Today’s Scrip-Bit   6 December 2023 John 8:12.

06 Dec 2023 Leave a comment

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

John 8:12.       I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

And Wednesday, our second-wind day, has opened somewhat cloudy and chilly. Oh, the sun is trying valiantly to have a say in the matter, but I don’t think he’ll prevail today, because the clouds do look rather raunchy and in a bad mood. (smile) But we true believers in Christ can handle a li’l cloudiness every now and then. It’s when the cloudiness gets to be a regular occurrence and we don’t see the sun for days on end, that we get a bit miffed and grouchy, and exhibit the tendency to fall into what we call SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder. That’s a type of depression that happens most often in winter, when we don’t get enough sunshine or light in our bodies and souls. 

This commentary tells us: ‘SAD is more than just “winter blues.” The symptoms can be distressing and overwhelming and can interfere with daily functioning. However, it can be treated. About 5 percent of adults in the U.S. experience SAD and it typically lasts about 40 percent of the year. It is more common among women than men. SAD has been linked to a biochemical imbalance in the brain prompted by shorter daylight hours and less sunlight in winter. As seasons change, people experience a shift in their biological internal clock or circadian rhythm that can cause them to be out of step with their daily schedule. 

SAD is more common in people living far from the equator where there are fewer daylight hours in the winter. SAD can be effectively treated in several ways, including light therapy, antidepressant medications, talk therapy or some combination of these. While symptoms will generally improve on their own with the change of season, symptoms can improve more quickly with treatment.’ 

And that’s the medical lesson for today! (smile) But then we have the spiritual lesson to help conquer the medical infirmity. That’s acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, for as He proclaimed in His fleshly walk on earth: ‘I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’ (John 8:12) Now that says it all my brethren! If we desire to not walk and live in spiritual or even physical darkness, we desperately need to hook up with Jesus asap, for he is the ONLY One that can keep shedding light into our souls, hearts, spirits and minds! 

And we all know that light is a big deal in the Word of God; the Bible. There are so many references to it that we can never exhaust them, no matter how hard we try! So, let’s check out some of them nuh, to help us ward off things like SAD and the evil works and temptations that the devil tries to send against us. And I believe the best scripture to begin with is this one from the gospel of John, where he talks about Jesus’ background. 

He says: ‘In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness comprehended (apprehended) it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John (John the Baptist). The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.’ (John 1:4-9)  

Yes friends, Jesus is the LIGHT of the world, and He imbues all who are born into this world with the capacity to embrace His life saving light, although once we get here, the devil muddies our souls and spirits and tries to get us under his spell of darkness. And he does succeed to a great extent. That’s why when Jesus came, John states: ‘He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. he came unto his own (His own things or domain), and his own (His own people) received him not.’ (John 1:10-11) 

Oh my people, Jesus came bearing light for those lost in the darkness, but He was rejected by the world in general, and by His own people, the Jews, in particular. What a sad state of affairs, that still exist even to this day. But we’re here to talk about light, so let’s do that nuh. (smile) And the prophet Isaiah said this of Jesus several centuries before He was born. ‘The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them the light hath shined.’ (Is. 9:2) And we certainly saw the light in the person of Jesus, born unto the virgin Mary at this Christmas season of the year. 

However, as Jesus so sadly puts it to His listeners: ‘And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men LOVED darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth (practices) evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved (exposed, made public). But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.’ (John 3:19-21) 

And therein lies one of the greatest truths my brethren; men LOVE darkness, for their deeds are evil, especially in these terrible times of sin and ungodliness; therefore they refuse to come to the Light, that’s Jesus, because they know that their evil deeds will be exposed and they will have to suffer the resultant consequences. For never forget my people, there are consequences for wrong doing. The Lord will pardon sin, offer forgiveness, but continual sin will bring down serious consequences on us. 

Now, a couple of short scriptures, as we are running out of time and space. Peter says of us: ‘But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people (God’s special people); that ye should shew forth (proclaim) the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.’ (1 Pet. 2:9) Then Bruh Paul said to the Thessalonians: ‘Ye are all the children (sons) of light, and the children (sons) of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober.’ (1 Thess. 5:5-6) 

Then John informs us in his first epistle: ‘But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.’ (1 John 1:7) Meanwhile Psalm 119 reminds us of these most pertinent facts: ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.’ (Ps. 119:105) And isn’t that the everlasting truth? It certainly is. 

That leads to these discipleship words of Jesus: ‘Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle (lamp), and put it under a bushel (basket), but on a candlestick (lampstand); and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt. 5:14-16). And I couldn’t think of a better scripture for us to end on today my fellow saints. So let’s remember it, and do our best to put it into action as we go about our daily lives. 

Now lets’ go home declaring (yes!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. Altogether 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 the added promise that anyone who endures right to the end with Jesus will be greeted, most amazingly astounded, by a future even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine. So, please, let’s all stand with and for Jesus right to the very end, so that we can enjoy that amazing future together! Much LOVE!

…light is stronger than darkness…for even a small amount of light…can easily penetrate a great darkness… 

P.S. Yes, it’s long, but LOVERLY…! (smile) 

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Today’s Scrip-Bit   13 November 2023 James 4:10.

13 Nov 2023 Leave a comment

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

James 4:10.        Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

And we’ve been blessed with a bright sunny Monday to begin our new work week, with double digit temperatures! Please give the Lord some thanks and praise for it, because it could have easily been rain and snow instead! (smile) Ah friends, I do hope that we’re out there blowing away the heathen with our superb salty flavour and blinding them with our heavenly light, so that they can know we’re not just ordinary people, but sincere followers of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the One who sacrificed His sinless life on the cross at Calvary so that our sin debt could be paid in full, and we could thus be reconciled back to our heavenly father. Glory be! 

What a wonderful Lord and Saviour is our Jesus! He is the shepherd of our souls: He said it Himself: ‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep….I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.’ (John 10:11, 14) And not only is Jesus our good shepherd, but He’s also the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the Father but through him! (John 14:6) Wow! Jesus has the best way for us to live this earthly life! In other words, He’s our EVERYTHING! And we are NOTHING without Him! 

Listen as He tells it loud and clear: ‘Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’ (John 15:4-5) 

Mama Mia! What a powerful, all-encompassing statement! Without Jesus we can’t do much of anything. And that’s the gospel truth, for the universe and all there is belongs to Him, He created it, for His pleasure. Bruh David said it thus in Psalm 24: ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods (rivers).’ (Ps. 24:1-2) 

And likewise friends, the Lord created us in His own spiritual image to honour and glorify Him. He breathed the breath of life into each human being He created and can just as summarily take it away. And we had better learn to respect that li’l piece of info, for it’s why, when the Grim Reaper appears to take us home, we are helpless to say no. 

Furthermore, since the earth and everything in it belongs to the Lord, that means it’s also the Lord who allows us to get wealth and live the good and comfortable life. As Moses reminded the Hebrew children so long ago on their way to the Promised Land. ‘But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth.’ (Deut. 8:18) In fact my faithful brethren it’s the Lord who gives us power to get or do anything whatsoever! And physical wealth and abundance is one of God’s great blessings for those who are obedient and follow His divine will. 

And since God did not want us to be merely robots, He gave us what we call free choice; the ability to do as we please. However, that free choice does come with serious repercussions if we don’t do His will. He gave us the free choice expecting that we’d be wise enough to use it follow Him not the evil Satan, like so many of us are doing. And that’s why the sin and evil in this world are eating us up and spitting us out like wood chips from a wood factory. We cannot control the evildoers and their evil deeds by our own efforts. No, we need the health and strength and the complete wherewithal of Christ Jesus to do it. 

And it’s not always easy to fight off the devil, but as James says it begins thus: ‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh (near) to God, and he will draw nigh (near) to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted (lament), and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness (gloom). Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.’ (James 4:7-10) Now that right there says it all friends. We need to humble ourselves in God’s sight, not behave proud and arrogant and like we have no need for Him. 

As James says earlier on: ‘Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will (wants) to be a friend of the world, is (makes himself) the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy (yearns jealously)? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.’ (James 4:4-6) 

Oh my people, once upon a time we were complete enemies of God, but when the time was right He sent Jesus to die for us so that we could become His children once again. Now we have the choice, the option of being a child of God or one of Satan. It only makes complete sense to choose the best option, that of being a son of God, for the other option only leads to hellfire and damnation. But that calls for humbling ourselves before Him. So let’s do that right now nuh, approach the throne of grace through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, asking for divine help. 

Altogether now: ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise Your Holy Name and thank You this Monday morning for life and strong faith in Christ, despite the mass confusion in our world. Heavenly Father, You are the ONLY ONE with the power to solve our many problems. Yes, we have all sinned and seriously disobeyed Your Word, but You are a merciful, forgiving and gracious God, who has faithfully promised to hear and answer our prayers when we humble ourselves, pray, and sincerely seek Your face. 

So, we come to You now, with sincere repentance in our hearts, pleading for wise guidance and direction to alleviate our problems. Oh Father, please ease the pain of the many suffering from negative situations, show them Your awesome grace and mercy. And faithfully keep Your promise to prosper us if we turn from our evil ways. Show this evil world that You are indeed Jehovah Rapha; the God who heals! We pray this in the holy and blessed name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen! And again, we say: Amen!’ 

And if we’ve truly learned our lesson, then we’ll turn from our evil ways and humble ourselves before Almighty God! Much LOVE!

…the Lord hates the haughty…they are an abomination unto Him… (Prov. 6:17)

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ