and they may even decide that they need Him as Lord of their life. Imagine the math on how many will see mercy extended to them? They will know that God is still alive and indeed loves them like a true Father would. I hope that you are willing to do your part for the Kingdom today, God being your helper.

PRAYER: Thank You Father for showing mercy on me, by forgiving me of my sin and assuring me of my home in Heaven! There is no greater love, and there is no greater gift that any person could ask for. Please help my readers and I to extend mercy to all those that we come into contact with, so that others will be reminded of our Savior and have a greater desire to surrender lordship to Him. May Your mercy towards us, become incentive for us to share mercy with others around us. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog at https://NuggetsFromGodsWord.org 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 or listening to this devotional, please go to 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. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and see all of my posts, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. 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 Provide

On 2021-01-262021-01-25 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, God our Provider, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Tuesday, 2021-01-26
WRITTEN AT: Paul B Johnson State Park, Hattiesburg, MS

BIBLE REFERENCE: Genesis 22:7-8; 14
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: ^7-8Isaac said, “Father, we have the coals and the wood, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?”
“My son,” Abraham answered, “God will provide the lamb.”
The two of them walked on…
¹⁴Abraham named that place “The Lord Will Provide.” And even now people say, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”^[a]

OBSERVATION: Abraham had his faith tested in many ways, but at the very beginning of chapter 22, we are told that God put Abraham to the ultimate test. As we meditate on the Word of God today, let us place ourselves into the shoes of Abraham And his son, Isaac. What if God wanted to prove how faithful we are to His promises and His powerful hand? How would we respond to our orders to sacrifice our only child? Are we convinced, without a shadow of doubt, that God will provide?

APPLICATION: In the days of Abraham, it was commonplace to sacrifice animals at the altar of God. Abraham was used to that, and so was Isaac already aware of the requirements and practice of sacrifice. But, neither of these men were accustomed to human sacrifice, and I am amazed at how little God was questioned by either of these men for such a command from God. I want you to think with me about a time in your life where you felt like God may have tested you. Granted, it probably won’t be to the extent of what He asked Abraham to do, but none-the-less you felt like it was a test of your faith and you were committing to honor God without knowing how you would possibly accomplish such a feat. Pretty tough just thinking about the impact of such an event in your life, right? Well, let’s try and place ourselves in Isaac’s shoes. Dad calls him to go to the altar of God, and as always, you quickly prepare to make that journey without question. But something seems strange about this particular journey. You help to carry the wood to burn, and you notice that your dad is carrying the hot coals to start the fire, but you keep looking around wondering where your dad will collect the animal from for the sacrifice. Friends, there is no mention of Abraham questioning God, and no mention of an objection of any kind, but instead he walked towards the altar, set up the fire and was ready for the sacrifice ordered by God. However, in verse 8, notice that Abraham told his son not to worry, for God would provide the sacrifice. Isn’t it awesome when we know our God so intimately that we know deep in our heart that God would not take us anywhere that He would not see us through? Abraham knew that He served a God of love who would love him and care for his needs through every circumstance of life, including the frightening thought of sacrificing his only child. Then we might also consider the faith of Isaac. He was told get up on the altar, and I believe that he did this with grumbling or whining about why it had to be him. I believe that most young men may have fired a blow or two at their dad, being convinced that he must have lost his sense of reasoning. But instead, Isaac went along with God’s plan just like a lamb being prepped for slaughter. I believe that Abraham convinced Isaac that they served a great big God who promised never to leave them nor forsake them, and if He ordered a sacrifice so precious, He must have a bigger plan ahead that any of them could have imagined. I know that most of you reading this devotional will say confidently that you know that God is holy, and that He has all power to see you through every circumstance of life, but I wonder where the line is drawn. Are you willing to do anything that God asks of you? Perhaps if we did a better job of obeying God’s commands while here on earth, we might be better equipped to respond in great faith if given the ultimate test by Almighty God. Let’s learn to trust in God with all of our might, with every fiber of our being, knowing that He cares for us, and that if He takes us to it, He will see us thru it.

PRAYER: I’m afraid that You could easily say to many of Your children today, just like You said to Your disciples ‘oh ye of little faith’, for we say we believe, but often our faith is very thin, and perhaps almost nonexistent at times. Please humble us to look full into Your wonderful face and be reminded of who You are. You created everything around us, so why can’t we believe that You can direct us through difficult waters, and still be there to help us cross over Jordan in perfect wholeness. I’m afraid that we look too much at our own weakness and insecurities, and just can’t imagine a God who is so much more. We need You precious Lord. Please bless us richly so that we may be a blessing to others. We know that you will provide. Please help us in our unbelief. AMEN!

Peace In The Storms of Life

On 2021-01-252021-01-24 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Monday, 2021-01-25
WRITTEN AT: Paul B Johnson State Park, Hattiesburg, MS

BIBLE REFERENCE: Matthew 8:23-26
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: ²³They all got into a boat and began to cross over to the other side of the lake. And Jesus, exhausted, fell asleep. ²⁴Suddenly a violent storm^[q] developed, with waves so high the boat was about to be swamped. Yet Jesus continued to sleep soundly. ²⁵The disciples woke him up, saying, “Save us, Lord! We’re going to die!”^[r]
²⁶But Jesus reprimanded them. “Why are you gripped with fear?^[s] Where is your faith?” Then he stood up and rebuked^[t] the storm and said, “Be still!” And instantly it became perfectly calm.^[u]

OBSERVATION: Over recent months you may have faced situations where you were ready to throw your hands up and give in because of the challenges, losses, disappointments and hard times. But something, or rather someone, brought you through. Could it have been Jesus, who was awaiting your cry for help, like He did with the disciples in the boat? As you reflect on this Scripture with me, let’s be reminded that He still cares for us today, and tomorrow.

APPLICATION: Friends, we serve as faithful and loving God! When He knows that we have been pushed to a stage where we need our Father, our Savior, our Protector, our Deliverer, He will stick with us closer than a brother. He is waiting to show forth His awesome power, He can’t wait to show how much He loves us and that He would move mountains to show forth His love for His kids. Perhaps worry and doubt sometimes burden us, but in a recent sermon the pastor encouraged us in saying that ‘Faith is acting like God is telling the truth’. Think about it, we know that we serve a God who can do all things – There is Nothing that He can’t Do’. Listen carefully to the words of this popular Christian song, and be reminded of this (I included a link in the words underlined). We may have reached the end of our rope, just as the men in the boat thought that all hope was lost in their survival when the the bad storm developed. As a last resort the disciples awoke Jesus. I’m not sure why we leave these things until all hope is lost, before we call on Jesus. I’m sure He would love to see us do this as our very first option. Dear friends, if you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you and I have the greatest power available to us in our storms of life. He will never fail us, and He will quickly give us peace about the storm, and possibly even resolution for the storm that is causing us grief. Lay your burdens at the foot of the cross and know that you can have peace that will satisfy your troubled heart. In spite of all that has already taken place, we have no idea what tomorrow will bring. But let me remind you that the same God who calmed the rough waters of that lake for His disciples in today’s Scripture, He is still God and He is still all-powerful. Place you’re hand in His, knowing that He cares for you, and knowing that He will still care for His own.

PRAYER: To the God who created the seas, we are once again reminded that You still have the power to direct the actions of the waves and calm the oceans and lakes. Thank You Father that You care so much about us. I can hardly imagine the peace that must have swept over Your disciples when they realized that they had You so near, and that You had power of the very seas that threatened their lives. But Lord, we walk similar paths in that we have challenges facing us every day over which You have full control, and You are very much available to us as You were for the disciples. Please help us to seek Your face, worship You as Lord, be reminded of our awesome God, and then call on You for every aspect of life. Many things are beyond our reach and out of our control, but we serve a God who can do ALL things. There is nothing better than You, nothing more powerful than You, so help us to seek God first in all things, for He cares for us. AMEN!

Willing To Follow Jesus?

On 2021-01-232021-01-22 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Excuses, Follow Jesus, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Saturday, 2021-01-23
WRITTEN AT: Paul B Johnson State Park, Hattiesburg, MS

BIBLE REFERENCE: Matthew 8:18-22
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹⁸When Jesus noticed how large the crowd was growing, he instructed his disciples to get ready to cross to the other side of the lake.
¹⁹Just then^[f] one of the Jewish religious teachers* said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you no matter where you go!”
²⁰But Jesus said, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but I, the Messiah,^[g] have no home of my own—no place to lay my head.”
²¹Another of his disciples said, “Sir, when my father is dead, then I will follow you.”^[h]
²²But Jesus told him, “Follow me now!^[i] Let those who are spiritually dead* care for their own dead.”

OBSERVATION: When my wife joined me in marriage, I don’t believe she had a clue what she signed up for. The company I worked for had plans for me in several Bahamian islands, so I was the cause of us being uprooted several times for at least a 2-year stint on another island. When you were invited to accept Jesus as Lord, was it clear what you were signing up for? Have you been willing to go where He called you to go, and/or do what He ordered you to do? As we reflect on God’s Word today, instead of beating up on those who found excuses, think about what your excuses might be if God called you to move for the purpose of His ministry today!

APPLICATION: In my job mentioned above, I was promoted with each move and my wife and I made many new friends at each location. We also found that God had work for us to do at each assignment. I absolutely cannot imagine the extent of our loss if we had found excuses not to accept one of my assignments. Today, we watch new ministers of the Gospel come to our churches or our towns and I believe that Satan impresses upon us that its all for the money, or being from Florida, we may think that it’s an opportunity for the messenger of God to relocate to a warmer climate! But let me share a challenge that I feel God led me to about 6 years ago. I felt impressed to go on a missions trip with my church to help the people in charge of an orphanage and a few other related ministries in Mexico. For me, it was a lot to consider, the least of which was probably raising the funds to enable me to take the trip. There were many times that Satan tempted me with excuses to not make the trip, but thank God, there were many times that God impressed upon me the importance of going. So many times I’ve heard people say, or even pray, that they are thankful for missions because of the money they send all over the world in support of various mission efforts. Friends, I’m here to tell you that there is no amount of money that you could give, nor any amount of encouragement you might offer to a missionary, that would come close to matching the blessings you receive when you actually make a move and go, in faith, on mission for our Lord. Notice that Jesus told the Teacher of the Law that if he was to really follow Him, he may very well not have a roof over his head at night. You see, Jesus was not an itinerant evangelist/pastor because He stayed in one home for a few years until called to a different church. He literally had no where on earth to call ‘home’. His ministry was way more important than the idea of having a nice home. In another case, a disciple wanted to hang around to bury his family and couldn’t go anywhere at that time. On one of my transfers mentioned above, I almost had a guilty moment like this, because my dad couldn’t believe I would leave he and my mom and move hundreds of miles away while they were aging and needed their kids close to them. Because I believe that God had such a powerful hand in my move, I was able to get medical help for my dad who was diagnosed with heart disease within months of my move. God knew what He was doing, and I praise God that I stayed focused on Him. I believe that Jesus essentially told the disciple who felt like he needed to stay put, that there was nothing more important than following the Master. Perhaps you are pondering decisions that will take you out of your comfort zone, or away from relatives, and you may have questions about what God’s will might be for you in this important decision. Let me encourage you to read today’s Scripture carefully, and not find yourself like either the teacher who made a hasty commitment to follow Jesus, or like the disciple, who quickly found excuses why He couldn’t follow Jesus. I believe that Jesus has a unique plan for each of us, and it is critically important that we seek God’s direction for our lives so that we could be right where God wants us, and right where He wants to use us for His glory. If you have not yet accepted Jesus as Lord, then much of this discussion today will make a lot of sense to you. Please read my FOOTNOTE, and especially the content behind the link ‘To Know Jesus’, and allow the Bible to help you meet, accept, and know Jesus personally.

PRAYER: Lord, there’s a song that reminds us that we are not traveling an easy road here on this earth, but more important than anything else, we want to affirm that we are walking a road that is directed by You for Your ministry and to demonstrate Your love to a lost and dying world. The world would have us dream of success by the size house we have, or the new vehicle we recently financed, but Lord, if we are not following Your will and Your direction for our life, we are hopelessly misguided. Please touch Your children once again today. May we be reminded of the extent of Your sacrifice for our salvation, and know that nothing else matters here on earth if its not directed by You. May we grow closer to You, if only for the benefit of others who need our Savior. AMEN!

When Do You Seek Out The Master?

On 2021-01-222021-01-21 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Healing, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Seek God's Face, Seeking God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Friday, 2021-01-22
WRITTEN AT: Paul B Johnson State Park, Hattiesburg, MS

BIBLE REFERENCE: Matthew 8:2-4
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: ²Suddenly, a leper walked up to Jesus and threw himself down before him in worship^[b] and said, “Lord, you have the power to heal me . . . if you really want to.”
³Jesus reached out his hand and touched the leper and said, “Of course I want to heal you—be healed!” And instantly, all signs of leprosy^[c] disappeared! ⁴Then Jesus said to him, “Don’t speak to anyone, but go at once and find a priest and show him what has happened to you. Make sure to take the offering Moses commanded so they can certify your healing.”^[d]

OBSERVATION: As I read the Word of God today, I was reminded that our Covid patients over the past year went to doctors, knowing that there was no known cure for COVID. They were admitted to hospital with lots of positive vibes, hoping that they would keep them comfortable while they experimented with various drugs. But the leper in our story had neither of these at his disposal, so he went straight to the source of life itself, knowing that He was the only healer of all bodily diseases.

APPLICATION: Many times we try to avoid the expense of specialty doctors or expensive hospitals, so we try to find the nearest and cheapest clinic that may offer us some relief from our ailments. Two things I would share on this: 1). A major insurer told us the larger the building, the more expense we could expect! 2). When I refer to ‘urgent’ matters that need attention. Some will say that it’s considered ‘Urgent’ or ‘Major’ if something is wrong with me, but ‘Minor‘ or unimportant if you have a problem! However, notice how this leper went straight to the Creator of our bodies. Notice how it’s always best to go straight to the manufacturer of a product to be sure that you get the recommended best parts and or repairs? Most people probably wanted nothing to do with the leper, because they wanted to try and keep themselves protected by that awful disease. That’s the same with COVID, no one on earth knew how it originated, nor how to cure it or prevent it. Medical experts will treat COVID patients like they have a plague, because they want to remain protected from it. But I wonder how many patients prayed to their Creator for healing, and restoration of their bodies? Notice also the faith of the leper. He stood in the path of Jesus and told Him that he knew that He could heal Him, if He wanted to. I believe that Jesus responded to the leper just like He would still respond to us today: Of course I want to heal you! Friends, our Lord loves us, not only because He created us, but remember, He also gave up His very own Son so that we could be healed from something much worse than leprosy – the sin that has rubbed off on all of us from those that we live around and associate with. I believe that God said to the leper, and to those of us that ask: look, I am willing to do anything to get your attention, and make you whole again – like I am. If He went to that extreme, would He not also want to see us well and being used for His glory here on earth? I believe we would be astonished to stop and consider what are some of the triggers that drive us towards the Master. I trust that we will not wait until we develop an incurable disease, for each day we arise from our beds, we are entering a sinful world – one that bears all the cancers, COVID, leprosy, etc. that could easily cause our transition from this old earth. Of course, there are crimes and accidents that could easily take us out much quicker than any disease we may contract. So it is critically important that we have a right relationship with our Maker – one that will enable our transition to heaven, should our time here on earth come to an unexpected conclusion. Friends, please be reminded that the leper found his way to Jesus while he still had the breath and strength to do so. Please do the same today. Don’t wait for a critical disease, or a tragic accident, for you may not have the strength or stamina to seek Jesus at that time. Know Him today, and be ready for whatever may come your way.

PRAYER: Precious Lord, thank You for being there for the leper, just as I am confident that You are there for us today. Please humble the hearts of Your children Lord, so that we may seek Your face while we have the strength and will to do so while in good health. You were not afraid to be in the presence of the leper, nor to touch him. I believe you looked at the leper with admiration, since he was your creation, and I don’t believe that You were the least bit scornful of him, nor afraid of catching what He had. The world may go to extremes to protect themselves from us when we are carriers of a disease, but I praise You Father for taking our hand, healing our bodies, and welcoming us into Your kingdom, no matter what maladies we may have. We are Your precious children, and You are our awesome, all-powerful God that we long to be with one day! AMEN!

The Will Of The Father

On 2021-01-212021-01-20 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Determined, God's Will, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Thursday, 2021-01-21
WRITTEN AT: Paul B Johnson State Park, Hattiesburg, MS

BIBLE REFERENCE: Matthew 7:21-23
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: ²¹Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven. Simply calling Me “Lord” will not be enough. Only those who do the will of My Father who is in heaven will join Me in heaven. ²²At the end of time, on that day of judgment, many will say to Me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name? Did we not drive demons out of the possessed in Your name? Did we not perform miracles in Your name?” ²³But I will say to them, “I never knew you. And now, you must get away from Me, you evildoers!”

OBSERVATION: I was born into my natural family, lived with them for 17 years, learned their ways and followed their rules. I believe that I could legitimately say that I am an Algreen, even after living on my own for almost 50 years. Lets’s stop to think about our sonship in the Kingdom of God today as we study this passage. Was our decision just a passing fancy, or have we truly listened to, and obeyed, the will of our Father in Heaven.

APPLICATION: I remember pulling into a gas station on a neighboring Bahamian island to where I was brought up. A young man came out and confidently said that I must be Cloide’s (my dad) son. I believe the resemblance in looks and demeanor reminded him of my dad. What if I would have entered the same station ablaze with cursing and loud music? That would not have related to my earthly father at all, and it may have been extremely confusing for the young worker, knowing who my dad was but seeing me act totally different to him. Do you suppose that this is similar in description to what Jesus taught in our Scripture today? Could it be that Jesus is teaching us to not only say that we are His, but to also show it through our dedication to Him, by following through in obeying His commands, and to seek His will daily so that we may strive to do what He wills for our lives. Friends, I believe that in verses 24 and following, Jesus went on to affirm that when we seek His face, and when we strive to learn and follow His will, THEN we will truly stand on a solid foundation – on solid rock, and He will know that we are His. Conversely, Jesus went on to illustrate that when we merely say we are His but show no signs of that, we are walking on shaky, or sandy ground, and we will ultimately fail and fall. We can’t fool God dear friends. Our Pastor may think we are good, and our family may vouch for our Christian heritage, but unless God is convinced that even beyond our earthly accountability, we are still strong in our faith and determined to follow His will, then we are merely spinning our wheel, but going nowhere at all, like a hamster. Let me suggest that you reflect on your life as a Christian, and write a bio that you might hand to Saint Peter as your credentials for getting into heaven. See if you are convinced, and honestly evaluate whether you feel like you have lived up to the will of God in such a way that God will know whose you are. Please don’t get distracted by retorting that you are not answerable to Saint Peter, as this is merely an exercise for you to evaluate your own life. Perhaps there is room for God to work in your life afresh so that you may not only say the right thing, but actually do the will of our Master and Lord.

PRAYER: You know every little detail about our lives dear Lord. We may brag to the world that we are a Christian, but precious Lord, I believe that it is way more important for You to know that we are seriously doing the will of our Father. Please open our eyes and allow us to see our shortcomings, so that we may be diligent about fulfilling the most important part of our relationship with You. Oh that we would study Your Word daily in search of all aspects of Your will, so that our walk might be carved in love for You and our fellow man, our praises be lifted up to You regularly and that our lifestyle will imitate You in every aspect. This is in hopes that others will be drawn to You through our relationship with them, and not turned off by any hypocrisy that exists in our walk with You. AMEN!

Anything Too Hard or Wonderful For The Lord?

On 2021-01-202021-01-20 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Without doubt, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Wednesday, 2021-01-20
WRITTEN AT: Paul B Johnson State Park, Hattiesburg, MS

BIBLE REFERENCE: Genesis 18:13-14
TRANSLATION: Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹³And the Lord asked Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I really bear a child when I am so old? ¹⁴Is anything too hard or too wonderful ^[b]for the Lord? At the appointed time, when the season [for her delivery] comes around, I will return to you and Sarah shall have borne a son.

OBSERVATION: Astonished by what God said would happen, Sarah laughed to herself that such a miracle could happen to her. But is there really anything that our God can’t do? No doubt as we meditate on this Scripture today there will be things that cross our minds where we may say, ‘but if only God would do ____ (this) today, I would be so overjoyed’. However, God decides what He will, or will not do. That’s not dictated by us, however God knows the desires of our heart!

APPLICATION: There are many things that seem impossible, or insurmountable to us. We panic when we hear the ‘C’ word (cancer), for we know that survival rates are very low, given man’s success in finding a cure so far. But is there really anything that our God can’t do? COVID came upon us all – worldwide, and thousands upon thousands died from the virus, because there was no known vaccine to help us fight it. But is there really anything that our God can’t do? So what might be the difference here? God followed through on His promise and, with His almighty touch on the lives of Abraham and Sarah, they indeed had a child, just like the Lord said to them in our Scripture today, at almost 100 years of age. But friends, let me encourage you to skip television tonight and instead read the first 17 chapters of Genesis to see why these two people may have received favor from God. You know, we are given all the tips on what it would take for God to miraculously in our lives also, but how do we respond? No, it’s not as simple as us laughing at the awesome promises of our God, we just tend to show God that perhaps we know best and we will follow in our own will and projections for life. How so, you might ask. I’m so glad you asked:
> a. Just in the first few chapters of the Bible, we have seen where God showed us the importance of obedience to His commands, through the life of our very first residents of earth, Adam and Eve. How are we doing with obedience to the commands of God today?
> b. In 2 Chronicles 7 after God had directed king Solomon to build a temple in His honor and for His people to offer sacrifices and praise, God went on in verse 14 to share with Solomon how He would help His people overcome difficulties and earthly challenges. There were some simple, yet profound commands given by God, through which He promised that He would heal the land – theirs and/or ours today. How effective would you say that we have been in: (I) Humbling ourselves before the Almighty God in prayer about our needs? Did you know that prayer meetings are the worse attended services at a church? (II) Turn back to God – we did that after 9-11 when we thought that our United States would be bombarded by attacks and it would just be a matter of time before we were personally impacted. Churches filled up for a few weeks, or until we felt like everything was ‘safe’ again; (III) Turn away from our wicked ways – It seems like each day on the evening news, there is little room for ‘good news’ because of the overpowering bad news about the sickening and worsening forms of wickedness that our law enforcement has to deal with; (IV) In the New Testament we are told that God tried to make it even easier for us to seek forgiveness and seek His lordship in our lives, for He sent His Son, Jesus, through whom we could seek forgiveness of our sin. While I believe that many who will read this devotional may have accepted this free offering of love from our Maker, we each know many who have chosen to ignore His gift.
I only mentioned 4 well known commands of God, but isn’t it plain to see that our world wants nothing to do with honoring the commands of our Father, so that He may forgive us and heal our land again? Abraham and Sarah were blessed with a child as they approached 100 years of age. Don’t you know that God is willing, able and ready to bless us also in ways that others might laugh at, if only we will surrender our lives wholly and solely to Him? Nothing is impossible with God, for those who know Him and give Him control of their lives. That includes you and I, friend!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for all You did for our ancestors, and for all You have also done for us. Things that seemed impossible to us, things that may have caused us to chuckle because of the impossibilities in our eyes. But Lord, You are our Mighty God, and just as You told Abraham and Sarah, there is nothing that You can’t do! Oh that we may have that phrase embedded in our minds when situations arise where resolution seems impossible. May we always remember, and call on You, knowing that there is nothing, absolutely nothing that You can’t do! AMEN!

Dangers of A Judgmental Attitude

On 2021-01-192021-01-18 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Judgment, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Tuesday, 2021-01-19
WRITTEN AT: Paul B Johnson State Park, Hattiesburg, MS

BIBLE REFERENCE: Matthew 7:1-3
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹“Refuse to be a critic full of bias toward others, and judgment^[a] will not be passed on you. ²For you’ll be judged by the same standard that you’ve used to judge others. The measurement you use on them will be used on you.^[b] ³Why would you focus on the flaw in someone else’s life and yet fail to notice the glaring flaws of your own?^[c]

OBSERVATION: Being critical of others and judging them for every thing they do or say, that seems different to our way of thinking, is a common thing for most of us. However, we are being warned to be careful with this, as God will use similar measurements in judging us. Since that may prove to be a very touchy situation for many of us, let’s take time to let the warnings of this judgment sink in, and hopefully, help us correct our ways.

APPLICATION: How many times have you wished that you could bring in the sentencing on some of the criminal cases we hear about? What about the way that young ladies dress or carry themselves when around young men, what’s been your judgment on that? Or young men who look intently on beautiful ladies passing by, ever accused them of having evil actions on their minds? And the couple who works hard, but they are spending money like you could hardly believe possible – in your mind have you ever charged them with stealing from their boss? And imagine how we doubt and accuse someone who has traditionally lied to us about various things. Can they ever tell the truth, and we accept it without question? Friends, I’m not looking down my nose at you when I say these things, because God spoke to me also as I read this Scripture. We seem to have a real weakness in overlooking our own sin, and anxiously waiting to help God do His job in dealing with others. But let us look closely at what God said He would do in judging us: In our Scripture today, God said that He would judge us using the same standards we use in judging others, and He will use the same measurement. So when we step outside our line of authority and judge someone in our minds for what appears to be a sinful act, and we think or say how we feel that act should be administered, then I believe God is saying that He will do exactly the same with us. If we decide in our heart that the act by our Brother qualifies for harsh treatment, then we could expect God to deal with us harshly. I know, yes we serve a very loving God who will forgive us of our sin, no matter how many times we ask. But the Scripture today says that we are setting our standard of punishment by the way we think about punishing others for their sin. So how can we best correct ourselves on this? We probably can’t correct it ourselves, because we have spent a lifetime developing those evil ways and harsh responses. But, we serve the God of forgiveness, strength and deliverance, and He will hear our cry for help and give us strength to overcome. I believe that when we see a Brother or Sister failing, we should quickly raise our eyes to heaven and thank God for His mercies, for if it wasn’t for His grace, we would probably be equally as bad, or worse in our thoughts, deeds or actions, just as we see in others. Take that as an opportunity to praise God, and to pray for the weaker Brother who may need help. Friends, God loved even the unlovable so much that He gave His only Son (Jesus) to die on a cruel cross so that we might be forgiven (saved from our sin), and assured of eternal life in heaven one day with He and the Father. So do I believe that God will forgive even the worst of us? You bet I do, I believe that He loves you and I more than we could ever imagine. I wish I could be that forgiving and loving to my Brothers and Sisters, don’t you? I believe that if we leave the judging and critiquing to God, and allow us more opportunity to concentrate on brotherly love, we would live in a much better place that is much better prepared to meet our Master.

PRAYER: Lord, You are so understanding of us and Your love so amazing and unconditional for Your children, even though we seem to judge everyone else with awful intention. Please forgive us for our sin and evil thoughts about others, and instead fill us with more and more of Yourself so that we might be better witnesses and examples of our Master. You loved us all, and thankfully You loved even me. Please soften our hearts so that we may love like You intended, that we may not judge others, like You commanded, and that we may encourage others to join hands and hearts as we cross the finish line together into Your gracious presence. We love You Lord! Please help us to expend every effort in loving others instead of judging them, so that we may introduce them to our Savior and Lord. AMEN!

Don’t Worry, God Will Take Care of You

On 2021-01-172021-01-16 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worry no more, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Sunday, 2021-01-17
WRITTEN AT: Paul B Johnson State Park, Hattiesburg, MS

BIBLE REFERENCE: Matthew 6:31-33
TRANSLATION: Good News Translation (GNT)

BIBLE TEXT: ³¹“So do not start worrying: ‘Where will my food come from? or my drink? or my clothes?’ ³²(These are the things the pagans are always concerned about.) Your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. ³³Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things.

OBSERVATION: We are reminded of words often used in our society today: ‘Don’t worry, God will take care of you’. However, let us meditate on this Scripture and make sure that we do not take the last few words of verse 33 out of context, without the relationship and obedience parts by the believer.

APPLICATION: Jesus chose to teach His disciples, and us, the importance of not worrying, and also the comfort of knowing that our Heavenly Father will provide for those who place their trust in Him, seek after Kingdom things and are obedient to the the teachings of our Lord Jesus. Is this help available to everyone? Of course it is. However, some have simply declined the offer of Jesus Christ and have chosen to handle life on their own. I believe that our Lord is a perfect gentleman and will honor the request of those who push Him away and decline His invitation. Therefore, I believe that telling these very independent people not to worry because God will take care of them, may not meet with warm acceptance. For those who have accepted Jesus as Lord, I believe that we are loved, and teachable by the Holy Spirit and through the words of God in His special book – The Bible. Telling them not to worry because God will take care of them, acts as a great reminder that their Creator has not forgotten them, and that in His Book, He promised that He would never forsake them or leave them alone. The reminder will be of tremendous encouragement to them. In our verses today, Jesus taught us not to be like the unsaved and worry about such things as food, drink or clothing, for our Heavenly Father knows exactly what we need. Instead we should be concentrating on the Kingdom of God – His work among the unsaved; His plan through His servants; His will for the world; etc, and take heed to all that God requires of us. This Scripture made me think of other Scripture from the Word that says we are to clothe ourselves in the righteousness of Jesus Christ – in other words, learn, obey and apply the teachings of Jesus Christ in such a way that we could easily be mistaken for Jesus. Unfortunately we all tend to worry – some more than others! But of what help is worry when you’re sick? It probably deteriorates your health even more with the added stress of worry. Of what help is worry when you are financially burdened? It probably worsens the situation, because you can’t think straight, or positively about anything due to mind-blocks caused by worry. In 1 Peter 5:2 we are reminded that God knows exactly where we are and what we are going through. In fact, He knows us by name! In Psalm 139 we are reminded that God searched us out, and He knows us by name. In Matthew 10:39 God told us that He knows even the number of hairs on our head, so I know that there is no reason to worry, for I know that He’s got this! Lord, we may be small and insignificant here on earth, but having You as our Lord and Savior makes us the greatest and most blessed people on earth. There is no need to worry, for to be absent from this world because of earthly challenges that may come our way, is to be present with the Lord. There is nothing any better than that. Praise You God for Your assurance of love and eternal security!

PRAYER: For the amazing hope that lies ahead for the child of God, I give You thanks oh God! For the love of our Savior who cared enough to allow a criminal death on a cross, so that my Brothers and Sisters in Christ and I could know that our sins have been forgiven and we are destined for a glorious heaven with the Father and His precious Son, I say thank You Heavenly Father. There is no need to worry because of whose we are! Thank You Jesus for loving us and caring enough for us that we could enjoy the peace and foreknowledge of knowing that we are children of the King awaiting a time very shortly when we could see You face to face and bow at Your feet in worship and thanksgiving for all eternity. Lord, please soften the hearts of those who have chosen to stand in their own strength, without hope, and destined for an awful time in Hell with Satan and his demons. Please encourage them to surrender their lives to You before it is eternally too late. AMEN!

Honor God In Prayer and Fasting – He Will Reward You

On 2021-01-162021-01-15 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Fasting, Needs, Praise, Prayer, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Saturday, 2021-01-16
WRITTEN AT: Paul B Johnson State Park, Hattiesburg, MS

BIBLE REFERENCE: Matthew 6:6; 17-18;
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁶But whenever you pray, go into your innermost chamber and be alone with Father God,^[f] praying to him in secret. And your Father, who sees all you do, will reward you openly.
^17–18When you fast, don’t let it be obvious, but instead, wash your face^[p] and groom yourself and realize that your Father in the secret place is the one who is watching all that you do in secret and will continue to reward you openly.”

OBSERVATION: Most people will go an extra mile if they know that a reward awaits them! I was traveling extra miles to receive the rewards of a gas card, until I realized it was only pennies that I was saving per gallon of gas! But many institutions offer a rewards credit card, because they know that the customer will use the card more than any other card in their wallet. Jesus told the disciples what they needed to do to receive the attention of their Master and be rewarded by Him. This is important to us today, because He will also see us and reward us appropriately.

APPLICATION: Although rewards come in different forms, I believe that the idea is still inviting to saints today. Imagine: If you accept Jesus as Lord, He will care for you and watch over you until you meet Him in heaven one day with the Father; If you call on the name of Jesus, He will heal you and make you whole again; If you obey His commands and live according to His will, He will bless you; etc, etc. However, I believe that our Scripture today reveals that God has some specific ways that we might best follow His commands:
1. Pray – When you pray, know that it’s not for the purpose of impressing the pastor, the Sunday School teacher nor anyone else. I don’t believe that God is trying to discourage corporate prayer, but instead He is teaching us to keep our minds focused on the One to whom we are praying. Avoid the distractions of who’s sitting next to you, or the honor of who else is in the room where you are praying, and instead focus on the God of the universe, the One who made heaven and earth and every living creature – the only One who is capable of answering your prayer. Worship Him with the honor He deserves, and respectful ask Him for the desires of your heart and as they might fit into His perfect will;
2. Fasting – I believe it is appropriate to first say that I believe the idea of fasting is to better enable you to concentrate solely on the purpose of your prayer, without having to worry about the one thing we feel is so necessary – food. In other words, you are taking a specific need to God while saying to Him that there is nothing more important in your life at that time. To do this in all sincerity, Jesus taught that it would be an agreement strictly between you and God. Your neighbor wouldn’t hear you whining about the lack of food, nor would they see you frowning over the want for something you committed to God to do without. You would not be looking for praise from anyone about your decision to Fast, so you would be strictly confidential about it. You will have no need to think how good you are to make such a sacrifice, because you will quickly realize that you are but a particle of dirt when you stand before the Great I Am.
Friends, God said that these are two important aspects of our Christian journey, and when we seek Him through our private prayer, and through our confidential fasting, He will see it and He will reward us openly. Not sure why Jesus thought to tell us that God will reward us ‘OPENLY’, but I could only assume that God will want others to see that we are blessed by Him because of the relationship we have with Him. Often this will cause someone to look on, learn and try to duplicate whatever it is that we are doing. I believe that God would quickly affirm – mission accomplished!

PRAYER: It all seems simple enough that these are things we should do as children of the Most High God. But seeing that You had the need to teach Your closest companions/helpers these basic principles, I believe that You also knew that even after we learned from You and the disciples, we too would struggle to achieve Your ideals in these areas. The distractions seem to have gotten worse for us Lord, for there are now electronic devices, Social Media, incurable diseases, etc. So Lord, we need You more today than ever before to help us stay focused on You, Your work, Your Word and our time alone with You. I am humbly asking for You to soften our hardened hearts and draw us into a deeper personal relationship with You. Oh that we might come to You more often in ways described in today’s Scripture. Perhaps we might then be more serious about our prayer life and our relationship with You. Have Your will and way in our lives dear Lord, so that You may be glorified on earth, as You are in Heaven. AMEN!

Nuggets From God's Word

Tag: Praise