23 Dec 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a aman's relationship with God, Anselm's Quote, blasphemous, blessings, Bruh David, Buddha, by thy words thou shalt be justified, Christians, Christmas, condemned, contentment, contentment is the greatest wealth, cutthroat world, dominion, faithfulness, faithfulness is the best relationship, foolish, God's Sovereignty, gospel truth, he shall exalt thee to inherit the land, health, health is the greatest gift, his tongue talks of justice, holy spirit, idle word, Jesus Christ, keep his way, LOVE, material things, mercy, moral law, peace, physical law of God, power, righteousness., salvation, sin, social media, spiritual law, stress, the day of judgement, the good treasure of his heart, the law of God is in his heart, the mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, understanding of god's Word, ungodly world, wait on the Lord, wisdom, words have power, write it indelibly in our hearts
Psalm 37:30. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgement (justice).
Well Friends, another beautiful day is in the offing! It’s Tuesday, and thankfully there are just two more days to the big day of Christmas. Hope you have all your preparations completed, and are not running around like a chicken with its head cut off to try and complete them before the day arrives. (smile)
Thank the Lord I’ve given up all that sort of stuff! I no longer run around to buy gifts etc. If I give anything, it’s usually money for others to run around and buy what they want. That works perfectly for me. (smile)
Anyway, today I’m going to share a quote from a friend, who sends me one every day. It’s called ‘Anselm’s Quote For the Day. Inspiring You For a Better Tomorrow.’ And the quote itself is attributed to Buddha, the religious deity of Buddhism. It says that: ‘Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.’
And Anselm himself offers this advice. ‘This is a nice quote to remind us that without health we really have nothing, and without being content all the riches in the world matter not. There are a lot of people out there that are sick and ailing that would trade anything for good health.
And there are plenty of rich people in the world that are absolutely miserable and resort to drugs and alcohol to make up for an empty life. It’s easy to think that riches bring true wealth and that there’s a gift better than health, but when you stop to consider it further you realize that this quote is right.’
And isn’t that the gospel truth my people! Regardless of what material things or power we possess, if we don’t have decent health, then we’re helpless to really enjoy life. The things of the world don’t always ensure a good and/or healthy environment for us. So please remember that and stop running down the things of the world.
In fact, running them down will only make you sick, note the pandemic of stress that’s currently has our world in grip, because we are all working like crazy to make ends meet or get ahead in this cutthroat world. And the sad part too, is that when we finally get the material things or power we’re running after, we either get fed up with them quite quickly, or we just don’t have the time to enjoy them. And this Christmas season is a great example of that. A lot of the stuff we receive is returned to the stores for one reason or another.
Anyway, let’s turn to our Bit, taken from Psalm 37 – The true state of the wicked, by Bruh David. ‘The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgement (justice).’
Now that’s indisputable truth my people! You cannot be righteous and foolish and blasphemous. And Jesus added His contention to the matter by saying: ‘A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.’ (Matt.12:35-37)
Oh Friends, please write that indelibly in our hearts, minds and souls, especially in this day and age where unjustified talking is on the upswing with the many means of quick communication now available to us. And we are already seeing Jesus’ warning coming to pass down here on earth, where people are saying and posting a lot of nonsense on the social media and getting in trouble for it. Remember that words have power, both for good and for evil.
But as Bruh David continues after our Bit: ‘The law of his God is in his heart (that of the righteous); none of his steps shall slide (slip). The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.’ (Ps.37:31-33)
Yes my people, our God will not allow the wicked to have dominion over His righteous children. He will enable them to get out of the grip of the evil one and his cohorts. Please believe that and act on it.
Now here is some interesting and educational info from the scholars re the Law of God. ’37:31. The law of God is the extension of God’s nature and expression of God’s will in His creation. God’s law is expressed in different forms, relating to different areas of His creation. The physical law of God includes the laws of nature which govern the continuous physical existence of this world. (Gen.8:22; Col.1:17).The moral law, also called “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25), governs the immaterial issues of life (2 Tim.3:17). The social law of God affects interpersonal relationships and can be summarized by “the royal law” (James 2:8). The spiritual law deals with a man’s relationship with God. It is summarized in “the first and great commandment” (Matt.22:37).
Illustration: The purpose of the law is to reveal the sovereignty of God (ex.20:2), to place a restraint on the sinner (68:7-8), to show the greatness and reality of sin (Rom.3:19-20), and to lead the sinner to Christ (Gal.3:24). The purpose of the law did not change with the gospel. When the Judaizers in Galatia sought to teach their erroneous view of the law, they failed to realize that the law has never been able to save anyone. Application: As Christians, we should be concerned to live decently and orderly. First Ref. Gen.2:17; Primary Ref. Rom.1:7-14; cf, Ex.3:13.)’
Oh my fellow believers in Christ, I do hope that that info gives us greater understanding of God’s Word. And we’ll end with this wise advice from Bruh David. ‘Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.’ (Ps.37:34)
Words to live by my people! So let’s live by them nuh, so we can be considered righteous and have the blessings of our wonderful God! Much LOVE
…in righteousness…there is always wisdom and justice…
19 Dec 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abhor that which is evil, actions, ascended into heaven, baptizing, cheerfulness, Christian love, Christians, Christmas, cling to that which is good, common sense, communication revolution, Easter Sunday, educate the world, eternal life, even to the end of the world, evil, exhorting, faith, free gifts of salvation, Friday chant, gifts, glorious kingdom, Good Friday, gospel truth, grace, gratitude, Great Command, heart-warming, heavenly wisdom, humility, I am with you always, if you don't use it you'll lose it, in the name of the Father, Jesus, Jesus Christ, joy giving, knowing and following Jesus, Lord and Saviour, LOVE, mercy, ministering, precious stone, prophecy, proportion of faith, prosperous, reconciled to the Father, redeeming us of our abominable sins, rise up, sincerity, sins, soul-satisfying, spiritual lives, spread the gosple, talk, teach all nations, teaching, tear-jerking, TGFJ! Thank God for Jesus, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the cross at Calvary, the good news, the Great Command, the Holy Ghost, the second coming of Christ, the SON, triumphant victory, truth, ungodliness, use our God-given gifts, Virgin Mary, we don't practice what we preach
Romans 12:6. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy, according to the proportion of faith.
The day is Friday, the season is Christmas… And all God’s people joyfully shouted: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday! TGFJ! Thank God for Jesus!’
Yes Friends, we do have cause to be thankful for both situations! We’re thankful for Friday because it means we have a brief respite from our labours. And we’re thankful for Jesus because He saved our spiritual lives and reconciled us to the Father.
Now what we need to do is to truly show that gratitude in our actions too, not only in our talk. We Christians are well known for our talk, but not as much for our actions. And that’s where we fall down; we don’t practice what we preach, as much as we ought to.
So this Christmas season, let’s promise ourselves to do better in the sharing and spreading of true Christian LOVE in action, as Jesus would have us do.
It’s the best way to tell others about our wonderful Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was born of the Virgin Mary on Christmas Day, died on the cross at Calvary on Good Friday, redeeming us of our abominable sins.
He then rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, ascended into heaven some fifty days later, and has since been sitting at the Father’s right hand, waiting patiently and eagerly until the Father decides the time is right for the next installment of His great world drama; the Second Coming of His wonderful Son, in all might and power, splendour, glory and triumphant victory!
Wow! What a story! Nothing man can conceive can ever come up to its tear-jerking, heart-warming, soul-satisfying, spirit-filled, joy giving, LOVE endowing nature!
Therefore Friends, it is imperative that we go out and make it known to all the world, as Jesus requested in His last instructions, the Great Command to the disciples: ‘Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always(s), even unto the end of the world.’ (Matt.28:19-20)
Unfortunately my people, it is a world full of evil, hatred and ungodliness. Consequently, we desperately, and as quickly as possible, need to spread the gospel, the good news of His story and of His teachings around the world, so that every living human being can have a chance to come to Him in humility, sincerity and truth, to receive His wonderful free gifts of salvation and eternal life.
And with the worldwide communication revolution now in progress, this is the best opportunity we have ever had to obey that Great Command. That means we have to get busy and help spread the Word in whatever fashion is convenient and expedient to us.
But spread it we must! Otherwise, on that fateful day of Judgement, when the Lord asks us why we didn’t do better with the talents and resources He’d given us, what answer will we give eh? Sadly my brethren, there will be no plausible answer available, and we’ll just have to pay whatever price is decreed.
Now we obviously don’t want to find ourselves in that untenable situation, and the best and only way to prevent it is by going into action RIGHT NOW, sincerely and diligently doing our part to educate the world, or even our small corner of it, on the wonderful benefits of knowing and following Jesus.
And let’s not say that we can’t, because our Creator, in His everlasting wisdom, has given each of us certain talents and resources to enable us to do His work. We just have to figure out, with His help of course, in what area(s) those talents lie, and then go to work in those areas.
For example, I seem to have been given the gift of using words, of writing, therefore I’m using those writing skills to spread the Word as best I can through this Scrip-Bit.
And in Romans 12, Bruh Paul spells it our for us, starting with our Bit: ‘Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity (liberality); he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let LOVE be without dissimulation (hypocrisy). Abhor that which is evil; cleave (cling) to that which is good.’ (Rom.12:6-9)
Yes my brethren, those are the kinds of things I’m talking about! We each have gifts given to us by Almighty God, so let’s use them nuh. What’s the purpose of having them, if we don’t use them eh? None whatsoever!
And as Cousin Sol so wisely tells us in Proverbs 17: ‘A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: withersoever it (he) turneth, it (he) prospereth.’ (Prov.17:8)
So my people, let’s rise up and use our God-given gifts nuh, so that we can prosper wherever we go. That’s not only simple common sense, but also heavenly wisdom! Much LOVE!
…a cardinal rule in life and living is…if you don’t use it…you will lose it…and that’s gospel truth…
P.S. Oh Friends, I didn’t forget our Friday Chant, I just couldn’t find anywhere to seamlessly put it in, so that it wouldn’t disrupt the flow of the narrative. However, we can chant it now. So let’s chant with all sincerity and truth.
‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Till we meet again tomorrow, God willing! Much LOVE!
18 Oct 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: ambassadors, autumn colours, behaviour, Christians, depravity, destruction, dictates of Lucifer, different, don't give up, don't quit, drink water, exception than the rule, external circumstances, faithful believers, faithful promises of God, famine, flood, flurry of excitement, forgiveness, free offerings, George Elliston, give you an earful, gospel truth, greeted with a smile, harvest, heaven, How beautiful a day can be, hunger, Israel, Jesus, kindness, leaven, LOVE, magnanimous god, mercy, negative response, Noah, perverseness, positive action, return to the God of our fathers, rip off your head, sacrifice of thanksgiving, sad commentary, sad state of affairs, satisfied, selfish society, strife, the ark, the Good Book, tithes, too late, touched by kindness, want, war, when kindness tuches it, wisdom bounden duty, withholden the rain, yet you have not returned to me
Amos 4:6B. …yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.
Oh Friends, I don’t know what the weather will be like this Saturday morning nuh, it’s been somewhat miserable, rainy and cloudy, the last few days. But I can assure you that the autumn colours of the dying leaves are very beautiful and varied as they always are.
What an anomaly eh? The leaves are dying, but in their death, they are even more colourful than in life. Likewise my people, regardless of the external circumstances surrounding us, we also have the ability to improve them by our behaviour.
And here is a quote that enlightens us on that subject and certainly brightens up, enlarges and expands our day with little effort on our part – well sometimes with plenty. (smile) It comes from the American journalist George Elliston (1883-1946), and says: ‘How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it.’
And that my people is gospel, gospel truth! Our lives do light up when we are either touched by the kindness of others, or we touch others with our kindness! Unfortunately though, in our busy and selfish society nowadays, kindness is more the exception rather than the rule it’s supposed to be, and once was. And that is definitely a sad commentary on the type of society we have morphed into.
Oh Friends, most of us who are getting up there in age will certainly remember the good old days, when people were generally kind and friendly, when you could go almost anywhere and be assured of a fairly decent reception, of being greeted with a smile or a kind word. Not so nowadays, they’re more likely to rip off your head and give you an earful.
The world we currently live in is all about first person singular; me, myself and I. But as faithful believers, ambassadors for Christ, we’re called to be different, just like Jesus was different! Remember, we’re supposed to be only IN the world, not OF it. (John 17:15-16) That means we’re supposed to show kindness, LOVE, mercy and forgiveness, the way our magnanimous God showers them on us.
And I’m truly amazed at the negative response some people have to kindness. As I keep telling my family, how you feel towards me is not as important as how you treat me. I want to see positive action, not positive words and negative actions. Anyway Friends, the times we’re living in right now, certainly do resemble the days of depravity and perverseness back in old Israel, and the Lord ended up punishing them.
Listen to the Good Book. ‘Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after (every) three years (or days): And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish (announce) the free offerings: for this liketh you (you love), O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord God. And I also have given you cleanness of teeth (hunger) in all your cities, and want (lack) of bread in all your places: yet ye have not returned unto me, saith the Lord.’ (Amos 4:4-6)
Oh my brethren, does that sound like us these days? It certainly does! God’s punishment didn’t reform Israel back then, and doesn’t seem to be doing it for us now either. What a sad state of affairs! Nor was that all of the punishment.
The Good Book continues: ‘And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. So two or three cities wandered unto one (another) city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.’ (Amos 4:7-8)
Oh Friends, we are seeing that same sad state of affairs all over our present world with flood and famine and war and strife tearing nations and families apart. But yet we are still following the evil and foolish dictates of Lucifer, rather than the good and positive ones of Almighty God. What is it going to take to turn us around eh; complete destruction. But then it will be too late.
Remember Noah and the flood? When He began to build the ark, everybody laughed and thought he’d gone crazy. However, when the rains came pouring down, they all clamoured for a spot in it. But then it was too late. Likewise, my people, if we ignore His warnings, if we wait too long to return to the God of our fathers, then it just might be too late for us too.
However, as followers of Jesus, there is one option we do NOT have; that of quitting, of giving up, of stop trying! Just remember that my people. As workers for Christ, we are expected to keep on keeping on, even when it is extremely difficult, confidently bolstered by the faithful promises of our ever-faithful, ever-LOVING God!
So though today might look somewhat bleak, both emotionally and weather-wise, let’s put on our spiritual armour, strengthen ourselves with God’s Word, and go out into the evil, godless world and spread kindness, mercy, LOVE and forgiveness in Jesus’ Name! That’s not only true wisdom, but also our bounden duty as Christians! Much LOVE!
…even one small deed of kindness here on earth…produces a flurry of excitement and joy in heaven…
31 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a delight, a silver platter, bridge the divide, calypso, Carnival, Christians, Colonialism, corruption, crime, decline, delight thyself in the Lord, deterioration, divided, drugs, Eric Williams, ethnic groups, follow in your footsteps, forgive me, God rested on the seventh day, gospel truth, hampered, heritage of Jacob, holy day, honourable, Independence Day, Isaiah, Jawaharlal Nehru, laid back way of life, last earthly resting place, leadership, limbo, LOVE, milestone, mother Molly, murky mire, observance of the Sabbath, pace of change, Prime Mnister, ride upon the high places, satisfied, seventh day, singing and praising the Lord, single mother, social changes, steelband, stigmatized, T&T Independence Day, tarnish your good name, technological changes, the mouth of the Lord, the Sabbath Day, the sake of Jesus, the seventh day, the world stage, turn back to almighty god, wine and roses, wisdom
Genesis 2:3. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY T&T
Oh my Friends and fellow believers, it’s Sunday – the day of our wonderful God – the day on which He rested after creating the universe! The Good Book tells it thus: ‘And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.’ (Gen.1:31)
I like how the Lord admired His handiwork and found it be very good. He took pride in what He had created, and so too should we.
‘Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them (the things He had created). And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made, and he rested from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.’ (Gen.2:1-3)
Yes my people, today is the Sabbath day for a multitude of Christians. We ought to fill it with as much rest, praise, fellowship and worship as possible. However, as this interesting and most appropriate quote of Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964) India’s first Prime Minister indicates, those things are getting more difficult to do with each passing day.
And the quote simply says: ‘The basic fact of today is the tremendous pace of change in human life.’
And isn’t that the gospel truth Friends. Life is changing so rapidly today that it’s difficult for many of us to keep up. From the numerous technological changes to the social ones, like almost all business places now being open on Sundays. That means more people have to work on Sundays, which obviously restricts both family and church life.
If Nehru thought life was changing fast in his time, can you imagine his reaction to the vast sea and pace of change that has taken place in the last sixty or seventy years since he reputedly made that statement? Hn! He would be totally shocked.
And talking about the pace of life and change reminds me that it’s already three years (August 31 2011) since my dear mother Molly went to be with the Lord. Three years have already passed, even though it seems like just yesterday.
Thank you Molls sugar for all the human and godly effort you put into raising me as a single mother. And I truly don’t regret one day of the time we spent together. It wasn’t always wine and roses, but I know you did your best with what you had, and even during what we considered hard times, we had it better than many others. The Lord always made a way for us to be satisfied.
I know that you are now singing and praising as heartily to the Lord in heaven as you did here on earth, and I’m trying to follow in your footsteps, though I’m nowhere near as good and godly as you were. But sonny boy is trying ‘M’ and I will do my utmost best not to tarnish your good name. (smile)
I have one apology to make here though Molls. I obviously haven’t forgotten you, but it seems that in my busy and lazy lifestyle I have forgotten to come and visit you this year at your last earthly resting place. Please forgive me for that.
I am a tad upset with the Lord for not reminding me of that before yesterday, and there were so many days I could have done so with ease. However, don’t worry, there’s still time before the weather turns cold, and I will make up for it very soon.
Now let’s turn to the second milestone in my life on August 31; that of Independence Day celebrations in my homeland of Trinidad and Tobago. I don’t remember a whole lot about that fateful day in 1962, for I was only about 14 years of age then and wasn’t too politically inclined. I do believe I spent it on holidays in Trinidad.
In hindsight though, it was possibly the most significant day in the nation’s history. Under the first Prime Minister, Dr. Eric Williams, one of the brightest and most brilliant statesmen to come out of the Caribbean, the country dragged itself up by its bootstraps out of the murky mire of Colonialism and took its rightful place on the world stage.
However, some 52 years later, poor Eric Williams must be turning over in his grave at the mess, the disastrous situation and the terribly low standards to which the once thriving and peaceful country has deteriorated. Instead of being rightly famous for its carnival, calypso, steelband, limbo and laid back life, it’s now also targeted for being riddled with crime, drugs and corruption in almost all aspects of life.
Unfortunately, the leadership since ‘the Doc’ hasn’t been as strong or as focused on the overall betterment of the people as he was, thus the severe deterioration on all fronts. No one has come to the fore strong enough or interested enough to bridge the divide between the two main ethnic groups, those of African and East Indian origin. And until that happens, the country will unfortunately remain divided, hampered and stigmatized.
Please, let’s pray for a strong leader to rise up, and for the people to wake up from their fear and lethargy and turn back to God and godly things as once was the case. That’s the only way the total decline will ever be halted.
Now let’s close with some wise words from Isaiah on the observance of the Sabbath. ‘If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places (hills) of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.’ (Is.58:13-14)
Oh my people, there it is – heavenly wisdom handed to us on a silver platter! Please let’s accept it nuh, so that our world can start being turned around. Much LOVE!
…for the sake of Jesus…our children…and their offspring down through the ages…let’s do the wise thing nuh…and turn back to Almighty God…
24 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: almighty god, anger, bless the Lord, Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessings, Christians, clean spirits, disagreement, disputes, dissension, earthly family, encouraging, envy, exhortation to praise, exhorting, father in heaven, fellowship with other believers, fellowshipping, fill our coffers, forgiveness, friends, good news of the gospel, great commission, jealousy, lift up your hands, lifting up holy hands, light of jesus, living example, living our faith, Lord God Jehovah, LOVE, loving fold, loving god, magnificent and majestic God, mark of respect, mature in Christ, men pray every where, mercies, mercy, obedience, outstretched arms, personal relationship, pure hearts, resentment, salt of the earth, service, spreading God's Word, state of our hearts, strife, Sunday, teaching, the day of the Lord, the joy of brotherhood, this is the day the Lord has made, to dwell in unity, unconditional LOVE, we will rejoice and be glad in it, without wrath, worshipping
Psalm 134:2. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.
Well hello there mih lovelies! It’s a new day –Sunday –the day of the Lord, when we gather in His sanctuary to praise, worship, give thanks and glorify His Holy Name!
And all God’s children boldly declared: ‘Blessed be the name of the Lord who hath blessed us with all good things!’
Yes Friends, as usual, today will be filled with a whole new slew of blessings and mercies from our magnificent and majestic God! Thus His people joyfully proclaim: ‘This is the day the Lord has made. We WILL rejoice and be glad in it!’
Ah mih breddren, what a wonderful God we serve! Who else would still fill our coffers with mercy and forgiveness in spite of our less than exemplary service and obedience eh? Nobody else Friends, nobody else! That just goes to show how much He LOVES us and desires a personal relationship with each and every one of us.
It’s just like and earthly family, where the parents provide for and look after the children, nourish, protect and LOVE them, but not always unconditionally like our God LOVES us. That’s the big difference! Our God will never turn His back on any of His children. We are the ones who stray, who walk away from Him.
But yuh know what? Whenever we choose to return to His wonderful and LOVING fold, He is always there to welcome us back with open, outstretched arms and wrap us in a big bear hug, gently whispering in our ear how much He missed us and how glad He is that we’ve come back home.
Ah mih people, what a glorious Father we have in heaven! It’s just like the parable of the Prodigal Son that Jesus told.
So now that we’ve established what a great and magnanimous Deity we worship, let’s put on our Sunday-best and get ourselves out to the sanctuary and fellowship with other believers. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a big sprawling fancy church building, or an old wooden shack, because it’s not the building that matters, but the people within it.
And please note that dressing up to go to church is not to incite envy and jealousy from your fellow believers, as so many of us do, (smile) but as a mark of respect and appreciation to Almighty God, though He doesn’t really care so much about our dress, but more the state of our hearts.
Now let’s check out Psalm 134, from which our Bit comes. It’s an exhortation to praise. And according to the scholars it’s ‘apparently antiphonal: the people call on the priests to bless the Lord (vv. 1-2); the priests respond by pronouncing a blessing on the people (v.3).’
So let’s get on with it my people: ‘Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.’ (Ps.134:1-3)
Yes Friends, it’s short, but certainly to the point!
Now hear how Bruh Paul puts it to Timothy: ‘I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.’ (1 Tim.2:8) That’s certainly a wonderful idea, my brethren!
And the scholars have this to say about that verse. ‘2:8. I will…that men pray every where (or, “I intend…that men in every locality pray”): The Greek word andres means “males.” Men are to lead audibly in public prayer; women are to pray silently.
This directive remains the same “in every locality,” geography being no factor. The manner in which men are to pray is that of lifting up holy hands, that is, with a pure life, which is without wrath and doubting (disputes).’
And though women now conduct public prayers, the requirement for doing so is still the same; without anger, resentment and disputes. As Bruh David says so wisely in Psalm 133; the joy of brotherhood: ‘Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!’ (Ps.133:1)
Oh my brethren that is gospel truth, and what Jesus desires of His followers here on earth. But unfortunately that unity doesn’t exist in Christ’s earthly body, His church, as strong and prevalent as it ought to. There is still too much dissension, disagreement, resentment, envy and jealousy in the church.
We’re supposed to all come under one umbrella, that of the Lord God Jehovah, with pure and humble hearts and clean spirits, all for the purpose of worshipping, of fellowshipping, of exhorting and encouraging and teaching each other, so that we can stay strong and grow, become mature in Christ and spread the good news of his gospel through the living example of our lives.
But obviously that’s not happening, hence the poor view that so many unbelievers have of Christians and the sad state of our very troubled and strife filled world. Every day I hear about the hypocrisy with which we are viewed. And I dare say Friends, that if we, as Christians had a better testimony amongst the heathen, our world would definitely not be as war torn and strife filled.
Please remember that we are the ones Jesus is depending on to bring the world to Him, to salvation and eternal life. And if we falter on the job, then numerous souls will miss out on the good things that Christ died for them to have, meaning His tragic and very painful death would have all been in vain.
Oh my people, we can’t allow that to happen. So please let’s get our act together nuh, let’s clean up whatever we need to, so that when we go out into the world, others will notice a difference in us; that the light of Jesus is truly shining through us, that we’re truly the salt of the earth, and they will want to become like us, for remember that examples work more forcibly on the human mind than words.
Remember too, Jesus’ last directive to the disciples, the Great Commission, of which we are now the recipients: ‘Go ye therefore, and teach (make disciples of) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.’ (Matt.28:19-20)
Let’s concentrate and ponder on that today nuh Friends, truthfully considering how we are individually obeying Christ’s directive, and then let’s invoke the Lord’s help to improve our obedience to it. For if we don’t improve, our world will sink even deeper into the evil morass in which it’s now wallowing. Heavenly wisdom is desperately calling for us to respond favourably. Much LOVE!
…it’s all about truly LOVING our God… sincerely LIVING our Faith…and diligently SPREADING His word…
18 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: adrenalin, aura of love, blessed to see another day, Christ-like character, Christians, come to know Jesus, confidence, earth shattering, enthusiasm, eternal life, fellow believers, fellowship, friends, further God's glorious kingdom, further Jesus' cause, generous help, give thanks and praise, guidance, heathen, heavy load, holy spirit, honest man, humble servants, hypocrites, I am come to fulfill, I am not come to destroy, indisputable fact, infidel, invincible, Jesus Christ, Law of Moses, legalism, Lord and Saviour, LOVE, LOVE Revolution, man-made laws, Monday Morniing Battle Hymn, neighbours, New Testament, Oh Lord God Almighty, Old Testament, one body in Jesus, one harmonious body, outward show, Pharisees, rejuvenation of spirit, religion, religiosity, reveille, righteous, righteousness., roof of heaven, rules and regulations, scribes, show boaters, small mercies, smile, spiritual armour, spiritual intention of the law, spiritual principles, splendiferous, steadfast faith, superficial religious behaviour, superiority of Jesus' message, the Beatitudes, the clock is ticking, the kingdom of heaven, trust, truth, ungodly world, walk obediently, wisdom
Matthew 5:20. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case (by no means) enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Arise oh Friends… arise oh Neighbours… arise oh Fellow Believers… the clock is ticking… Hear ye, hear ye, the bugler’s blowing reveille! That means it’s time to rise and greet this beautiful Monday morn! And remember, before rolling out of bed to give a li’l individual thanks and praise for being blessed to see another day, and ask for guidance to walk obediently on your way.
Now before the whining and complaining begin, (smile) let’s raise the roof of heaven with a miraculous and highly motivated rendition of our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. In full voice, as one harmonious body:
‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Splendiferous my brethren! Splendiferous! That rendition was certainly earth shattering, and so powerful that it also raised heaven’s roof, like a hurricane attacking those of our earthly houses. The angels had to be quite quick too and grab it before it blew away. (smile) Yes my brethren, that’s what’s possible when believers get together and act as one true body in Jesus.
Now let’s take all that adrenalin and enthusiasm and energy and get out there and actively use it to further Jesus’ cause; His LOVE Revolution, so that the heathen, the infidel, may see and experience our Christ-like character and desire to come to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour too.
And our Bit today certainly amplifies that directive: ‘For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case (by no means) enter into the kingdom of heaven.’
And that’s an indisputable fact Friends! That’s Jesus, during His commenting on the Law of Moses, where he first explained: ‘Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.’ (Matt.5:17)
And the scholars explain that verse thus: ‘5:17. Having laid the foundation of the message in the summary statements of the Beatitudes, Jesus now proceeds to show the superiority of His message to that of the law of Moses. He makes it clear that He had not …come to destroy the law. That is, the New Testament gospel is not contradictory to the Old Testament Law; rather it is the ultimate fulfillment of the spiritual intention of the law.
Where the law had degenerated into legalism among the Pharisees, Jesus now takes the law beyond mere outward observance to the inner spiritual intention of God.’
Oh Friends, unfortunately the same situation still exists today. Religion has built a set of rules and regulations that’s impossible for any human being to follow to the letter. And there are way too many of us making a big outward show of our supposed religiosity, like the Pharisees of old, when inside we’re big time hypocrites.
We don’t do half of what we say or pretend to do. Our actions are based more on superficial religious behaviour than true godly spiritual principles. Too many of us Christians are religious show boaters!
Oh Friends, there’s much more to be said on this topic, but we will leave that for another day, since I don’t want to weary us with too heavy a load today. (smile) But please, in the meantime, let’s ponder all that we’ve said, and try to figure out where we’re at individually, then wisely ask the Lord for His generous help to improve, to become more Christ-like. That’s one request He will NEVER refuse! Much LOVE!
…just like an honest man doesn’t need barriers…fences and doors…to stop him from stealing…likewise, the heart of a righteous man…doesn’t need numerous man-made laws to keep him righteous…
P.S. Does it ever seem short today! (smile) I had to check it twice to see if that was really all. But that’s really all! So please be thankful for small mercies. Much LOVE!
13 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: adoration, arise o Lord, atrocities, author and finisher of our faith, bow before you, Christian persecution, Christians, cruel and unjust punishment, dilly-dally, enemy, evil influence, evil ungodly world, fateful wednesday morning, fellow believers, fellowship, fight tooth and nail, float up prayers to heaven, for my name's sake, forget not the humble, freedom, goodness, grace, grace to stand strong, heartfelt, heathen, horse of a different dolour, humble servants, inroads, Jesus Christ, lift their sagging spirits, Lord and Saviour, lord jesus christ, loving kindness, misery, mitigate, onslaught, overthrow of the wicked, persecution, physical realm, power and glory, praise, pray in faith, prayer, prayer is the most powerful tool in the universe, protective arms, reality of the situation, rectify the situation, resolve, reward, sanctions, soldiers in battle, spiritual battle, spiritual realm, steadfast faith, suffering, take freedom for granted, thanks, tribulation, trust in jesus, unfortunate believers, why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble, why standest thou afar off o Lord, worship
Psalm 10:1. Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
Oh Friends, oh Friends, on this fateful Wednesday morning in mid August 2014, I would like to open our deliberations with a prayer for the thousands of Christians being cruelly and unjustly persecuted for their religious beliefs in the Middle East, Africa and several other parts of the world.
The situation is reaching epidemic proportions now and simply cannot be allowed to continue. And it’s all simply because of their faith and trust in Jesus Christ! Ah my brethren, our fellow believers are suffering such cruel and unjust punishment like we couldn’t even begin to imagine!
And though most of us can’t do much to help in the physical realm, we certainly can in the spiritual world, through prayer, for remember that prayer is the most powerful tool in the universe.
So please pray with me: ‘Dear Lord Jesus Christ, author and finisher of our faith, this morning, we, your humble servants come before you with praise and adoration, gladly acknowledging you as our Lord and Saviour.
We give you sincere thanks for your goodness and LOVING-kindness, but Lord there are many of our brothers and sisters in faith, all around this evil and ungodly world, who are being cruelly and unjustly persecuted simply because they profess belief in your name.
Lord Jesus Christ, as your body here on earth, we ask, we plead with you to rectify the situation for those unfortunate believers.
Oh Jesus, you’ve said that when we pray in faith, you’d hear and answer our requests. This morning Lord, we beg you to strengthen our persecuted brethren, keep their resolve to serve and worship you unbroken, lift their sagging spirits, give them your grace to stand strong in the face of such unjust persecution.
Father in heaven, we pray that you will not stand idly by and see your children suffer the atrocities they are being put through. Please work on their persecutors; either help them to see the evil in their ways, or if necessary Jesus, strike them down.
We know that suffering and persecution are parts of this earthly life, and no one knows that better than you from your earthly experience. But Father God, this persecution of your people is so unjust, unfair and uncalled for, all because of their faith in you.
Please reward their faith and trust with strong sanctions against their evil persecutors, and continue to fill them with steadfast faith. Please hide them safely under your protective and everlasting arms, so that they won’t have to endure the unjust tribulation any longer.
We know that you have the power to mitigate their circumstances, and that we prayerfully ask you to do today Father in heaven.
Please release them from their persecution, however you see fit Lord, so that the heathen will see your might, your power and your glory, and eventually come to bow before you too. This we pray in the holy and sinless name of your Son, and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.’
Oh my people, those words may not be spectacular, but our great and wonderful God knows that they are sincere and heartfelt. Now, in your own time and manner, please keep on praying for those unfortunate brethren on the other side of the world who are facing such cruel injustice, all because of their trust in Jesus.
We, in these parts, are free to worship as we like, and sadly take that freedom for granted, but millions of other believers are not so lucky. They have to hide and pray and worship and fellowship with each other.
Let’s make it a habit to float up prayers to heaven on their behalf, as well as taking our freedom to worship more seriously, because if the infidel has his way, their evil influence will be spread all over the world. And that we can NEVER allow to happen my brethren!
So let’s get truly serious about our faith nuh, and take steps to see that it is firmly entrenched in these parts, for while we foolishly dilly and dally, the enemy is making serious inroads into our positions. Remember Friends, we’re soldiers in a battle, a spiritual battle that is growing more heated with each passing day, and we need to step up and be counted.
Oh my fellow believers, this is not just some idle fairy tale, this is serious business, life defining business, and unless we want our descendants to face such unjust persecution, we need to come together and fight tooth and nail for what we proclaim to believe in.
Oh Friends, we can no longer stand idly by and see other believers being unjustly persecuted, because if that is successful, then we’ll be next in line for the evil onslaught. And if you haven’t noticed, it’s already begun.
Oh Friends, I know that Jesus warned us: ‘Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.’ (John 15:20-21)
But still my people, when the reality of the situation really occurs, it’s always a horse of an entirely different colour, one for which we’re never really prepared. And I can just picture those persecuted brethren, in their great misery, like the psalmist of old, calling out for the overthrow of the wicked, in the sorrowful words of our Bit.
‘Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble? The wicked in his pride doth persecute (hotly pursues) the poor: let them be taken in the devices (plots) that they have imagined (devised).’ (Ps.10:1-2)
And on their behalf my people, we sincerely declare: ‘Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble… Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man; seek out his wickedness till thou find none.’ (Ps.10:12, 15)
Yes Friends and fellow believers, that’s our hope and prayer for today! Much LOVE!
…when persecution comes…as it must…only the grace and strength of Jesus can help us to bear it…
12 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a disaster just waiting to happen, Adam and Eve, anawer our beck and call, Andrew Wilson, another day of joy, blessings, busyness of life, Christians, complaining, count our blessings, Cousin Sol, dance, deliriously joyful, depressed, depression, disciplined attitude, downhearted, eat and drink, Ecclesiastes, enjoy good in his labour, enjoy life, ever-LOVING God, fellowship with God, get joyful in god on purpose, give yourself away, glory, God's gift, hardships, I am called by god's name, In Touch Magazine, Israel, Jeremiah, Jesus, joy, joy in God, joy in god's word, life's not easy, Lord God of hosts, make the time, miserable, misfortune, nothing better for a man, number one life priority, pray, problems, read the Bible, Robin Williams, rough and tumble life, scent of god's love, shout for joy, sing, sorrows, soul is full of joy, speak positively, spend time with joyful people, stop focusing on our troubles, take the good with the bad, the Christian life, the coming of Jesus Christ, the evil one, the Garden of Eden, the joy and rejoicing of my heart, the joy of the Lord is our strength, the Lord had done so much for man, the things God didn't do, Tuesday, unhappy, walk and talk with God, walked obediently with God, wealth, wisdom, wise way to live, you can't give what you don't have
Jeremiah 15:16. Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.
And then it was Tuesday… another day of joy!
Oh Friends, I recently heard a rather beautiful and meaningful song, not sure what is its correct title, or who sings it, but I know that I’ve shared it with you before. However it was so appropriate to the Christian life that I want to share the gist of it once again.
The young lady who sings it declares that her soul is so full of joy that she just wants to shout it out to the world! The Lord has done so much for her that she just wants to let the entire world know about it!
Wow, my people! That should be the state of each and every believer because our generous and ever-LOVING God has done so much for each of us!
But how many of us really portray that supposed joy in real life eh? Not too many, because we’re more taken up by, more concerned with the things that God didn’t do.
Oh my brethren, please remember that God is not there just to answer at our every beck and call. He is the Master and we are the servants, the ones supposed to answer His beck and call.
So I plead with us again today, as I did recently, let’s stop focusing on our troubles or what we don’t have, and instead focus on the things that we do have; in other words let’s count our blessings and not our sorrows. And yuh know what, surprisingly, if we do that, we’ll find that we have many more blessings than sorrows!
And I just finished reading an article by Andrew Wilson on the subject of joy, in the July issue of the In touch Magazine, some of you might have read it, where he advises us to set joy in God as our number one life priority; to make it the first thing we do everyday, so that later on we can spread it around in whatever manner we so desire.
Remember, you can’t give what you don’t have.
And Wilson’s second bit of advice was, in order to get that joy in God on a regular basis, you have to discipline yourself to do so. We have to get happy or joyful in God on purpose with a disciplined attitude.
And he suggests stuff to help in that respect. Stuff like reading the Bible – a no-brainer, he contends. Spending time with those who increase your joy in God. Giving yourself away; that is concentrating on the plight of others rather than our own.
Do as Bruh Paul advises; sing, dance, pray, shout for joy, all the time! Find quiet places and quiet times to just walk and talk to, or rather with God, and speak positively, both to yourself and to others.
Ah mih people, I know we’ll say that all of that is not easy to do, especially with the busyness of life nowadays. But if you want to have a consistently cheerful and joyful attitude and life, then you’ll MAKE the time to do them.
Oh Friends, life isn’t easy, never was, except when Adam and Eve first walked obediently with God in the Garden of Eden. But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy what we now have, have joy in this rough and tumble earthly life.
It does have to be in conjunction with God though. For remember that the joy of the Lord is our strength, therefore if we don’t have that joy, then we won’t have any strength. That’s why the evil one always tries to take away our joy, keep us miserable and depressed, because he knows that when we’re like that, we can’t or won’t do much for Jesus.
That brings us to our Bit; wise words of Jeremiah in the time of his personal lament. ‘Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.’
Yes Friends and fellow believers, Jeremiah had a pretty rough time doing God’s bidding among his ungodly people, Israel. But please note what he says, despite all of his problems and misfortune, he found joy in God’s Word, and also in being called by His name.
Oh my people, nothing much has changed since Jerry’s time, except we now have a better understanding of God and His Word through the coming of Jesus Christ. So why are Christians still so miserable, downhearted and complaining eh?
Please, let’s wake up and smell the titillating scent of God’s LOVE and goodness nuh! It’s high time we learn to take the good with bad, for as Job says, you can’t have one without the other in this world. (Job 2:10)
My brethren it’s time for us concentrate on, and to live out the wisdom of Cousin Sol’s research in Ecclesiastes. ‘There is nothing better for a man, than he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good (his soul should enjoy good) in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.’ (Eccl.2:24)
Yes Friends, there is, or can be joy in life and labour, once we see them as God’s gift to us!
So let’s go forth today and live and labour in the joy of God nuh, appreciating His many gifts and blessings, even amidst the many hardships that life brings. Now that is the ONLY wise way to live and enjoy life here on this seriously troubled earth.
And we have a great though sad example of this in the recent death, apparent suicide of actor and comedian Robin Williams. Despite all his wealth and fame, he apparently suffered from serious depression issues. So what’s the point of having all the wealth and glory but we’re still unhappy eh? None whatsoever my people!
It just goes to show that possession of plenty earthly stuff without God leading the way for us, is truly disaster just waiting to happen. So let’s wise up and truly smell God’s goodness! Much LOVE!
…why be foolishly miserable and depressed…when we can be deliriously joyful…by having sincere fellowship with God…
26 Jun 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: affection, animosity, be likeminded, Bruh Paul, Christ's ambassadors, Christ's Church, Christ's representatives, Christians, church unity, come up higher, conceit, consider our individual efforts, consolation, deference, dictates, dissension, disunity, effective action, emotions, encouragement, esteem each other, excellence, father of modern management, fear of God, fellowship of spirit, fulfill my joy, give thanks and praise, goals, harmony, in accord with God's wishes, in the fear of God, in the spirit of reflection, indisputable truth, Jesus Christ, joy, living in harmony, LOVE, lowliness of mind, motives of the world, mutual submission, negative things, of one mind, our best interest, partiality, Peter Drucker, Philippians, ponder, quiet reflection, reflect, relationships, resentment, reverence to God, seek to improve, selfish ambitions, sounding board, strife, submit yourselves to each other, sympathy, the body of Christ, the Holy Spirit, ungodly actions, united in spirit, vainglory, values, willy-nilly, worthy example
Ephesians 5:21. Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
And then it was Thursday – the day before Friday – the day before the weekend. Wow Friends, the weekend’s almost here! Give thanks and praise! (smile) Yes my people, we ought to always give thanks and praise, not only for stuff like the weekend, but for ALL things, be they good or bad!
As Bruh Paul so wisely advised the Ephesians: ‘Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (Eph.5:20) Yes mih breddren, thanks and praise are always in our best interest, no matter the situation!
And the word for today from my almanac (smile) is ‘REFLECT.’ The quote comes from Peter Drucker (1909-2005) He was the Austrian–born, American writer, professor and management consultant who set the management world afire in my days. He’s often referred to as ‘the Father of modern management.’ In my time, you couldn’t study management without reading Drucker. I must still have a book or two by him somewhere here on my shelf.
Anyway, the quote is: ‘From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.’
And that’s indisputable truth my brethren! For when we first sit and reflect on what’s happening in our lives and around us, instead of just jumping in willy-nilly to some situation, we do produce much more effective actions.
And today, I want us to consider our Bit in the spirit of reflection. ‘Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.’
Yes my people, let’s ponder its meaning, then consider our individual efforts in doing what it advocates. Are we truly submitting ourselves to each other in reverence to God?
Or as the scholars describe it: ‘There is mutual submission, that is, showing deference to the wishes of one another, as long as that to which the believer submits is in the fear of God, which is to say, in accord with what pleases Him.’
Oh Friends, as true Christians, that’s how we ought to be living our lives. But unfortunately I don’t think we are doing that to any great extent. Instead we are allowing the dictates, emotions, ungodly actions and motives of the world to permeate our relationships. That’s why there is so much animosity, resentment, and all the other negative things to be found today in the body of Christ; His supposedly august church.
And that unity of effort is one thing Bruh Paul harps on, knowing its great importance. To the Philippians, he writes: ‘If there be therefore any consolation (encouragement) in Christ, if any comfort (consolation) of LOVE, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels (affection) and mercies (sympathy),
Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same LOVE, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.’ (Phil.1:1-4)
Yes that’s a mouthful, but here are some explanations from the scholars: ‘2:2-4. Fulfill ye my joy (or, “Make my joy complete”). Paul rejoiced over the Philippians (1:3), but his happiness was incomplete, owing to some disunity and lack of total harmony among them.
The Greek equates what, to Paul, constitutes “complete joy” with the readers being like-minded. This means “living in harmony” with one another. That is, the Philippians can “fulfill” the writer’s “joy” by living in harmony among themselves. But what does such harmonious living entail?
Beginning in verse 2 and continuing through verse 4, six participles spell out and clearly define what it means to “live in harmony”: (1) having the same LOVE toward one believer as shown toward another, without partiality; (2) being of one accord; that is, they are to be united in spirit; (3) of one mind; that is, the whole church is to have the same values and goals;
(4) let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; for selfish ambitions or conceit; (5) let each esteem other better than themselves; that is, each is to regard his fellow Christian as more important than himself; and (6) look…every man also on the things of others; that is, each is to be just as concerned for the needs and problems of his brother as he is for his own affairs.’
Yes my brethren, though Bruh Paul was generally happy with the Philippians, there was some disunity among them that displeased him. I hate to think what he would feel about the church today, for there is so much disunity and dissension, that it’s feeding on itself and every day creating more of the same.
Oh my fellow believers, Christians were meant to live in harmony, with Jesus Christ as our sounding board, as our most worthy example! Yuh see how the early Christians lived after the Holy Spirit was endowed on all believers! That’s how we ought to live!
Oh I know that we are only human and that the society is bigger and somewhat different, but even so, with the Holy Spirit of Christ dwelling within us, we ought, and can definitely come up much higher than we’re currently doing.
Remember Jesus’ motto is ‘Excellence in all things!’ And we’re definitely not being excellent in church unity and harmony.
So today my people, I’m pleading with us to try and do better, to come up higher, not only for our sakes and for those of our children, but more so for Jesus, since we are His representatives, His ambassadors here on earth, and we’re not doing such a great job in His name. Let’s sincerely seek to improve nuh. Much LOVE!
…oh…if there was even a tad more unity in Christ’s church…His LOVE Revolution would be much further along to completion…
11 Jun 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a rose by any other name, abomination, acknowledge God, amazement, ambassadors of Christ, anxiety, blessing of life, blessings, bounden duty, christianity, Christians, complain, confidence, converted, courage, cruel, draw breath on god's earth, eternity, evil, evildoers, faith, faith that comes through Jesus, faithfully promised, fear, focus on Jesus Christ, glorified Jesus, glorious kingdom, God is the greatest, God's will and plan for our lives, godliness, groan, holiness, holy spirit, honour, ignorance, imminent, in Jesus' name, invincible soldiers of Christ, is just as sweet, Jesus Christ, Jesus returns, John, John the Baptist, jumped for joy, lead and guide, magnanimous, mercies, message of repentance, misinformed, moan, mouths of the prophets, obstacles, omnipotent god, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, paths fraught with thorns, Pentecost, Peter, Pilate, praising God, presence of the Lord, raised from the dead, repent, restoration, separated from God, serve, sins be blotted out, Solomon's porch, Son Jesus, spread the word, strength, suffering, thank God, Thank You Lord, that Christ would suffer, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, the Holy One, the just, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, the last days, the Prince of Life, the things that God foretold, through faith, times of refreshing, times of restitution, unbelieving world, ungodly world, uninformed, urgency, walk of faith, Wednesday, wise direction, witnesses, wonder, worship
Acts 3:18. But those things which God before had showed (foretold) by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should (would) suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
Wednesday, oh Wednesday! A rose by any other name is just as sweet!
And likewise, though our paths today may be fraught with thorns and other obstacles, because of the divine and tender mercies and the abundant blessings of our omnipotent and most magnanimous God, we Christians will do right well! For His Holy Spirit WILL lead and guide us successfully through all the rough patches of this beautiful day.
And all God’s people said a loud, hearty and grateful, ‘Thank You Lord! You are indeed the GREATEST! That’s why we serve and worship and honour You with all our hearts, souls, bodies and minds! In Jesus’ name we declare this! Amen.’
Yes Friends, the opening portion of our day is ever so important in how the rest of it unfolds! If we begin it right, and that’s by acknowledging God the Father, we will be imbued with strength, courage and confidence to face whatever comes our way, each and every day that we draw breath on God’s great planet earth. We need to thank Him early on for that wonderful blessing of life, and ask for His wise direction, His will and His plan for our steps that day.
Now my people, let’s continue to look at some of the things that happened at that fateful Pentecost time when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon all believers, as faithfully promised by the prophets, and also by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I believe that until we understand the things that it wrought in the early days of Christianity, we will not fully comprehend what’s happening today in our walk of faith.
Now yesterday we left off where Peter and John had healed the lame man begging at the Beautiful gate of the temple, and how he held on to them and jumped for joy, praising the Lord. And all the people ran towards them at Solomon’s porch in great wonder and amazement.
Then Peter preached his second great sermon of Pentecost, again with his focus on Jesus Christ. ‘And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look ye so earnestly (intently) on us, as though by our own power or holiness (godliness) we had made this man to walk?
The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
And killed the Prince (Author) of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; wherefore we are witnesses. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him (comes through Jesus) hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
And now brethren, I wot (know) that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things which God before had showed (foretold) by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should (would) suffer, he hath so fulfilled.’ (Acts 3:12-18)
Ah mih breddren, there are so many people out there in the cruel, evil and ungodly world today who need to hear those words, so that they can do as Peter further contends: ‘Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution (restoration) of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.’ (Acts 3:19-21)
Oh my people, as John the Baptist came out of the wilderness preaching so long ago: ‘And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (near).’ (Matt.3:2) And furthermore, as Jesus Himself, after His baptism by John ‘began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (near).’ (Matt.4:17)
So do we, in these last terrible days, need to get that most important message of repentance, of its urgency, across to this unbelieving world in which we currently live. Because without it, too many of God’s greatest creation will be sadly separated from Him for all eternity after Jesus returns to set up His glorious kingdom, to which all the signs point as fairly imminent.
And being ambassadors of Christ in these fateful times, it is our bounden duty to spread the word, to let people know what’s happening, by the words we speak, and the faithful way in which we live. But unfortunately, through fear, anxiety, or just plain ‘doh careness’ (smile) we are not doing the job to the best of our ability, and thus uninformed and misinformed people are suffering.
Unwisely, they are looking to the things of the world to give them succour, when we very well know that it’s only the LOVE of Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit dwelling in us can do that on a long tem basis. So why aren’t we doing better eh Friends?
As I keep reminding us, it is ONLY we Christian folk who can bring some good changes to our wicked world. For even though the evil doers are very happy and contented with the situation, they are still working hard to make it worse, while we strong and invincible soldiers of Christ, sit around and moan and groan and complain about our rights and faith being curtailed.
Oh my people, I heard this saying on the television yesterday, referring to our upcoming Provincial Elections, and it also holds quite true of our faith situation. The caller declared that a citizen who doesn’t pray and doesn’t vote, is not entitled to complain.
The same goes for us supposed believers, who don’t do very much or anything at all to move the faith forward; we have no right to complain about what the evildoers are doing. And I’ll leave us to ponder on that thought for today. Much LOVE!
…he who is able to do…but will not do…is an abomination to the name and cause of Jesus…
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SCRIP-BITS 
Today’s Scrip-Bit 18 October 2014 Amos 4:6B
18 Oct 2014 Leave a comment
by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: ambassadors, autumn colours, behaviour, Christians, depravity, destruction, dictates of Lucifer, different, don't give up, don't quit, drink water, exception than the rule, external circumstances, faithful believers, faithful promises of God, famine, flood, flurry of excitement, forgiveness, free offerings, George Elliston, give you an earful, gospel truth, greeted with a smile, harvest, heaven, How beautiful a day can be, hunger, Israel, Jesus, kindness, leaven, LOVE, magnanimous god, mercy, negative response, Noah, perverseness, positive action, return to the God of our fathers, rip off your head, sacrifice of thanksgiving, sad commentary, sad state of affairs, satisfied, selfish society, strife, the ark, the Good Book, tithes, too late, touched by kindness, want, war, when kindness tuches it, wisdom bounden duty, withholden the rain, yet you have not returned to me
Amos 4:6B. …yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.