The Promise of Restoration: Insights from Jeremiah’s Message

DATE POSTED
Tuesday, June 24, 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 Jeremiah 31:33-34 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the New Living Translation (NLT).

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you have taken a moment to read the Scripture I referenced above, so that my thoughts here will make more sense to you. Jeremiah was used by God to warn the Israelites about the discipline that would come to them. However, as we see in these verses today, he also had a message of great hope for them. This is also the situation today for those who disobey God. He will discipline us and get our attention to turn from our wicked ways, but in the book of Revelation, there is amazing hope for all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the chapters leading up to this one, we learned how, because of their great sin, God chose to discipline His children – His chosen people, in a way that seems extremely harsh to many. However, for those of us who have been around long enough, we know that it sometimes takes harsh discipline to truly get our attention and make it stick. But in today’s lesson, it is so rewarding to reflect on the outcome of that discipline. For in every discipline, we have a choice of returning to our same old sin, or to show that we learned a valuable lesson and are willing to do it right post-discipline. It is always easier to handle discipline when we have our eyes and hearts set on the hope that lies ahead, and I believe that God did just that for His people in this Scripture today.

Think seriously and deeply about this, friends. Assume for a moment that your nation is constantly struggling to fight off evil and the threat of war from an enemy nation. Now assume that your nation has been so unfaithful to God that He has demanded that your whole nation become subjects of that enemy nation. Wouldn’t you feel like the bottom just dropped out of your whole life and that there is absolutely no hope for any future worth living for? Can’t you imagine how the Israelites must have felt in being ruled by the Babylonians? BUT, in today’s Scripture, we are reminded that God will take care of His own and that He would never put more on us than we could handle. Yes, He did what He had to do in disciplining His children when all else failed to get their attention, but He also knew that He would one day bring them back home to where His glory would once again be displayed!

Unfortunately, this is very similar to our situation today. In His Word, God also offers us a ‘Promised Land’, one filled with the joys of Heaven in the presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one where there are streets of pure gold! Unfortunately, many in each of our countries have deliberately conceded to Satan instead. We have assumed a lifestyle that often is a mockery in the eyes of God. In many areas of life today, it is often challenging to discern the difference between a child of the Great High, and one who has chosen to do life their own way – the way of the world. Some might say that they are waiting until the end of life, as we know it here on earth, to surrender to the lordship of Jesus Christ. When might that be, dear friends? Children, teenagers, middle-agers, and seniors are dying unexpectedly for various reasons today, and the same could very likely happen to you, my appreciated reader.

In the New Testament, God offered us a New Covenant in the person of Jesus Christ. In this Covenant, we are told that we have a way out of this unrighteousness that we find ourselves in, but only those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. In other words, those who have not taken that step belong to Satan and will be given over to Hell for all eternity. If you were to tell your relatives right now where they will find you when you die, will it be Heaven or Hell? Only you can make that change, for you must surrender to Jesus for yourself. No proxies are allowed, for there is no provision for that in God’s Word. I’m ready to go home to my Father in Heaven, my good friends, and I sure hope that I will see you at the foot of Jesus worshipping Him with me. If unsure, or if you know that you never expressed faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, please read my Footnote and especially click on the link ‘To Know Jesus’ for Biblical help in making the most important decision you ever made in your life. Jesus loves you and He wants you to make this decision, dear friend!

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, Your love is expressed throughout Your Word, and I was reminded of that as I meditated on today’s verses. Thank You for the reassurance of the hope that lies ahead for other believers and me. This also puts me on notice that my unsaved loved ones and friends are destined for a place quite contrary to the joys I long for in Heaven. Please, Lord, melt the hearts of those I love and others who need You today. Draw them to Yourself and convict them of their sinful state, so that they might surrender to You in faith. I believe, oh Lord, please help those who don’t, for the end of life here on earth is drawing near, according to Your Word. 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!

Do It Again Lord!

DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-05-30
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Pslam 85:4-7
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: Now restore us again, O God of our salvation.
    Put aside your anger against us once more.
Will you be angry with us always?
    Will you prolong your wrath to all generations?
Won’t you revive us again,
    so your people can rejoice in you?
Show us your unfailing love, O Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.

APPLICATION: It is unfortunate, but way too often we tend to feel like our one vote won’t matter in a general election, or our ability to participate in the evangelistic work of our church won’t matter much in reaching the masses who have chosen to reject Jesus. But as we look at the desperate plea of Korah’s clan in this Psalm today, we will recognize that they had heard about the actions of their ancestors as they traveled through the Wilderness rejecting God and His wondrous works in spite of Him providing for them as they traveled through desert land. No doubt, they saw the love of God in still keeping up with His covenant agreement with His people by safely delivering them to the Promised Land. But, in true form to what we tend to do today, the Israelites soon forgot their many blessings and returned to their sinful ways when they felt like God’s help was no longer needed. Friends, we are living in such a time that we seem to believe that WE have everything under control, for excuses abound why we needn’t attend church; we are way too busy to find time for enhancing our relationship with God; despite what others face with health issues, we have been unaffected; despite skyrocketing inflation, we have managed to keep bread on our table and clothes on our backs, so ‘we’ve got this’. How sad for us to be so narrow-minded. When previous troubles came, we had a God that we could run to, and we were comforted, provided for, and encouraged to go on. Should this not form an indelible impact on our minds and lives that would invoke praise and adoration each and every day – even when things appear to be going well? Perhaps our daily prayer should be likened to that of Korah’s clan – ‘Please Lord, restore to me, my family, my church, and my workplace, the joy of remembering all that You have done for us. Remind us often of Your power and Your might. Forgive us when we fail to glorify You each day. Restore in us the memory of our very first day under Your wing. Refresh our desire to know You more, and to serve You better, by becoming involved in all the ways that You point us towards here on earth. Do it again Lord – PLEASE?’

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Whenever we ask God to do it again, we are remembering that He had blessed us beyond measure at least once already! He does this every day, so may we celebrate His blessings every day, and seek to share that blessing with others.

PRAYER: It’s amazing how easily we put You on ‘the back-burner’ Lord. You have made such a difference in our lives, and we can never forget Your love, forgiveness, and unending goodness towards us. When we accepted You as Lord and Savior, we became one with You and therefore represent all that You stand for. Please Lord, help us to act in a way pleasing to You and representative of You and Your goodness. Please ‘do it again’ – revive a right spirit within me, within Your church and in every one of Your kids, so that the world might see Your mighty works and Your loving and forgiving spirit. There are many around us that need to know You. Please impact their lives, and do it through us, if it pleases You. 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!

Press On – God Is Victorious!

DATE POSTED Saturday, 2022-04-30
WRITTEN AT: Citra, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Joshua 8:1-2
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: 1-2 The Lord told Joshua: Don’t be afraid, and don’t be discouraged by what happened at the town of Ai. Take the army and attack again. But first, order part of the army to set up an ambush on the other side of the town. I will help you defeat the king of Ai and his army, and you will capture the town and the land around it. Destroy Ai and kill its king as you did at Jericho. But you may keep the livestock and everything else you want.

APPLICATION: We can grieve the Spirit by sin. We can quench the Spirit when we fail to wait on the Lord to receive direction. But the Lord never gives up on us! God exposed Achan’s sin as the reason Joshua and his army met with failure, but at just the right time, God said to Joshua: “Don’t be dismayed. I will now give you the victory!” Praise God, He doesn’t give up on us either, even when we were careless in following His orders, or not at all. Dear friend, the successful person in life is the one who gets up one more time than he or she is knocked down. Too many Christians, when they are dealt a blow, lay in the dust day after day and don’t get up. But Paul dealt with this when he addressed the church at Philippi. He told them: “Forgetting the things which lie behind, I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”! Among all the people in the world, how could Paul possibly accomplish what he did? By forgetting that which was behind him, and looking ahead, instead. Fortunately God does not judge quite like we do. He didn’t set Paul aside and give up on him, instead God had a great work prepared for Paul. Just as Joshua learned a very humbling lesson from his first attempt at conquering the king and people of Ai, Paul also learned that God could use even a persecutor of Christians to forgive and use in His service. Doesn’t it seem well within reason for God to also use you and I in His service here on earth? You see, only wicked man will look at our lives before Christ became a part of it, for in their eyes we could never become holy enough to represent the God of all righteousness and hope. But God yes, BUT GOD, in all His mercy and grace, sent His only Son to die for folk like us, so that our old, disgusting life of sin could be cleansed, made white as snow, purified, in the eyes of our Creator. So if we are ‘right’ in the eyes of God, of course we could be used by Him to reach folk that may doubt and fear the possibility of restoration, renewal, or even salvation in the holy name of Jesus. Joshua didn’t stay down, but God was able to teach him a lesson and give him the opportunity to try it again, this time letting God take the lead and give him the winning instructions. Perhaps we need to surrender ourselves to the King of all kings as well, and allow Him to work in, and through us, to do all that He has planned for us in the work of growing His Kingdom here on earth.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God used the same man who forged ahead into battle without God, to send back into battle, but this time insuring that he would let God be in control. When our battle belongs to God, we win!!

PRAYER: Lord, we normally plead for help with our forgetfulness, but in accordance with the words You gave to Paul for us, please help us to forget what is behind us, so that we may stay focused on all that You have in store ahead for us. Our battle belongs to You Lord. Please teach us as we proceed ahead, and give us victories that will glorify You in every way. Many are struggling, and even more are holding back in committing themselves fully to You, please show them vividly how mighty and awesome You are, so that they may be drawn to You. Use us completely in every way for Your glory 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!

A Sinner’s Plea For Restoration

Thursday, 2019-08-15

Bible Reference: Psalm 51:10-12
Translation: The Voice (VOICE)

Bible Text: 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God;
    restore within me a sense of being brand new.
11 Do not throw me far away from Your presence,
    and do not remove Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Give back to me the deep delight of being saved by You;
    let Your willing Spirit sustain me.

OBSERVATION: I trust Christians will meditate on this devotional today even after carefully reading the theme, because the Word of God reminds us that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. In fact, throughout God’s Word He teaches that sin separates us from God, for He is holy, and sin is not at all holy. So as we meditate today I want us to be conscious of those times that we have sinned, and what our actions have been, following that experience. How were you restored with the Holy One – Jesus Christ?

APPLICATION: For the Christian onlooker, it is easy to look down our noses and condemn the sin purported by a fellow Christian. For the sinner, it is easy to feel condemned because of your sin. So how then shall we reconcile this problem? For surely a sinner is not condemned forever. It may be easier for us to consider a real life situation. I have heard of incidents where a man has been unfaithful to his wife. I have heard where these scenarios have even led to divorce. But then I have heard of scenarios where that husband later went and confessed his sin to his wife and pleaded for restoration. The two did such a fine job that the couple remarried and are now enjoying many more years for trusting, loving relationship and trust in each other. For some of you, this may sound like an impossible task for you, but I want us to carefully consider what God does for us when we bow at the feet of a holy God – One who has never sinned; One who is righteous and holy in every way, but yet we ask Him to forgive us of our unfaithfulness, our sin, our dirt, and our evil. How awesome it is that in His mercy, and in true grace, our Lord forgives and receives us back whole and truly cleansed. This is the example that helped father of the Prodical Son welcome him back home. Think about it, our Father says welcome back my son/daughter, your sins are forgiven. I paid the price for it all on Calvary – even while you and your unholy bunch were yet sinners, because I love you and I consider you my very sons and daughters. Can’t you hear our Father saying: Of course you are welcomed back into my kingdom; of course I welcome you back as my very own children? The Prodical was welcomed back as a son, not as a slave, like he asked for. So my Brothers and Sisters, if we are made in the likeness of our Father, and He is such a forgiving Father, where on earth do we get off at thinking that we are above anyone that seeks forgiveness from us? Why do we struggle to forgive and welcome back a former prisoner who has been rehabilitated and now looking to find there place among Christian friendship and mentoring? Why do we build such a hate for those who hurt us, is that not sin in itself? When they approach us for forgiveness, is it not like one sinner asking another sinner for restoration? Is it any different to a totally lost, sinner, looking into the face of a Holy God and asking Him for restoration – a clean and holy heart? God met us where we were at on our own, shouldn’t we do the same for others?

PRAYER: Precious Lord, please hold my hand and help me through this difficult and challenging life. My readers and I come across folk each day that are so different to us, and Your Word declares that we are to love them. Oh that we might be reminded by Your Spirit that we were once in that same position when we came to You seeking repentance. As You forgave us and restored us to oneness with You, may we also be understanding of others so that they may see Jesus at work in us. AMEN!

The Desire For, and Joy of Restoration

Post Date:

Friday, 2017-08-18
SCRIPTURE

From:

Psalm 51:7-13 (TLB)

Text:

 Sprinkle me with the cleansing blood and I shall be clean again. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. And after you have punished me, give me back my joy again. Don’t keep looking at my sins—erase them from your sight. 10 Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires. 11 Don’t toss me aside, banished forever from your presence. Don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. 13 Then I will teach your ways to other sinners,……
OBSERVATION:
David had sinned in his acts with Bathsheba and in the murder of her husband. Terrible sins for which many would be challenged to forgive. But there came a time that David knew that if he would ever expect to see the joy of his relationship with God restored, then he needed to seek forgiveness from Him first of all. And when things were right with God, David could then go in boldness to seek forgiveness of others he may have hurt. It’s only with a clean and upright heart that David could truly be a witness again for God.
APPLICATION:
Like David, I believe that many Christians suffer today in their witness for God because of sin that they know is hiding in their life, but may feel it is tucked away and unknown to most people, maybe even God. Friends, let me remind you that nothing is hidden from God, so if you have un-confessed sin, you may as well break down the walls of pride and self-will, seek God’s face, and have a little talk with Him. Just as David feared that his sin may have been impacting his people, you may be surprised to hear how your sin may have walls built around you that prevent your witness being evident; your love being experienced; and the warmth and power of God’s love being expressed through you. David wanted to be an influence for his God and spread the joy that God brings to the Christian, but for some reason that just doesn’t happen through a broken vessel filled with sin. David remembered the sweet, open and rich fellowship that he enjoyed with God and he badly wanted that relationship restored. I truly believe that God desires that of each one of us that are separated from Him by sin. But friends, may I suggest that if you are not deeply desiring to see that relationship restored, there may never have been one? I know, you were a deacon in your church, or you may have been in the choir, or you may have attended every service while a certain pastor was at your church. Don’t be fooled by this, for our church doors, like many other churches, are opened to whosoever will come. None of what I mentioned are qualifications for making you right with God. The Bible is very clear on this, and I would encourage you to click on the link in my Footnote ‘To Know Jesus’ to be reminded of what the Bible says. When you truly ask God to forgive you of your sin, and you develop a loving relationship with Him, it turns into a daily communion with Him. You bless Him with your praises and thanksgiving, and He blesses You with endless goodness and mercy to live each day looking more and more like Him. That’s the kind of life you will long for if it is broken by sin that causes you to wander. Seek God my friend and ask Him what stands in the way of your relationship with Him, if anything. Then work it out with Him. This brings joy to any soul willing to ask and follow through with His demands!
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, oh how sweet the name! Lord Jesus, the name that is above all names! The name represented by perfect love, and a relationship that is only damaged by our sin. Churches have hundreds on their membership roles, yet they are seldom full. This makes me think that there are broken relationships with You that result in them staying away instead of seeking restoration with You. Lord please work on Your flock first. Allow us to draw closer to You and commune with You each and every day, so that as we speak with the unsaved, we will give in to Your Holy Spirit and speak from personal experience, if appropriate. To You oh Lord be all glory, honor and praise! 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!

Bring ‘em Back

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

Today’s Bible Reference: James 5:19-20
Today’s Bible Text: 19 My friends, if any of you wander away from the truth and another one brings you back again, 20 remember this: whoever turns a sinner back from the wrong way will save that sinner’s soul from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.
The Bible Translation: The Good News Translation (GNT)

My Take Away: I believe that James, in the conclusion to his letter, is telling us that we are to constantly be on the lookout for those who choose to walk away from the ‘Truth’. I believe that each of us can bring to mind someone that once flourished in their relationship with God, and because of something silly around the church, or something that someone may have said to them, or about them, they have totally walked away from the Lord. Now, I believe that some will ask you not to be too harsh, because the person really only walked away from the church, not from God. The tough thing for those of us who care, is that the person has lost that possible close relationship they may have had with God. The reason I believe this is true, is that when our hearts are right with God, we want to be around His people. We quickly realize and acknowledge that the person that may have been offended, is in the same boat that we are in, they are a sinner saved by God’s grace, and as long as they remain here on planet earth, they/we are a target for Satan. There is nothing that pleases Satan more, than when he brings division among God’s people, because then the wall of safety has been lowered and facilitates Satan’s entry right into the lives of those once controlled by God. So what then shall we do friends? Let’s look closely at the advice given by James: we are to go after them, and bring ‘em back to a comfortable position among the believers where we could encourage and support them. Isn’t it strange how we quickly run to the rescue of an individual if we know that they were hurt physically, but how afraid we are to run to their rescue when we know they are hurting spiritually? I am deeply hurt for a Brother who has walked away from God because life just didn’t go as he expected when he was involved in the church. It is very challenging to minister to this Brother because he is so bitter. Perhaps I need to imagine that he is hurt physically, then perhaps I will find ways to minister to him! I trust that you will join me in praying for my friend that God might soften his heart to receive His forgiveness and to recognize His love, that is so precious and geared towards him, even in his position against the traditional ‘church’. I will pray that my friend recognizes the love of God that is so strong for him even today, and in spite of how my friend feels about the ‘church’. When we get right with God, He helps us get right with each other. Can you think of at least one person that you need to pray for today and love them back to God? This is what James is preaching to us in this passage friend!

Prayer: Precious Savior, if not for the grace of God, any of us could be subject to the stronghold of Satan and his demonic attacks that may force us into making decisions to stray away from You. Thank You for protecting us, and thank You especially for giving us strength to help friends fight the battle of separation that they may be witnessing today. I pray that You might open the eyes of our friends that are hurting today, and running as hard as they can to distance themselves from Your children. Without judging, I am just plain afraid that they have especially distanced themselves from You dear Father, because from every appearance, there is the appearance of total separation. Please give us the words, the boldness and the opened eyes to see how we might help draw these ones back into the fold. Please begin a very strong work in their lives right now oh God, and please renew within the hearts of Your children a mind to fight hard towards helping our friends by loving them and drawing them back in, in spite of their feelings. Have Your will and way oh God, for I ask this all in the name of Jesus, my sacrificial lamb and every loving Master, 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!

2016