Today’s Scrip-Bit 31 August 2021 Matthew 24:13.

31 Aug 2021 Leave a comment

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

Matthew 24:13.     But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 

Awright friends, it’s Tuesday! That means we got through Monday beautifully, with the help of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ of course! And if He saw fit to keep on breathing His breath of life into us today, it obviously means He has a job for us to do, and will again help us get through today in fine shape and form! All glory to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! 

And let’s not forget that this is the last day of August, which means that cooler weather is now in the offing, as the summer season winds down. It’s also Independence Day in T&T, that marvellous li’l twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago down in the Southern Caribbean, the birthplace of Steel Pan, Limbo, Kaiso and Carnival! 

Now that tells us that they are the possessors of a very creative, flamboyant, colourful and stubborn nature. Consequently, we can be assured that despite the tight Covid 19 virus lockdown, there will be much celebration today in T&T. You can bet your bottom dollar on that! Even with Babylon out in full force, the Trinbagonians will find a way to celebrate, because celebration is just a part of their natural nature! (smile) 

Anyway, we’re wishing them a safe and wonderful Independence Day, and hope that they will faithfully do whatever it takes to rid themselves of the Covid 19 virus as soon as possible, since it is curtailing their celebratory agenda. All those things above there for which they are famous have now been shut down causing endless loss in all sectors of life, so the sensible thing would be to try and get rid of the virus so that life can continue in in reasonable shape. 

And that’s not a message for T&T alone, but for the whole world, because all of us are still experiencing the ravaging power of the virus or bacterium or whatever you choose to call it. And it doesn’t say much for the wisdom of man, the only creature who supposedly has brains to think, when we cannot come together and destroy a sickness that’s killing us willy nilly. 

Yes friends, it’s awful to see us in strife over something that’s so deadly, instead of trying to come together, learn about it and rid our society of it. Just shows the level of degradation to which our world has fallen, when cooperation in a time of a serious pandemic is so sadly lacking. But thankfully, the Lord God Jehovah is still on His throne running things, and in the long run, He will make them all work out for good to those who LOVE Him! That’s what we people of faith in Christ Jesus have to depend on and look forward to; His ever-faithful promises to guide and lead us and eventually bring us into eternal fellowship with Him. 

That brings us to these interesting words of Jesus to His disciples, re signs of the end times. ‘Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers (various) places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.’ (Matt. 24:4-8) 

Ah mih people, right now we are certainly witnessing a lot of what Jesus spoke of there. And if that’s only ‘the beginning of sorrows,’ can you imagine what the end of sorrows will be like? Hn! Obviously not very nice! But let’s continue listening to Jesus. ‘Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted (see tribulation), and they shall kill you, and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity (lawlessness) shall abound, the LOVE of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.’ (Matt. 24:9-14) 

Now, that’s Jesus’ explanation of how things will wind down. And yuh better believe we have seen a lot of what He says increasingly happen down through the ages, but right now I believe it’s worse than it’s ever been. So, if we are wise, we would certainly put our house in order, for as Jesus also said of His Second coming. ‘But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.’ (Matt. 24:36-37) 

Yes, just like how the people of Noah’s day were living in sinful oblivion, and the flood suddenly came and ended their good times, likewise Jesus’ Second Coming will be unexpected in a time of much sinful revelry. But let’s get back to those signs of the end time that Jesus spoke about, and try to put them into context with some explanations from the scholars. 

‘24:5-14. Many shall come (vs. 5) refers to the parade of false messiahs who have now spanned the centuries of church history and have led many astray into false religious cults. Wars and rumours of wars (vs. 6) refers to peace being taken from the earth and the constant wars that have continually marked “the age of the Gentiles.” Famines and pestilences:  (vs. 7) These events mark only the beginning of sorrows, “birth pangs.” 

This is followed by martyrdom and the rise of false prophets and the abounding of iniquity. (vs. 9-12) The “gospel of the kingdom” (vs. 14) refers to the missionary expansion of the church in all the world. The gospel shall be preached in all the world, the inhabited world, and unto all nations, “Gentile nations,” as contrasted with the Jews. Then shall the end come would then refer to the end of the church age.’ 

And yuh know what mih bredrin? All those signs have happened, or are happening right now, but please note that last one, where the gospel will preached to all the inhabited world. That has been almost accomplished, and with the sudden rise in technological prowess, it won’t be long before that last sign is fulfilled. So please, let’s wake up and get ourselves together, for the day of reckoning is closer than it’s ever been. And as Jesus faithfully promised: ‘But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.’ End of sermon! (smile) 

Now for those of us who are sincerely trying to live right, let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know who and whose we are, who we unequivocally belong to! Altogether now: ‘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!’ 

And that’s exactly what we need to go out and do; trust our wonderful friend Jesus, and share His amazing LOVE with this crazy, ungodly world! Much LOVE!

…hanging on to the end is not easy…but with Jesus’ help…we can surely do it…                                                                                                                                        

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit 14 January 2021 Proverbs 3:35.

14 Jan 2021 Leave a comment

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

Proverbs 3:35.     The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion (legacy) of fools.

Let’s get with it nuh friends, for we are now one day older and thus one day closer to death, when we can’t make any changes in our eternal destination! 

Yes, death is staring each of us in the face every single moment of every day, and since we know not when our time will be up, doesn’t it make a whole lotta sense to ensure that our eternal destination will be heaven with Christ and not hell and damnation with Satan! It certainly does! 

But oh, I forgot that we have free choice and can do whatever we wish, when we want to…but not this immortal and most important decision. That has to be made while we’re still alive and kicking! 

Remember the supposedly wise man in Jesus’ parable of the rich fool? He had plenty, and thought he was going to live for a long time, so he planned to build bigger and better, saying: ‘And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.’ (Luke 12:19) 

Oh my people, a lot of us are behaving like that rich fool, acquiring earthly treasure and storing it up so we can eventually lead the easy life, but what about our treasure in heaven where so many of us hope to spend eternity eh? Just like we put away money in the bank for a rainy day, likewise we need to put up treasure in heaven for that bright and sunny day when we get there. 

And we all know what happened to that rich fool: ‘But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?’ (Luke 12:20) Now that’s a very good question, one we should all ask ourselves. 

Yeh friends, the Grim Reaper came calling for him that same night. Now what would happen if the Lord came calling for us sometime today eh, would we be prepared, or would we be caught napping like that rich fool? Would God make this statement towards us as He did towards that rich fool? ‘So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.’ (Luke 12:21) 

Friends, are we rich towards God? Are we storing up treasure in heaven, and not only concerned with what’s happening here on earth? I certainly hope not! For Cousin Sol tells us this:‘The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion (legacy) of fools.’(Prov. 3:35) 

Oh precious people, I know none of us want to leave a legacy of being foolish, so let’s be wise and take time, RIGHT NOW,to make sure our eternal destination is heaven and not hell nuh! 

That means ensuring we have Christ in us, and that we are in Him, we have accepted Him as our Lord and Saviour, and thus are obedient to His way of living, that we are children of God, joint heirs with Christ, have been redeemed, justified, sanctified, reconciled and sealed by the Holy Spirit as God’s own for ever and ever! 

Oh what a wonderful and joyful situation to be in my faithful brethren! And that’s what happens when we invite Jesus into our hearts, our lives and allow Him to take control of our eternal destination. We’re flooded with a joy inconceivable to the unbeliever, for the joy of the Lord is our strength. That’s why the enemy works so hard to keep us miserable and unhappy. He knows that’s where our strength lies. 

And oh, I forgot, there’s one more constraint on our eternal preparations; the Second Coming of Christ! Yes friends, if Christ comes back before the Grim Reaper comes a calling, then all bets are also off the table. The thing about Jesus’ Second Coming is that we don’t know when that will be either. 

As He himself said: ‘But of that day and hour knoweth no man, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.’ (Matt. 24:36-37) Yes mih bredrin, we’ll be eating and drinking and carrying on like they were in Noah’s time, unconcerned about sin and God, when like the flood suddenly came, Jesus will come back, like a thief in the night, unexpectedly. 

‘Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman (master) of the house had known in what watch (hour) the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered (allowed) his house to be broken up (into). Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.’ (Matt. 24:40.44) 

Those weren’t my words friends, they were Jesus’. So if He took the time to warn us, don’t you think it will be wise for us to heed it? I certainly do. And just in case you don’t understand the seriousness of that situation, listen to this explanation from the scholars. 

‘24:39-42.The observation that the people of Noah’s day knew not the severity and suddenness of the coming destruction indicates that the last generation will be totally unprepared for the coming of the Son of man, the return of Christ to judge the world. (See 2 Thess. 1:7-8) The reference to two being in the field or at work at the time of Christ’s return implies the suddenness of His coming to separate the lost and the saved.’ 

What else can I say eh friends, it’s all there in black and white! All I know that if either the Grim Reaper or Christ comes and we’re not ready, there’ll be much weeping and gnashing of teeth. So let’s get it together right now nuh, and avoid that sad and undesirable scenario. And for those of us who are seriously working on it, let’s go home now declaring (ah Lord eh!) our Thursday Blessings, generously bestowed on us to do Christ’s earthly work. 

Altogether now: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! 

I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and everyday! Amen!’ 

And the desired consequence of all that, is we go out and share those blessings just as generously with others in need.Much LOVE!

…be wise…be prepared…   

Epilogue! And you all wonder why I dislike computers and this technological society that is strangling us. Well over an hour ago, I was almost finished writing the Bit when the one-year-old computer broke down on me in the middle of writing. Steups! Try as I could, I was unable to get it to work. So here I am on my trusty laptop, so much older than that new-fangled machine and still going strong! 

And it’s a good thing that I had signed back into OneDrive, only a couple of days ago, else I would have to write over the Bit from start, and would be tearing my hair out and using even more expletive deletes than I am now. (smile) But the Good Lord does move in mysterious ways – give Him all the praise – and we finally finish. Much LOVE!

Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 September 2015 Matthew 24:35‏

29 Sep 2015 Leave a comment

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

Matthew 24:35.  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Aye Friends, welcome to a somewhat cloudy Tuesday morning in my area! Now the sun might not be shining, but we are very sure that the Son is exuding His wonderful light all over God’s great universe, and for that we ought to be eternally gratefully. 

And all God’s people said a loud and humble ‘Glory Hallelujah! Thank You Father for giving us Your wonderful Son Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. We promise to LOVE and obey Him through all our days, both down here on earth, and in heaven above! Amen.’ 

Now Friends, please remember that promise, and let’s do our utmost best to keep it, for as the Preacher has so wisely told us in Ecclesiastes. ‘When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer (delay) not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better it is that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.’ (Eccl.5:4-5) 

What absolute words of wisdom my people! And by the way, that doesn’t only pertain to our vows to God, but also to out fellow man down here on Planet Earth, because we’re living in some very sad times when vows are not held in much respect, but are considered more like the saying ‘promises are made to be broken.’ 

And now it’s time for our Tuesday Mantra… 

Hn! I see a lot of thoughtful frowns and shaking of heads, and minds saying: ‘I didn’t know we had a Tuesday Mantra…’ 

Well I didn’t know it either Friends until about two o’clock this morning when I was about to go to bed. I was contemplating what I could talk about today when suddenly the idea to use the prayer I recently shared with you from the Hour of Power came into my mind as the Tuesday Mantra. 

I had to laugh and only halfheartedly considered it. But just now as I was about to write something else, the idea surfaced again. I guess the Good Lord desires it, and who am I to thwart His desires eh. At this rate, we soon might have a prayer for everyday. (smile) 

So my fellow believers, let’s recite our Tuesday Mantra with much enthusiasm and confidence. ‘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 hurry. I don’t have to worry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world.  Amen.’ 

Ah mih breddren, it’s a collection of simple, but very true and very powerful statements, and we need to hold on them, constantly have them at the back of our minds, at our beck and call, so that they can guide us in our daily walk in this sinful and ungodly world. 

And at last, we come to our Bit; immortal words of Jesus. ‘Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.’ Note Friends, Jesus wasn’t just talking for talk sake, like so many of us do, but was making a profound and prophetic statement about what was eventually going to come to pass. 

And yuh know what’s also interesting, even Jesus didn’t know when that Armageddon would take place, as He continues: ‘But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall the coming of the Son of man be.’ (Matt.24:36-39) 

Oh my people, that’s a powerful warning! Please, please, let’s heed it nuh! 

And the scholars have an interesting explanation. ’24:35-38. Verses 35 and 36 warn against attempts to set an exact date for Christ’s return at the end of the church age. To speculate that “day’ and “hour” do not eliminate “year” is a gross oversimplification. 

The Father only knows the time of Christ’s return since it has been set by His authority (cf. Acts 1:7). However, we are given a comparison to the days of Noah (and the Flood), which illustrate and prefigure the condition of humanity at the time of Christ’s return. 

The last generation, like the one of Noah’s day, is pleasure-oriented and self-gratifying by eating and drinking. The reference to marrying and giving in marriage may refer to carrying on the normal course of life without heeding the impending judgement.’  

Oh Friends, oh Friends, if ever there was a time of gross ungodliness and wickedness in the history of mankind like Noah’s day, then it is NOW! 

For the state of our world has fallen to such a degrading level, where total depravity and sinfulness rule with unbounded power! Where vices and every evil work, every abomination known to man blossom and prosper! And the sad part is that it doesn’t look as though our society will improve, will repent and return to godliness and righteousness any time soon, for Beelzebub seems to be on a roll right now. 

That should tell us something significant, shouldn’t it? That the time of Jesus’ Second Coming could be close at hand. But my people, whether that is so or not, the dictates of wisdom do declare that we should be prepared, be ready for whenever it comes; be it today, tomorrow or next year. And I am imploring us to do just that, for we never know what number is going to play when. Much LOVE!

…a wise person is one who takes Jesus’ warning to heart…and is ready for it…whenever it comes…