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 10 June 2014 Acts 3:6

10 Jun 2014 Leave a comment

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

Acts 3:6.    Then Peter said, silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
 

Oh Friends, first of all, on this wonderful Tuesday morning, let me apologize for an error I made yesterday. I don’t know how many of you noticed it though, with the busy way we read stuff these days. (smile)
 
Originally I had intended to use Acts 4:31 as our Bit, and began writing thus. But then I was guided to change it to Acts 2:47. However in my busyness and enthusiasm and whatever else, I forgot to change the first heading, so that it still read Acts 4:31, while the second one read Acts 2:47.
 
I guess every so often the Lord brings up something to lower our worldly pride and remind us that we’re still, and will always be fallible beings, totally dependent on His mercy and blessings, as He is the only infallible Being in the universe.
 
And having said that, I want to continue our focus on Pentecost for at least today, for who knows what will happen tomorrow. (smile) And I want to do so, because that Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit made its rather memorable arrival to indwell ALL believers, wasn’t a one-day affair.
 
The beautiful effects continued for a while, with many signs and wonders being done through the apostles. And I just want us to have some idea of how it affected the overall beliefs and behaviour of those first Christians.
 
Now one day, soon thereafter, as the tide of Christianity was rising, Peter and John went up to the temple to pray around the ninth hour.
 
And the scholars give us some timely info here. ‘3:1. According to Jewish reckoning, the day began at 6 a.m. Hence the ninth hour is 3 p.m. The Jewish prayer time was held in conjunction with the evening sacrifices and offering of incense (c.f. Luke 1:8-10; Rev.8:3-4). Peter and John commonly went to the temple to pray at this hour. The Greek imperfect tense could well be translated “used to go up.”
 
On that particular day though, a lame man begging for alms, met them at the temple entrance. But instead of giving him money, the Good Book tells us: ‘And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
 
Then Peter said, silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
 
And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.’ (Acts 3:4-8)
 
Oh Friends, that’s the way we ought to behave when God does something good in our lives!
 
Sadly though, too many of us just take His goodness for granted and pass off those occasions without the proper and necessary showing of gratitude. Please let’s try and correct that behaviour as of today. That is, if we want to see God continue working wonders in our lives.
 
Anyway, as the Good Book continues: ‘And all the people saw him walking and praising God: and they knew that it was he which sat for alms (begging) at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
 
And as the lame man which was healed held (on) to Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering (amazed).’ (Acts 3:9-11)
 
Yes Friends, in those early days the Holy Spirit was just running riot, running amok, stirring up the people of Jerusalem! And that’s a good and positive riot and amok we’re talking about there! (smile) 
 
Oh my brethren, how I dearly wish that the Holy Spirit could run a good and positive riot amongst us today, because in these rough and troubled times so many people need a strong hand to hold on to, so badly need something true and positive to believe in, to relieve their fears, and give them courage and sustenance to fight the battles of this evil and ungodly world.
 
And we know that Jesus Christ is the best, or rather the ONLY ONE who can do those things. For He is indeed the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE; the ONLY option whereby one can receive and embrace true salvation!
 
But unfortunately we the current believers are not doing enough and not living a good enough Christian life to cause that kind of wonder and astonishment in unbelievers.
 
In fact we’re doing just the opposite, living such hypocritical lives that we’re turning people off of Christianity and therefore off of Jesus Christ!
 
That means we’re not being very good ambassadors of Christ, else the number of unbelievers and the disdain with which many of them hold Christians and Christianity would never be as bad as it currently is. How sad my people!
 
And all I can do is ask us, plead with us to make the necessary changes to our lives and our behaviour, to let the Holy Spirit of Jesus that is supposed to indwell EACH and EVERYONE of us, to truly lead and guide us along the paths of truth and righteousness, so that we can correct the poor image that the world holds of us, and consequently our great Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
 
Oh Friends, like the apostles and early Christians we definitely need to, especially in these very crucial and critical last days, portray a much better image of our faith and what it truly stands for. How else would people come to Jesus and receive salvation and everlasting life eh?
 
We need to reawaken the dormant and/or dying spirit of LOVE and fellowship amongst all humans, so that we can turn this angry, wicked, war mongering, resentful, greedy, envious and ungodly world around, and thus give our children and future generations a fighting chance to know Christ, and be saved from the terrible fate that awaits them otherwise.
 
Please my people, for the sake of those that come after us, let’s clean up our act and make the necessary amends nuh. With the help of our wonderful and most LOVING God and His Holy Spirit we can certainly do it. Please allow that heavenly wisdom to percolate through our spirits, so that we can rise to the occasion. Much LOVE!
 
…wake up…oh please wake up my fellow believers…and see what dire circumstances lie ahead…if we continue in our current lackadaisical mode…
 
P.S.  Ah mih people, like the Lord’s trying to test my patience yes! The Bit was already going to be late because of my tardiness, then just as I was about to send it, the ole computer froze on me, so I had to shut it down then reboot it. Oh for the simpler times of life! (smile) Much LOVE!

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 23 September 2013 1 John 5:14.

23 Sep 2013 Leave a comment

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

1 John 5:14.    And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us.
 
Oh Friends, it’s Monday – officially the second day of autumn, that beautiful, unique season between summer and winter, when nature starts to go into hibernation mode, but before doing so, bathes us in bright, colourful hues and splendid, panoramic scenes. I guess you can call autumn (fall) the season of eye-candy! (smile)
 
Anyway Friends, the Lord, in His usual mysterious movements, wanted me to remind us that ‘We, we are blessed! If you’re a believer, then you, you are blessed. So let’s tell the world, that we, we are blessed!’ That’s a take on the song ‘I am Blessed,’ by I believe it’s sung by Kay Morris and her group. But my people, it’s ever so important that this Monday morning, as we get up to go back out to labour in God’s name, and it’s in His name that we’re working, not man’s, that we remember we’re BLESSED in all that we do. For without His blessing we can do very little.
 
And having brought that fact in to focus, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn to get us ready to go out and battle Lucifer and his evil cohorts. And since we’re not as tired as we usually are, because we’ve gotten some decent rest this weekend, let’s let it all hang out and sing with pomp and glory nuh. (smile) 
 
As one voice now: ‘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!’
 
Awright mih people, the engine’s revving and the adrenalin’s flowing, so let’s get out there and be worthy soldiers in Jesus’ army. Remember, He’s already at the front lines, and, like His magnificent steed, He’s just chomping at the bit, waiting for us to arrive and engage the enemy.
 
Now let’s get to our Bit: ‘And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us.’ And that my Friends, is what’s called absolute truth!
 
That brings us to supporting scripture. And we’ll begin with some wise words from the wisest man ever, Cousin Sol, as he contrasts the wise and foolish. ‘In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart (turn one away) from the snares of death.’ (Prov.14:26-27).
 
Wow! Wise words indeed my brethren! When we have a proper reverence for Almighty God our confidence never wavers, always stays strong, because we know we can always turn to Him in times of need. There’s always a place of refuge for us under His wide and ever-LOVING wings. That reverence will also keep us alive and kicking, in that it will keep us from falling for, and into the death traps that the enemy lays for us. 
 
Next we’ll turn to Bruh Paul, as he talks to the Ephesians about pressing towards the mark. ‘Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision (mutilation, circumcision). For we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.’ (Phil.3:2-3)
 
Ah mih people, Bruh Paul was here warning the Ephesians of the Judaizers, those supposed Christians who were preaching that you still need circumcision, per the Law of Moses to receive salvation, which was a total lie. He called them dogs, because dogs were regarded as shameful, despicable, creatures, just running around behaving like scavengers, and the Jews held the Gentiles in the same disdain that they held for stray dogs.
 
Bruh Paul even refuses to refer to them as ‘the circumcision’, instead using it for those circumcised of heart in Jesus, and not of the flesh. He turns the table on those false Christians, the Judaizers, and calls them ‘dogs’ instead.
 
And here’s what the scholars have to say about verse 3. ‘3:3. The circumcision or true people of God are described here in three ways. (1) They are those who worship God in the spirit. Their worship of God is prompted, directed, and enabled by the Holy Spirit. (2) Real Christians also rejoice in Christ. They boast and take pride in Him, not in themselves.
 
(3) They have no confidence in the flesh. “Flesh” here means one’s earthly privileges, human attainments, and religious accomplishments. God’s people refuse to depend on such things for their salvation; instead, they rely upon Christ to obtain favour with God.’  
 
And that’s it for today Friends! As usual, I hope the message moves us further along the continuum to maturity in Christ Jesus, for that’s the ultimate purpose; to help us grow a little more each day, in wisdom, righteousness and LOVE. That’s God’s plan for us, so please, with His awesome help, let’s keep working faithfully towards it. Much LOVE!
 
…if our hearts aren’t truly circumcised in Christ…then we can’t really be true believers…