The Overwhelming Importance of the Lost and Sinful to Jesus and His Kingdom!

05 Mar 2026 Leave a comment

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

1 Timothy 1:15.         ‘This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.’

We’re getting there slowly friends! Yes, we’re getting to the end of the week at the speed at which the Father designed it. And we’re now down to Thursday, the second to last day, so please, don’t go running towards Friday and looking forward to it more than you ought. For as Jesus says, we must focus on today, for tomorrow will take care of itself. (Matt. 6:34) And whatever Jesus says is the truth, so let’s keep our focus on today and do the best job we can in His holy name, and pray and have faith that we will awaken to face tomorrow. Amen!

And the Good Book opened today at the parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Lost Son, and since I didn’t have anything else specifically to talk about, I figured that the Lord in His utmost wisdom desired us to deal with the scriptures on those things today. (smile) The Bible tells the story thus: ‘Then drew near unto him (Jesus) all the publicans (tax collectors) and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth (welcomes) sinners, and eateth with them.

And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repentneth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.’ (Luke 15:1-7)

Oh my people, do you hear and understand that? There will be much joy in heaven over one sinner that repents, more so than over ninety nine others who have already repented. Yes, heaven glories in repentant sinners. And that’s a part of our job in living for Jesus; help to bring sinners to repentance and to true faith in Him. We can’t force them to believe, but through our words and our fitting behaviour to those words, we can get them interested in making the change, the most dramatic and important moment in their lives.

And it’s interesting how the Pharisees and scribes complain about Jesus welcoming sinners and eating with them. But what was His main job in coming to earth eh? To save sinners, as it says in several places in the word. Bruh Paul writes it thus to his protégé Timothy. ‘This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.’ (1 Tim. 1:15)

Then, Jesus Himself says it in both the gospels of Matthew and Luke, when the Pharisees first complain to the disciples about their Master eating with publicans (tax collectors) and sinners, after Jesus called Matthew from his tax collectors post to become a disciple, then went to eat at his house. (Matt. 9:9-11) ‘But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole (are well) need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ (Matt. 9:12-13)

And he says the same thing in Luke 5:31-32. So tell me nuh, if Jesus came to save sinners, how could He do that if He did not interact with them eh? He couldn’t stay afar and convert them. Neither can we. We must mix and mingle with sinners if we hope to get them to turn to Christ, but we must also ensure that it’s our ways and beliefs that are being promulgated, and that the sinners ways and beliefs are not influencing us. Now that’s not always easy to do in this evil and ungodly world, but we have all the tools to do it, if we are strong and sure in our own faith walk.

That’s why Jesus specified that we are to BE IN the world, but NOT OF IT. That means to live in the world, but not like the world lives, rather like a child of God in the kingdom of heaven which has come to earth through Jesus’ birth, death, resurrection and ascension. And as we said earlier, that’s not easy to do when the evil doers and their boss Satan are always on our case, looking for an opportunity to cause us to sin, and consequently turn away from God, but let’s remember this powerful acclamation from John’s first epistle: ‘Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them (Satan and the anti-Christ): because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.’ (1 John 4:4)

Yes mih bredrin, Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit is way stronger than Satan and the anti-Christ! And I like how this commentary describes that verse: ‘It’s a powerful affirmation, assuring believers that the Holy Spirit dwelling within them is mightier than any, evil, or worldly influence (Satan/anti-Christ) in the world. It signifies divine victory, encouragement to overcome, and the strength of God against all challenges.’

Wow! What marvellous words of hope and confidence to keep us strong in faith! And our God’s so great, that besides giving us the Holy Spirit, He also generously bestowed on us what we call our Thursday Blessings, underserved blessings to enable us to do His earthly work. So let’s now declare and thus activate them nuh!

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 are now duty bound to go out and use those blessings to help others, just as generously as the Lord bestowed them on us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!

…whosoever, or whatsoever is in the world….can never be greater than…the one who created the world and all therein…

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

The Enormous Importance of Receiving Salvation…RIGHT NOW!

14 Nov 2024 Leave a comment

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

Romans 3:23.        For all have sinned and come (fallen) short of the glory of God.

Then it was Thursday, and the world is going along in it’s usual sinful ways, with many of us supposed believers in Jesus Christ helping them on. But as we saw yesterday, this world, both the solid part of it and the wicked within it will not last forever, it will go up in flames one day, or as Peter puts it, ‘in fervent heat,’ when the Lord decides it’s time. And what’s going to happen to us then eh? We’ll either end up in the New Jerusalem or in the lake of fire, to experience the Second Death. 

And if you remember, twice in the last couple of weeks we checked out a Bible tract from the Leviticus Church in Jamaica, New York, which had to do with Salvation. The first time we explored what it said about Eternal Life being a Free Gift, and the second time, we talked about how you can be saved. Well, today we’re going to explore the last aspects of the things it talks about, beginning with this one: that Church Membership CANNOT Save You. 

In support of their claim, they open with a quote from Romans 3:10, but I’ll add a couple of verses to it ‘As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.’ (Rom. 3:10-12) Now that’s also a fairly accurate description of today’s world. 

Then the tract continues with this quote from Romans 3:23: ‘For all have sinned and come (fallen) short of the glory of God.’ Then they declare: ‘Sin is the problem, and belonging to a church will NOT take it away. Jesus Christ Himself said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) 

And for greater clarification, we’ll add these verses where Jesus further enlightens Nicodemus the Jewish ruler who had come to Him by night to question His purpose. ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.’ (John 3:5-6) And that tells us very plainly that we personally have to do something about our style of living if we want to see the pearly gates of heaven, and simple church membership will not cut it. 

Then the pamphlet exhorts us: ‘You Cannot Take Your Chances.’ In other words, you cannot gamble on your being saved. Then they let us know: ‘The Bible says, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement.” (Heb. 9:27) Thus they reason, you really don’t know for sure how much time is left of your life. And they support that with this scripture from James. ‘Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.’ (James 4:14) That in essence tells us that we could be here today, but gone tomorrow, therefore we must take the opportunity to be saved RIGHT NOW! 

Then, the tract reminds us of this indisputable truth: ‘You Cannot Save  Yourself.’  And they use these Bible quotes to justify their contention. ‘Knowing that a man is not justified (declared righteous) by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ… (Gal. 2:16a). It also says: ‘But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags (a filthy garment); and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.’ (Is. 64:6) I added the last half of the quote. 

Then we learn that ‘Salvation is “FREE” to ALL.’ The Bible says, ‘For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ (Rom. 10:13) And furthermore, the Bible says, ‘This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Tim. 1:15) There again, I used the whole verse. ‘For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God…’ (1 Pet. 3:18a) 

Now, we come to the most important aspect of the entire situation: ‘IF YOU DO NOT GET SAVED…’   And the tract expounds: The Bible says, “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.’  (Rev. 14:11) The tract only gives the first half of that verse, but I thought the whole thing would be more beneficial. (smile) 

Then, it continues: ‘For the wages of sin is death;’ (Rom. 6:23a) But this death is more than just physical death. It is an “ETERNAL BURNING!”  The Bible says, ‘But the fearful (cowardly), and unbelieving, and the abominable, and the murderers, and whoremongers (sexually immoral), and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the SECOND DEATH.’ (Rev. 21:8) 

And that says it all my people! If we do not get saved before we die the physical death, then we will surely end up in that lake of fire for the second death, and then crapaud smoke we pipe for all eternity! Now, is that what we desire? I don’t think so. But the reality is that if you not get saved as soon as possible, there’s a great likelihood that you can end up with Beelzebub and all the other iniquity workers. So, a word to the wise; please look after your salvation, RIGHT NOW! 

Now, let’s declare and thus activate our Thursday Blessings, which the Lord has so generously bestowed on us to do His earthly work. As one 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, it now behooves us to go out and use those blessings just as generously on behalf of others. Much LOVE!

… he who has ears to hear…let him hear…  

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