Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 October 2014 Amos 4:6B

19 Oct 2014 Leave a comment

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

Amos 4:6B.         …yet ye have not returned unto me, saith the Lord.

Well my Friends, brothers, sisters, neighbours, kinsfolk and strangers, it’s Sunday; the Lord’s Day, the Sabbath Day, a day we are supposed to keep holy and magnify the Lord therein!
 
Yes my brethren, it’s calling for the gathering of all and sundry to worship and praise our esteemed Creator, Father God, and our wonderful Deliverer, Jesus Christ, the Name above every other name, to which all knees must bow and all tongues declare that He is Lord indeed!
 
So today, please let the sanctuaries be full of new creations in Jesus, all avidly singing and praising the wondrous name of the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!
 
And remember that it doesn’t really matter how many are gathered together, though it would be nice to have all creation, (smile) for Jesus promised that ‘where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.’ (Matt.18:20) So don’t be cowed by a lack of numbers, because it’s not the outward show He’s interested in, but the true state of our hearts.
 
Ah mih people, our God is such a wonderful Deity that it truly amazes me when folks refuse to worship Him! And none more so than the Israelites of old. Imagine it nuh Friends, after He brought them out of dire bondage in Egypt, gave them the Promised Land and prosperity they didn’t work for or even deserve, they had the gall, the ‘boldfaceness’ to turn away from Him! Steups!
 
And even His punishment for their dreadful disobedience didn’t seem to faze them. As the Good Book relates: ‘I have smitten (stricken) you with blasting (blight) and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm (locusts) destroyed them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.’ (Amos 4:9)
 
How foolish and insensitive my brethren! And the Good Book continues: ‘I have sent among you the pestilence (a plague) after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses (along with your captive horses); and I have made the stink (stench) of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.’ (Amos 4:10)
 
Ah Lord eh! One would think that by then they would have gotten the message. But they obviously did not. And the Good Book continues: ‘I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.’ (Amos 4:11)
 
What fools mih breddren! But in reality we can’t judge the Israelites of old too harshly, because we are doing the same foolish thing in our modern society. The Lord raised us up as great nations, but then, when prosperity set in, we behaved as though we did it all in our strength. Chuh! How foolish!
 
And I like how Amos describes it later on. ‘Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought (over nothing), which say, Have we not taken to us horns (a symbol of strength) by our own strength.’ (Amos 6:13)
 
So Friends, we in this modern technological age are just as ignorant, stupid and guilty as the Israelites were in their simple agrarian days. We are hearing the same warnings my people, with all sorts of disasters suddenly raining down on us all over the globe. Old diseases which we thought we had eradicated are coming back – polio, malaria – with new ones ever on the horizon, think of Ebola and Chikungunya.
 
Even our super drugs, antibiotics are no longer as useful, because superbugs are developing that resist them. Poverty, hunger and homelessness are widespread in a world of plenty. Greed and selfishness predominate. Economic fallout is widespread… And everyday we’re moving further and further away from God with our overly sinful, doh-care behaviour.  
 
Oh Friends, you don’t need me to point out the inequities, the shameful and disgraceful aspects of our society, because we are all touched and afflicted by them to some degree.
 
And as I contemplate our current disgusting situation, I’ve come to the conclusion that something is drastically wrong with our brains, because as children we were taught, it was drilled into us, that disobedience brought punishment. And we most certainly experienced it when we were foolish enough to disobey the authority in our lives, whether they were our parents, school teachers, the law, or even strangers!
 
So how now that we’re adults, when we should be wiser, we have turned against our wonderful, ever-LOVING and magnanimous God, Creator and Provider eh?
 
No wonder Jesus compared those fit for the kingdom of heaven to little children. ‘Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’ (Matt.18:3-4)
 
Obviously Friends, from our proud and disgusting behaviour, it’s obvious that we’re not humbling ourselves as little children, which means that our place in heaven is somewhat dicey.
 
And as the Lord eventually said to His chosen people: ‘Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind (or spirit), and declareth unto man what is his (God’s) thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The Lord, the God of hosts, is his name.’ (Amos 4:12-13)
 
That’s a powerful warning my people! As the scholars declare: ‘4:12-13. Prepare to meet thy God warns that God is not going to visit Israel with salvation, but rather with inevitable and complete judgement.’  
 
And unfortunately my people, He’s established the same destruction for us, if we continue in our evil, ungodly ways down the path of disobedience that we have so unwisely chosen to tread.
 
Please remember that He is our Creator and Controller, His thoughts and ways are much higher than ours, and He doesn’t play the silly mind games that we play. His patience is long, and He gives more than enough rope to hang ourselves. So let’s consider ourselves warned, and be wise and return to the Lord. That is the ultimate in wisdom! Much LOVE!
 
…continual .disobedience to God’s Law breeds only one thing…eventual punishment of death and destruction…but true repentance…oh my my… it joyfully  brings forgiveness and salvation…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 April 2014 Leviticus 19:1-2

29 Apr 2014 Leave a comment

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

Leviticus 19:1-2.    And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy. 
 
Good morning, good morning, Friends, neighbours, families, believers, unbelievers, and whoever else is out there! I just want to say, or rather ask just one thing – whom do you think enabled you to see this blessed day eh, and what can we attribute it all to? Well I guess that’s two things… (smile)
 
Anyway, we’ll answer the last question first by asking another question, one asked by the group Sister Sledge in their old song ‘Thinking of You:’ – ‘What do you think brought the sun our today? ‘ And the fabulous answer: ‘IT’S LOVE! FOR WITHOUT LOVE THERE’S NO REASON TO LIVE!’ And isn’t that the awesome, gospel truth my brethren? It surely is!
 
Now that answers the last question. ‘It was LOVE that caused our first heartbeat.’ Everything that’s happened in our world was caused by that wonderful emotion – LOVE!
 
Now the next and most important question is who, or what possessed that immense LOVE to cause it all?
 
And the CORRECT answer, regardless of what you might think or believe, is your Creator, your Heavenly Father, El Shaddai, the Lord God Almighty, the Lord of Hosts, the ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD, who’s alive and kicking – kicking mightily too – He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Creator of the universe and all therein!
 
Your Provider and Controller, your Rock, Strong Tower, Mighty Fortress, and Deliverer through His sinless and wonderful Son Jesus Christ, to whom ALL knees must and WILL bow, and ALL tongues must and WILL confess that He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings!
 
Glory Hallelujah to our omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent Triune God, whose Holy Spirit lives and dwells within us to lead and guide us into all truth and righteousness! Amen!
 
And now that we’ve gotten that one, or rather two facts straight Friends- the Who and Why of our earthly existence, let’s move on to our Bit. No rambunctious rambling this morning, per the Holy Spirit, (smile) because there’s lots of scripture to be covered.
 
‘And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.’ 
 
Now yesterday we got some info from the scholars, per God’s Holiness, today we’ll get some more, just on a somewhat different level. ’19:2. Chapter 18 dealt with holiness in sexual behaviour: this chapter deals with holiness in social ethics. Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy: This certainly could be termed the motto of Leviticus.
 
“Holy” (qadosh) and its cognate terms, for example, sanctify and holiness, occur 152 times in Leviticus (about 20 percent of the total occurrences in the Old testament). Israel’s fundamental calling was to be a “holy nation” (Ex.19:6). They were to be “separated from sin” and “to cling unto the Lord.” God’s holiness served as the model for all the congregation.’
 
And I’m here to tell us my brethren, that that model still stands today for us all. Unfortunately though it is a model which we have chosen in our stupid and foolish worldly ways to ignore – sadly, as we can see and feel, to our great expense.
 
Anyway, here comes the really interesting part of the scholars’ info. ‘Jewish scholars have seen in the material of this chapter (19) a counterpart of the Ten Commandments, the precepts of which are recapitulated as follows: the first and second in verse 4; the third in verse 12; the fourth and fifth in verse 3; the sixth in verse 16; the seventh in verse 29; the eight and ninth in verses 11-16; and the tenth in verse 18.’
 
And knowing that we are a busy and lazy bunch, (smile) who find it difficult to check out stuff in the Good Book, I’m going to spoon feed us (smile) with these scriptures.
 
Now what does verse 4 say. ‘Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten (molded) gods: I am the Lord your God.’ (Lev.19:4) That pertains to the first and second commandments.
 
Then in verse 12, you’ll find the third: ‘And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord.’ (Lev.19:12)
 
In verse 3, lies the fourth and fifth rule: ‘Ye shall fear (revere) every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.’ (Lev.19:3)
 
In verse 16, we’ll find the sixth: Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people, neither shalt thou stand against the blood (life) of thy neighbour: I am the Lord your God.’ (Lev.19:16)
 
Meanwhile, you can check out verse 29 for the seventh commandment: ‘Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.’ (Lev.19:29)
 
The eight and ninth statutes are found in verses 11-16: ‘Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. (v.12 is already above) Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.
 
Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the Lord. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgement (justice): thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.’ (Lev.19:11,13-15) And you already have verse 16 above.
 
And the tenth commandment is recapitulated in verse 18: ‘Thou shalt not avenge (take vengeance), nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.’ (Lev.19:18)
 
And there we have it my Friends and fellow believers – another instance of our wise God, getting the overall message to us in a slightly different form and place to keep it fresh and ever-recurring to us.
 
And do we ever need to hear God’s Word and message my people! So that we counter the evil and ungodly message that the world is putting forth and unfortunately is taking great hold, being so very prevalent amongst our young generations.
 
Oh Friends, the only way we’ll ever counter Lucifer and his evildoers is by returning to those Ten commandments which the Lord enshrined as His Law so many ages ago. And since our God doesn’t change, is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, it means His Law hasn’t changed either. We are still expected to abide by it.
 
Hope you enjoyed today’s Bit; the slight difference in format, but nonetheless still abounding with meaningful scripture!
 
And your homework for today is to check out the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20, and see if they truly relate to the stuff we described in Leviticus 19.
 
Now please do your homework, for you will be questioned on it in class tomorrow. (smile) Much LOVE my brethren!
 
…the only wise and decent way to live…is by following God’s Law…the Ten Commandments…  
 
P.S. Please excuse the tardiness of the Bit, but I got up late and then found that what I wanted to write took more time and was longer than I expected. But it’s all good! Much LOVE!

 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 25 April 2104 Lamentations 3:32

25 Apr 2014 Leave a comment

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

Lamentations 3:32.    But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

 Oh Friends, oh Friends, glory be! Yes, it’s another new day in paradise! Another marvellous and wondrous gift from our magnanimous Creator!

Oh my people, it just stirs me up so much when I consider the wonderful God we serve and worship!

 

Wow! Which other supposed deity gives His people new mercies and blessings every single morning eh? Who shows such undeserved compassion each and every day eh? NONE but our omnipotent God, my brethren!

 

That’s why we ought to give Him enormous thanks and continually praise His Holy Name. Remember, He doesn’t have to do what He’s done and doing for us, neither do our puny efforts deserve His LOVING-kindness. But it’s His unsurpassed unconditional LOVE that causes Him to bless us so richly, in spite of our sinful nature and behaviour.

 

And please remember too, that while we were yet stooges and slaves of Beelzebub, He sent His ONLY Son Jesus to die for us, so that we could be made justified, righteous, and all the other wonderful things that Jesus’ selfless, sacrificial death, resurrection and ascension accomplished.

 

So there are indeed numerous reasons for us to be thankful and grateful! Therefore, instead of trying to belittle Jesus’ importance, or take God out of our society, as we are allowing the evil powers that be to do, we ought to be jumping and shouting, beseeching and pleading, picketing and protesting, advocating and exhorting, to raise up the name of Jesus, just like the Father did after His triumphant victory over death and the grave!

 

We ought to be encouraging ALL knees to bow, and ALL lips to solemnly and sincerely declare that Jesus is indeed the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

 

Oh Friends, we ought to be filled with such a hungry hope and expectant faith, that we can clearly see, totally envision through our eyes of faith, a saved world; a world where Almighty God and Jesus Christ are once again at the forefront of our society!

 

Oh my people, my fellow believers, that’s the ONLY WAY our society will once again prosper, both spiritually and materially. If we don’t feel that way, don’t envision it happening, then we’ll just continue the downward spiral in which we’re now totally engaged.

 

Oh my brethren, the quicksand in the evil and ungodly mire of the world is slowly sucking away our lifeblood, unfortunately causing us to drift further and further away from the ONE TRUE GOD, He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and if we don’t soon put a stop to it, then our children, and their children too, will be the ones to suffer the real pangs of misery and defeat, since we’ll already be dead and gone.

 

Now is that the legacy we want to bequeath to our children, whom most of us LOVE like the Lord LOVES us? I sincerely doubt it.

 

However Friends, it’s also necessary to remember that though we are currently a very sinful people, and that sometimes the Lord will take us to task for our sins, He will not cast us off forever. (Lam.3:31)

 

And all God’s people loudly declared: ‘All glory, praise, thanks and honour be to our magnificent and magnanimous God!’

 

Yes Friends, those are indeed wonderful sentiments, but we need to not only mouth them, but even more importantly put them into action!

 

And as our Bit so wisely and rightly states: ‘But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.’

 

Ah mih breddren, it gives our God no joy, no pleasure to punish us, but as a just and righteous Deity, He has to keep things right. Now listen to the words of Jeremiah, as he laments the state of his people Israel, which very much approximates to our current state.

 

‘For he doth not afflict willingly (with delight), nor grieve the children of men. To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth. To turn aside the right of (justice due) a man before the face of the most High. To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.

 

Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil (woe) and good (well being)? Wherefore doth (how then can) a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

 

Let us search and try (examine) our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.’ (Lam.3:33-41)

 

Oh Friends and fellow believers, that bit of scripture both highlights our current situation, and also points the way to our salvation!

 

Please, let’s accept the challenge with a strong faith, and ask God to ‘reignite His image in our hearts, and rekindle His fire in our souls,’ so that we can turn this evil and ungodly world around, and once again walk in the steadfastness of His abounding grace and undying LOVE!

 

Now that my people, is truly heavenly wisdom! Much LOVE!

 

’…the walk of faith is ultimately…a journey of HOPE and LOVE…’

 

P.S.  Those words in inverted commas above, have been taken from a devotional booklet on healing, based on the writings and actions of St. Therese, the Saint of the Little Flower.

 

Please, please, my people, let’s use them to truly reignite the flame and fire of God’s LOVE within us nuh, and thus bring some much needed change to our badly drifting and listing world!  Much LOVE!

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 27 August 2013 Psalm 27:14

27 Aug 2013 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 27:14.   Wait (in faith) on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait (in faith), I say, on the Lord.
 
Aye mih Friends, these days are going by so quickly, it’s hard to keep up, to stay level with them! Look, just yesterday was Monday, now it’s already Tuesday today! (smile)
 
The days truly seem to be hurtling by faster and faster. But don’t worry my people, because if you’re a believer in Jesus Christ, you have it covered on all fronts: we have the Holy Spirit here on earth to lead and guide us aright, and when the final trump sounds, Jesus will come and take us home with Him.
 
Wow! What a magnificent and magnanimous God we serve and worship! And all God’s people gave a mighty and joyful shout of ‘Praise the Lord! Praise His Son, Jesus Christ, to whom all knees shall bow, and all tongues shall gratefully confess and acknowledge that He is Lord of all!’ 
 
But unfortunately, despite all the coverage, I know that many believers are still struggling, are still oppressed and fearful, especially when we see the wicked prospering. However my brethren, though it’s hard, we cannot afford to look too closely at what others are doing to progress in this evil, ungodly world. We have to stay fully attuned to Almighty God and His dictates.
 
That’s why Bruh David in this explosive and illuminating psalm, superscripted, ‘the Lord is my light and my salvation, ends it with the wise, encouraging and confidence building words of Today’s Bit: ‘Wait (in faith) on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait (in faith), I say, on the Lord.’
 
Please note Friends, Bruh David tells us to do two things, and a third will result. First we have to wait on the Lord, and that means waiting with strong, solid faith, not a wishy-washy kind of waiting, but a conscious and purposeful anticipation and expectation.
 
For as Hebrews 11 tells us: ‘Now faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for, the evidence (conviction) of things not seen.’ (Hebrews 11:1) For if we can see something, there’s no reason to yet hope for or have faith or expect it to come to pass.
 
And then he tells us to be of good courage. Hn! Now what does that much used and maligned word mean eh? Here’s a definition from Uncle Charles (Charles Stanley) which some of you might have seen on His programme In Touch some weeks ago. He defines COURAGE as: ‘The quality of mind or spirit enabling us to meet danger, opposition or the challenges of life with fearlessness, firmness and calmness.’
 
And that’s as good a definition as we’ll ever get my brethren! Courage is truly the ability to stand strong when everything seems to be falling down around us. It helps us stay calm, rational and focused.
 
Now that doesn’t mean we won’t be afraid, but like Sister Joyce (Joyce Meyer) likes to say, ‘Do it afraid.’ And that’s possible because the faith in God that Bruh David talks about will strengthen and enable us to stand up to whatever difficult or fearful situation that comes against us.
 
And my brethren, in times of fear and trouble, please remember this awesome promise of our omnipotent and ever-faithful God: ‘No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of (from) me, saith the Lord.’ (Is.54:17)
 
And that’s gospel truth Friends! It’s a promise we can stand upon without fear of contradiction or recantation!
 
Oh my fellow believers in Christ, our God has been encouraging His people to be strong and courageous ever since time began. Listen to what Moses told the twelve spies that were sent into the Promised Land to reconnoitre it.
 
‘And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean (fertile or barren), whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the first ripe grapes.’ (Num.13:20)
 
Yeh mih breddren, whatever we do, we need to do with faith and courage, for this wicked world doesn’t take kindly to weakness. Yuh see how it takes unnecessary advantage of the poor, the sick and needy? It has no mercy whatsoever on those who are not at least internally strong.
 
And the only way to get that internal strength is through faith in Almighty God! Yes Friends, that strength and courage we need are acquired attributes. We have to consciously go after them with much diligence and perseverance.
 
And having said all of that this Tuesday morning, now let’s actively seek the face of our great and wonderful God, before we go out to face the enemy hordes, asking Him for that enabling strength and courage that comes to all who wait in patient faith on Him. That’s our prayer for this morning my brethren.
 
And all God’s people declared a loud, faithful and purposeful, ‘Praise the Lord! Praise His Holy Name! Amen!’ and again we say, ‘Amen!’
 
Much much LOVE my fellow believers in Christ Jesus!
 
…only as believers stand and wait on the Lord…in patient faith…shall He strengthen them…  
 
P.S. Even though the Bit’s a tad late, there’s no reason to complain about its length today. It’s pretty short. Even I was amazed. (smile) Much LOVE!
 
       
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 16 July 2013 Mathew 13:22

16 Jul 2013 Leave a comment

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

Matthew 13:22.    He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
 
Oh Friends, another day is blossoming in our beautiful but currently troubled and distressed world! But that’s no reason for us to just lie down and die, to meekly accept whatever comes our way. For we are believers in Jesus Christ, the ONE to whom all knees shall eventually bow, and all tongues shall readily confess that he is Lord, to the everlasting glory of God the Father! (Eph.2:10-11)
 
Wow! What a powerful declaration my brethren! But that means we’re supposed to be up and about doing the work of Jesus, with plenty passion, enthusiasm, trust and faith! In the words of the famous American poet and educator, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882): ‘Let us then be up and doing, with a heart for any fate.’
 
Yes my people, we ought to be getting involved in actions that bring glory to Jesus and the Father. It means taking some risks, stepping out of our comfort zone, not being content to simply wallow in mundane routine. Now there’s nothing wrong with routine, our lives must contain some for them to be orderly and stable, but for it just to be the same old, same old everyday, with no passionate highs, or chilling lows, is definitely unchristian.
 
Look at Jesus nuh. Everyday He went out and got involved in something or another. Not everyday was dramatic, but there were enough dramatic days to enlighten and enliven His earthly sojourn and make a difference in the world around Him.
 
So if we’re supposed to be following in Jesus’ footsteps, then our lives should also provide some enlightenment and enliven the world around us and thus make a difference. It shouldn’t just run along the humdrum continuum, as so many precious lives are unfortunately wasted doing.
 
We each have a part to play, a job to do for Jesus, and I’m sure that none of them are classified as sit on your laurels and fannies and do nothing. They all involve action that will eventually bring others to God. But please look around Friends, how many of us, out of the billions of believers, are actually doing that eh?
 
I can’t tell the exact numbers, but I’m sure that it’s no way near enough, because instead of turning to and warming up to God, too many people, unbelievers, as well as supposed believers, are turning away from God, for any number of reasons. But if we, the true believers were really living the kind of life that glorifies God, others would be turning to Him in droves, rather than the other way around.
 
A lot of the blame for the world’s ills lies with us, because we talk a very good talk, when we feel so inclined, but don’t walk the walk half as good. How then can we bring people to Jesus eh mih people, especially when our lives are filled with so much hypocrisy, deceit, resentment and ‘unforgiveness’?
 
And sadly, as the individual members of Christ’s church go, so does the overall body. That means if we’re not going right as individuals, the church won’t go right as a body either, which is certainly happening right now.
 
But unfortunately, a lot of that has to do with our refusal to give up the fatal attraction for the things of the world. Thus in the parable of the sower, so many of us fall into the category that Jesus talks about in our Bit. ‘He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care (cares) of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.’
 
Yes my brethren, too many of us allow the cares of the world to restrict the Word of God in our hearts, therefore we cannot perform His work properly.
 
But please remember Bruh Paul’s famous admonition to the church at Rome: ‘And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.’ (Rom.12:2)
 
And according to the scholars ‘Be not conformed’ literally means to stop conforming ourselves. We ‘are to resist being poured into the mould of the present thinking, value systems, and conduct of this world. This term is used only here and in 1 Peter 1:14.’
 
And since many of you won’t check that scripture, I’ll include it here. Peter is calling the people to Christian dedication. ‘Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind (prepare your mind for action), be sober, and hope to the end for grace (put your hope fully upon the grace) that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
 
As obedient children, not fashioning (conforming) yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (conduct).’ (1 Pet.1:13-15)
 
Oh Friends, it couldn’t be put any simpler or more straightforward than that! Now we all know it’s difficult to resist and turn away from the lures of the world, but it’s doable, if we seriously and sincerely want to do it, especially when we’re guided by the Holy Spirit, which was expressly sent to give us good guidance and true direction in this wicked world.
 
So please, let’s raise our level of righteousness nuh, by seriously inspecting our lives and making whatever changes are necessary, and also helping those who come crying out for help. It’s only as a totally supportive and uniform body, can we ever hope to truly raise LOVE for Jesus, thereby bringing others into the welcoming and protective embrace of His LOVE Revolution, which is what we’re called to do, and expected to do. Much LOVE!
 
…a friend of the world…is no friend of God…and vice versa…
 
          
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    

Today’s Scrip-Bit 16 February 2013 Jeremiah 5:25

16 Feb 2013 Leave a comment

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

Jeremiah 5:25.     Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.
 
Oh Friends, it’s a beautiful Saturday morning! Ah well in some places it is, while in others it’s not so great. My area looks dry, but it’s cold and there’s still some snow on the banks. That just goes to show how much snow fell last weekend, so even with some warm days this past week, it’s not all melted. But anyway, regardless of what the physical world looks like outside, as believers, we all know that inside our souls are always beautiful, because Jesus, His Holy Spirit resides there. And if Jesus is in you, your soul has no other option but to be beautiful! And all God’s children gave off a mighty shout of joy: ‘Blessed be the name of Jesus!’ Yes Friends, blessed is that holy name to which all knees shall bow and all hearts eventually give reverence. Now let’s say this beautiful, inspiring, positive prayer taken from the Hour of Power Devotional by Dr. Robert H. Schuller. ‘Father, I turn these minutes over to you. Do something beautiful in my mind, in my heart, and in my life today. So I will look back and say: “I was caught up by an inspiring spirit of the eternal God in this moment of prayer.” In the name of Christ I pray. Amen.’ I like Dr. Schuller’s prayers because they are always so upbeat, thought-provoking and motivational. I just wish more believers would adopt that attitude because it’s how Jesus wants us to be, how the author of Hebrews – in my mind Bruh Paul – envisions us when he says: ‘Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’ (Heb.4:16) Yes Friends, we must come humbly, with the appropriate respect and reverence, but with confidence that since we are in Jesus, our entreaties will at least be heard, and if they are aligned with God’s will, positively answered. And here’s how the scholars describe that verse. ‘Only Christianity provides such boldness for sinful men before a holy God, and that boldness is possible only because of our High Priest. The figure of a throne suggests a place of authority and provision. It is the place to obtain God’s grace when it is especially needed.’ And since only Christians have that wonderful opportunity, let’s take advantage of it nuh mih breddren, by bringing our every need confidently to the Lord in prayer. That’s what he desires of us. Let’s behave positive and lively, LOVING and confident, so that our Bit won’t have any material bearing on our lives. ‘Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.’ Oh Friends, our society is a mirror image of Judah’s when the Lord made that statement, and if we continue down the sinful, ungodly path we’re now so boldly but foolishly treading, we’re just dangerously playing with brimstone and fire, because the Lord will not stand by idly and let us continue our sinful ways forever. Now listen to what the Lord says through Jeremiah, concerning the allegations in our Bit. Sorry, they’re not allegations, but proven facts. ‘For among my people are found wicked men; they lay wait (lie in wait), as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen (grown) rich. They are waxen (have grown) fat, they shine (are sleek): yea, they overpass (surpass) the deeds of the wicked: they judge (plead) not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge (defend). Shall I not visit (punish) for these things? saith the Lord: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? A wonderful (an astonishing) and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule (rule) by their means (own power); and my people LOVE to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?’ (Jer.5:26-31) Oh fellow believers, unfortunately all those things listed there are also unvarnished truths of our society today! We simply cannot deny them. And if you’re wondering how a wonderful and horrible thing could be simultaneously committed in the land, listen to the scholars’ explanation. ‘Judah’s sin is so exceedingly evil that it is described as being appallingly horrible and staggeringly wonderful (wondered at in shocked disbelief).’ Yes Friends, I’m sure when we hear and/or see some of the evil, ungodly goings on in our world we are shocked. But the most important question my brethren is the one the Lord asks at the end of the passage: ‘and what will ye do in the end thereof?’ Now that’s the billion dollar, salvation and eternal life threatening question. Please, let’s seriously ponder it today, then go out and do our best to change the disastrous predicament that’s assuredly in our future, if we don’t repent and turn back to sincerely worshipping the ONE TRUE GOD; He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Much LOVE!…true wisdom is the God-given ability…to decipher right from wrong…we have it…so let’s use it nuh…