Tag: Righteous

The Ultimate Sacrifice Paid Just for You

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: Thursday, June 6, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Advent Christian Village, Dowling Park, 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 THE Living Bible (TLB) IS FOUND IN Isaiah 53:5-6; 11

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: But he was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed—and we were healed! We—every one of us—have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us!
…. and because of what he has experienced, my righteous Servant shall make many to be counted righteous before God, for he shall bear all their sins.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: You might recall that Noah was mocked, and many poked fun at him when he started building a huge ark (boat) in the middle of a land that had never seen rain. As we read through and meditate on the words of Isaiah, we should stop and ponder how he was empowered to speak with such authority about things that would happen many, many years in the future. However, we are once again reminded that our God knows all things, including those things that are yet to come! And while He works in the hearts and lives of individuals in unique ways that will ultimately result in glorification to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we find in our Scripture today that He chose to speak through His servant, Isaiah, about how the future of all mankind will change when God would choose to send His very own Son into the world to save the lost and wavering souls who are torn by Satan’s tyranny here on earth. As a child of the King, I find myself looking at a world filled with people that God must shake His head and wonder how on earth can they call themselves ‘Christian’, if they are truly looking to His Word for the meaning and lifestyle of a Kingdom child. Some that we know are cheating, lying, living an adulterous life, associated with the same sex in ways that the Bible calls an abomination, and yet they are members, and in some cases, even leaders in our local churches, the ‘bride of Christ’ as referred to in Scripture. Unfortunately, those who acknowledge that they are ‘without Christ’ look at these examples of current day ‘Christians’ and they decide to follow in their example, rather than the example of Jesus Christ as intentionally shown throughout Scripture. Now, some will say that if you read the Bible you will find where people today are no different to the people who lived in Bible days. While that is true, you will also find that your neighbor, or your fellow Sunday School attendee, and others that we rub shoulders with every day, still live today in ways that are contrary to Bible teaching. The key point for us today is the same as in days past. When God impresses upon us to seek Him while He is available to us, He convinces us that there is something wrong about the way we are living. There is no where in Scripture that God points someone to live like their neighbor, or parent, or coworker, etc. God directs us to be obedient children of the Word – His Book of Instruction. Think about it, a banker would not use the practices of a school teacher to do his/her job at the bank, but rather the rules of the bank and/or its regulators. Similarly, God would have us read, meditate, and try to understand His written Word, and to live by what He directs. In the last verse of today’s Scripture, it says that God’s aim is to have us live righteous lives that are pleasing to God. You and I gain nothing by trying to please those around us. God knows our heart, our thoughts and He is very aware of our actions and words. It is God that we must live to please, because only what’s done for Him will matter in eternity. Jesus paid the ultimate price so that we could live in the light of eternity. Are you truly living a life that is pleasing, honoring, and faithful to such an awesome God? If not, please consider waiting no longer to invite Jesus into your heart, mind and soul and honor Him every day of your life through complete obedience to His Word.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Thank you Lord for anointing Isaiah, as Your messenger, to share the good news about a Savior that would come to prepare the way for us to enter into heaven some day. Unworthy, sinful, with the same mind as those who crucified You on that cruel cross, yet You sacrificed Your very own Son for us. Thank You Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Meditation on this Scripture invoked some very challenging thoughts for myself, plus the thoughts I shared in this devotional. Please Lord, teach us humbleness of heart and give us totally committed hearts that will learn to live out Your teachings and Your example so that the lost will catch a glimpse of Jesus without seeing the frailty of our attempts at obedience and with compromise and hypocrisy. Let there be nothing in us that will hinder the lost from seeing a holy and righteous Savior and Lord. 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!

To Be Like Joseph of Arimathea

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: Tuesday, May 28, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Advent Christian Village, Dowling Park, 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 THE New Living Translation (NLT) IS FOUND IN Luke 23:50-52

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: Having read, heard, and learned about the man who took Jesus down from the cross, I never stopped to ponder who this man really was. Would I have been bold enough to do what Joseph did? Although we live in a free country where worshipping God is uninterrupted by our government, yet many Christians will only go so far in their public association with Jesus Christ. Some will attend a church service occasionally, as long as that service is held in a traditional church building. Don’t expect them to show up at a public meeting held at the courthouse grounds, or in a public square. It’s the preacher’s job to evangelize, so you may never see some ‘Christians’ telling others about their faith. But let us examine what the Bible says about this man who chose to take Jesus down from the cross:
> He was a ‘good’ and ‘righteous’ man – Many men we know might be ‘good’ in our eyes, but we know that term is used differently by some, so they might describe those same men using totally different adjectives. However, when you include the word ‘righteous’, like most Bible translations do, it adds a different dimension in describing a man, for you then claim that the man is ‘right with God’. Ever heard your friends refer to someone you know as a ‘righteous’ person?
>> He was a member of the Jewish high council – Even more astonishing than the above, have you ever heard anyone refer to a member of government, or a member of a committee/council elected by a government office, as ‘righteous’? Yet this was a description given to Joseph.
>>> Guilty by association, but… – As a member of the council that voted to present Jesus guilty of claiming to be the ‘king of the Jews’, it would be easy for everyone to claim that you are guilty of condemning Jesus. As such, you may hide yourself from the public eye, and especially avoid going anywhere near Jesus. But Joseph was more concerned about his Lord that he served, than he was about what government leaders, or Pilate would say. Imagine how you would feel if someone accused you and your church for protesting around the courthouse over some case that was brought against your pastor, even though you opted not to be a part of the protest? I’m sure Joseph was ashamed of the decision made by the popular vote of the Council on which he served, but it didn’t hinder him from responding to the cry of his Master, crucified for no actual crimes committed.
>>>> He lived in expectation of the Kingdom of God – This means that Joseph believed in what Jesus taught, and he lived in expectation of the trumpet call. Hopefully you are hearing the gospel at least every week, so you are constantly hearing about the soon coming return of Jesus to take His bride, the church, home to glory. Are you looking up in expectation? Are you warning your neighbors, like you would do if certain danger was approaching? Does everyone know what you are looking for every day? Anyone ever asked you to help them prepare for that expectation?
Friends, if you and I live our lives with the above qualities foremost in our minds, don’t you think that we too might be willing and ready to overcome all odds of arrest, cries of protests against us, or the mockery that some will impose upon us, to do everything within the power and will of the Holy Spirit to live a life that may force others to see what Jesus sees – a good and righteous man or woman, living with the daily expectation of the return of Jesus, our Savior, to take us home to be with the Father for all eternity? I heard an excellent phrase from my pastor yesterday – the Gospel is true. May others see enough of it lived out in us that they will come to believe the Gospel!

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Parents are often proud of what their children achieve in life, because it often reflects on their upbringing. Daily You touch the lives of Your children, dear Lord, and we will occasionally see men and women with similar qualities to that of Joseph, who volunteered to take charge of removing Your body from the cross and prepare it for burial. The world is still looking for people, especially Christians, with qualities similar to those You showed and taught, and also like those demonstrated by Joseph of Arimathea. Please continue to work in us so that we may never look at what we may have achieved in life and allow that to hinder our commitment to You, or place ourselves at a level where we feel someone less important should do the ‘dirty’ work. You showed us on the cross that You were the perfect one to make such a sacrifice. Help us Lord to always be willing to obey You and serve You without ever questioning, or looking down on a task that, we feel, is below us. Please let ‘service’ be our motto that we strive for, and may Your holy, yet humble example always be our guide. 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!

The Righteous vs The Unrighteous

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, Righteousness, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED: Monday, August 14, 2023, and I was blessed to be at Dowling Park, 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 THE Amplified Bible (AMP) IS FOUND IN Proverbs 13:6; 13

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: Righteousness (being in right standing with God) guards the one whose way is blameless, but wickedness undermines and overthrows the sinner.
Whoever despises the word and counsel [of God] brings destruction upon himself, but he who [reverently] fears and respects the commandment [of God] will be rewarded.

MY INITIAL THOUGHTS: Every time we turn on the television to catch up on the news, many of us are bothered by the evil, crime and wickedness that takes over the headlines. Some of us grow weary from this news, because we have read the Book and we know why these things are happening. But this is not new to our era, for Solomon also dealt with this back in his day. Being the wisest man on earth, and a close study of the righteousness of God, I believe we can find answers to our present-day dilemmas directly from God’s Word. Ask God to open your eyes of wisdom and understanding as you join hearts with me in understanding the words, He gave to His servant Solomon.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: I watched a movie recently where a local City Commission reacted to certain crimes in their city by implementing very stringent laws to guard against the possibility of such crimes recurring. Soon, the town was pretty much on lockdown because of the various new laws implemented, and many of the town residents soon became extremely unhappy. I believe that may be representative of many of our cities, and possibly even our churches. But Solomon teaches us how to search for the root of our problems. What does God’s Word say about these things? Are we living in full obedience to God’s Word and His instructions? Recently I have been so busy with earthly challenges, that my heavenly relationship has been hindered. I found where nothing seemed to have been going right. Until one day God opened my eyes to see how my priorities have become skewed by the challenges of this world. Nothing bad, dear friends, but yet I could see where my priorities were out of order. This is not the way exampled by God in the very beginning. He created everything that we might need to eat and enjoy, then He created man. As if everything evolved around mankind, that He made in His own image. It sure seems to me that we try everything else, do everything else, enjoy all the world has to offer, THEN if anything goes wrong, we run to the only One who could do ALL things – Almighty God. I believe that our Scripture verses today are showing us that if we try to turn things around and trust God first, call on Him first, praise God for who He is and for what He can do – first and foremost each and every day, allow God to be our Savior and Lord who will direct our every word and action, THEN He will direct our path – our righteous path, so that we may live worthy of the Kingdom and His righteousness. Friends, don’t be fooled by this world. Unholy and unrighteous people will do unrighteous things. That’s where the evil, crime and wickedness comes from that I mentioned in my introduction. Our verses indicate that righteousness will guard the life of the blameless (those who are right with God). Please allow me to suggest that should you ever find where things are going south, or you see where sinfulness is creeping in, that you immediately go back to the beginning and reacquaint yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ and ask Him to resume leadership in your life so that you may once again walk the walk and talk the talk that He intended for your good. Let’s all try daily to call on the name of Jesus as we strive to live righteous and fearless lives that represent our Lord Jesus in every way. If you aim for perfection and to be the image of God, while asking Him to be your strength, guide and everlasting Lord, He will direct your path to avoid the pitfall of Satan’s wicked plans that are intended to destroy and tear apart every relationship that you seek after. Be ready to say like Paul did, ‘follow me, as I follow Christ’!

BLESSINGS WORTH NOTING: Solomon was careful to help us understand that the blessings for the righteous stands in stark contrast to the hands-off-by-God evil that comes to the wicked. I am rejoicing once again at being reminded that I am a child of the King of all kings and Lord of all lords!

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Too often we stand surprised by the unusual cruelty and punishment that comes to those who show no interest in following the ways of our Lord, but thank You Lord for opening our eyes once again today to see how You permit the unsaved to live unholy and disobedient lives as they wish, while blessing and preparing a path of righteousness for those who know, love and serve You. It is clear that You give us what we desire, even when it must hurt You deeply to see Your creation follow a path of unrighteousness and evil. Lord, I pray that for as long as You permit us to live in this world, that You will direct our path and give us boldness to represent You in everything we do or say. Please continue to teach us to not only say we are your children, but to especially live out the truths of Your Word each and every day. 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!

Rewards For The Righteous

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, Righteous, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Saturday, June 10, 2023, and I was blessed to be at O’Brien, 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 THE Amplified Bible (AMP) IS FOUND IN Proverbs 10:30-32

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: The [consistently] righteous will never be shaken, But the wicked will not inhabit the earth. The mouth of the righteous flows with [skillful and godly] wisdom, But the perverted tongue will be cut out. The lips of the righteous know (speak) what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked knows (speaks) what is perverted (twisted).

MY INITIAL THOUGHTS: God caught my attention today as I studied in the NLT where ‘The righteous’ was referred to as ‘The godly’. As I prepare my notes for publishing my thoughts, I often think about what a non-believer must think who happens across my Nuggets from the Word of God. So I spent some time studying and thinking about what the Bible means when it refers to ‘The godly’, or as the Amplified and several other versions refer to this cross-section of people as – ‘The righteous’. I believe that God might challenge you today as you meditate on the remainder of this devotional with me.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: The NLT (New Living Translation) refers to ‘the godly’, and I was amazed to discover a meaning of: ‘someone or something as having a religious character, being devout, and conforming to the laws and wishes of God. It can also refer to something that comes from God or is divine. Godliness is more than just external behaviors; it is an inward devotion to God that is outwardly displayed‘. The AMP version that I used above refers to ‘The righteous person’, and I believe that the above description also describes the person who has placed their life under the complete lordship of Jesus Christ, and who strives daily to live a life that is ‘right with God’, and living in obedience to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, as detailed in His Word. Because of the struggles that Christians sometime feel like they are going through, I believe there exists a certain amount of doubt about the true value of being a Christian, or a godly person, or ‘righteous’ in God’s view. However, if you would take a few minutes to read this short chapter in Proverbs, I believe your eyes might be opened to the 11 times that Solomon explained how he felt the godly, or righteous person is benefited, or blessed by Almighty God. From our finances, to our nutritional needs, to the value of the words we speak, to our earnings, etc. This wise man of God also compared in each example how the children of Satan would struggle in each area that God’s children are blessed. I believe that today we should be consciously looking closer at the many ways that Christians are blessed in so many areas, compared to their worldly, unsaved, evil counterparts. Friends, we are children of the Creator of this universe; the One who offered salvation for even sinners who are so undeserving of such wondrous blessings; the King who rules above all kings and lords. We are a blessed people, and the best is yet to come, for when we leave this world behind, we are welcomed into the glories of heaven. What about you dear Christian friend, are you living today as one who has this kind of assurance and a future that is out of this world? What about you, dear one who has chosen death over life; Hell over Heaven; Satan over Father, Son and Holy Spirit? As long as you have life, you can still choose ‘life’ over death and Jesus over Satan. It’s up to you precious friend. Live today with the security of your future being in Jesus Christ! There are helpful tips in my Footnote to guide you in changing the trajectory of your life! Please do the smart thing today!

BLESSINGS WORTH NOTING: Having a mouth filled with wisdom, tells me that the world is watching and listening to the child of God. Let’s be so attuned to the Word of God that we will never disappoint the world in hearing true wisdom, as if directly from God.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Thank You Lord Jesus for blessing us way more than we could ever imagine, or deserve. Please work in us and keep us near the cross where your mercies and grace will always fill our hearts and impact our lives. May the meditation of my heart, and the words from my mouth be used by those who hear them, better know and accept You as Lord and Savior. Please continue to bless us, and always use us for Your glory. 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 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!

How To Remain Pure Before God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Pure, Purity, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2022-09-27
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 119:9-11
TRANSLATION: Amplified Bible (AMP)

BIBLE TEXT: 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts].
10  With all my heart I have sought You, [inquiring of You and longing for You]; Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience].
11 Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, that I may not sin against You.

APPLICATION: I believe when we think of ‘purity’ we tend to think of how a young girl manages to keep herself ‘pure’ before marriage. That may seem like such an ‘old-school’ philosophy to many today, but you might remember that God chose the mother for His divine Son, because she (Mary) was ‘pure’ and undefiled. Purity in the light of a female, or in the case of the one referred to by the Psalmist, refers to one who has remained fully dedicated to God and unscathed by sin. You see, when we enter into this world and are raised by godly parents, they teach us to distance ourselves from the temptations and teachings of this world, so that our minds will remain fixed on Jesus and open to all His teachings. Fortunately, for those who have not surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ, God sent Him into the world so that those who have become stained with sin, might seek His forgiveness and obtain His powerful help to discontinue imitating the world. God wants to redirect from a life of sin, to instead pattern our lives after the perfect life of Jesus Christ. Christians call that a process of being ‘saved’ – saved from the pit of Hell – the place where folk are sent when they refuse to accept the gift, the love, and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I believe that one of the most impactful Bible studies I ever taken part in, was ‘Guardrails’. The principles taught in that study are similar to what David is teaching us in the Psalm today – keep watch over yourself; be deliberate in guarding yourself against the evil things of this world that will derail your walk with Jesus; there are things that will tempt you into returning to the free will and undefined ways of this wicked world; there are things that will impress upon you the pride of self-worth and personal riches vs the ways of God as taught to us in His Holy Word. Friends, I am presenting this study today as one living in this world, just as you are; facing daily struggles, just as you are; dealing with attractive offers by the evil one and his army of naysayers, just as you are. But because of the strength I find in Jesus Christ each day to open His Word, spend time with Him, be reminded of His teachings, and welcome His perfect will to guard my path each day, I feel like I am more than a conqueror in overcoming Satan, and I am guided down a path pleasing to my Lord! But so can you my dear friend. The power is in the all-powerful name and person of Jesus Christ. Unhitch from your personal desires and seek to honor Him in all things, and He will deliver you. There is good reason to surrender your will to the will of our Lord and Master, for He is the only perfect Son of God. And because He is perfect, we too can let go of sin, in full confidence that as we do, God will make our way clear for us to follow Him and live in His example. This, dear friends, is my sincere recommendation to all readers and listeners today.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: A life fully surrendered to the lordship of Jesus Christ can be directed down a righteous path that imitates the one and only perfect God! May we seek to follow God’s perfection in our lives today and every day!

PRAYER: To live in such a cruel, sinful world, it would seem like ‘purity’ might be the last result we could expect to see in men and women on this earth. But just as we were reminded by the Psalmist in today’s Scripture, we are just human beings, but praise God, we serve an almighty, all-powerful God who is holy, righteous and perfect in every way. Besides that, You are very capable of hearing the prayers of Your people and blessing them with the sincere desires of their heart. You did it for me, Lord, and I know You will do it again for those who choose to accept Your offer of forgiveness, and for strength to endure and overcome every temptation that may come our way. May the ‘imperfect’ seek help, forgiveness and guidance from the only ‘perfect One’ today! 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!

Rewards For Seeking Righteousness and Purity

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Purity, Recognize God, Righteous, Righteous Living, Righteousness, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-09-12
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Samuel 22:21-25
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: 21     The Eternal One rewarded me because I sought righteousness;
        He rewarded me because I kept my hands clean.
22     He rewarded me because I kept the ways of the Eternal
        and have not walked away from my True God in wickedness.
23     For all His laws were there before me,
        and I did not push His statutes away.
24     I made myself blameless before Him;
        I kept myself from guilt and shame.
25     That’s why the Eternal has rewarded me for seeking righteousness;
        He’s rewarded me because He sees I have remained pure.

APPLICATION: Standing before the righteous God of this universe and presenting yourself as innocent, pure and righteous is a bold step. For God knows: every word we speak, and the underlying thoughts while saying those words; every action we perform and the, often, ulterior motives we sometimes have for our actions; and every thought that we have, whether acted upon or not. Many of us have pretty much perfected the way that we present ourselves to the public, for we have a certain image that we want them to see in us, but God knows our heart, soul and mind. In fact, the closer we get to God, the more we become aware of how far we have drifted away from Him; how our attitudes suck; how many of our actions are probably frowned upon by God. But Satan is good at promoting these reasons right in our face whenever we even think we are righteous, innocent or pure in the sight of God. This is where we could then do like Jesus did on the mountain when tempted by Satan, we could quote 2 Corinthians 5:21 or Revelation 12:10, that assures us that we are righteous because of Jesus Christ, our Savior, who was perfect in every way. Friends, I don’t believe that we could ever be used wholeheartedly by God in this world until we have developed a deep relationship with God and acknowledge that it is only because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ that we could ever be righteous. So whenever you are questioned about your claim to righteousness, say what David taught us in verse 22 above: Praise God, I have not walked away from the true righteousness of God! I believe it is more important today than ever before that we determine in our hearts who we will follow for the rest of our days on earth, then seek the help of God to carry out our desire to serve Him faithfully throughout all eternity. As stated above, God knows all about us, but of equal importance is that others here on earth are watching. Your actions will help them decide their course of action for their lives. I pray that they will see enough of Jesus in you, and they will determine in their heart to surrender lordship of their life to Jesus and seek to serve Him until the end of time here.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: It is only because of Jesus that we could ever be considered righteous in the sight of God! Praise God for getting my attention and drawing me to His Son for forgiveness of my sin! Praise God, I’m redeemed, saved and considered righteous by Him!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You opened the doors of heaven for us, and we are forever thankful for that. We praise You for such awesome examples as David, to whom You portrayed Yourself powerfully. Like David, I pray that we will stop for a few minutes of our busy lives each day to commune with You, through intake from Bible study, and through output in prayer and communication with You. We have so much to praise You for Lord, but living in this world gives us urgency of need, encouragement, reassurance, wisdom and love from You each and every day. Lord, we want to be just like You in our speech, attitude, thought and actions, and we can only do that by fully acknowledging the source of our power and righteousness on a regular basis. We humble ourselves at Your feet, Lord, and we stand ready and willing to accept Your direction, so that the lost will see Jesus in action every time they make contact with us. 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 Blameless Life

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2022-08-04
WRITTEN AT: O Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 101:1-2
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 1 I will sing of your love and justice, Lord. I will praise you with songs. 2 I will be careful to live a blameless life – when will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.

APPLICATION: As I read the Psalm this morning, God directed my attention to, what I believe to be, several important things that He wanted me to derive, apply to my life, and sets my sights on, for His glory. I pray that as I share my insight from God, you will also be looking for what God has to say to you today:
-*- Lift up the name of Jesus above everything else and all other circumstances (vs 1) – We already know that God loves us, and because of that love, He desires to see us succeed in everything He assigns to us. So, we should willingly lift up the name of Jesus before we approach Him with our petitions, AND after we receive our marching orders, or our instructions;
-*- Live a blameless life (vs 2) – I believe this is a life so filled with obedience, and imitating the life exampled before us by Jesus, that no one – not even Jesus, would see the need to correct us or call us hypocritical. Can we achieve this on our own? No, for the forces of evil become stronger around us when we seek to follow our Lord. Therefore, we must do like the Psalmist did in vs 2, plead with God to help us be the man/woman that He desires to work miraculously through;
-*- Start in your home (vs 2)- We should remember that Jesus found that He was not accepted in His own hometown. We too might find this as our greatest challenge. The reason for this is that we could easily fool those on the outside, but our family sees the good, bad, and indifferent about us through various phases of our life and/or circumstances that challenge us. Let’s strive for perfection in Jesus’ name among our close family first. As we succeed in our homes, our family will be more apt to support our efforts in the world;
-*- Avoid those things that tend to trip us up (vs 3-5) – David listed some things that really affected him and caused lingering effects, and I bet you and I could probably add a number of things to David’s list. Perhaps we too should decide in ourselves that we WILL refuse to go certain places, see certain things, hear persistent filthy and negative things, etc, etc. David used great suggestive words that would help us in our determination – refuse, hate, reject, not tolerate.
Let’s be determined in our heart to live a blameless life. I am convinced that when we decide to turn things around in our life for the good of the kingdom, the Holy Spirit will kick into high gear in helping us, strengthening our determination, all to help us live up to our desire to be more like Jesus. In using the theme of Romans 12:18, determine in yourself that ‘In as much as it depends on me, each day I will live a blameless life for Christ, God being my helper’!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Although impossible through our own power, the Holy Spirit can help us live a blameless life – one that is approved and pleasing to our Master!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I thank You for miraculously touching my life and drawing me unto Yourself. My readers and listeners are fighting the evil one on every side as he strives to pull Your children away from the righteous life You have demonstrated before us. Please embolden us to stand firm in our faith and determined in our heart to live our lives like we discern from Your teachings and Your example while here on earth. Please allow our lives to be affirmation to our unsaved loved ones, that greater is He that in in us, than he that is in the world. Use us 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!

How To Be Considered ‘Righteous’ By God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Righteous, Righteousness, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2022-03-25
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Romans 4:20-25
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. 23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

APPLICATION: On the basis of our Scripture, if you believe Jesus was raised from the dead, you are exercising the same quality of faith as did Abraham—a hero of faith. Think about that – at age 86, Abraham was informed by God that he would have a child later in life! Sounds almost like a joke to us today, right? But like Mary did when she was told she would be the mother of Jesus, Abraham just pondered these things in his mind. My friends, if God says it, we could believe it! Think about the pressure you might be under at this time, or the problems you might be facing, they’re nothing in comparison to the incredible faith you have already demonstrated in and through the precious name of Jesus Christ. Once a believer grasps the fact that he’s already done the hard stuff—that his belief in the Resurrection sets him apart as a hero of faith—then any other pressure or problem is a piece of cake, minute in comparison to the fact that he has already embraced the victories of the impossible. Now, if you’re a believer, your faith and salvation are based upon the Resurrection. You didn’t see it visually. You haven’t touched Jesus physically. You haven’t heard His voice audibly—but somehow you believe it. And, even though our culture mocks it, science disputes it, people doubt it—because God has graced you with faith to believe what the world doesn’t understand—anything else you’re struggling with is easy and stress-free. Compared to believing in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, it is nothing to believe in victory over whatever giant is before you, or whatever pressure is upon you! God knew from the very beginning of time, how challenging it would be for us to wrap our tiny brains around the idea of being righteous, like Abraham was righteous, and like Jesus was righteous. He gave us these two as mentors in the faith, but He also gave us His Word so that we might consider all things, to help remind us of His power, and the grace that He bestows on us each and every day. Jesus was the righteous Son of God. Abraham was considered righteous because of his faith, and so can we follow in Abraham’s footsteps because of our faith. How are you doing with that dear reader and/or listener?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: That mere man can be found ‘righteous’ before a holy and righteous God.

PRAYER: Who are we that a King would live and die for? Who are we that a Savior would consider ‘righteous’ while here on earth? What a blessed people we are, that God sent His one and only Son to die, so that we who believe on Him might live righteously as we anxiously await our heavenly home! Lord You are good, and Your mercies endures forever and forever! You worked miraculously in Abraham’s life, and You have been so gracious to us also. Thank You dear Lord! Please continue Your hand upon us so that others may see Jesus and want to know You personally. 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!

Our Tolerance For Wrongdoing

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Blinded by Sin, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2021-12-10
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Samuel 13:11-13; 20-21
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: 
THE OFFENSE: 11 ….. he grabbed her and said, “Come to bed with me!” 12 She answered, “No! Please don’t force me! This sort of thing isn’t done in Israel. It’s too disgusting! 13 Think of me. I’ll be disgraced forever! And think of yourself. Everyone in Israel will say you’re nothing but trash! Just ask the king, and he will let you marry me.”
THE FAMILY RESPONSE: 20 Tamar’s brother Absalom said to her, “How could Amnon have done such a terrible thing to you! But since he’s your brother, don’t tell anyone what happened. Just try not to think about it.” Tamar soon moved into Absalom’s house, but she was always sad and lonely. 21 When David heard what had happened to Tamar, he was very angry. But Amnon was his oldest son and also his favorite, and David would not do anything to make Amnon unhappy.

APPLICATION: Three real-life individuals are included in this story today. Let’s be reminded of who they were, and how they acted. Perhaps we might try placing ourselves in their ‘shoes’, and decide how we might have reacted:
1. AMNON – The eldest and favorite son of David. It sounds like he was spoiled, as he was allowed to go after what he wanted and not receive the severe repercussions that we see in so many other Old Testament stories. He wanted relations with his step sister and it seems like he didn’t care how anyone was impacted by his actions;
2. TAMAR – The beautiful daughter of David; sister of Absolom; stepsister of Amnon. As in most Old Testament family structures, she was subject to the rule of her dad, and any other men who had reason to rule over her. But Tamar was a daughter of our God and deserved the respect that is due to any other human being;
3. ABSOLOM – The son of David, and also the blood brother of Tamar.
It appears like Amnon was used to having his own way, regardless of who got run over in the process. He fell in love, or perhaps seriously lusted after his stepsister, Tamar. Following through on a suggestion by his friend, Amnon lured Tamar into his bedroom under false pretenses, and proceeded to force himself on her, even after she tried to reason with him. I hope that none of us meditating on this devotional today ever experienced such an incident in our family. But if you are anything like me, then you would have become very angry with Amnon for such a move on his stepsister. Out hearts would be deeply moved for Tamar as we stop to imagine what she must have felt inside as she lost her dignity because of the selfish desires of her stepbrother. But as I meditated on this I realized that we have similar atrocities occurring today, and I’m afraid that our hearts may have become hardened to what is going on around us. In a job I once held, I learned of Human Trafficking; Human organ reaping and selling; Prostitution of young girls, boys and adults; and many other hideous crimes. To hear about these things probably makes most respectable humans angry inside, but what if similar crimes were happening in our very neighborhoods? Do we just accept them as ‘normal’ for the times we’re in, or do we work with the authorities even if it may endanger our own lives in dealing with the unfortunate crimes? What if one of your siblings, or children, were a part of the crime ring? Are you willing to stand for right, and order, even if it meant seeing your relative imprisoned or possibly shot during a raid? Remember, we are the righteousness of God. Are you truly righteous, or just when it’s convenient?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: David and Absolom were faced with a challenging situation that tested their credibility and their stance as a righteous person. We are faced with similar challenges every day. May we always stand for the same things that God stands for and approves of.

PRAYER: Lord, if we are righteous just as You are, then I wonder how far we are willing to go in showing Your power in and through every decision we make? Was David’s response to the bad decision by Amnon one that aligned with Your will? We have a ton of questions Lord! But yet we know that Your ways are perfect, and we know that You always have our best interest at heart. Please teach us to be so engrossed in all that You teach, all that You command and all that You desire of us. May we always seek to do Your will for Your glory, even in circumstance where it may hurt us in our human form. Please teach us Your ways so that we may be more like You 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!

Saying ‘NO’ to Evil

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Saturday, 2021-06-19
WRITTEN AT: Florence, IN

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 36:1-4
TRANSLATION: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

BIBLE TEXT: 1 Deep in the hearts of the wicked a voice tells them to do wrong. They have no respect for God 2 They lie to themselves. They don’t see their own faults, so they are not sorry for what they do. 3 Their words are wicked lies. They have stopped doing anything wise or good. 4 They make wicked plans in bed at night. They choose a way of life that does no good. And they never say no to anything evil.

APPLICATION: It seems like every day we hear reports of more and more things happening where there is no regard for God, family, the church, nor fellow mankind. Crimes become more bizarre, and hatred become more evident among mankind. So many times I have heard Christian leaders say ‘surely we must be nearing the end of time here on earth’, and I believe that’s because they feel like things can’t get much worse. So what do you suppose has happened? We often hear the elderly among us talk about ‘the good old days’, and we resolve in our minds that they are merely challenged with accepting progress, growth and change. But is that really the case? If you look at a body of cloudy water and conclude that it is disgusting, and that it can’t possibly get any worse, you might be surprised to return to that body of water in a few weeks after continued infusion of waste, and you will see that the condition of the water has worsened. So it is with sin, my friend. Notice in our Scripture that each verse contains attributes that David felt added to the sinful condition of his adversaries. Since David’s time we could probably add a few more attributes to the list of things that seem to add to a worsening condition of sinners and their despicable actions. But let us take time to see where this puts us today. But for the grace of God, any of you reading this devotional could also be affected by sin, and therefore acting in ways representative of the evil one. But what has changed our personal situation? Could it be that Almighty God heard the prayer of a loving and caring mother, father or good friend, and He softened our hardened hearts so that we realized the need for Jesus – the Savior of all mankind, who has power over our sin? Could it be that we have a very personal and active relationship with our Master, and through daily communion with Him, He guides us into the truth of His Word and the power of His grace? Could it be that because of the power of our God, we have learned that it is only because of Jesus that we could have power over the evil that so easily besets us and is out to entrap us? Notice that David said in verse 4 that the wicked makes plans at night in their bed. That means that they are stirring up evil in their hearts and preparing to unleash their hatred and anger on an innocent world, where some might be trying to live peaceably through Christ. How’s your heart friend? Are you able to say ‘NO’ to evil every day? It is only through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ that you can do this. For He alone has the power over sin. Is your relationship with God such that you could hear His still small voice directing you to righteousness and peace with your God? If not, let me encourage you to join me in drawing close to God, so that He could draw close to us and work through us to fight the pull of Satan. For the Christian, we serve a righteous and holy God, who wants His followers to be the same as His is. He is our source of strength and righteousness, so we must maintain an honest and upright relationship with Him as long as we are here on earth among the evil of mankind.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: David experienced the evil of mankind. Jesus came to provide hope and the joy of eternal life for those who place their faith and trust in Him. Praise God, we have that hope, because things seemed to have worsened since the days of David.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, it is so easy to look around us and see the handiwork of the evil one. Thank You Jesus for the great hope that You give to those who place their faith and trust in You. What a joy to be reminded that Your peace and Your joy goes beyond our everyday victories and into an eternity with You and the Father. Please soften the hearts of unbelievers so that they might see the hope that exists beyond the strife of our daily lives here on earth. May they accept You today Lord, so that they too might be filled with Your love and everlasting joy! Oh that You may be glorified today because Your Word is going out and being accepted by those touched by 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!