The Importance of Christians Standing Strong in Their Faith, Acknowledging God’s Promise of Christ’s eventual Return

21 Dec 2025 Leave a comment

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

Hebrews 10:23.        Let us hold fast the profession (confession) of our faith (hope) without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Only 3 more days to get ready friends for that most auspicious occasion; the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Yes, it’s the fourth week of Advent, making it also Christmas week. So, make sure you have everything prepared and ready, so that come the big day on Thursday, you’re not running around like a chicken with your head cut off trying to do what should have already been done. (smile) 

And today when we enter the Lord’s sanctuary to fellowship with other believers and see all the decorations and stuff, please let’s not focus on that material stuff. Yes, it does look nice, but the important focus should be on Jesus Christ, our raison d’être, our most important reason for living. 

Our song of worship this morning is also a beautiful one, based on a child’s birth, and aptly titled, ‘When a Child is Born.’ And it’s strange to note that just like ‘Joy to World’ was not written as a Christian hymn, but became one of the biggest sellers in that genre, so too is today’s song. 

The melody and tune were taken from two compositions by Italian composer Ciro Dammicco, with English lyrics written as a Christmas song by Austrian composer Fred Jay, although there’s no specific reference to Christmas in it. But it’s also turned out to be big hit in our Christmas repertoire. And one of the best versions of the song was done by that soulful crooner Johnny Mathis in 1976. So, let’s raise our sweet sacrifices of praise to heaven in a touching, sincere, soulful rendition of this wonderful song When a Child is Born, which so tenderly reminds us of Christ‘s birth. 

And we’ll begin, a la Johnny Mathis, with an inspiring monologue, where he exhorts us thus: ‘I believe that we can be more sensitive to the needs of our fellow man, that we can be better neighbours to each other. Sometimes we take too much for granted, and we forget to tell each other we care. I think the holidays provide a wonderful opportunity to bind friendships and to show our LOVED ones they are important to us. That we’re happy they are in the world. It’s something we should do more often. And the spirit of Christmas is a joyful reminder of our responsibilities as people.’ 

And isn’t that the living truth my fellow believers?  It surely is! After that, we hum the first few bars over some quiet music. (Humming: ‘Hn hn hn hn hn, hn hn hn hn…’ Then we break into joyful song: ‘A ray of hope flickers in the sky A tiny star lights up way up high All across the land, dawns a brand new morn This comes to pass when a child is born – 

A silent wish sails the seven seas The winds of change whisper in the trees And the walls of doubt crumble, tossed and torn This comes to pass when a child is born – A rosy hue settles all around You’ve got the feel you’re on solid ground For a spell or two, no one seems forlorn This comes to pass when a child is born –

 ( Monologue ) – And all of this happens because the world is waiting, Waiting for one child Black, white, yellow, no one knows But a child that will grow up and turn tears to laughter, Hate to LOVE, war to peace and everyone to everyone’s neighbor And misery and suffering will be words to be forgotten, forever)  

(Singing: – (It’s all a dream, an illusion now It must come true, sometime soon somehow All across the land, dawns a brand new morn This comes to pass when a child is born.) All across the land, dawns a brand new morn This comes to pass when a child is born.’ 

And yes, there’s something about the birth of a new baby that brings and spreads joy to all who hear about it. It’s one of the few universally joyful occasions in our crazy, ungodly world. And don’t worry, that dream, which now seems like only an illusion, that too will certainly come to pass my faithful brethren, because the Lord set it all in motion with the birth of Christ, our King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, who was born to do just that, all in God’s good time! 

Now, although it’s been some two thousand years since Christ was born and gave us salvation through His sacrificial and substitutionary death, and we are still waiting for the final times, we need to be patient, and wait in faith on the Lord, as Bruh David exhorts us to do in Psalm 37: ‘Wait (in faith) on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait (in faith), I say, on the Lord.’ (Ps. 37:14) And that’s what we need to do if we are true believers. 

Look how long the Israelites waited for the Messiah; hundreds of years, but He did come. And just like Jesus promised, He will eventually come back and make all things right, but we must stand strong in faith and wait with patience and perseverance. That brings us to these beautiful and inspiring scripture verses in Hebrews. 

‘Let us hold fast the profession (confession) of our faith (hope) without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke (stir up) unto LOVE and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.’ (Heb. 10:23-25) 

Oh friends, it sounds simple on paper, but it is indeed difficult to put into practice. However, if we are true believers, we need to trust God and His promises, while gathering together in fellowship, to encourage each other, especially as the day of Jesus’ return can happen anytime, and we certainly don’t want to be caught unawares whenever that happens. 

So, this Christmas, let’s add a little punch to our faith nuh, resurrecting our salty flavour and allowing our lights to shine brightly in the current evil darkness of our world, for Jesus’ sake! Why? Because God is trustworthy, unchanging, and will always keep His promises. Furthermore, as Christians, it’s our bounden duty! Much LOVE!

..the birth of Jesus was a momentous occasion…and no other birth…has caused so many numerous ripples and repercussions…which are still being felt all around the world today…

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Today’s Scrip-Bit 21 January 2014 Romans 13:12

21 Jan 2014 Leave a comment

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

Romans 13:12.    The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Well hello there all you beautiful believers in Christ Jesus! And a good morning to all you unbelievers too, because there’s nothing that Christ and I would like more than that you become believers, by accepting His saving grace and redemption and thus freeing your souls from eternal separation with the Most High God Jehovah. Oh what a day that would be in your lives, in the life of Christ’s church and in heaven too, where joy reigns when even one sinner repents. (Luke 15:7a)

Anyway Friends, it looks like I’m only going to have time to start the Bit then run, because we’re supposed to be going for breakfast down the street at Rosie’s Bakery at 9 – it’s now ten after – then head for the beach at Store Bay. So I won’t be able to continue until after that. Oh it looks like the Duchess is ready, so I’d better run. More time!
 
Aye mih bredden, the ole fella’s back to the Bit at last. I know you’re disappointed that it doesn’t always come in the early morning hours, but you have to cut the ole fella some slack. (smile) I’m on holidays, and have no idea what one day to the next will bring. So if some days it arrives a tad late, just be happy for me, because it will most likely mean that I’m out somewhere enjoying myself, before returning to that awful cold up north, or I enjoyed myself the night before and couldn’t rise early in the morning.
 
The good news though is that we’re here now, after a nice dip in the almost calm, beautiful, aquamarine, restorative waters of Store Bay, including a couple of turns up and down the beach. Then coming home to chow down on some carrot and coconut bake and saltfish from Rosie’s, washed down with some dark, delicious mauby.
 
Oh Friends, that’s surely what heaven’s like! And obviously, after all that exertion, (smile) I had to rest a spell. But now we’re up, bright eyed and bushy tailed, just rearing to go. And my Friends, we have to pay very careful attention to these quickly passing days, for as our Bit so wisely informs us: ‘The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.’
 
And all of that is undeniable, gospel truth Friends! For the powers of darkness certainly have a strong grip, a stranglehold on our world right now. But have no fear people, for the cleansing light of day, Jesus’ return, is imminent! The problem though my brethren, is that no one knows exactly when.
 
For as Christ Himself said: ‘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 also the coming of the Son of man be.
 
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.24:36-44)
 
Oh my people, what could be simpler and more explicit eh? Jesus has put it there for us in Technicolour! How can we not understand and follow His wise advice eh? We do so at our peril, at the loss of our eternal souls!
 
That’s the best possible reason for us to get up and get ourselves ready for that most important and memorable occasion; the Second Coming of Christ! And remember, Jesus says that ONLY the Father knows when it’s going to happen, that’s why He cautions us to watch and pray, so we won’t be caught napping, caught unawares.
 
Now here are some interesting and important comments from the scholars. ’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, I surely don’t need to point out to you that this generation fits that description perfectly! The pleasure-oriented and self-gratifying lifestyle fits us to a T!
 
Now hear these other comments of 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 this 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.’
 
And therein lies the dilemma my brethren! Christ’s return will be a sudden happening, so if we’re not prepared, then simply put; crapaud smoke we pipe! In other words, we’re lost forever!
 
So please, let’s wake up, let’s be wise and set our houses in order so that we will be ready whenever our Saviour returns. Be it today, tomorrow, or many years hence, let’s be prepared. Much LOVE!
 
…preparedness for Christ’s return is not an option…it is the only wise and sensible way…