Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 August 2017 Mark 8:15.

28 Aug 2017 Leave a comment

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

Mark 8:15.   And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven (yeast) of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

What shall I say this Monday morning eh my people, to encourage us to get up and get going? It’s so hard to arouse us, lift up our spirits every Monday, like pulling teeth, as our ancestors would say. I believe that we just don’t handle the weekend properly, so on Mondays we’re tired and grouchy and don’t want to get up to go to work, to face the same ole, same ole grind and daily task. 

But that’s just the way our society is structured my brethren, there’s not much we can do about it, except don’t work, and then we won’t eat, so the sooner we come to terms with it, the sooner we’d lose those Monday blues. 

And everybody nods and agrees. But since when did we begin taking good advice eh? (smile) We all still like to do our own thing even though it brings negative consequences. But don’t worry, we have the proper remedy, the right antidote for those Monday Blues of yours. It’s called the Monday Morning Battle Hymn. So let’s stir up some enthusiasm in our spirits and adrenaline in our blood by declaring it right now nuh. 

In strong voice: ‘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!’ 

Now that wasn’t as rousing a rendition as our choirmaster Jesus would have liked, but He understands the frailty and fragility of our souls, and once we expend a reasonable effort He will be satisfied. So let’s get a move on and put that enthusiasm and adrenaline to work in building Christ’s kingdom in this evil and ungodly world in which we live. 

But let’s also be careful and heed Jesus’ warning to His disciples in our Bit. ‘And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven (yeast) of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.’ 

They had just left a group of Pharisees who were trying to tempt Jesus asking for a sign from heaven. As the scholars surmise:  ‘8:1. These Pharisees were evidently not interested in Jesus’ message. They sought rather to satisfy their own curiosity, or perhaps to gather further evidence against Him on the supposition that his work was of demonic origin (3:22).’ 

But Jesus in His own inimitable way, ‘sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? Verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation. And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.’ (Mark 8:12-13) Ah friends, yuh like how Jesus could mash up the Pharisees and them, and just leave them hanging? 

And according to the scholars: ‘8:12. Generation refers to those Jews living at that time. “This generation” carries a derogatory sense because this particular generation of Jews has rejected Jesus as their Messiah, despite all the evidence provided them.’  

Now after they set out for the other side, the disciples realized they had forgotten to get bread, they only had one loaf on board. That’s when Jesus declared our Bit. ‘And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven (yeast) of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.’ (Mark 8:15-16) 

And the scholars offer these explanations. ‘8:15. Charged means “ordered.” Leaven here has a derogatory meaning. Jesus warns of the Pharisees’ hypocrisy and Herod’s secularism.’ ‘8:16. The disciples miss the point totally.’ And is that ever so true! They had no clue whatsoever about what Jesus meant. 

And when Jesus realized their wrong thinking, He admonished them. ‘Why reason ye because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye (is) your heart yet hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?’ (Mark 8:17-21) 

Yeh friends, the disciples were somewhat daft there. The scholars explain thus: ‘8:14-21. Jesus challenges the disciples to deeper discernment. The disciples apparently failed to realize from the feeding of the five thousand (6:30-34) and from the feeding of the four thousand that Jesus can certainly provide for their needs.’ 

Unfortunately, that’s the way a lot of believers are these days too. We forget what the Lord has already done in our lives and begin to fear and worry when problems come up against us, and we need to be summarily reminded of it all. 

And we’ll end with this interesting note from the scholars. ‘8:17-21. Jesus is often portrayed as the gentle, patient teacher. Here he barrages His followers with a battery of queries worth of a prosecuting attorney.’  And that is how we unthinking and unseeing believer’s ofttimes need to be brought to heel! Much LOVE!

…Jesus is able…is sufficient to meet…ALL…of our needs…and if you are a believer…you shouldn’t need to be reminded of it…

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 June 2015 Psalm 103:8

28 Jun 2015 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 103:8. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous (abounding) in mercy (LOVING-kindness).

Well Friends, welcome to a wet and windy Sunday morning in my area of the universe! In fact it’s been wet and windy since yesterday around noon, and will probably remain the same until sometime tomorrow morning. 

So much heavenly blessing is expected that flood warnings have been issued to the low lying areas and those around rivers and creeks. Let’s hope that no serious damage occurs, although it’s always good to be prepared, just in case. However, a little water from heaven should not stop most of us from going to church this morning, though we are always ready to use it as an excuse.

I wonder how we would feel if when we cry out to God for help, He says: “Sorry I can’t offer any help right now nuh because the rain’s falling, or the snow is coming down in a blizzard, and in any case I’m just too busy, lazy or tired to help you right now. Check me back later, I might be able to do something then.’

No doubt we’d all be up in arms, criticizing God, but we feel it’s quite okay for us to make simple-minded excuses to stay away from His sanctuary and miss giving Him the praise, thanks and worship that are His due, as well as fail to receive the spiritual upliftment and encouragement that comes from believers in Jesus fellowshipping together.

Remember Friends, what’s good for the goose is also good for the gander. (smile) We can’t ignore God, then get annoyed and upset if He ignores us. But it’s a marvellous and wonderful thing that we don’t have that kind of God; one with a tit-for-tat personality and attitude, where whatever you mete out to Him, He has to necessarily meet back the same thing to you.

On the contrary my brethren, we have such a forgiving God, that it makes me sit and ponder in awe of His majesty and righteousness. Listen to how Bruh David describes our awesome God in our Bit that comes from Psalm 103 – Thanksgiving for God’s mercy. ‘The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous (abounding) in mercy (LOVING-kindness).’

Wow mih people! Can that be said of any other supposed deity? Obviously not! Because none other than the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are real, true and living gods. And nobody would know that better than Bruh David since he was a constant recipient of God’s LOVING-kindness despite his many wrongdoings.

Now hear how he continues after our Bit. ‘He will not always chide (strive): neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy (LOVING-kindness) toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame (understands our constitution); he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more (not remember it). But the mercy (LOVING-kindness) of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;’ (Ps.103:9-17)

Oh my brethren, how can we not LOVE and revere such a wonderful Deity eh? We’d certainly be very foolish not to do so! He isn’t always chiding us for our mistakes, and His anger doesn’t last for very long. Most importantly, He has not given us our just desserts for the abominable sins we have committed. If He did, none of us would be alive to tell the tale, that’s for sure, since we have all sinned and come short of His glory. (Rom.3:23)

And even better yet, all those abominable transgressions have been removed from us as far as the east is from the west. He even treats those of us who worship and reverence Him like a father. He also knows our fragility, because He’s the one who created us from the dust of the earth and made our days comparatively as short as the flowers and grass that bloom in the fields.

Now why wouldn’t I be glad and rejoice and give thanks and gratefully appreciate all that eh? Hn! Unfortunately though, a lot of us, way too many, don’t believe it, neither do we appreciate God’s goodness to the sinful children of men. How sad and foolish my people.

It is indeed a very unwise move we are making, for we are playing with the eternal destiny of our souls, which could lead to death, damnation and everlasting separation from God. And as I keep reminding us, that is the worst fate that can ever befall a human being.  

Now listen to those same sentiments expressed by the Lord Himself, when He passed before Moses on Mt. Sinai, the second time he went up there to receive the Ten Commandments.

‘And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him (Moses) there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.’ (Ex.34:5-7)

Ah Friends, those were the words of the Lord God Jehovah Himself! And nothing much has changed since then. He is still the same faithful, forgiving, merciful, ever-LOVING, gracious, wise, compassionate and understanding God that He has always been.

Consequently, I urge us all to smarten up, to get our acts together and sincerely and reverently worship, praise, give thanks and glorify the Holy One of Israel; the ONLY TRUE AND LIVING GOD! For that is the ultimate in wisdom! Much LOVE!

…only fools run from the presence… and therefore the blessings of Jehovah God…