|
Post Date: |
Wednesday, 2017-10-25 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Psalm 68:19-21 (NIV) |
|
Text: |
19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. 20 Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death. 21 Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| David found peace in knowing that it was unnecessary for him to constantly fight his enemies and those who showed hatred towards God, for he knew that vengeance belongs to God. Not a bad lesson for us to find peace in today, so let’s dig in to how we may apply this lesson…. |
|
| APPLICATION: | |
| Way too often Christians miss many opportunities to enjoy God’s blessings, because we become so caught up in concocting ways that we could get back at that person who didn’t do or say what we wanted them to do or say. Friends, David realized in today’s Scripture that vengeance is God’s. In another scripture God tells us that ‘vengeance is mine’. I find it more than challenging to keep myself in tuned with God’s Word and obeying His commands, especially in being the instrument that He could use without being embarrassed of my words, actions and evil thoughts. Why would I add to that the additional sin of trying to take the ‘speck’ out of my brother’s eye? May I suggest that God’s Word indicates that we are to love even the brother or sister that dispitefully uses us, and to pray God’s richest blessings on them. I believe you will find it virtually impossible to hate that person on whom you are praying God’s rich blessings on. In fact, from experience I can tell you, that it is strangely amazing how things begin to clear up between the two of you. I’m sure that it’s the amazing touch of God on both individuals, because even though we clearly see the wrong in the other person, it is very challenging to remove that ‘board’ from our own eye long enough to see what God sees in us. Unfortunately, most issues are caused by two or more individuals and not just one. There’s a song that really sums up my thoughts today: ‘Open the eyes of my heart Lord’! Please remember to always ask God to help you see your heart first, before taking the needs of another before Him. |
|
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord Jesus, most of our issues with others, begin with ourselves. Please give us boldness and humbleness of heart to first look inward for cleansing before we try to get someone else straight. Lord, You are King over all things and all people who would allow Your sovereignty. Please begin a cleansing in my own heart and life, so that I might be a witness of Your purity and love. May You rule and reign in every part of my life. Please also impact the lives of each person that reads this blog, for these blessings I give You praise 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 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! | |
Tag: salvation
How To Handle Praise
|
Post Date: |
Monday, 2017-10-23 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Proverbs 27:21 (NCV) |
|
Text: |
21 A hot furnace tests silver and gold, and people are tested by the praise they receive. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| It is natural for us to give praise to others who have done a good job, because it serves to encourage them. It is also good for us to thank them for doing a good job. On the receiving end, it is often embarrassing to the one who did the job, because they would rather see God receive the praise. Let’s look at this dilemma and see how we believe God prefers to see this done. |
|
| APPLICATION: | |
| I believe that we must always seek God’s face when we are searching for biblical material to use in our teaching or preaching. The reason for this is that we want to be obedient to God, in seeking His will for that particular class or congregation. For we could find things to say that would make them feel good about themselves, but only God knows what they need to touch their hearts and their current, private situation. So then, having been directed by God, or through research in various documents or websites, is it really fair to soak up the praises of our listeners without sharing with them our source of information? The best advice that I have heard on this, came just recently when a gentleman said that each evening after he has spoken to, or taught, an audience, he commits all praise to his Father. I like that, for our speaker was blessed by us thanking him and sharing our praises with him, but knowing where the real praise belongs, he passes it on to God! Friends, I would love to think that as a teacher/preacher/writer, we depend wholly and solely on the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts so that they may speak to someone who needs to hear from Jesus – either for healing, restoration, or just to feel loved and secured by Him. Please don’t be selfish in withholding all the praise from Him as it was given to you! To those on the giving end of praise, please pray for your teachers, preachers and leaders that they may be used by the Holy Spirit to speak words of encouragement and instruction to you, then as they succeed, please thank God for speaking to you through His servant, and for answering your prayers.. |
|
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord, please help us to minimize pride in our lives by habitually passing along all praise received, to You, the originator of all knowledge and wisdom. We are but instruments in Your hands dear Father, use us for Your glory. AMEN! |
|
| FOOTNOTE: | |
| There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us! | |
The Way To Know Truth
|
Post Date: |
Saturday, 2017-10-21 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
John 7:16-18 (GNT) |
|
Text: |
16 Jesus answered, “What I teach is not my own teaching, but it comes from God, who sent me. 17 Whoever is willing to do what God wants will know whether what I teach comes from God or whether I speak on my own authority. 18 Those who speak on their own authority are trying to gain glory for themselves. But he who wants glory for the one who sent him is honest, and there is nothing false in him. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Jesus knew that His audience were questioning, or doubting, what He said, do He gave them a sure way of always knowing, or recognizing the truth. It seems like today we are more opinionated than ever, so I’m sure there was good reason that God authorized this discourse to be included in His Word. Let’s examine that closely and try to apply it to our lives… |
|
| APPLICATION: | |
I believe there are two types of people that sit in our church congregations each weekend, and that they were represented at the location where Jesus spoke, as mentioned in this Scripture. Think about this and consider where you stand, and if this is your ultimate goal in life:
I believe that each of us probably fit into one of the above groups. Perhaps choose the group that you feel best describes you, then try and honestly answer the point that Jesus made in the Scripture today. Those who listen to and obey the commands and will of God are more lightly to listen to, understand, discern truth and obey the teaching they hear coming from God, or the individual standing in front of them. Do you feel like all things are equal in the above two groups? Of course there is one other group, and that’s the group that never has a desire to attend church or only attends for special occasions. Friends, may I encourage you to do a self examination today, asking God to point out where you might improve in your relationship with Him. In the right relationship, you will automatically acquire the desire to be with other children of God, and possible discern truth. Without the right relationship with God, your friends and family will know that you are faking it and merely going through the motions. You will only be able to help others, if you have the real thing living and operating inside of you. This is a personal decision you must make between you and our Maker. Others will see the difference, but they can’t save you or make it all right for you. |
|
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord Jesus, we are convinced of the importance to know You personally, and be in a right relationship with You. Without this, it is impossible for us to clearly understand Your Word or be in a close and intimate relationship with You. Lord, we want others to see Jesus operating in our lives so that they also may have a desire to accept You as Lord. May we be obedient to Your Word, so that we may clearly understand what we are being taught, and that it comes directly from 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 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! | |
The Solid Rock!
|
Post Date: |
Friday, 2017-10-20 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Matthew 7:24-29 (NLT) |
|
Text: |
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Jesus had just taught that there’s a difference between those who simply call on His name. and those who trust in Him personally and obey His Word. I believe the difference is that even those who are led by Satan can call the name of our blessed Lord, but there’s a big difference when Jesus hears His saints calling on His name, for He knows that they have been faithful in the good times, and obedient even in the rough times. Unfortunately there are many today who are similar to what Jesus described in our Scripture, so I believe that wants us to really understand and pay attention to this. |
|
| APPLICATION: | |
| There’s a story in the Old Testament about a mother who was speaking to king Solomon about her baby, that another woman was claiming to be her baby. Based on the heart of the individual, and the cry of the real mother, Solomon quickly resolved who the real mother was. There are many who call the name of Jesus, sometimes to even abuse it in cursing. While those who have truly trusted in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and strive to obey His commands each day, they approach Him in great respect, in love, in admiration, willing to accept His will and His decision for our situation. Friends, unless Christians surrender self and accept Jesus as their Master, their friend, their Provider, and their soon coming King, we too might walk away from His commands and His will for us, until we crash against the shores of this evil world, like the house built on the sand, as illustrated by Jesus in our focal verses. In some countries that are plagued by hurricanes, many of their homes are built on foundations where the foundation walls go right down to solid rock, wherever possible, so that when the strong winds come, and the bay waters rise, the house most often stands. Houses whose foundations are not grounded properly, will quickly wash away/collapse/fail. Marriage relationships are much the same. In our vows, we invite God to join our union with each other. When we leave Him out of our decisions and our daily lives, we suddenly feel our marriage failing, as in many cases today. Friends, to those who truly attach themselves to ‘The Rock’; our Savior; our Master and our Lord, and who are sincere enough to obey His commands and seek His will, to these He has promised to help us through life’s storms and a safe landing at the ‘lighthouse’ (heaven) at the end of time. I trust that each one reading this devotional today can safely feel anchored in the ‘Rock’ of our salvation and not merely call the name of Jesus without any personal attachment. |
|
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord, You are my ‘Rock’ and my salvation; my eternal King. Thank You for the assurance of my salvation and for the Solid Rock on whom I can stand each and every day. Lord, please touch the heart of each reader today that they might personally know the Joy of their salvation, and the Rock on which they can stand through all of life’s challenges and opportunities. You are precious in our sight oh Lord. Thank You from the bottom of our heart. 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! | |
A Message of Faith and Hope
|
Post Date: |
Thursday, 2017-10-19 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
John 6:61-65 (TLB) |
|
Text: |
61 Jesus knew within himself that his disciples were complaining and said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what will you think if you see me, the Messiah, return to heaven again? 63 Only the Holy Spirit gives eternal life. Those born only once, with physical birth, will never receive this gift. But now I have told you how to get this true spiritual life. 64 But some of you don’t believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who didn’t believe and knew the one who would betray him.)
65 And he remarked, “That is what I meant when I said that no one can come to me unless the Father attracts him to me.” |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Jesus’ disciples were hearing Him speak of things that they never knew or understood, and they definitely couldn’t see how it would be possible for them to ever accept. For example, Jesus spoke to them about the Lord’s supper, and all that it represents. Many gave up, because they knew that they would never consider eating flesh and drinking blood of anyone. Many give up, or refuse to hear the truth of God’s Word today also, so let’s ‘dig in’….. |
|
| APPLICATION: | |
| I believe that ‘Christians’ struggle to understand, or believe, that friends and family wrestle with believing in the God that we love, adore and look forward to spending eternity with. Think about it friends, we are challenged to understand how non-Christians go on in life without a Savior, and they are challenged to understand how we could possibly believe in a God that we have never seen. Let me suggest that, as God’s children, we have no authority over making our friends believe in God. However, if we truly believe in God; love Him; worship and adore Him; obey His commands; and brag on His faithfulness and miracles that touch us, then I believe that our friends will see evidence of what God is actively doing in our lives. They need to know that our God is alive and active today! Of course when we practice drinking the cup and eating the bread, through communion or the Lord’s Supper, we are merely practicing what Jesus taught us to practice, for as we do that we remember His blood that was shed for us and His body that was sacrificed on the cross of Calvary. As we are reminded, we should be re-energized to go out and tell the world that we have a Savior who sacrificed His life and shed His blood, so that we might receive forgiveness of sin, and live eternally in heaven with He and the Father. Friends, the evidence that our friends need concerning the Savior that we believe they need, must be reflected in everything we do or say, otherwise they continue to doubt His effectiveness on humans. If its to be, it’s up to us, friends! Let God fill You so that we may honestly reflect Him in all aspects of our lives. |
|
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord, many have predefined ideas of what You look like and what You are capable of doing. Please touch Your representatives (us Christians) once again today, and empower us to reflect You in all aspects of our life, especially in spite of all the sin and strife around us while here on earth. We have friends who are dying and going to Hell Lord, and we want You to make a difference in their lives. My humble prayer is that You might please use us as Your instruments to touch lives today for 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 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! | |
Carefully Obey When The Master Calls
|
Post Date: |
Wednesday, 2017-10-18 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
John 6:43-45 (ERV) |
|
Text: |
43 But Jesus said, “Stop complaining to each other. 44 The Father is the one who sent me, and he is the one who brings people to me. I will raise them up on the last day. Anyone the Father does not bring to me cannot come to me. 45 It is written in the prophets: ‘God will teach them all.’ People listen to the Father and learn from him. They are the ones who come to me. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Jesus was accomplishing great things, and He had quite a following. This irritated the Jewish leaders and they began to have little conversations around the subject of ‘Who does Jesus think He is anyway’. Knowing their very thoughts, Jesus went on to explain the importance of really accepting Him and following Him in response to God’s call on a person’s life. Let’s have a closer look…. |
|
| APPLICATION: | |
| There are several reasons someone would follow a leader or sit under their teaching: To improve their personal skills, with hopes of one day becoming someone like the teacher; Improving personal skills to enhance their ability to help others; To discern missing attributes of their leadership skills. Spiritual skills and attributes of Jesus is often quite different, and more challenging, because the ways of Jesus is more often totally opposite to the ways of the world. This totally different concept is intentional, I believe, because our use of these added skills is for enrichment of the kingdom and not for any personal gain. Friends, I believe that it is important that we sense God’s leadership in ways that we can grow closer to Christ, learn more about Him, and seek to serve Him more faithfully through serving and encouraging others. This will bring glory to God as we encourage others to be more sensitive to the voice and will of God. Remember, those whom God calls to Himself will seek to learn more of Him and faithfully serve Him until the end. You are forced into learning at work, are you not anxious to learn more from Jesus for the advancement of the kingdom? |
|
| PRAYER: | |
| Father in heaven, You designed us much like You, yet we easily allow the world to reshape us. Please touch Your children once again today and draw us unto the Son so that we may sit at His feet and drink from His fountain of knowledge. Lord we want to glorify You, and it is especially important to us to touch the lives of others so that they may be drawn to You also. Please lead us closer to the cross so that we may soak in every word that You would have us share with others who need You. May Your kingdom grow today as a result of Your mighty touch on the lives of Your children, 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! | |
Your Response To God’s Testing
|
Post Date: |
Tuesday, 2017-10-17 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
John 6:5-9 (GNT) |
|
Text: |
5 Jesus looked around and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, so he asked Philip, “Where can we buy enough food to feed all these people?” (6 He said this to test Philip; actually he already knew what he would do.) 7 Philip answered, “For everyone to have even a little, it would take more than two hundred silver coins to buy enough bread.” 8 Another one of his disciples, Andrew, who was Simon Peter’s brother, said, 9 “There is a boy here who has five loaves of barley bread and two fish. But they will certainly not be enough for all these people.” |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| The disciples had been following Jesus for sometime and had seen many miracles performed, yet when approached with a new challenge they were bewildered as to what they could do. It seems like Jesus never ceased to amaze them, for He often showed His miraculous work in new and innovative ways when faced with new circumstances, That’s why Peter could not fathom the idea of feeding 5,000+ individuals without a large truck of groceries. Today we are also faced with similar dilemmas, so I thought we should look a little closer into this. |
|
| APPLICATION: | |
| Things come our way that we least expect. Often we are made to feel like we have no control whatsoever over what happens, and often we feel out of control as to what results from life’s circumstances. Have you ever felt like Philip where something very challenging presented itself, and you were left with you hands outstretched and your mouth open, wondering what to do next? I was faced with very challenging circumstances a few times in my life, and I could do nothing but look to God for His wonder-working, miraculous touch in the situations. In each case, I needed His ministry as much as the individuals involved, for I felt helpless and to some degree hopeless that the outcome would be what I was wishing for. I’m sure that many of you can reflect on similar circumstances in your life also, and while I can’t vouch for all that you may have gotten out of your situation, I’m sure that if you surrendered it to God, your faith was tested, and so was your confidence in Him to do what He felt was best for you in the long term. Friends, we can generally do a fair job encouraging another Brother or Sister, but what about the times when it’s you who need lifting up, or need wisdom to handle a situation in God’s timing and in His will and way? Are you able to wait on the Lord at times like that, and accept what He has in store for you? Philip’s faith was tested that he would surrender the feeding of the 5,000 by, the Master who created them, and provided their needs each and every day. Unfortunately. Philip very quickly resorted to earthly ways of helping others. May God give us wisdom to not feel like we have to save the whole world and it’s many, many challenges, for we have a Savior who has already done this for us and has promised to never leave us alone, but to faithfully care for His loving children, until we join up with Him in glory! Let’s learn to submit to His helping and caring hand, and just celebrate with praises as we see Him work miracle after miracle. To God be the glory, for the great things He has done, and will do, until He returns to take us home to glory where He is! AMEN! |
|
| PRAYER: | |
| Precious Father, You are awesome in every way! Please forgive us for being doubtful of that and therefore looking madly for the answers ourselves. Lord, I sincerely believe that as we surrender all to You and allow You to work miraculously in our lives, then we will gain every confidence to surrender the circumstances that concern us, over to You, knowing that the same God who turned water into wine; made the blind to see, and the lame to walk again, is the same God who could still take care of our worrisome challenges. The answer to all of our tests is always ‘JESUS’, may our faith be strengthened by that reminder oh Lord, our rock and our everlasting Father and soon coming King! 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! | |
How To Win Praise From God
|
Post Date: |
Friday, 2017-10-13 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
John 5:41-44 (GNT) |
|
Text: |
41 “I am not looking for human praise. 42 But I know what kind of people you are, and I know that you have no love for God in your hearts. 43 I have come with my Father’s authority, but you have not received me; when, however, someone comes with his own authority, you will receive him. 44 You like to receive praise from one another, but you do not try to win praise from the one who alone is God; how, then, can you believe me? |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| As Jesus continued to speak with the Jewish leaders, He was really speaking from an insider perspective, because unlike their priests, Jesus was speaking from a first-hand knowledge of their attitudes, actions and thoughts. He knew of their jealous ness, and He knew of their selfish intentions. This, friends, is the same God that we serve today, so let’s see how this may apply to us…. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
There are some pretty awful names that we call people who try to please others to gain favor with them and get what they want, yet we see that happening all the time, especially in the workplace. We are good at making it up to our spouse, or good friends, when we know that we have done something that would upset them. In our Scripture today, we are being challenged by Jesus Himself that we don’t do anything to win praise from our Savior; the Creator of this world, and you and I. Let that sink in for a moment, then I would like for you to continue in thought with me as we contemplate what it is that we might do to please God, and gain His praise. I know that some will disagree with me on some of these things, but I just want to share with you some of the things that my heart is troubled by, when either I do these things, or others do them. Troubling my heart is nothing friends, but I am speaking from a perspective of what I feel God may be troubled by, especially from those who have accepted Him as Lord (Christians):
Friends, as you all can imagine, I’m not God, so for each of the above and so many other reasons, you will personally settle that with God, and I won’t even know the resolution, for I have many of my own that I need to deal with God on. This is merely written to encourage you to look full into the loving eyes of Jesus and answer the question He posed in this Scripture today: Do you believe in Me (Jesus)? If so, how are you showing that I am top priority in your life and how much you really do love Me? Is it more than anything, or anyone else in the world? Can I praise you for the dedicated love that you show towards Me every day? |
|
| PRAYER: | |
| Dear Lord, we are humbled by Your love for us, and for all that You did to prove that love for us. Please touch our lives to rid ourselves of all personal desires, other than the one to serve You with all of our heart, mind and soul. From a heart filled with unconditional love for You, may we learn to obey Your commands and please You in every way possible. Oh how we look forward to the day when we see You face to face and hear those words “Well done good and faithful servant”. This is my desire Lord. May I serve you faithfully and love You intensely all the days of my life here on earth. Please touch the lives of all of my readers so that they may make similar statements to you today, based on their renewed allegiance. 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! | |
God-Based Decisions
|
Post Date: |
Thursday, 2017-10-12 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
1 Samuel 16:6-7 (NLT) |
|
Text: |
6 When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| God sent Samuel to pick the next king from the sons of Jesse, but it’s a good thing that God stayed in charge of the choice, as Samuel was very impressed with the very first son presented to him. However the lesson God taught to Samuel that day, still rings through to us as we seek His face for decisions we make today, so let’s examine this closer…. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| No doubt we make decisions that we later reflect on and sometimes wonder what on earth were we ever thinking of when we made that kind of decision. Christians sometimes pray over challenging decisions they need to make, because they want to make sure that they follow God’s plan for their lives. Often we can reflect back on those decisions and see how God must have been in control, as we could see how His plans materialized for everyone involved and for His good. I have a personal experience that fits this scenario, that I will briefly share with you. Some thirty years ago my family and I moved to the United States from the Bahamas. We bathed our decision in prayer and felt like God was in control during the whole process. That’s until I went to tell my parents that we were moving away from their country. They were getting on in age by then, and my dad let me know that it seemed strange to him that I would move away at such a time in their lives. Within a year of us moving, I received a call from my sister that dad was not doing well. We jointly made the decision to get him over to Florida for advanced care. In about a month, after my dad had received a heart stint, Dad sat with me and acknowledged that now he could understand what God was doing in getting me moved to the US! In the example with Samuel, he saw in Eliab (the oldest son) all the attributes of what he through a king should look like, and he was convinced to choose him. However, God not only knew the one He had chosen, but He also knew the heart of the other sons and why they were not suitable as His leader for His people. Friends, we could do a little to improve our outward appearance, but often it takes God to help us change the inward appearance. Just a tip… if we alway strive to be like Jesus, and live our lives according to His will for us, then perhaps we will gain the attributes of our loving Lord. This takes surrendering our hearts and lives to Jesus, because only then will we accept His leadership and His guidance. Will you consider doing this today friend? | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Precious Lord, on behalf of all my fellow Christian Brothers and Sisters, we approach Your throne asking that You grace us with Your presence today. May Your wisdom fill our hearts and our minds so that the decisions that we make will align with Your will for our lives. We acknowledge that in our human eyes, we often see things differently than You can when looking deep into the heart and thoughts of people that we deal with. Help us therefore to look to You in all of our decision making so that we will make decisions pleasing to You and aligned with Your will. Only You can do this Lord, so we ask this in Your precious name, and patiently await Your direction. 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! | |
Future Prospects
|
Post Date: |
Wednesday, 2017-10-11 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
John 5:24; 28-30 (NLT) |
|
Text: |
24 “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. 28 Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, 29 and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. 30 I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Jesus had done a good job explaining to the Jewish leaders how their lives on earth should exemplify Him, but now He is sharing how their decisions today will impact their eternity. He showed them the effect this would have on the living and on the dead. This acts as a warning to us today, because the rules have not changed. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| All ears were attentive to the radio and television as recent hurricanes headed our way in the southern United States. Homeowners went and bought plywood to protect large windows in their homes, while other owners tied down add-on porches and Florida Rooms. They did all they could to protect their investment and ultimately, their future. Jesus shared in the Bible how we could best protect our own lives, and our future life. Pastors and other Bible scholars have come along and have continued to share the words of Jesus, just in case folk have not read the Bible. In this blog, my aim is to get out the words of Jesus so that we might know, or at least be reminded of what we should be doing in order to protect our future. My deep desire is that all my readers will be as careful to secure their own destiny, as they were about securing their properties during the storms on earth. This requires having a secure connection to the Creator of you and I, and of this earth. God sent His Son so that we might seek Him for the forgiveness of our sin for all eternity. Let me encourage you to seek ye first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness. Ask God’s forgiveness of your sin and to make you right with Him. That sincere request secures His gift of eternal life and unites your unholy and unworthy soul to be one with Him. Praise be to God! | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Father God, in our world of temporary and half-hearted gifts it is hard for us to fathom that You would simply forgive us of our sin and give us life eternally with You in heaven! Wow! Oh what a Savior! Blessed be Your holy name forever! Thank You Lord from the bottom of our hearts. Oh that we may be as forgiving, as caring, as loving and as giving as You are. Please help us to keep our eyes fixed on You and Your righteousness until we see You face to face in glory! AMEN! | |
| FOOTNOTE: | |
| There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us! | |
Nuggets From God's Word 