Today’s Scrip-Bit   20 March 2024 Psalm 119:97.

20 Mar 2024 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 119:97.        O how I LOVE thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

And it’s like we’re not talking about spring, with the birds singing their joyful tunes, and the trees putting out some early buds, for it flurried all day yesterday, and some last night or early this morning, but not enough to make any worthwhile difference. And though the sun’s shining, and it’s not too chilly out there, the computer is advising a weather alert, with more snow in the forecast. Brother! That’s what we get for listening to those fake groundhogs and their shadows. What early spring did they see eh! Chuh! This is the kind of contrary weather that get’s people sick; mentally expecting one type of weather and dressing for it, only to experience the unpleasant reality of a different kind. 

But enough of the weather and it’s eccentricities, let’s turn to this prayer from the ‘Let Us Pray’ section of this month’s In Touch Devotional. As one voice: ‘God, I admit – I don’t always want to follow You. Some days, Your way seems narrow and lifeless. Yet I believe in the freedom You promise. Show me, Father, the abundant life found in keeping Your wisdom. I want to shout with David, “How I LOVE Your law!” But my heart is not there yet – I need Your help. Reshape my misguided desires, Lord. May Your Word truly be sweeter than honey to me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.’ 

Yes friends, we all have those times, when we don’t feel so into God and His narrow path, but nonetheless we know that He is the right way to go, if we sincerely want to find the abundant life that Jesus died for us to have. And Jesus made it quite clear that’s what He was about, when he said. ‘The thief cometh not but for (except) to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have life more abundantly.’ (John 10:10) What a magnificent statement my people! Jesus came that we might have a decent life down here as well as eternal life with Him in the other world! What can be better than that eh? Nothing! 

But to enjoy that abundant life, we have to sincerely seek the Lord and His righteousness, and do His holy will. It doesn’t just fall into our laps automatically, even when we believe. Jesus has already done His part; sacrificed His sinless life for ours, and risen from the dead, so that we could also rise in due time, we now have to do our part, follow His lead and be good examples of LOVE, light, salt and righteousness in this evil and ungodly world. And keeping God’s law ought to be our number one priority. For as the psalmist says in Psalm 119: ‘O how I LOVE thy law! it is my meditation all the day.’ 

And that’s exactly what the Lord commanded Joshua to do with the Israelites, as they were about to cross the Jordan river and enter the Promised Land. ‘This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth (shall be constantly in thy mouth); but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.’ (Josh. 1:8) Ah mih people, that is the very genesis of success; meditating on God’s law and then following it, putting it into action in our own lives. That’s the ONLY way we will ever have success in this world and the one to come! 

And I just LOVE this next verse, where the Lord pounds it into Joshua’s head, and hopefully ours today too. ‘Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.’ (Josh. 1:9) Now those same words still apply to us today, my fellow saints, and until we sincerely believe them and act accordingly upon them, we’ll never have the success that the Lord intends for us to have. For remember who gives us the power to get wealth? The Lord God Jehovah! And the major way to do that is by concentrating on the Lord’s Word. 

Then, further down in that section of Psalm 119 that speaks of the LOVE of God’s law, the psalmist further proclaims: ‘How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every evil way.’ (Ps. 119:103-104) Oh, how I wish that we could all say those words with utter sincerity! For then we would be able to truthfully say the next verse: ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.’ (Ps. 119:105) Now that’s exactly what the Lord desires His Word to be for us, a light and lamp to guide our feet and show us the right path to tread. 

And  Bruh David said it thus of the Lord’s word in Psalm 19: ‘The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear (reverence) of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb (the drippings of the honeycomb). Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.’ (Ps. 19:8-11) 

Now that last verse says it all friends. The Lord’s Word serves as a warning for us, and when we follow it, we are well rewarded, both down here on earth and in heaven above. And that’s the indisputable truth. So, having those words of godly wisdom written indelibly in our hearts, lets’ go home now, declaring (steupsss!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful and most marvellous position in Christ Jesus. 

Altogether now: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And there’s a rather important proviso to that proclamation: If we endure right to the very end with Jesus, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ask or imagine. So let’s be wise and plan to meet at the very end with Christ nuh! Much LOVE!

…the Word of God…is our Guidebook for earthly living…

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Today’s Scrip-Bit 20 December 2015 Psalm 107:17

20 Dec 2015 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 107: 17.    Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

Oh my people, the church bells are ringing, loudly and sweetly, calling the Lord’s children to gather for worship in His sanctuary this Sunday morning! Will you be amongst the faithful gathered there today? I do hope so, because it’s such a vital part of our Christian faith and heritage. 

Yes Friends, gathering together on a Sunday – well in fact any day really – to praise and worship and give thanks to Almighty God is a wonderful, not to be missed or forgotten experience! Just raising our voices as one body – Christ’s church – to heaven in prayer and song and thanksgiving rejoices our souls, renews our strength and raises the level of our faith! 

Now how could anyone who considers him or herself a child of God, not want to take part in such a soul-stirring, enlightening and uplifting event eh? It’s unthinkable! (smile) 

All I can do though is encourage us to participate in worship services at least once a week, so that our spirits will be renewed through the hearing of God’s Word and all the other rituals and sacraments that take place within the services. It’s obviously each individual’s choice or decision to participate or not. 

However, I do strongly advise us to get involved with worship services if you truly want to mature and grow in Christ. You cannot do it isolation, by yourself; you need the strength and encouragement of other faithful believers to assist you in that regard. 

That’s why Bruh Paul likened the Church to the human body. Though the body is made up of many different parts, all with their individual functions, yet they all work together in harmony to form ONE body. The same goes for the Christian community my brethren. Though we all have different gifts and functions, we are expected to work harmoniously as ONE body in Christ. (Rom.12:4-5; 1 Cor.12:12-26) 

And we simply can’t do that if we don’t congregate every so often and celebrate our faith. So with all that godly wisdom percolating through our souls, let’s get up and get out to church now nuh. I can assure us, we won’t regret it…if we go with the right attitude; a prayerful and humble one. 

Now let’s turn to our Bit. ‘Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.’  And doesn’t that seem somewhat appropriate in regards to what we were just talking about? Oh how our God does move in mysterious ways! (smile) It was never my intention to weave them together. I didn’t even know what I was going to write about when I got started. But our omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God obviously has a message He wants to convey. 

Anyhow, getting back to our Bit, it’s just the basic premise and promise on which the Lord has set up His universe: whatever you sow, that shall you reap. That’s the universal law friends! 

And that’s why, when we sow transgressions and iniquities, we are afflicted. We can’t sow sin and evil and expect to reap goodness and LOVE. It just doesn’t work like that. Therefore, if we don’t want to be afflicted, then we have to stop being foolish and stop sowing the things that will make us suffer serious negative consequences. It’s as simple as that my people. 

And there are several scriptures that point out the lack of wisdom thereof. Cousin Sol says it thus: ‘The foolishness of man perverteth (twists) his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord.’ (Prov.19:3) Yes precious people, man’s proud and sinful nature causes him to step out of God’s narrow path, and subsequently causes him grief. 

Meanwhile, Isaiah, detailing how the rebellious will be punished, alluding to Israel’s rebellion against God, declares His word. ‘Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense even recompense into their bosom. Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the Lord, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.’ (Is.65:6-7) 

Yea friends, though the Lord will not completely obliterate His chosen people, Israel, they will pay a hefty price for their unfaithfulness, as Jeremiah tells us. ‘For I am with thee saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure (justice), and will not leave thee altogether unpunished. 

For thus saith the Lord, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous. There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines. All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased. 

Why criest thou for thine affliction? Thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.’ (Jer. 30:11-15) 

The same thing holds true for us today my people. Our sinfulness has reached extraordinary proportions, so at some stage, if it has not already begun, we will be required to pay a substantial price for ignoring God and going our own way, wallowing in the foolishness of the prince of darkness. 

And we’ll end with these interesting words from the Lamentations of Jeremiah. ‘Wherefore doth (how can) a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Let us search and try (examine) our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.’ (Lam.3:39-42) 

Ah mih brethren, the only thing that can save us now from our foolish rebellion is sincere repentance and a complete turnaround, back to sincerely and faithfully worshipping the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the ONE TRUE GOD. That is truly the wisdom of heaven! Much LOVE!

…I will bear the indignation of the Lord…because I have sinned against him… (Mic.7:8a)