ONLY Almighty God can guarantee True Safety to His Followers in this Unsafe World!

21 May 2025 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 4:8.        I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

Aye mih people, today we’re on the usual Wednesday late bus, (smile) not the late late one like last week, for although I did stop off to do an errand after church, today I did not need a nap before writing the Bit! Glory to God! But I’m surely disappointed in the weather because last week it showed such promise of summer, while this week it’s reverted to spring-like behaviour; temps around the low double figures, and damp, windy, drizzly conditions. But I suppose that’s the crazy effects of climate change. Yes, climate change has become a very convenient excuse or scapegoat for any unusual happenings. 

Anyway, today I’ve been led to look at Psalm 4, espousing Bruh David’s great confidence of ‘Safety in the Lord.’ He begins with this soulful, heartfelt call: ‘Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged (relieved) me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me (be gracious to me) and hear my prayer.’ (Ps. 4:1) Now that’s a cry many of us have uttered down through the years, and will most surely utter again if we live to a ripe old age. (smile) But it’s a very potent and necessary prayer. As the scholars put it: ‘the pious always petition for God’s benevolent attributes to be demonstrated.’ 

And why not eh? Our God clearly desires us to call out to Him for help when we’re in trouble and He takes great pride in helping us. But we do have to sincerely acknowledge Him in the affairs of our lives, if we expect His help. As Cousin Sol says in that wise and famous scripture: ‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct (make straight) thy paths.’ (Prov. 3:5-6) Now that’s the basis and reason we have for expecting God to hear our cry for help! We acknowledge His sovereignty and wise guidance. 

And it’s interesting how Bruh David continues the psalm. ‘O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye LOVE vanity (worthlessness), and seek after leasing (falsehood)? Selah.’ (Ps. 4:2) Now that’s a very good question, and one that’s rather appropriate to many of us in these trying and ungodly times! Yes friends, how long are we going to foolishly and unwisely continue to follow Satan and his lies, deceitfulness and ungodly deeds eh? We can all see that it’s only causing chaos, strife and disaster, which will lead to the eventual downfall of our world. 

Let’s remember that Satan has nothing to lose, because he’s already been condemned to hell fire and damnation, with eternal separation from God. But we have so much to lose if we follow his sinful schemes, wiles and lies; our salvation and also eternal separation from God. And there’s nothing more important in this universe than salvation, and eternal life with God! So what’s it going to take to wake up our unwise brethren to the falsehood and dishonesty of Satan eh? And to help us understand the situation, Bruh David continues: ‘But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.’ (Ps. 4:3) 

And that is exactly what the Lord has done through Christ Jesus, as Bruh Paul writes to the Corinthians: ‘Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.’ (1 Cor. 1:2) Yes friends, all who believe in Christ Jesus are set apart, sanctified by His grace and mercy for His holy work. 

And this commentary offers an interesting explanation. ‘In Christianity, sanctification refers to the process of being set apart for God’s use, becoming holy or sacred. It’s not just an initial act of being declared holy (justification), but an ongoing process of growth in holiness and likeness to Christ. This growth involves actively participating with the Holy Spirit in spiritual disciplines like prayer and Bible study, as well as obeying God’s commands.’ 

So you see, we’re not to be doing the things Satan tries to tempt us into doing. Instead, we’re supposed to be doing like Bruh David says in the psalm. ‘Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.’ (Ps. 4:4-5)

Wow! What wise and wonderful advice! Are we going to take it? Let’s hope so! For as Bruh David continues: ‘There are many that say. Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. This hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn (grain) and their wine increased.’ (Ps. 4:6-7) Oh my people, there are indeed many naysayers, many who doubt God’s goodness and even His very existence, but we know better, we know the truth; He does exist, is all powerful, all knowing and ever-present in the lives of those who sincerely LOVE and live for Him. 

That’s why Bruh David could make this glorious and confident statement to end the psalm. ‘I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.’ (Ps. 4:8) And all God’s children said a loud, proud and grateful: ‘Thank You Lord!’ Yes mih bredrin, only those who sincerely belief in Christ Jesus can lay down and sleep in peace and safety, because our Lord and Saviour has promised to keep us in perfect peace, and He NEVER reneges on a promise! 

That means we can joyfully go home declaring (chuh!!!) our Wednesday Wail letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘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, if we endure to the very end with Jesus, then we will enjoy an even more glorious future than we can ask or imagine. So, I implore us to use godly wisdom and stay with Jesus right to the very end, so that we can enjoy that wonderful future together! Much LOVE!

…true safety in this world….can only be achieved through…belief…trust in…and total surrender to Christ…

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 July 2020 1 Corinthians 1:3.

02 Jul 2020 Leave a comment

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

1 Corinthians 1:3.     ​Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 

Yes friends, it was indeed a late one, after five, and you know it’s not easy getting up with a mature body like mine, (smile) and then I had to do a couple of things before I got started, so we’re way behind the eight ball this morning. But not to worry, the Lord’s Word is NEVER late, it might be a bit tardy in our estimation, but in reality, it’s NEVER late! And now that we’ve made that crystal clear, (smile) let’s get right into the heart of the matter; prayer, the  refreshing and encouraging words of Bruh Paul to the church at Corinth, words that have stood the test of time and are ever so valuable to us in our current time of desperate need.

 So Lord, I pray that ‘Unto the church of God, in all parts of the universe, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:’ (1 Cor. 1:2) That applies to us my people! We are numbered amongst the saints of Christ, and corporate prayer, prayer for the entire church, ought to be a most important aspect of our prayer lives. 

And the scholars offer this explanation. ‘1:2. Sanctified in Christ Jesus could be rendered “made holy by virtue of your relationship with Christ Jesus.” Here Paul has special reference to the Corinthians’ right relationship with God. They are set apart for God’s special use. His aim in the epistle is to bring the Corinthians’ actions and lifestyle into closer harmony with God’s expectations for those He has made His own.’ 

Ah my people, ALL of that applies to us today too! Through our belief in Christ Jesus, we’ve also been made holy and set aside for God’s personal purpose, but our relationship with him needs to be improved a whole lot. Our actions and lifestyle definitely need to be brought into closer harmony with His high expectations of us. We’re way below what’s expected of us, and that’s not a good sign. 

However, as Bruh Paul continues: ‘Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf (concerning you), for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in everything ye are enriched by him, in all utterance and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind (short) in no gift; waiting for the coming (revelation) of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (1 Cor. 1:3-8) 

Please note my brethren that Bruh Paul doesn’t just pray for the people of Corinth to have wealth etc. but more to be filled with the grace and knowledge of God so that they can live up to the principles of the gospel that they have received. And believe me in these trying and ungodly times it’s grace and knowledge that we need more than ever to stand up for the gospel and promulgate it all over the world, which is our bounden duty! 

Hear the explanation the scholars offer on the verses above. ‘1:3. Grace…and peace: In the former, Paul contemplates all that is understood by God’s gracious unmerited favour as it is extended to sinners. The latter has in mind benefits that fall from the exercise of God’s LOVE.’ Oh my people, those two things, grace and peace and are ever so much more important than wealth and power, and in several of the epistles that’s what Bruh Paul prays for his readers to have. And I believe that should also be a big part of our prayers too. 

‘1:7. While gift has a wide variety of meanings, here it probably has reference to spiritual gifts, a theme developed later in the epistle.’ ‘1:8. Confirm (strengthen, establish, make firm): Historically, the gospel has been confirmed on them. Now they anticipate the prospect of that blessed event when Jesus Christ shall also confirm them blameless before the throne of God.’ Ah faithful saints in Christ, that is the exact position in which we find ourselves. The gospel has been confirmed in us, as indisputable truth, and now we too are waiting for the final revelation of Jesus when He brings it all into reality! 

And I like how Bruh Paul ends his greeting with words of assurance: ‘God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (1 Cor. 1:9) Now that’s something we can also hold on to in these disturbing and dangerous times… ‘God is faithful!’ And plenty of us can testify to that from personal experience, so why don’t we exhibit it more in our daily lives eh? 

Anyway, listen to this explanation from the scholars. ‘1:9. Unto the fellowship of his Son: The term “fellowship” includes both union and communion. The Corinthian believers had been brought into union with the Lord Jesus Christ. Accordingly, this great truth implies that they had been brought into communion with one another. Here in a nutshell is the theme of this this epistle.’ 

And believe my brethren, just like the church at Corinth, today’s church is too divided and dysfunctional over too many petty and ungodly matters. And we desperately need to come into much better communion with each other if we’re going to serve our earthly purpose(s) with diligence and excellence. I don’t think any of us can doubt that fact with a sincere heart. But nonetheless, for those of us who are truly trying, let’s go home declaring (oh no!) our Thursday Blessings; the magnificent and magnanimous gifts the Lord has so generously bestowed on us, so that we can do His work down here. 

All together 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!’ 

Now let’s go out and share them generously but safely! Much LOVE!

…he who sows in peace…shall reap an abundant harvest of grace…