Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 April 2021 Psalm 118:28.

28 Apr 2021 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 118:28.     Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. 

Glory be, mih people! It’s another day in the life! That means our great God has something useful for us to perform this Wednesday of April 2021, the year of the variants! (smile) So let’s be joyful and celebrate that nuh, for many aren’t around to do it. 

Yes friends, each and every day we’re alive, we ought to give thanks and rejoice, for as the psalmist so wisely said a long time ago: ‘This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ (Ps. 118:24) 

Words of awesome wisdom, that ought to make a significant impact in and on our lives as believers in Christ Jesus, for our circumstances are not supposed to run our lives, but the Word of God. So let’s be grateful we made the wake-up list and celebrate it and give thanks despite the negative things in our lives. 

Remember the good thing about being a believer is that unlike the unbeliever, we have the awesome help of Jesus when things are not going our way; His peace, His LOVE, His joy, which is our strength. So, in these pandemic and uncertain times we need to stand up strong and show the world the amazing benefit of living for and with Jesus. 

As He said, we can cast all our cares on Him, because He cares for us. But we have to truly believe that our lives are in God’s hands before our mountains can become like li’l molehills. So no matter what comes our way, we have life and hope and a bright future in living and working for Jesus, because He’ll never leave nor forsake us, because He sincerely promised that, and all His promises are faithful and reliable. 

Oh my fellow believers, it’s of the utmost importance that as ambassadors for Christ, we stand up strong and steadfast and be good examples to the unbeliever, be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, like Jesus desires of us. For it’s only through us that others will see Him and the wonderful things He has to offer. 

That’s why on this Wednesday, when everyone and everything around us seems to be in panic mode we can quite calmly and truthfully declare in the words of the psalmist: ‘Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.’ (Ps. 118:28-29) 

What marvellous words of praise and thanksgiving, of encouragement and reassurance my brethren! It’s only when Christ is in our corner, that we can stand up strong to the storms and other negative things that come against us on this evil and sinful earth, and that deserves enormous praise and gratitude. 

And the opening words of the song of the redeemed in Isaiah 25, puts it so wonderfully. ‘O Lord thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.’ (Is. 25:1) 

And the scholars offer this marvellous explanation of this chapter, ‘25:1-12. Chapter 25 begins with a song of exaltation and praise to God for the triumph of His judgement of the world. The survivors of the Great Tribulation lift their voices in praise to God for His protection. 

The cities of mankind have fallen into ruin and the nations of the earth have been brought low (i.e. humbled) before the mighty God who alone has been a refuge from the storm. The veil does not refer to the veil of the temple but to the covering of death that hangs over all nations. Yet God will swallow up death in victory (cf. 1 Cor. 15:54) and the Lord God will wipe away tears (Rev. 7:17). This act of His grace will then bring in the millennial kingdom.’ 

What more can we ask for eh my faithful believers? We know the end of the story: our God wins and then brings us into His everlasting kingdom of peace, LOVE, joy, and all the other good things available in His magnificent magnanimity! 

So, if we know that the story ends in our favour, why the awful worries and anxieties eh? Just cast all your cares upon Him! Don’t give up! Don’t give in! In spite of how things may seem or appear, the only place we are truly safe is with God, through His most wonderful Son, Jesus Christ, as we are led and guided by His Holy Spirit! End of sermon mih bredrin! (smile) 

And I do hope it makes some impact in all of our lives this Wednesday morning, and causes us to live a better life, be better ambassadors for Christ, than we might have been without it! But how can it not eh, when all it says is truth? (smile) So for those of us who are sincere in our desires to live for Christ, let’s go home now declaring (awright!) our Wednesday Wail, telling all and sundry about our most wonderful position in Christ Jesus. 

As one strong and sincere voice now: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And let’s not forget that if we endure to the end, that future will be even more glorious than our puny minds can ask or imagine. So please hang in there my friends, for Jesus will never leave or forsake us if we hold tightly to Him and His awesome ways! Much LOVE!

…O give thanks unto the Lord…for his mercy endureth for ever… 

 Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8               

Today’s Scrip-Bit 23 February 2021 Job 13:15a.

23 Feb 2021 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Job 13:15a.     ​Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:

And after the snow comes the mild temperatures…then comes the snow again! I guess that’s how life is, how the Lord orchestrated it to happen; feast then famine, sorrow then joy, one good then bad and so on. But throughout it all He expects us to have a good attitude, to trust Him to work all things out together for our good, as His faithful promise proclaims. (Rom. 8:28) 

And yes, that good attitude is not always easy to come by, especially when the evil and trouble of the world comes against us, but if we are sincere in our trust and belief in Christ Jesus, then we will be able to do it; He will empower us to come up higher in His name. But we have to reach that level of faith where we know that we know that we know ALL His promises are faithful and leave it all in His mighty hands. 

Oh friends, we need to reach the level of faithful maturity so that we can say like Job, when his whole world suddenly came tumbling down. ‘Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return thither; the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly (accused Him with wrong).’ (Job 1:21-22) 

Yeh mih people, all of that is much easier said than done, but as believers that’s where we need to get to in this earthly life. How many of us accuse God, even curse Him when things go wrong in our lives even while we’re trying to live right eh? Too many! We need to remember that God is the BOSS, and whatever He says goes, even though it may seem unfair to us. 

And remember too that His mind and ways are higher than ours, thus His plans and purposes we will never fully understand. And if we intend to live a fairly peaceful and productive life here on earth, we need to understand, believe and live His faithful word. ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil (calamity), to give you an expected end (a future and a hope).’ (Jer. 29:11) 

Oh my brethren, once we can get those promises written down deep in our hearts, minds and souls, then we can live the kind of earthly life Jesus died for us to live; one of peace and abundance, with our eyes focused on the things of heaven, not those of the earth. And if you don’t believe me, then check out how God dealt with Job nuh. After He allowed Satan to inflict wrong on Job so He could prove Job’s faithfulness, He gave Job twice as much as he had in the beginning. ‘And the Lord turned (restored) the captivity (losses) of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.’ (Job 42:10) 

Please notice praying for his friends was also an important aspect of God restoring Job’s fortunes. And please note too that Satan had to go to God to get to Job. The Good Book says: ‘Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan (the Adversary) came also among them.’ (Job 1:6) 

And if we’re wondering how that was possible, hear the scholars. ‘1:6. Sons of God in this passage refers to angelic beings. Satan is considered one of them, though fallen from his original sinless state. His name means “Adversary,” and in this narrative he lives up to its meaning. The passage shows that Satan has access to God’s presence, though this does not seem to be Satan’s abode.’ 

Oh my people, nobody knows how God operates better than Satan, because he was once one of His top operatives before his pride and lofty position made him too big for his britches, and he got kicked out of heaven for trying to overthrow God. Just imagine the ‘boldfacedness’ of the created being nuh! Unfortunately though, we’re doing just like he did, trying to kick God our of our society. But a word of warning to the wise: that will NEVER happen! 

Anyhow, moving on with the story from the Good Book. ‘And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.’ (Job 1:7) The scholars tell us that refers to Satan’s activity, and though he does not admit it there, his many travels are for evil purposes. (1 Pet. 5:8) 

‘The activity of Satan indicates that he has only limited access to God. This account in Job emphasizes that God is sovereign over Satan. It also teaches that Satan is a finite being and therefore not omnipresent (be in several places at once). Nor can he touch God’s servants without God’s permission.’ 

And all God’s children said a loud ‘Amen!’ to that. Then, I like how God boasted on Job to Satan. ‘Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect (blameless) and upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth (shuns) evil?’ (Job 1:8) Oh brother, I don’t know if I want the Lord to boast so on me to the enemy nuh. (smile) 

But as the scholars explain: ‘1:8. The initiative in the conversation lies with God, but He may well have simply expressed what was on Satan’s mind. God’s view of Job is the same as the description given in 1:1.’ And Satan failed miserably in trying to get Job to curse God. 

Instead he worshipped Him. Despite all the inaccurate and hurtful things his supposed friends said against him, and the way that people despised and turned away from him, Job stood strong in the faith of his God. These word of his, say it all. ‘Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways (defend my ways) before him. He shall also be my salvation: for a hypocrite shall not come before him.’ (Job 13:15-16) 

Mama Yo! That’s what yuh call ‘strong faith!’ And the scholars explain: ‘13:15. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him expresses the unquenchable faith of one who lives by faith, not by sight. Even when it appears that God Himself has turned against Job, he will still trust in God.’ 

Now friends, it’s that kind of unquenchable faith that we need to have, especially in these very rough times that we’re currently experiencing. It’s not easy, and will never be easy, once we live here on planet earth with the prince of darkness it’s ruling force. But we know that Jesus will come again and eventually make everything right. 

And this note from the scholars on the turning around of Job’s life is important. ‘The point to be garnered from the book is not that God intends to deal with every servant as abundantly as He did with Job; rather, that God holds sovereign and LOVING sway over every human life. Therefore He can be trusted implicitly in all things (cf. Rom. 8:28; 1Thess. 5:18).’ And that’s what I’ve been trying to say from the very beginning friends! (smile) 

So for those of us who sincerely believe and implicitly trust, let’s go home now declaring (yeahhh!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know who and whose we are. As one strong voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the BELOVED of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’ 

Now let’s go and do exactly that nuh! Much LOVE!

…the Christian motto…rejoice evermore…pray without ceasing…in everything give thanks…