Tag: Ready

Watch Out! Keep Alert!

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Monday, November 27, 2023, and I was blessed to be at Florida Hunting Adventures, Okeechobee, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM: New Living Translation (NLT) IS FOUND IN Luke 21:25-27; 34-36;

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: “And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory.
“Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: If the local television station had given a warning like this about the course and/or danger of a nearby weather system, we would close down our businesses and follow his/her instruction without further delay. In today’s Scripture, Jesus shared with those closest to Him, His disciples, a similar warning to that given by the Father to Daniel – see Daniel 7:13. As most readers and listeners may be aware, the words of Jesus were recorded in the Bible so that His warnings might also be extended to others who are close to Him and make every effort to listen to His Word. So, what then shall we do? The warning has been extended to us. Are we satisfied to just sit in our corner and gloat over having our lives in order, and ready for the coming of the Son of Man – Jesus? Is that what you would do if you heard the above warning from the weatherman? In the case of weather-related storms, our family, friends, coworkers and acquaintances have become pretty accustomed to listening to warnings via radio or television. However, if you are looking at individuals anything like I am, you will conclude that many never attend church regularly anymore, and I strongly believe that even fewer read their Bibles. So where will their warning come from, if you refuse to pass along the warnings such as given to us today by Jesus? Notice that Jesus knew exactly what would distract the unsaved and perhaps even Christians, for He knows in advance what we, and/or our family and friends will resort to for entertainment, sports, and recreation. Notice how ‘Thanksgiving’ has become ‘Turkey Day’ rather than a time of thanksgiving for our many blessings? Notice how Christmas has become more about the commercialism and gift buying, rather than worshipping our newborn King? Sundays have become more about our only day to sleep in, or go to the beach, or to a theme park, than finding our way to the house of God to celebrate our risen Lord. It seems like we are ignoring the warnings from Jesus still today. He emphasized how much He loves us, and I feel like we believe and appreciate Him for that. He said that He would never leave us alone, and I believe we tend to call on Him when we feel like no one else is listening, or cares. He showed us how miraculous He is, and we tend to trust in Him for that, especially when there seems to be no way out medically for us or for a loved one. But, precious friends, we see the same trouble all over the world that Jesus referred to, and we see the many, many changes in weather conditions and unusual storms like He warned us about, shouldn’t we truly take Him serious about being ready and staying alert for His unannounced return? You may never get to read this devotional, because Jesus may have called you out of this world before I could get it online, or He could return before you totally absorb everything I am reminding you about. What will be your excuse be when Jesus asks you about your decision regarding eternity? Excuses won’t work for Jesus, because He not only knows our heart, but He also knows our very thoughts. Please friends, don’t delay. Without further delay, prepare to meet your Maker. The timing might be sooner than you think.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Your patience oh Lord is more than we could ever appreciate or duplicate, and we are so thankful. We read about it in the Old Testament, and Your patience seems multiplied in the New Testament and in our current environment of selfish greed and excessive efforts to enjoy ‘life’ just a little bit more. Should You come before I could complete my thoughts in this devotional, I trust that You will find a heart that is totally surrendered to You and longing to be with my Savior and Lord in Heaven. Please give my audience more of an urgency to do the same, and may we all be found ready and longing to be with You and the Father. Please forgive us for allowing the enemy to distract us from You, even though You are known for Your love and sacrifice, all for our benefit. With a greater sense of urgency, we could help others understand the urgency of the hour, but as I call on the One who is far greater than the advisory, I ask that You also soften the hearts of my audience to do the same. May Your kingdom come, and Your will be done, here on earth, and especially in our lives. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this 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 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. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. 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 growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Be Alert and Watching

On By Ed AlgreenIn Readiness, Ready, Ready to Go, State of ReadinessLeave a comment

Wednesday, 2016-09-07

Scripture

Bible Reference: Mark 13:32–33; 36-37

Bible Text: 32 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. 33 And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert! …. 36 Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. 37 I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!”

Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take

Our meteorologists are fantastic, for they watch for the storms that spin off the coast of Africa, and should they pose a potential threat to us, they warn us of their predictions on the course of the storm, in lots of time for us to be prepared and protected way before the storm arrives. Similarly, many of us have good pastors and teachers who strive to do the will of God by warning us as often as possible about the coming of the Lord Jesus, to take His bride (the church) up to heaven to spend eternity with He and His Father. Isn’t it interesting how we seem to take the forecasts from our meteorologists a whole lot more seriously than we do our pastors? Walk into any church over the weekend and you will immediately question why so few are concerned about such a major event. Only a fraction of our towns attend church, and for those that do attend, most fall asleep while the warning is being proclaimed. Friends, I just visited the northwest coast of Florida after Tropical Storm Hermine passed through. There are stories of some residents who were just as unconcerned, and didn’t heed the warnings and/or refused to evacuate their homes when instructed. Large tax dollars are now being spent to deliver food to them or retrieve them from their flooded or wind-destroyed homes. Take a moment to compare that to the coming of our Lord. There will be no further warnings, as scriptures tell us that not even the Son (Jesus) knows when He will return, only God does. If you did not heed the warnings to ready yourself to meet Jesus, then you have decided to stick with Satan and receive the eternal damnation he will deliver to his followers. Your pastor will no longer be available to encourage you and prod you along into making a decision to accept Jesus, it will be eternally too late. In these verses today, please recognize that these are the words of Jesus, and PLEASE adhere to the warnings He is offering to you. Seek God’s face, accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and therefore be ready, should His return happen even today. Don’t ignore the warning friend, today is the day of salvation, for it can also be the day of Jesus’ return to get His saints! I’m ready! Are you?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You’ve been warning us about Your return long before meteorologists were ever trained, or before the days of computerized tools to help them predict an oncoming storm. It is so unfortunate that many of our people listen more closely to man’s predictions than to Your facts as relayed to us by Your writers. Oh God, may today be the day that many will come to know You personally (ready themselves for Your impending return). If a hurricane was approaching, we would quickly run to shelter and/or save our loved ones and friends. Something a whole lot more final is pending, and could actually happen today, Lord may we have the same urgency to save those we love. I ask these things in the name of my soon coming Lord and Savior, AMEN!

Footnote

If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. 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 www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org 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!