Scripture Nugget 5.11.2017

Scripture Nugget 5.11.2017

Scripture Read Job 37-38

Nugget Job 38:19-20

“Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness, that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home?”

Devotional Thought: God speaks to Job and his companions; He asks a series of questions to them and to us to help us realize there is no simple formula or thought process to figure our and understand God by. Jesus gave us the answer to the above question when he said, “I am the way, the truth and the light. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also.” (Jn 14:6-7)

Scripture Nugget 5.10.2017

Scripture Nugget 5.10.2017

Scripture Read Psalms 54-46

Nugget Psalm 54:1-7

“Save me, O God, by your name, and vindicate me by your might. Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. For the insolent have risen against me, the ruthless seek my life; they do not set God before them. But surely, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. He will repay my enemies for their evil. In your faithfulness, put an end to them. With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good. For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.”

Devotional Thought: When it seems we are under attack by others who do not seem to be looking to God what is our response? Do we push back against them, or do we worship God? Do we give thanks to God, knowing in faith, that God will prevail and deliver us from those enemies? O God help me to possesses assurance, an absolute trust in You!

Scripture Nuggets 5.9.2017

Scripture Nuggets 5.9.2017

Scripture Read 2 Samuel 10-14

Nugget 2 Samuel 11:1

“In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel with him; they ravaged the Ammonites, and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.”

Devotional Thought: David was not where he was supposed to be. As king his appointed place of duty is with his Army, that he has sent out to fight. By staying home, he has shirked his responsibility, his purpose. Staying home, he became distracted from “keeping and tilling”, distracted David ate the fruit. There is nothing sinful about a king staying in his palace per say. But his being out of position, not being with and leading his army puts him in a place and gives opportunity for improper behavior, the opportunity to sin. Let us learn this lesson, let us learn to be fully obedient to the expectations God places upon us.

Scripture Nuggets 5.8.2017

Scripture Nuggets 5.8.2017

Scripture Read Exodus 21-24

Nugget Exodus 23:20-25

“I am going to send an angel in front of you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Be attentive to him and listen to his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression; for my name is in him. But if you listen attentively to his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes. When my angel goes in front of you, and brigs you to the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, and I blot them out, you shall not bow down to their gods, or worship them, or follow their practices, but you shall utterly demolish them and break their pillars in pieces. You shall worship the LORD your God, and I will bless your bread and your water; and I will take sickness away from among you.”

Devotional Thought: God leads, clears our and protects. He asks that we respond in faith and with obedience. Disobedience is a sign of a lack of trust in God and an unwillingness to submit to God. Obedience demonstrates faith and trust in God. “Be attentive to him and listen to his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression; for my name is in him.” Let me/us always and in every situation, listen, hear and obey! Let us be bold and courageous to call out those who would bow down to other gods instead of demolishing them to pieces, who follow false practices and encourage others to do the same.

Scripture Nugget 5-7-2017

Scripture Nuggets5.7.2017

Scripture Read 2 Corinthians 4-5

Nugget 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

“So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Devotional Thought: Good News! Jesus took on all sin, though he was sinless; so that we who are sinful may be sinless. Those who receive this Good News can’t help but share what has happened to them with those who haven’t received yet. God’s grace goes before us until we receive and then goes before us as we go to share. Go, be a disciple, and make disciples of Jesus Christ!

Scripture Nuggets 5.6.2017

Scripture Nuggets 5.6.2017

Scripture Read Mark 15-16

Nugget Mark 15:39

“Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was God’s Son!’”

Devotional Thought: This centurion became believer. We can only imagine the power of his testimony within the

ranks of the Roman Legions he served in leading a hundred soldiers at a time. How many of those heard his testimony? How many of those were in Rome when Paul got there? How many seeds did this man plant? How many seeds will I/you plant, water, cultivate in our lifetime? What are the connections? Go, be a disciple, and make disciples of Jesus Christ!

Scripture Nuggets 5.5.2017

Scripture Nuggets 5.5.2017

5.5.2017 (5.10.17)

Scripture Read Jeremiah 27-31

Nugget Jeremiah 31: 27,28e; 31,33; 38a,40d

“The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of humans and the seed of animals.  . . so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the LORD. . . . The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with house of Israel and the house of Judah.  . .But this is the covenant that I will make with house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. . . . The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when the city shall be rebuilt for the LORD, . . It shall never again be uprooted or overthrown.”

Devotional Thought: Those days are surely here! God offer life abundant to His creation, He watches to see if we choose to participate - build and pant (till and keep). God puts His law within us, establishes boundaries and waits to see if we will be obedient or break our own hearts. Will we worship God, on God’s terms or will we move the ancient boundary stones? “Holiness of heart means transformation by God’s grace, enabling people to be holy, loving, and Christ-like in their relationships with one another and with the land” (Wesleyan Core Term, Holiness of Heart, pg 940, Wesley Study Bible) The days are surely coming, says the Lord!

Scripture Nugget 5.4.2017

Scripture Nugget 5.4.2017

Scripture Read Job 35-36

Nugget Job 36:13-17

“‘The godless in heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them. They die in their youth, and their life ends in shame. He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear by adversity. He also allured you out of distress into a broad place where there was no constraint, and what was set on your table was full of fatness. But you are obsessed with the case of the wicked; judgement and justice seize you. Beware that wrath does not entice you into scoffing and do not let the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.’”

Devotional Thought: The debate between Job and his “friends” continues. Elihu continues this long speech, in which he says nothing the others haven’t already said and seemingly seems to contradict himself as he progresses. He is a confused theologian to say the least. Here it seems he claims that in anger Job has lost proper focus of God and all God had done for him. Job has lost sight of the blessings of God and now obsesses over the sins of others. Doing so he has become angry, so angry he is danger of losing sight of God’s grace. This is a real and present danger for those of us who live on this side of Easter. Let us not forget the enormity of Jesus’ sacrifice; let us repent daily so that we may remain in the Kingdom of God. Jesus is Lord of all, that includes me, you and every part of creation – but we must allow Jesus to be Lord of our hearts….. We must acknowledge and accept the ransom, the sacrifice made for us.

Scripture Nugget 5.3.2017

Scripture Nugget 5.3.2017

Scripture Read Psalms 51-53

Nugget Psalm 51:10

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.”

Devotional Thought: Just as it takes healthy diet, medicine and doctors to overcome physical blockage in our blood lines and hearts; it takes the work of God’s Holy Spirit to clear out spiritual heart disease. Anything less than the lordship of Jesus Christ in our spiritual lives creates blockage that prevents us from the fullness of the potential of the possibilities available through life with God. O God, purge me, wash me, blot out my sins. Open wide the life lines!

Scripture Nugget 5.2.2017

5.2.2017

Scripture Read 2 Samuel 5-9

Nugget 2 Samuel 5:13

“In Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives; and mores sons and daughters were born to David.”

Devotional Thought: The trend we read about in 2 Samuel 3:2-5 continues. John Wesley wrote in his notes; “This may well be reckoned amongst David’s miscarriages, the multiplication of wives being expressly forbidden to the king, Deut 17:17. It seems to have been his policy, that hereby he might enlarge his family, and strengthen his interest by alliances with so many considerable families. But all these did not preserve him from coveting his neighbor’s wife. Rather they inclined him to it: for men who have once broke the fence, will wander carelessly” (Notes, 5:13) For those who have once broke the fence, will wander carelessly – a powerful lesson for all to learn. Holding each other accountable to God’s expectations, with the love of Christ, is necessary and should be expected. Allowing another to continue to break fences is a recipe for disaster. Refusing to allow others to hold me accountable, refusing to listen, refusing to pay attention is likewise a recipe for disaster. This goes for us as individuals, families, congregations/communities and denominationally as well. Several times in Proverbs we are told not to move ancient boundary stones….. good advice for those living in the Kingdom of God.