Today’s Scrip-Bit   8 April 2023 John 13:35.

08 Apr 2023 Leave a comment

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

John 13:35.By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have LOVE one to another.

And then we come to Saturday, our lazy, relaxing day. But today is Holy Saturday, the day after Good Friday when our Lord and Saviour was crucified, so there’s a pall of sadness and silence hanging over the land after the tumultuous affairs of the previous day. The disciples are scattered and in hiding, having fled Jesus’ side, through fear of what might happen to them if caught by the authorities. The women less fearful than the men, have bought spices to go and anoint Jesus’ body on the next day, Sunday. 

No one knows what will happen next, but all are resting and respecting the Sabbath, from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. Meanwhile Jesus lies buried in a borrowed tomb. The authorities however are rejoicing as they believe they’ve rid themselves of the instigator once and for all. Yet there is an air of expectancy in a few hearts that can’t believe that the whole movement surrounding Jesus would simply disband and die because of His unforeseen and unexpected death. All though were waiting with bated breath to see what would happen after the Sabbath ended. 

That was then…in Jesus’ day, but now, in our time, we know and behave differently. For modern day Christians, Holy Saturday is a significant day in the Christian faith, commemorating the time when Jesus lay buried in the tomb. It is a day of mourning and reflection, as we contemplate the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross; His death and burial. It is a time for introspection and self-examination, as well as a time to remember the suffering of others. In some traditions, Holy Saturday is also associated with the descent of Jesus Christ into hell. 

And after sunset we have what we call the Easter Vigil, as we prepare for Jesus’ resurrection. Yes, along with the sadness on Jesus’ horrific demise, there is also a confident air of waiting for something good to happen… for the triumphant resurrection of Christ! It is also a time of hope, as Christians remember that death has been defeated and that new life is possible through faith in Jesus Christ. 

On His resurrection, Jesus fulfilled the promise of eternal life that He spoke to Martha, the sister of Lazarus before He raised him from the dead. ‘I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead (may die), yet he shall live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believeth thou this?’ (John 11:25:-27) 

Now that’s a very good question, and one I believe that each of us should take a moment to seriously consider on this Holy Saturday, the day before we celebrate Christ’s resurrection. And hopefully, we will all come up with an answer like Martha’s. ‘She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.’ (John 11:27) And if we made an answer that agreed with Martha’s, then let’s hope we’re not only paying lip service, like so many are doing, but are truly engaged in living for Christ, reading and meditating on His Word, then living a life that is in concert with it and pleasing to Him. 

Oh my people, in this overly talkative society of ours, words are cheap, but actions and true intentions are expensive and thus few and far between. And with the evil, the selfishness and ungodliness that currently permeates it, we believers in Christ need to be very strong and steadfast in living for Him. It’s imperative that we maintain His desires, for instance when He says: ‘Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour (flavour), wherewith should it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and trodden under foot of men. 

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle (lamp) and put it under a bushel (basket), but on a candlestick (lampstand): and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt. 5:13-16) Right there we have two important duties my people; to be flavourful and bright as we go about our earthly life, and we need to do them diligently because we are the only replica or likeness to Christ that many people will ever see. 

And that’s not all that Jesus desires of us, my faithful brethren. Listen to this requirement, as He tells the disciples and all His followers down through the ages. ‘A new commandment I give unto you, That ye LOVE one another; as I have LOVED you, that ye also LOVE one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have LOVE one to another.’ (John 13:34-35) Yuh see that friends, one of the easiest ways to know Jesus’ disciples is if they have LOVE for each other. 

Unfortunately though, I don’t believe that attribute is as widespread in the church as it ought to be. In the first place, we have so many different denominations, cliques and groups, all pertaining to be disciples of Christ, but are constantly in disagreement and disunity with each other, and over many selfish and petty things too. Now, if Christ’s supposed people can’t agree, and we show each other so much resentment and disdain, how in heaven’s name do we expect the unbeliever to believe in Christ and want to become a member of His church? It just won’t happen. 

And that’s what’s killing a lot of our testimony and witness; people are seeing the many cracks and holes in our Christian façade and are turning away from Christ instead of coming to Him. So, on this Holy Saturday, as we contemplate Christ’s death and resurrection, let’s also consider seriously mending the fences in His church nuh, because we’ll always be less than we ought to, until we do so. It should be our Easter promise to work on having a more unified body, one that the heathen can look at and truly see the salt, light and LOVE of Christ in it, and desire to become a part of it. Then, and only then, will we be fulfilling our Christian duties! Much LOVE!

…Christ walked His talk when He died for us…we ought to do the same…by sincerely living for Him…

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Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 January 2020 Matthew 18:20.

03 Jan 2020 Leave a comment

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

Matthew 18:20.    ​For where two or three are gathered together in my name; there am I in the midst of them.
 
Can you believe it friends, we’re already into the third day of this new year of 2020! The days surely are running fast. As the duchess tells me when I complain about how the day ends so quickly: ‘Sit down there and think the day waiting on you nuh!’ It certainly isn’t my people, that’s why we got to get up and make hay while the sun shines, and not put off for tomorrow what we can do today. Another of the duchess’ sayings to me when I tend to procrastinate. (smile) But thankfully it’s Friday, and a lot of us are giving thanks for that fact because we’re still tired and bombed out from the hectic Christmas and New Year’s Eve activities. 

And I guess the workingman is too, so let’s hear what he has to say. ‘Oh mercy me! TGIF! Thank God is Friday yes! I haven’t looked forward to a Friday like this one in a long time. Brother am I ever tired! Having not worked for the Christmas week, and then partied so much for the New Year’s, I was definitely out of sync and not up to snuff these last couple days in doing the slave master’s work. Steups! I should really have taken the two weeks off. Next year I’ll know better. 

But it was a good Christmas and New Year’s. The family got closer together as we did stuff that we hadn’t done in ages, and I promised mihself to keep on doing that, not kill mihself out in the slave driver work, like I did last year. Ah getting older, ah not a spring chicken any more, so the work getting harder, because it entail plenty physical labour. And the wife needs some help with the children too, she not getting any younger either. So hopefully this will be a year when everything comes together, falls into place for us. Thank God for Fridays and weekends oui!’ 

Yes friends, I guess all of us are hoping that for 2020 we’ll turn over a new leaf in our lives, round a serious corner and discover the good life. (smile) And it’s always possible once you have Jesus as the Guiding Light of our lives. But please remember, it’s not going to be easy. It wasn’t easy for Jesus, and won’t be for His followers. But it surely will be interesting, adventurous and worthwhile, because that’s the kind of Leader we have. Now the workingman had some good sentiments in his song, but our weekend song is somewhat different, with checks and balances, as required by our Lord and Saviour to prevent the enemy from getting a foothold in our lives. 

So let’s give out with our Friday Chant nuh, in strong voice with a sincere sense of purpose. All together now: ‘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!’ 

Oh my people, is it ever important for us to get our souls, bodies, minds and spirits renewed and refreshed every week, so that we can do Jesus’ work at a high standard, with the diligence and excellence He expects of us. That’s why gathering to fellowship with other believers, on a Sunday, or whenever, is a must! We were made for fellowship, not to be independents or loners. Remember the saying, no man is an island. We can’t do it all on our lonesome. In fellowship there is great joy and togetherness, such that cannot be found on our own. 

Why yuh think Jesus said: ‘For where two or three are gathered together in my name; there am I in the midst of them.’ Because He knew the great benefits that accrued from fellowship. Not that He isn’t with us when we’re alone, but the Father made us specifically to dwell together in harmony, and when we forget our foolish pride and do just that, then all heaven cries out with delight and joy. Yuh think heaven’s happy now with the way we supposed believers living – divided by petty squabbles, full of resentment, bitterness, hatred and anger towards each other? 

Not on your life! Jesus came to break down the barriers that existed between Jews and Gentiles, and form ONE unified church! But we, in our worldly wisdom, have made a mockery of Jesus’ plan, for there’s no other organization or institution that’s as divided as the church in these turbulent end times! It’s ever so sad that when we need to come together the most, we’re drifting even further apart by the enemy’s successful drive to divide and conquer us. Oh my fellow believers, can’t we see that we’re only harming ourselves by all the foolishness that’s happening in Christ’s church? 

We’re only giving Satan a bigger and stronger foothold in our lives and demeaning the sacrifice and work of Christ! Do we need the many denominations and sects, numbered in the thousands, that are supposedly a part of the unified church? Definitely not! Especially when all are preaching something different. And Bruh Paul saw it coming when he warned Timothy about the apostasy (renunciation and doubt of formerly held beliefs) that would eventually appear. 

‘This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous (money lovers), boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers (irreconcilable), false accusers (slanderers), incontinent (without self-control), fierce (brutal), despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady (reckless), high-minded (haughty), lovers of pleasures more than (rather than) lovers of God: Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.’ (2 Tim. 3:1-5) 

Oh my people, we’ve always had some of this in our world, but right now it’s the worse it’s ever been! The false teachers and preachers, the antichrist, as John calls them, are holding too much sway. Too many are preaching that form of godliness; ‘mere religion without power or spiritual life.’ From those we must stay away. But we can only do that successfully when we know the Word. 

That means, this year, more than ever, we need to delve into God’s Word with a vengeance, so that we can know the false teachers and preachers, the antichrist, and stay away from them. Our world is depending on us friends, so let’s put some serious effort into raising our spiritual level, our faith, so that we can be strong, vibrant witnesses for Christ, and thus turn back the enemy. Much LOVE!

…the Word will set you free…but you can’t be free…until you know the Word…