The Overwhelming Importance of Christians Understanding that Christ is the Perfect Example to Follow!

30 Jul 2026 Leave a comment

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   30 July 2026   Hebrews 12:2a.

Hebrews 12:2a.         Looking unto Jesus the author (originator) and finisher (perfector) of our faith;

Oh friends, it’s another glorious, sunshiny, summer’s day, with the wind again dancing the light fandango with the trees! And on this Thursday, the penultimate day of our work week, and also the penultimate day of this eccentric month of July, we’ll look at the prayer from this month’s In Touch Devotional. So please pray with me.

‘Lord, sometimes others’ words cut deeper than I let on. I want to hide, keeping close only those who make me feel safe. You were pierced by words and nails, yet LOVE flowed from Your wounds. Fill my heart with courageous LOVE, strong enough to choose connection. Help me see others as you do, imperfect people like me who need grace and compassion. When I’m tempted to pull away from someone, soften my heart. Show me why that person hurts – make me a source of Your healing. In Jesus’ name, amen.’

And yuh know what my brethren, in these oh so deceitful, dishonest, angry and strife-filled days, where words are commonly used like a weapon, thrown out without thought to the other person’s emotional wellbeing, that kind of backing away, steering clear of our fellow human beings is quite prevalent, as well as understandable. Because who wants to get their feelings hurt by often untrue and hurtful words. And believe me, words can cut to the quick even more deeply than a real weapon.

All of us, at some time or another, have experienced cutting words that just shook our souls to their very foundations, leaving us wondering what had hit us, so strong was the vehemence and the poison that emanated from someone else’s mouth toward us. But thankfully we don’t have to fear those kinds of diatribe, because we have a Saviour who experienced those deadly slings of word arrows, as well as the nails and shame of the cross, but who instead fought them with LOVE and compassion, rather than with the same sort of evil that was cast upon Him.

As the author of Hebrews so rightly advises us. ‘Looking unto Jesus the author (originator) and finisher (perfector) of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction (hostility) of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint (become discouraged) in your minds (souls).’ (Heb. 12:2-3) Yes my fellow believers, that’s the worthy example Jesus gave us to follow.

And as Bruh Paul warns us in Romans: ‘Recompense to (repay) no man evil for evil … Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head (cause him shame). Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.’ (Rom. 12:17a, 19-21) Now that’s how we ought to handle the harsh and hurting words or actions that come against us. And we all know that it’s easier said than done, but that’s how our leader, Jesus wants us to react. He said it Himself in the Sermon on the Mount.

‘Ye have heard that it hath been said , Thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, LOVE your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully (spitefully) use you, and persecute you: That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye LOVE them which LOVE you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans (tax collectors) the same? And if ye salute (greet) your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans (tax collectors) so? Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.’ (Matt. 5:43-48)

Now that is indeed a tough row to hoe my people, but it’s what Jesus expects of us, his faithful followers. And let’s understand that not all our enemies that we try to be nice to will respond with gratefulness or graciousness, for the tempo and temper of our times are such that they don’t encourage such decent behaviour. We’re living in a dog eat dog world, one like we’ve never seen before, with many of the so-called niceties and manners of previous generations having unfortunately fallen by the wayside.

And one other important point we need to consider in this era of harsh words and uncompromising actions, is that hurting people, hurt others. Yes, many a time that harsh words or actions are thrown out, it’s because the originator of such behaviour has been hurt themselves and either consciously or unconsciously wishes to hurt someone else, for that’s the nature of the human animal. Our sinful nature automatically calls for some sort of revenge. But let’s remember that’s not our job, it’s the Lord’s.

Ah friends, we’re all imperfect, and thus liable to behave imperfectly, but we have the perfect example of Jesus Christ before us, so, when those kinds of situations arise in our lives, let’s remember all that we’ve said today, and don’t immediately react with trepidation, that feeling of fear or worry, but let’s turn first to God and ask for His help to handle the situation in the right manner. As the prayer says; ‘fill my heart with that courageous LOVE, strong enough to make a connection. Help me see others as You do. Imperfect people like me who need grace and compassion. When I’m tempted to pull away from someone, soften my heart. Show me why that person hurts – make me a source of Your healing. In Jesus’ name, amen.’

And yuh know what? The Lord has already given us the tools to handle such situations. We call them our Thursday Blessings, undeserved blessings the Lord has generously bestowed on us to do His earthly work. So let’s declare and thus activate them right now nuh, for a blessing is not a blessing until it’s spoken. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘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 every day! Amen!’ 

And having made that declaration, we’re now duty bound to go out and use those blessings to help others, just as generously the Lord bestowed them on us! Much LOVE!

…Jesus has set a tough example for us to follow…but follow it we must…as best as we can…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

The Overwhelming Importance of Christians Understanding the Evil Tendencies that Jealousy Creates! Part 3.

23 May 2026 Leave a comment

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   23 May 2026   1 Samuel 24:17.

1 Samuel 24:17.        And he (Saul) said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

And it’s our lazy-day Saturday my people, where we can do whatever we want to do without a guilty conscience! (smile) And it opened wet and cloudy and seems like it intends to stay that way. Now that’s the perfect kind of day for lazing around at home. However, I had to go out to the annual Pentecost Prayer Breakfast at my church, and thus had to brave the wind and the rain to do so, But it was worth it, for as usual we had a good time; singing, praying, eating and fellowshipping with each other, under the watchful eye of the Holy Spirit. And when I came home around one o’clock, I obviously had to have a nap, so that’s why we’re on this late bus today.

So without further ado, let’s offer up our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer, in all sincerity and truth. As one strong voice: ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

And as always, if our prayer was sincerely heartfelt, the Lord will soon bless our souls with His peace and calm, because there’s nothing He delights in as much as increased intimacy with His human creation. And seeing that He also allowed the breath of life to continue flowing through our mortal bodies this rainy day, let’s keep our promise to keep looking at the interesting relationship between King Saul, his son and heir Jonathan, and Bruh David. Yesterday we stopped at where Bruh David married King Saul’s daughter Michal, but nonetheless became his sworn enemy.

So much so, that soon thereafter, the Bible informs us: ‘And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.’ (1 Sam. 19:1) Yes friends, Saul’s jealousy was so bad, he even plotted with his son and servants to kill Bruh David.  But as we said yesterday, when the Lord’s hand is upon, you, no man can touch you.

Therefore the Bible continues: ‘But Jonathan Saul’s son delighted much in David: (remember they had earlier made a covenant together) and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.’ (1 Sam. 19:2-3) What a major difference in attitude and behaviour between father and son. Johnathan was willing to put his life on the line for Bruh David. That’s why the friendship between them is one of the strongest and most beautiful in the Bible.

The following day, the Bible confirms Johnathan’s promise: ‘And Johnathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?’ (1 Sam. 19:4-5) How heartwarming that Jonathan could stand up for Bruh David, even when he knew that Bruh David would eventually become king, instead of him.

And wonder of wonders; the Bible continues: ‘And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the Lord liveth, he shall not be slain. And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.’ (1 Sam. 19: 6-7) Now it’s always good to see peace being made between enemies, but the question is how long would that state of peaceful co-existence last ?

We’re not sure, but the Bible tells us: ‘And there was war again: and David went out and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him. And the evil spirit form the Lord was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played (music) with his hand. And Saul sought to smite (pin) David to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.’ (1 Sam. 19:8-10)

That peaceful state of affairs certainly didn’t last all that long.  And Saul was so insistent on Bruh David’s death, that the Bible recounts: ‘Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life tonight, to morrow thou shalt be slain. So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.’ (1 Sam. 19:11-12)  Yes friends, when that green eyed monster raises its ugly head, you can be sure that evil and destruction is going to eventually be in play.

But smart girl that she was, the Bible tells us: ‘And Michal took an image (household idol), and hid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. And when the messengers were come in, behold there was an image (idol) in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster.

And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee? So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. and he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.’ (1 Sam. 19:13-18)

Ah mih people, the things that jealousy will make us do are mind-boggling. And we know that Saul tried to kill Bruh David for several years, and had him constantly on the run, living in the wilderness, where he wrote some of his best music and poetry, and even one time amongst the Philistines. But he could never get to do his evil deed, because Bruh David was protected by the Lord’s anointing. Bruh David even had a chance to kill Saul, but refused to touch the Lord’s anointed. (1 Sam 24) And when Saul found out, he cried and said to David, ‘Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.’ (1: Sam. 24:17)

Yes friends, that’s the moral of the story. Jesus said to turn the other cheek, to LOVE your enemies, and Bruh David was a glowing witness to that. So, on this rainy Saturday before the day of Pentecost, let’s consider the lessons to be learned from those relationships nuh, and react wisely to whatever temptations may come our way! Much LOVE!

…Be not overcome of evil…but overcome evil with good… ) Rom. 12:21)

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien