Scripture Nugget 5.1.2017

Scripture Nugget 5.1.2017

Scripture Read Exodus 13-16

Nugget Exodus 15:25c-26

“There the LORD made for them a statute and an ordinance and there he put them to the test. He said, ‘If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in his sight, and give heed to his commandments and keep all his statues, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you.’”

Devotional Thought: God promises healing, i.e. salvation. It is God’s desire and intent to care for, protect and live with His people. Our response is to live obediently, as individuals and corporately. Faithful obedience is a grateful response to God’s grace. God’s grace is not dependent on our works, but on our faith and faithful obedience. Beware of those who would tell you otherwise, that we set our own boundaries, that it is ok to push against the limits God sets for us. Note the test starts with “listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God”; are you listening?

Scripture Nugget 4.30.2017

Scripture Nugget 4.30.2017

Scripture Read 2 Corinthians 1-3

Nugget 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.”

Devotional Thought: “The liberty that comes with the Spirit of God … liberates us from sinful distortions of our lives, … Freedom from sin implies …. Freedom for a new life in relation with God and wither people, including those whom we had not noticed before the Spirit of God began working in or lives. (Wesleyan Core Term, Liberty, pg 1412, Wesley Study Bible) O God that I would reflect You to others and not project myself. That each day I be changing, becoming more like Christ and less like myself. That I be an encourager and exhorter for others to grow in and with Christ as I do so myself.

Scripture Nugget 4.29.2017

4.29.2017

Scripture Read Mark 13-14

Nugget Mark 13:4-5, 7c, 8c, 10,13b

“‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?’ Then Jesus began to say to them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray.’ . . . the end is still to come. . . . This is but the beginning of the birth pangs. . . . And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations. . . . But the one who endures to the end will be saved.’”

Devotional Thought: Our goal is not to be experts at determining when the end of the world will come, but to be faithful disciples of Christ in the here and now, even as we keep an eye on what is going on around us. Live a life of ongoing salvation, introduce others to that life. Why aren’t we, who have heard and received the Good News of the gospel, in a hurry to share it? Matthew quotes Jesus as saying, “And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (24:14) Whay aren’t we in a hurry?

Scripture Nuggets 4.21.2017

4.21.2017 (4.28.2016)

Scripture Read Jeremiah 17-21

Nugget Jeremiah 20:18

“Why did I come forth from the tomb to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame?’

Devotional Thought: The life of a prophet is a hard life. Called by God to announce and denounce the sins of others is not a pleasant task . . . . however, once one responds one cannot quit. “If I say, ‘I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name.’ then within me there is something like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.” (20:9) O God, give me and all wisdom to recognize when a prophet speaks, to realize You send the prophet and the message. Let me never attempt to silence Your messenger, but always hear and be obedient.

Scripture Nuggets 4.28. 2017

4.28.2017

Scripture Read Jeremiah 22-26

Nugget Jeremiah 23:1-4

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! Says the LORD. Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for evil doings, says the LORD. Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to the fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the LORD.”

Devotional Thought: Those called to lead God’s people are responsible to care for and promote the Kingdom of God, in the language of Genesis – to keep and to till, be fruitful and multiply. This is life, life abundant. All of us called to lead as members of the priesthood of all believers need to ask ourselves; Am I sharing God’s promise, am I promoting His promise of hope or am I blocking the sheep from the shepherd, or running the sheep off. Do I play well with others or bully them out of the Kingdom? The Good News is that God continually and constantly looks to gather the lost sheep into His flock. That includes the shepherds. Here the Good News, repent and enter the Kingdom of God!

Scripture Nugget 4.27.2017

Scripture Nugget 4.27.2017

Scripture Read Job 33-34

Nugget Job 34:1-4

“Then Elihu continued and said: ‘Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know; for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food. Let us choose what is right; let us determine among ourselves what is good.’”

Devotional Thought: When I/you begin to pick, choose and redefine what is good, instead of looking to God’s definitions of what is good we begin to slide down a slippery slope. We go from being God focused to self-focused, instead of pleasing God we please ourselves. “If it feels good, do it” becomes our motto. Be wary all the time. Personal opinions developed without knowledge are dangerous; for the one offering them and the one who accepts them at face value without research. Assumption based on improper perception without research lead us to poor choices. Poor choices lead us to determine that sin is good, which ultimately leads to separation from God. Hear, read, search out the Word of God, the truth, the way, the light. Travel God’s way on one-way paths……

Scripture Nugget 4.26.2017

Scripture Nugget 4.26.2017

Scripture Read Psalms 48 -50

Nugget Psalm 49:7-9, 15, 50:23

“Truly, no ransom avails for one’s life, there is no price one can give to God for it. For the ransom of life is costly, and can never suffice, that one should live on forever and never see the grave.  . . . But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.  . . . Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor me; to those who go the right way I will show the salvation of God.”

Devotional Thought: There is no amount of personal wealth I/we can earn to purchase an extension for our lives on earth. Each of us will die an earthly death. The Good News is that God has ransomed us and God will receive us eternally in His Kingdom. Our response? To give thanksgiving and praise to God, for God’s promised salvation. There is one way to the Father, that way is through and by the Son. When we travel down a One-Way street, we are going “one way”, the question is, are we going the right way or are we going against traffic? Thanksgiving and praise, demonstrating love of and for God, honors God, is worship, these acts, which we are called on to participate in, come alongside God. The Way, the Truth and the Light!

Scripture Nugget 4.24.2017

Scripture Nugget 4.24.2017

Scripture Read Exodus 17-20

Nugget Exodus 19:4-6a

“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.”

Devotional Thought: God brought the people of Israel out of Egypt, away from Pharaoh’s slavery to enter the presence of the Lord. In God’s presence, the Israelites were to be a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. This is a tremendous example for God’s creation in 2017. God desires to deliver us from ourselves, from our sin, from our brokenness, from our sickness, from whatever bondage, addiction, or ‘holic (alcoholic, workaholic, self-aholic …etc.) we find ourselves trapped in or by; into His presence. In His presence, we the people of God, the church of Jesus Christ, are to be a priestly and holy. We are to lead others to enter God’s presence, we are to lead others to love God first, to love others and love self as God loves them, we are to give them Jesus, teach them about Jesus and help them grow as disciples of Jesus. We are to live together in mutual love as the community of Christ, practicing the means of grace; prayer, worship, Bible study and Holy Communion. We are to live by faith, prayer and forgiveness. Will you allow yourself to be borne up on eagles’ wings, will you be obedient, do you want to be God’s treasured possession, will you be part of a priestly kingdom and holy nation?

Scripture Nugget 4.23.2017

Scripture Nugget 4.23.2017

Scripture Read 1 Corinthians 15-16

Nugget 1 Corinthians 15:58

“Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Devotional Thought: Christ lived, Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again! Believe, hold fast to, share and live out the Good News of our Lord and Savior. Do the work the Lord calls you to, do it to the best of your ability relying on the power and strength of God’s Holy Spirit. As E. Stanley Jones once wrote, “Be the person you are meant to be in the fullness of the potential made possible by the grace of God.” O God that I be that person, that man you mean for me to be, ‘steadfast, immovable, always excelling’ in Jesus’ work

Scripture Nugget 4.22.2017

Scripture Nugget 4.22.2017

Scripture Read Mark 11-12

Nugget Mark 12:26-27

“And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is God not of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong.”

Devotional Thought: The resurrected life, the life we remember on Easter and celebrate daily (or should) is a new life, a transformed life. A life of righteousness, Jesus tells us in chapter 11, is accomplished through faith, prayer and forgiveness. When I think about this abundant life that God offers us, I think about times the times in my own life when things seem smooth and easy. As in a round of golf when on a run of birdies and pars. Or Like when tubing or kayaking down a section of river where the water is above the rocks and running swiftly. When I think of those times I am reminded that I was more fully taking part in the means of Grace that God offers. I was oriented on faith in God, steadfast in my prayer life and let things go much more easily. O that I get out of the way, that I live the rest of my days better than the first 60 years. Lord, lead me to smooth places, paths worn smooth by your feet; O that I live with you the living God!