Scripture Nugget 1.15.2017

Scripture Nugget 1.15.2017

Scripture Read – Romans 3-4

Nugget Romans 4:13, 18-25

“For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. … Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become ‘the father of many nations,’ according to what was said, ‘So numerous shall your descendants be.’ He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Therefore his faith ‘was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ Now the words, ‘it was reckoned to him,’ were written not for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord form the dead, who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.”

Devotional thought: What do I believe, what do you believe concerning God’s promises? Is it by faith we are saved, or by all the good deeds we do? Praise God for Abraham’s example! Praise God when we stand strong in Him, He delivers in His own time. Faith in God, faith in God’s promises – Over-the-horizon faith that Over-the-horizon promises will come true is needed in this life-time just as it was Abraham’s. O to be righteous and blameless in God’s eyes, each and every moment of our lives. O that our faith “is reckoned to us as righteousness”, the righteousness of Christ from Christ be a blanket upon us and the fire within us.

Scripture Nugget 1.14.2017

Scripture Nugget 1.14.2017

Scripture Read – Matthew 3-4

Nugget 3:2, 8, 11, 17, 23 – 25

“‘Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ … ‘Bear fruit worthy of repentance.’ … ‘I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’ … And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ … Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.”

Devotional thought: Jesus! Life with Jesus is transforming! Jesus calls us to participate in this transformational life, not only for ourselves but also to be inviters, encouragers, teachers and healers. The Great Commission, Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Let us never forget, that Jesus is with us and has shown us what to do, how to live, how to be in ministry with him to others. I have developed a formula for ministry; it is, 25 + 2 + 1 = 28. Look up Matthew 25:35-46, Acts 2:41-47, Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus does in chapters 3 & 4 what he commands in these scriptures above. The result? Many, hundreds, thousands draw near, hear the good news of the kingdom of God , and are transformed. Simply the become disciples learning and sharing the Good News of the Kingdom of God. I recently had lunch with a dear friend, Brother in Christ, and servant of the Lord. He told me he knew the secret of doubling the size of any church in a short time. He said if every family would invite another family to church every week attendance would double and keep doubling on doubling if the invitations continued. Genius! If we, today, would not only invite our “cleaned up” friends but also all, our neighbors who are “sick, those who are afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics”; those not quite cleaned up yet; and introduced them to Jesus and they went and found their friends in the same condition that we are all in, if we are totally honest with ourselves. The result would be great crowds, following Jesus because of the transforming life that results in participating in life with Him.

Scripture Nugget 1.13.2017

Scripture Nugget 1.13.2017

Scripture Read – Isaiah 7-11

Nugget Isaiah 9:12b, 17c, 21b, 10:4b, 11:5
“For all this his anger has not turned away; his hand is stretched out still, … For all this his anger has not turned away; his hand is stretched out still. … For all this his anger has not turned away; his hand is stretched out still. … For all this his anger has not turned away; his hand is stretched out still. … Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.”

Devotional thought: For all this x 4: pride and arrogance of heart (9:9b); elders and dignitaries who lead astray and prophets who teach lies (9:15), and godless evildoers (9:17b); all consuming wickedness (9:18-20) and oppressive statutes, turning aside from the needy, robbing the poor and widows (10:1-2) For all this his anger has not turned away, his hand is stretched out still. Read a newspaper, listen to the news, follow political turmoil and upheaval (no matter which side you support) and you will find a regular and routine supply of examples of all the above: pride and arrogance of heart, false leaders and teachers, godless people with lax moral values, wickedness abounding and the haves taking advantage of the have nots (giving fish [handout] instead of teaching to fish [hand up]), not caring for a family member or neighbor in need. We are a sinful people who are not like Christ. “Jesus is the only truly and completely righteous person the world has seen, wholly obedient and acceptable in God’s sight.” (Wesley Study Bible pg 828) “Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt round his loins.” We need to change for we are called to holiness, to righteousness, to be like Christ. Come on God, send your Holy Spirit upon us so we can become like Jesus – loving God and neighbor instead of the junk lives we live now. Turn your anger from us, take us in the palm of your hand, we pray!

Scripture Nugget 1.12.2017

Scripture Nugget 1.12.2017

Scripture Read – Job 3-4

Nugget 3:20, 23, 26

“Why is light given to one in misery, and life to the bitter in soul, … Why is light given to one who cannot see the way, whom God has fenced in? … I am not at ease, not am I quiet; I have no rest; but trouble comes.”

Devotional thought: As I read this Chapter, chapter 3 of the Book of Job, I thought of the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” I remembered George Bailey crying out to Clarence the angel, “It would have been better if I had never been born.” That’s exactly why God shines light on those in misery, those bitter in soul, those who cannot see the way! God fences us in, so we must stand still, so we can recognize that the light his light is directed upon us and we can see The Way, then we can rest, be at ease and find quiet. For sure trouble has come, abounds and will come some more. But Christ has come, is here, and is returning – the light of God shines brightly – It is a wonderful life- have faith!

Scripture Nugget 1.11.2017

Scripture Nugget 1.11.2017

Scripture Read – Psalms 3-5

Nugget Psalm 3:3-7a, 5:7-8, 11-12

“But you, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. I cry aloud to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy hill. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me. I am not afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Rise up, O LORD! Deliver me, O God! … But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house, I will bow down toward your holy temple in awe of you. Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. … But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, so that those who love your name may exult I you. For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover them with favor as with a shield”

Devotional thought: God protects, God is a barrier, a shield who defends those who choose to enter in, to take refuge behind his wall. Upon choosing to do so, each of us, all of us may confidently rest because God protects us. Outside the walls that isn’t an option, but inside it is a guarantee. O that I, you, we, would always choose to enter in. Be aware, we have a choice to make.

Scripture Nugget 1.10.2017

Scripture Nugget 1.10.2017

Scripture Read – Joshua 6-10

Nugget Joshua 6:18-19, 7:1,10-13, 15, 19-20b, 25-26b

“As for you, keep away from the things devoted to destruction, so as not to covet and take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel an object of destruction, bringing trouble upon it. But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are sacred to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD. … But the Israelites broke faith in regard to the devoted things: Achan son of Carmison of Zabdi son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things; and the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites. … The LORD said to Joshua, ‘Stand up! Why have you fallen upon your face? Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I imposed on them. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have acted deceitfully, and they have put them among their own belongings. Therefore the Israelites are unable to stand before their enemies; they turn their backs to their enemies, because they have become a thing devoted for destruction themselves. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you. Proceed to sanctify the people, and say, “Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘There are devoted things among you, O Israel; you will be unable to stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you.”… And the one who is taken as having the devoted things shall be burned with fire, together with all that he has, for having transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and for having done an outrageous thing.’… Then Joshua said to Achan, ‘My son, give glory to the LORD God of Israel and make confession to him. Tell me now what have you done; do not hide it from me.’ And Achan answered Joshua, ‘It is true; I am the one who sinned against the LORD God of Israel.’ … Joshua said, ‘Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD is brining trouble on you today.’  And all Israel stoned him to death; they burned them with fire, cast stones on them, and raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his burning anger.”

Devotional thought: In Chapter 8, verse 34, we read, “And afterward he read all the words of the law, blessings and curses, according to all that is written in the book of the law.” God, the Creator, imposes upon His creation good order and discipline, boundaries to be honored. When creation pushes back, good order becomes chaos. God commanded the Israelites to keep away from the things devoted to destruction, one man gave in to temptation, he saw, he desired, he took and he hid that which God said to keep away from. His actions brought God’s anger on all. Is there anything in your life, that you do, you think, that you keep hidden from the Body of Christ? Do you know of something that someone else does that they think they have hidden from others? Lack of holding others accountable pushes boundaries as does the breaking of covenantal law. We must read the entire law, the blessings and curses. Both are promises from God. When God said, “Don’t touch that tree, don’t eat that fruit, and keep away from the devoted things,” He wasn’t making idle conversation, He was protecting us from ourselves. The consequences of the sin of one, has an effect on all, individual sins weaken the Body of Christ and our ability to defend against the enemy. Let’s purge the evil, let us confess, let us renew the covenant that God offers.

Scripture Nugget 1.9.2017

Scripture Nugget 1.9.2017

Scripture Read – Genesis 4-7

Nugget Genesis 4:7

“If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you master it.”

Devotional thought: If you do not do well, if you do not master sin, it is lurking to take control of you and master you. Pay attention! Remember what I posted yesterday about what we read in Romans 1, “the result of those who do “not see fit to acknowledge God”: they are filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice, envy, murder, strife, deceit, craftiness, they are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, rebellious, foolish, faithless, heartless, and ruthless. How controlling are those things? Turn to God, dive into God’s covenant promise. 

Scripture N ugget 1.8.2017

Scripture Nugget 1.8.2017

Scripture Read – Romans 1-2

Nugget Romans 1:16-17

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, ‘The one who is righteous will live by faith.’”

Devotional thought: Paul exhorts us to believe, to have faith, to receive and live out the righteousness that only God can reveal, that only God can share. Later in chapter 1 he tells us the result of those who do “not see fit to acknowledge God”: they are filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice, envy, murder, strife, deceit, craftiness, they are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, rebellious, foolish, faithless, heartless, and ruthless, now that’s a list to stay off of. What a powerful way to end a week that has been full of reminders and reasons to be faithful, to be obedient, to in essence be holy, because God is Holy.

Scripture Nugget 1.7.2017

Scripture Read – Matthew 1-2

Nugget: Matthew 1:18-224b, 2:5-6, 13a-b, 15b, 17-18, 19b-20a, 21, 22b-23

“Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,’ which means, ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him. … They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.”’ … Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Jospeh in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; … This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’ … Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.’ … an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, … Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. … And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, ‘He will be called a Nazorean.’”

Devotional thought: Joseph, a righteous man, planned on his own to do something outside God’s plan. In effect an act of disobedience. Fortunately, being a righteous man, he was obedient to God’s messenger as were the wise man who followed the words of a prophet. Faith in God begets righteousness, righteousness begets holiness, holiness is ultimate obedience. Obedience to dreams, angels and prophets fulfilled God’s plan. What we read in these two chapters is examples of obedience in practice – so refreshing after all the examples earlier this week of disobedience. To act obediently to God requires faith, faith to move and go to places and situations we have no knowledge or experience. I call this Over-the-Horizon faith, which is our response to God’s Over-the-Horizon promises. Those promises not fully explained, that will be revealed in God’s time, but only if we move into them. Praise God for Joseph’s righteousness and obedience – what a powerful example! Praise God for the prophets who spoke of things to come, long before they occurred. Let us be as obedient to God. Let’s continue to read and study Scripture to help us realize God’s promises and commands.

Scripture Nugget 1.6.2017

Scripture Read –  Isaiah 1-6

Nugget: Isaiah 1:5-6, 16-20

“Why do you seek further beatings? Why do you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and bleeding wounds; they have not been drained, or bound up, or softened with oil. …. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. Come now, let us argue it out, says the LORD; though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Devotional thought: God’s grace goes before us, always available – why are so obstinate, why do we refuse the offer? Merciful God, who has more than enough evidence to cast us aside beckons us to enter into His presence; give us the opportunity to be healed, cleaned (inside and out), to love Him, others and ourselves. Yet we continue our self-destructive patterns – why? Why do we refuse to follow the general rules of “do no harm, do good, attend to the ordinances of God” This week we’ve read from several books the theme has focused on the need for covenant obedience and the consequences of disobedience. Why do we seek further beatings when the offer to eat the good of the land is available?  Ask yourself, Am I a rebel or an obedient servant? What example do I set for others? What is the outcome of my service to God? What kind of fruit do I produce? Now ask God…… O Lord forgive my lack of obedience, my swelling pride, forgive me, wash me clean.