Tag: Thieves

Who Will Make Up The Kingdom of God?

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

DATE WRITTEN: Monday, 2020-05-04
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 9 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. 11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

OBSERVATION: I believe that many who we know and love, will quickly sit with us and explain how they know that they would be accepted into God’s kingdom. However, Paul was addressing a church that had started accepting so many practices of its day and considering it acceptable to the church. Perhaps even acceptable to a loving God. As we meditate on this Scripture today I would ask that you compare this to what we are seeing today. Our responsibility is to examine what God expects of His people and what will be acceptable to Him.

APPLICATION: In talking with various family, friends and loved ones, we could easily be drawn into various ways of looking at life situations, which may often be viewed by God as ‘sin’. You see, when we look at television, we are introduced to what the world accepts as ‘normal’ and acceptable. At work, we are guided by laws that the world classifies as ‘normal’. So, of course, we go to church and expect similar activity that we see in our world, and so we try to find ways to twist biblical truth, to make our twisted minds feel like their actions may be acceptable to God. However, history shows that the ‘world’ has changed, but only to the extent that it is impacting our personal space and challenging our personal views. I found it very interesting that part of my reading from the Word this morning came from the book of Job. One of Job’s friends, in responding to Job’s list of reasons why he felt picked on, feeling downhearted and forsaken by God, said to Job: ‘Your sins are telling your mouth what to say’ (Job 15:5). Think about that in the light of what Paul was facing in our scripture today, and in light of what we face every day with the sins of those close to us. Can you be bold and forthcoming like Paul? Don’t you know that you can only do that when you are certain that your life is squeaky clean? Can you say like Paul did in one of his other letters ‘Follow me, as I follow Christ’? I believe that it’s only then that we could possible help a brother or a sister recognize the sin they are involved in, and overcome that sin with the help of the Great I Am. Yes Paul preached this sermon to the church of Corinth, but don’t think for a moment that God only wanted this included in His Word so we could know what type of people made up that church at Corinth. God knew full well that our churches today, and our circle of family and friends would be made up of similar folk to those addressed by Paul. I am convinced that God placed everything strategically in His Word that He wants us to benefit from today. The words were inspired by God and given to the respective authors. He wanted the words penned so that we would always have a perfect reference point – a place to see what God thought about the same situation we need answers on today. Friends, I don’t believe any of this will reveal anything new for you, for God has already been working on your conscience about whatever it is in your life that He doesn’t approve of. Please be obedient to the voice of God today. No need to tear me apart for anything I might be guilty of. Be obedient to the Word of God and how it applies to your life. Don’t twist its meaning into whatever you need it to say, but rather seek God and His righteousness so that you might be welcomed into the Kingdom of God when He calls you out of this world.

PRAYER: In Job 15:14, Job was questioned by his friend: ‘Who is man that he could be pure and clean before a holy God’. Yet You designed us to be like You, dear Lord. So often we feel like we are so unworthy, yet we know that You are worthy of our praise, and that we could do all things through Christ who strengthen us. So we are reminded that life is all about You. Please help us to always seek Your presence, always sing praises to our awesome God, and always seek guidance from Your Word about decisions we are faced with at the moment. Bottom line is, that we were placed here on earth by Your mighty hand, and until You call us home to glory, we remain here fully dependent on Your strength, Your guidance and Your protection. Please help us to live with our eyes fixed on You and our practices shaped by Your teachings and Your guidance. May we be worthy of Your Holy Spirit working through us to bless others and draw them to the Savior. AMEN

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog at https://NuggetsFromGodsWord.org that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and see all of my posts, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Beware of Thieves

On By Ed AlgreenIn Commitment, Committed, Priority, Totally committed, Unconditional commitmentLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Saturday, 2017-11-04
SCRIPTURE

From:

 John 10:9-10 (Voice)

Text:

   9 I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be liberated, will go in and go out, and will find pastures. 10 The thief approaches with malicious intent, looking to steal, slaughter, and destroy; I came to give life with joy and abundance.
OBSERVATION:
Jesus faced an issue that may seem to some as being unheard of today. The leaders of the day made it look like they were out to do the best for their people, but it was known, and was very obvious to Jesus, that they were out for personal gain; recognition; and holding the people hostage to only their belief and lifestyle. Jesus saw straight through this, and took the opportunity to tell the leaders through parables. Let’s see what the application might be in this for us…..
APPLICATION:
I’m not sure what the estimated percentage of Christ believers are in each country represented by my followers of this blog, but I believe that each of us are probably ashamed of that percentage, and wish that the numbers were reversed between Christians and unbelievers. So let’s take a moment and see what the challenges may be that’s causing the thieves to get to so many family members, friends, work associates and even church attendees. See if you would agree with me on some of the ‘thieves’ I will list:

  • Sports – I know, you will automatically assume that I am not a big sports fan! You are correct, but how often does our friends miss a time of worship to be at a game? Other than worshiping the players/idols, do you ever see anyone worshiping God at the sporting events? Any witnessing to the one spilling beer over you? Glued to a TV screen at home perhaps, instead of voting ‘yes’ through your attendance and participation in an evening service at your church? Careful your allegiance to your favorite sporting activity doesn’t steal the joy you would have otherwise enjoyed blessing someone else, worshiping God or advancing His kingdom!
  • Outdoor Gaming – Could almost have been included in Sports, but we often, will hear how well our friends feel like they could worship in the hunting stand, or in the boat in the middle of the lake. Careful friends, for I don’t believe this is what God intended when He said that we should practice the assembling of ourselves together to worship Him and encourage others;
  • Work – With more and more businesses opened on our popular worship days, we quickly respond that we can’t attend worship services because of our obligation to work, or because you just got off work. Does your boss know about your priority to worship God on a day that you hold holy? Is it enough of a priority that you made it a part of your employment that you be off on your day of worship? What if a co-worker told you to steal or alter the books on the other workdays, will you do that also? Your boss will respect you for having principles and practicing them.

I believe that until you are willing to state your Christian beliefs, and be willing to stand up for the principles of Christ, the world will consider you yet another counterfeit. Jesus referred to the Pharisee leaders as thieves that have come to steal and destroy good people. If you were challenged by God on any of the above things, or perhaps others, may I suggest that you revitalize your relationship with the Master and allow Him to direct your path and your priorities. He wants an intimate relationship with you, my friend. He particularly designed you for this.
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, please enlighten us to the distractors in our life. Lord, we want to draw close to You and we know that we can’t do this when we have so many other things distracting us. It is so important that others see Jesus in us, and not the things of this world. Please give us boldness to stand firm in our beliefs and our commitment to You. Today may be a day for someone to see Jesus. Lord shine through each of us so that they may see 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!