The Overwhelming Importance of Christians Believing that God Truly LOVES and Cares for Them!

04 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   4 July 2026   1 John 4:10.

1 John 4:10.        Herein is LOVE, not that we LOVED God, but that he LOVED us, and sent his son to be the propitiation (atonement) for our sins.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY U.S.A

And on this first lazy-day Saturday in July, where after some rain in the early morning hours, it’s cloudy and muggy, we want to wish a Happy 4th of July to all those south of the border. It’s the U.S.A’s 250 celebration of their Independence. Sadly though, it appears that the big parade held annually in the Washington DC. area has been cancelled because of extreme heat concerns.

Ah Lord eh, like the whole world is in a heat cocoon right now, with temperatures soaring to unknown heights in some places. And we won’t get into the why’s and wherefores of that unfortunate situation so affectionally termed climate change, (smile) but just remember to keep on believing in Jesus and do what He calls us to do, for He is our inestimable, priceless Lord, Saviour and Leader, who knows what is always best for us.

And before we truly get into lazy-day Saturday mode, let’s offer up our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer in all sincerity and truth. As one 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 sincere and heartfelt, then we’ll soon have the best foundation for a true lazy-day Saturday; that’s a renewal or rekindling of the calming peace and LOVE of our wonderful God, acknowledging our desire for greater intimacy with Him. Something that just warms the cockles of His heart and renews His faith in His decision to create man. Yes friends, that’s what a desire to have increased intimacy with Almighty God does for Him, because it’s one of the very reasons He created us in the first place; to have a close and personal relationship with His most important creation.

Likewise, when we refuse to have a close relationship with Him, it breaks His heart, He feels rejected by the very ones He LOVES the most. It’s like Jesus said to Nicodemus, the Jewish Leader who came to Him under cover of night for answers. ‘For God so LOVED the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ (John 3:16)

Oh my fellow believers, that’s how much God LOVED and still LOVES His human creation! You must have a great feeling of care and compassion for someone or something to give up such a precious thing as your only Son’s life for it. And there are so many scriptures in the Bible that tell it, so I don’t understand why we have so much trouble acknowledging God’s great LOVE for us. So let’s look at a few scriptures that expound on that subject.

And the first, one of my favourite scriptures, tells it thus: ‘But God commendeth (demonstrates) his (own) LOVE toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Rom. 5:8) Oh friends, why can’t we understand the importance of that scripture and see the amazing LOVE of God it shows?

Most other gods would have expected us to turn to them before doing anything worthwhile for us. And it’s like we do all the time; tell someone if you do this, then I’ll do that. But the wonderful news is that Jehovah God did not wait for us to turn back to Him. No! He went ahead and set the process rolling because He LOVED us so much He didn’t want to lose anyone to eternal death.

And this is how Bruh Paul puts it to the Ephesians: ‘But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great LOVE wherewith he LOVED us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ, (by grace ye are (have been) saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through (in) Christ Jesus.’ (Eph. 2:4-7)

Yes friends, when we were morally dead in our sins, the Lord gave us spiritual life, turned us away from our old life to the new one and demonstrated it by having us sit in heavenly places, or as the scholars say: ‘brought us into His presence and into an intimate relationship with Himself.’ Now why would He do something like that if He didn’t care for us a whole lot eh?

And it’s all done through God’s goodness, through His grace, or His unmerited divine favour. As Bruh Paul continues: ‘For by grace are ye (you have been) saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.’ (Eph. 2:8-9) That says it in a nutshell my people; forgiveness of sins and eternal life is a gift of God. We can never earn it through our own efforts. There again it shows how much God truly cares for us.

Then John breaks it down in his first epistle: ‘He that LOVETH not knoweth not God; for God is LOVE. In this was manifested the LOVE of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. Herein is LOVE, not that we LOVED God, but that he LOVED us, and sent his son to be the propitiation (atonement) for our sins. Beloved, if God so LOVED us, we ought also to LOVE one another.’ (1 John 4:8-11)

Oh mih bredrin, what more do we have to say to make you believe that God truly LOVES us eh? But hopefully what John says in Revelation will help to convince you. ‘And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten (first born) of the dead, and the prince (ruler) of the kings of the earth. Unto him that LOVED us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.’ (Rev. 1:5-6)

Ah mih people, there’s no more to say. But on this first lazy-day Saturday in July, it would be wise to review those scriptures we talked about and let them sink deep into our hearts, so that we can be convinced, once and for all,that God truly LOVES and cares for us! Much LOVE!

…God has done all He can to prove His LOVE for mankind…we now need to believe it…

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

God’s Spiritual Armour Needed to Fight our Spiritual War!

14 Jan 2025 Leave a comment

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

Ephesians 6:14a.       Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth (girded your waist with truth),

So it’s Tuesday, and we have forgotten Monday’s problems, and are instead concentrating on the current ones that Tuesday is bringing, because that’s what Jesus said to do. (smile) ‘Sufficient unto the day is the evil (trouble) thereof.’ (Matt. 6:34b). And the scholars explain: ‘That means each day has its own troubles and challenges to be responsibly handled, without worrying about the hypothetical problems that could arise tomorrow.’  And one of the problems that can and will arise today and every day is that of putting on and keeping on the armour of God which helps us to fight against the deadly attacks of the enemy. 

Now, yesterday we talked about what it meant to put on the armour of God and why it was necessary, today we will delve into exactly what it is. Bruh Paul defines them thus, in his epistle to the Ephesians. ‘Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth (girded your waist with truth), and having on the breast plate of righteousness; And your feet shod with preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked (one). And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.’ (Eph. 6:14-17) 

Those are the six pieces of the armour of God, which we should always be clothed in, if we desire to effectively turn away, and eventually conquer the enemy. And what does it all mean? It’s essentially the six pieces of protection that a Roman soldier went into battle with, or any soldier should never go into hand to combat without. It begins with the truth, or knowledge of the truth of God’s Word girded about one’s waist. And per the scholars, ‘The ancient soldier’s loins (waist) were girt about with a leather belt which held most of the other pieces of armour in place. Similarly, the other pieces of the Christian’s armour depend on, and are held in place by, his spiritual “belt” or his knowledge of the “truth” of scripture.’ 

Then the second piece of protection in a soldier’s armoury was his breastplate, a device worn over the torso or chest to protect it from injury. The scholars say that ‘The breastplate of righteousness may be read “the breastplate which is righteousness.” It represents a holy character and moral conduct. Obedience to the “truth” known produces a godly life (righteousness).’ 

Meanwhile, the third piece of the believer’s armour, the ‘preparation of the gospel of peace, means “eagerness that comes from the gospel of peace.” That is, as the Roman soldier wore special shoes called caligae (heavy-soled hobnailed military sandal-boots) on his feet, enabling him to advance against the enemy, so the Christian must have on his feet (possess) a sense of “eagerness” or “willingness” to advance against the Devil and take the fight to him. Such “eagerness” to contend with Satan “comes from the gospel of peace.” The gospel gives peace to the believer, freeing him from anxiety though he advances against such a powerful opponent.’ That ought to remind us of the old adage; offense is the best part of defense. And that’s oh so true, especially in our spiritual warfare with Satan and his evildoers. 

That brings us to the fourth part of our Godly spiritual armour; The shield of (which is) faith, the handheld protection that a soldier used to protect himself from the arrows launched at him, or from the enemy’s weapons in hand-to-hand combat. As per its spiritual interpretation, the scholars say, ‘it means taking God at His word by believing His promises. Such doubts will protect one from the doubts induced by Satan.’ 

Then there’s the fifth part of the armour, the helmet of salvation. And we know that soldiers going into battle all wear a helmet, or protection for their heads. The scholars put forth that ‘Since the readers are already Christians (Eph. 2:8), they are not here urged to be saved. First Thessalonians 5:8 describes this helmet as “the hope of salvation” that is the certainty (assurance) of salvation.’  

And just because I like to spoil us so much, (smile) I will quote the two references that the scholars gave above. The first about Christians already being saved is a verse we all should know and LOVE, for it’s the very basis of our faith. ‘For by grace are ye (you have been) saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.’ (Eph. 2:8) Please let’s remember that salvation has nothing to do with our works or otherwise, but all to do with God’s great LOVE and compassion for us! And the verse from first Thessalonians about the helmet of salvation, says: ‘But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breast plate of faith and LOVE; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.’ (1 Thess. 5:8) 

And finally, the sixth part of our spiritual  armour: ‘The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.’ Now, according to the scholars, ‘The Greek term rendered “word” is not logos, referring to the whole Word of God, but rhema, referring to certain portions or selected verses of Scripture.’ However, when we wield those verses at the enemy, they’re powerful enough to cut them down to size. For remember what the Bible says about God’s word? 

‘For the Word of God is quick (alive), and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of (able to judge) the thoughts and intents (intentions) of the heart.’ (Heb. 4:12) Yes friends, the Word of our omnipotent God is living, powerful, can cut us down to size, and can judge all of our thoughts and intentions. In other words, we cannot hide from it. 

And that’s the six basic pieces of our spiritual armour. But there’s one more piece that doesn’t pertain to the Roman soldier’s armour. And Bruh Paul reveals it in this later verse. ‘Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.’ (Eph. 6:18) 

Oh my people, all our armour is of no use unless we pray! The scholars tell us that ‘Without prayer God’s armour is inadequate to achieve victory. Because prayer is indispensable!’ And we have to pray whenever Satan attacks, seeking divine aid with the help of the Spirit. Furthermore, we are to be very vigilant in the matter of prayer, and to pray not only for ourselves, but also for all our fellow believers. Because spiritual combat is both an individual and corporate matter.’ And there we have it, the whole armour of God, that we need to fight the enemy. So please, let’s study, meditate on it, and put it on, so that we can have God’s protection in this our deadly spiritual war. 

Now, let’s go home declaring (yesss!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere 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 my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’ 

And having made that commitment, we’re now duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like do! Much LOVE!

…only dressed in God’s spiritual armour…with the Holy Spirit’s help in prayer…can we win the spiritual war…

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