Today’s Scrip-Bit 11 March 2020 Hebrews 12:6.

11 Mar 2020 Leave a comment

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

Hebrews 12:6.    ​For whom the Lord LOVETH He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth, (even as a father the son in whom he delighteth).

 

My most humble apologies friends as we’re a bit late this bright and sunshiny Wednesday Morning. That’s because I had one of those late nights, or early mornings, your choice, and then the muse called sleep was pretty good to me, kept me under for a decent spell. (smile) But welcome nonetheless to a new day of mercies and compassions from our most merciful and compassionate God Jehovah! Give Him thanks for His amazing, awesome and unconditional LOVE for us, who don’t deserve even one iota of His goodness. 

But His heart of LOVE couldn’t help itself way back when He sent His only son Jesus to save us, and even now, despite our abominable sinfulness and disobedience and desire to rid our society of His overall presence, He still LOVES us with the undying LOVE of a heavenly Father! Wow! I know it’s hard to believe that with all the ungodly stuff we do and the low esteem in which so many of us hold Him, that He still goes gaga over us. (smile) But we’re His greatest creation, so just like how we hold important people in our lives to our hearts, He holds us to His. 

Now isn’t it simply wonderful to know that we have a God, a Creator, who LOVES us dearly, despite our many shortcomings? It certainly is! But that doesn’t mean He won’t punish or discipline or chasten us for our disobedience, but even then it’s because He LOVES us that He chastens us. Hear the Good Book tell it nuh, as the author of Hebrews quotes Cousin Sol from Proverbs 3:11-12. 

‘My son, despise not thou the chastening (discipline) of the Lord, nor faint (be discouraged) when thou art rebuked of him. For whom the Lord LOVETH He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth (even as a father the son in whom he delighteth). If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then ye are bastards (illegitimate), and not sons.’ (Heb. 12:5-8) 

Oh friends, a lot of us believe that if God is so good, He should not punish us, but that’s not right, He punishes us because He LOVES us, the same way our earthly fathers punish us for wrongdoing because they are interested in our well being! Remember Hs is not only a LOVING God, but also a holy, righteous and just Deity, which means wrongs have to be righted and justice done. Jesus, in his message to the church at Laodicea, says it thus to John in Revelation: ‘As many as I LOVE, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.’ (Rev. 3:19) That’s also wonderful advice for us today friends. 

And the scholars offer this insightful explanation. ‘12:6. Whom the Lord LOVETH, he chasteneth: God’s principle of disciplining His own people is completely congruous (in line) with human practices. This quotation from Proverbs 3:12, stating God’s practice, corresponds to the commands God gave to fathers. “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that LOVETH him chasteneth him betimes (promptly).” (Prov. 13:24: cf. 22:15; 23:13). LOVE and corporal punishment are not incongruous; they are two complimentary and necessary aspects of training.’ 

Now my people, please look at those reference scriptures because they are rather important in parenting. And it’s exactly why this generation is so unruly, undisciplined, ungrateful, irresponsible and figure the world owes them a living; we parents have not administered the necessary punishment for their wrongdoings. And don’t get me wrong, corporal punishment is not the only way to discipline children, but it is a necessary and useful method. Oh, we parents get so soft-hearted and foolish nowadays believing that if we hit our children it’s child abuse…Steups! 

Yes, some parents overdo it, to the point where it does become abuse. But when there is no sensible punishment and the children turn back and are rude and unmannerly and even hit and kill us, as we’re seeing so much these days, we wonder why it’s happening. But it’s basically our fault; we did not train up the children right and the society is giving them too much leeway for irresponsibility, not holding them sufficiently responsible for their wrongs. And I’m sure that many of us parents, in our youth, were punished for our wrongs, and if it was within reason, I’m sure we’re much better off today because of it. 

It taught us obedience, and responsibility. And sometimes just the threat of punishment is sufficient to keep us from doing wrong. I know in my case, my mother was LOVING and kind, but if she said do something, or don’t do something, and I stubbornly or foolishly refused to comply, I could get the strap. I didn’t always get it, sometimes she was indeed merciful, (smile) but I had no doubts whatsoever that it could be very quickly forthcoming if I didn’t obey. So friends this idea we have that because the Lord is so good and LOVING, bad things shouldn’t happen to us, and we shouldn’t be punished for our wrongs is totally unjustified. 

We live in a sinful and fallen world, with sinful and fallen humans, so sin and wrongdoing and disasters will happen. The Lord never said that He would prevent us from going through all the rough times, but that He would be right there beside us in them. That’s because we need to go through the flood, the fire and the storm if we want our faith to grow, for it’s only in adversity do we see the real us come out and our backbone and belly grow. So today let’s concentrate on doing the best we can, with what we have nuh, and leave the rest to our wonderful heavenly Father, for He has promised to provide all our needs if we seek Him first. And He IS faithful to keep all His promises. 

So let’s go home now declaring (yeeahh!) our Wednesday Wail letting all and sundry know of our enviable position in Christ! All together now, in strong voice with sincere hearts. ‘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!’ 

Ah mih people, that is certainly Wisdom 101! Living for, and with, and through, and in Jesus… Oh that’s the wisest action we can ever take in this sinful world. So let’s take it and stay with it till the end nuh, for if we do, the future will indeed be mucho mucho glorious! Much LOVE!

…come to Jesus…stick with Him…and everything will be made right…eventually…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 February 2020 Isaiah 52:12.

19 Feb 2020 Leave a comment

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

Isaiah 52:12.    ​For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rearward (rear guard).

 

Then it was Wednesday… and everybody breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that they had survived, gotten through the most onerous part of the work week and the rest was just cool sailing until their big day of Friday came around again! It’s surprising how we are creatures of habit yes friends. We begin on Monday like a storm assailed vessel, writhing in the throes of agony, can’t make head nor tail of anything…then by Wednesday the storm has calmed and the ship has righted itself…then we look forward to clear and calm sailing as we round the bend of life and see heaven on Friday. (smile) 

But my people, there is no reason whatsoever to fear the storms of life and wait until Friday before we experience a slice of heaven, for the Lord our God made an ever-faithful promise to us long long ago through the prophet Isaiah, that He will deliver Zion (Jerusalem) from captivity by the hands of His suffering servant, the Messiah. ‘For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rearward (rear guard).’ 

Oh friends, if the Lord promised it, then you can rest assured that it will happen. Yuh see how He guarded and guided the Israelites when He brought them out of bondage in Egypt? ‘ And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.’ (Ex. 13:21-22) 

Wow mih breddren! What a mighty and faithful God we serve! He guided the Israelites through the wilderness, assuring them of His enduring and powerful presence, protecting them from their enemy back then. And He has not forgotten us, those who have come after. 

Listen to this immortal promise: ‘Behold, my suffering servant shall deal prudently (prosper), he shall be exalted and extolled (lifted up), and be very high. As many were astonished at thee; his visage (appearance) was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: So shall he sprinkle (startle) many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.’ (Is.52:13-15) 

That’s what you call prophecy! (smile) Now listen as the scholars explain: ‘52:13-15. These verses actually stand as the introduction to the prophecy of the Suffering Servant in chapter 53. The subject of both passages is the servant of the Lord individualized as the Messiah who suffers for our sins. He is the culmination of all of Isaiah’s messianic prophecies. He is the miraculously born Son of the Virgin – Immanuel, “God with Us” (7:14; cf. Matt. 1:23). He is the Branch (11:1) who springs up out of the stump of the Davidic line. 

He is the new David (9:7) who will bring in a new Exodus and a new redemption for the people of Israel. Further, He is the One who deserves to rule the world because He is the One who suffers redemptively for all humanity. The terms exalted and extolled, and be very high are used only in 33:10 and here, but nowhere else in the prophets. It refers to the ultimate and final exaltation of His spiritual glory. Thus He will not remain in the humiliation which is described here but will rise above it (cf. Phil. 2:9-11). 

There is a deliberate contrast between the many who are astonished and the kings who will shut their mouths at him. The idea is that both the common man and the potentate will stand speechless in awe of Him. His visage refers to His appearance (or face), which will become so marred (disfigured) by beatings and scourgings that He will be barely recognizable. The verb for shall he sprinkle is a technical term found in the Mosaic Law for the sprinkling of blood in order to cleanse or purify from sin. 

This reference has nothing to do with water baptism. Here the servant of the Lord is viewed as our High Priest who offers His own blood for our sins. Before this Suffering Servant, the nations of the world are rendered speechless as they observe this unbelievable demonstration of God’s LOVE.’  

All I can say is ‘Wow, friends, Wow!’ Yuh see how the coming of Jesus was prophesied right down to the nth degree! All that we talked about there has happened already, or will happen in the Lord’s time. So remember, Jesus Himself spoke of His coming again in glory: ‘For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.’ (Matt. 16:27) 

Please be careful then friends, for remember what was prophesied by Isaiah about Jesus came through, so it’s fairly certain that what Jesus says will also come through. So let’s not be found on the outside looking in when He comes again nuh. For the wise money is on Jesus: He’s the odds on favourite; the One who can’t lose! 

So let’s wisely align our lives with him nuh: The One whom ‘God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name; That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of (those) things in heaven, and (those) things in earth, and (those) things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father.’ (Phil. 2:9-11) 

Now that ought to seal the deal people! Jesus is officially the NAME above every other, to whom ALL knees will eventually bow! And it’s ALL to the glory of the Father…as it ought to be, for He is the One who made the plan and carried it out, based on His undying, everlasting and unconditional LOVE for us! So let’s acknowledge Him with gratitude and reverence as we declare (yeah!) our Wednesday Wail, letting everyone know our wonderful position in Christ, our Lord and Saviour. 

All together now in strong voice, with sincere hearts. ‘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!’ 

Oh Mama, Mama! And what a glorious future that will indeed be. Our puny minds can’t even picture how glorious it will really be! Much LOVE!

…the most important name we can ever call…JESUS…!

Today’s Scrip-Bit 12 February 2020 Psalm 89:47.

12 Feb 2020 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 89:47.    ​Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain (for what futility hast thou made all men)?
 
Aye mih people, greetings and salutations this chilly Wednesday morning, as time rolls on by. That reminds me of a conversation I had with the duchess yesterday. In my confusion as to the day, I asked if tomorrow would be Wednesday already? And in her own inimitable way, she answered, ‘Yes, all day!’ (smile) 

My contention then was how could it be Wednesday already tomorrow, when yesterday was just Monday? With a pitying smile and a sad shake of her head, the duchess kindly informed me: ‘You think time waiting on you eh? Well it isn’t. Time’s going about it’s business as it should…and if you doh want to go about your business, as you should, then that’s your problem. Doh blame time for your procrastinating!’ Matter fix! (smile) 

Yes friends, too many of us keep putting off things we can do today for tomorrow. And I should know, because I’m a master procrastinator! That’s one thing about the duchess, she likes to get her business done asap, no procrastinating on her part. Most of the time if she let’s something ride, it’s because I’ve talked her into it. (smile) But seriously my fellow believers (yeah! caught it just in time!) we can’t afford to waste the little time we have down here on earth, especially when we don’t know when it will be up; when we’ll either be taken home, or Jesus comes back. 

And Ethan the Ezrahite said it thus in his maschil (contemplation) on the sure promises of God to Bruh David. ‘How long. Lord? Wilt thou hide thyself forever? Shall thy wrath burn like fire? Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain (for what futility hast thou made all men)?’ (Ps. 89:46-47) 

And Moses, in his psalm (90) also mentions our comparatively short time here on earth, to that of eternity. ‘Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath; we spend our years as a tale that is told (like a sigh).’ (Ps. 90:8-9) Yeh friends, that’s how short our lives are, like a sigh, especially in the eyes of God. 

And Bruh David describes our lives thus in Psalm 62. ‘Surely men of low degree are vanity (a vapour), and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid (weighed) in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity (a vapour).’ (Ps .62:9) So I hope we get the picture; our lives are light and airy like vapour, and short lasting like a sigh, therefore we need to get our act together and do what the Lord has called us to do, without procrastination, fear and/or anxiety. 

For as Bruh Paul wrote to the church at Rome. ‘LOVE worketh no ill (does no harm) to his neighbour: therefore LOVE is the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now it’s high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 

Let us walk honestly (properly), as in the day; not in rioting (revelry) and drunkenness, not in chambering (licentiousness) and wantonness (lewdness), not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.’ (Rom.13:11-14) 

And the scholars explain: ‘13:11-12. Sleep means insensitivity to the demands of Christ on the Christian’s life. Now is our salvation nearer: The coming of Christ to deliver us from this sinful world grows nearer every day. The night is the time while Christ is out of the world, and the world has been delivered into the control of the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2). The day is a reference to the time when Christ will return and establish His reign of righteousness.’ ‘13:14. Make not provision for the flesh: One should not seek opportunities to satisfy the deep-seated desires of the sin nature, but should seek occasion to manifest works that are consistent with the new life in Christ.’ 

And to the Ephesians, Bruh Paul was a li’l more explicit. (smile) ‘Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly (carefully), not as fools, but as wise. Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess (dissipation); but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.’ (Eph. 5:14-21) 

Yes my people, those are the things we should not be doing and be doing! Cut out the unbelief, arise from our slumber, procrastination, and stop the idle talk and behaviour, go easy on the alkie, but be filled with the Spirit instead. (smile) Oh friends, in this evil age we have to be very careful of who we talk to and what we listen to. Our souls and lives ought to be filled with thanksgiving and  the things pertaining to heaven much more than the those pertaining to earth, for we have a job to do as ambassadors for Christ, and we can’t do that if we embrace the things of the world over those of Christ. 

So let’s start making melody in our hearts nuh, and singing godly songs, and giving much thanks, and interacting honestly and righteously with each other, all in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father! For that’s what we’re called to do as workers in Christ’s business! And with all of that stirring up our hearts, minds and souls, let’s go home confidently and sincerely declaring (yeah!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our enviable position in Christ. 

As one voice 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 if we go out and sincerely share Christ’s message by talk and deed, then our future will be indeed glorious! Much LOVE!

…working for Christ isn’t easy…but it certainly is rewarding…well worth every heartache and difficulty…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 January 2020 John 14:1.

29 Jan 2020 Leave a comment

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

John 14:1.    ​Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
 
Well it’s Wednesday; the middle of the work week, the hump day, where we feel like we’ve finally gotten hold of, gotten over that invisible hump, where work takes up most of our time. But work certainly takes up most of our time in this life yes! Most of us work five days a week for an average of forty years, then we retire, thankful that there’s no work on the horizon, the early mornings and late nights are finally done! 

But yuh know what? After doing something for forty years it’s hard to get accustomed to not doing anything, to not have to get up and go to work every day, although we complained most days about having to get up and go to work! Hn! And if we just loll about in retirement and don’t keep busy, then our bodies give up and we head back to the dust from which we’ve come, sooner than expected. We’re creatures of habit. That’s the contrariness of the human animal! (smile) 

And I finally finished watching the second half of the movie ‘Gone with the Wind.’ And it is indeed an epic story. But if the truth be told, nothing has really changed in our world since then nuh; that civil  war didn’t solve a whole lot, possibly besides the end of slavery, because there have been several bigger and more brutal wars since then, there’s still too much racism, overt and covert, still too much avarice and greed and jealously and strife, too much poverty and sickness and advantage, too much injustice and discrimination, be it by race, colour, class or creed, despite all the supposed advances we’ve made! 

Yes friends, our world is still a hotbed of dissension and disagreement! And yuh know what? It’s getting worse! Just look around at all the discontent between friends and families, between neighbours and nations…we’ve come closer together in terms of distance and communication, but we’ve gotten further apart in terms of true fellowship. There are more lonely people around now even with the advent of cell phones and social media, because that communication is basically impersonal; half the time you don’t even know who you’re really dealing with. 

Oh my people, the ONLY true solution to what ails our world is JESUS! He is the ONLY ONE who can truly bring us all together and give us the peace, LOVE and joy that we all seem to clamour for, but are far from experiencing! But strangely enough, Jesus is also one of the biggest factors of contention in our world; you either LOVE Him or hate Him with a passion! 

But let me ask you a few questions? Who is the ONLY ONE that came down from heaven, was made man, made in our image and lived amongst us like us eh? JESUS CHRIST! Who is the ONLY ONE who died on a cross to take away our sins, to give us another option besides hellfire and damnation with Satan eh? JESUS CHRIST! Who is the ONLY ONE who died and rose from the grave and ascended back into heaven with the promise to come back for us when we have made disciples of all the nations so that nobody will be lost to Beelzebub eh? JESUS CHRIST! 

Oh precious people, who said these momentous words with this awesome promise? ‘Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house are many mansions (dwellings): if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.’ (John 14:1-3) 

Oh friends, Jesus had no cause to lie. They saw Him do numerous miracles. They saw Him crucified on the cross at Calvary, then rise up again. Yuh think if the early believers didn’t see Christ after He rose from the dead, they would have believed him and done what He asked and waited for Him? No way Jose! 

Hear the scholars: ‘14:1. Let not your heart be troubled refers to Peter, Jesus having just told him of his imminent denial of his Lord (13:38). But the larger reference is to all the apostles, through whom Jesus is going to lay the foundation of the church. His comfort also includes instruction about His departure, the sending of the Holy Spirit, the promise of spiritual power, of answered prayer, and of peace, but especially the promise of His return.’ And a great shout of ‘Praise the Lord!’ echoes far and wide across the land in anticipation of that most wonderful promise! 

Yes friends, Jesus is the ONLY ONE who desires to build a group of people, His church, on the basis of LOVE, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness (kindness), goodness, faith (faithfulness), meekness and temperance (self-control). And if you didn’t recognize them, they are the fruit of the Spirit, seeds of which are planted in our own spirit when we do the wise thing and receive Christ as our Lord and Saviour. It’s then left up to us to water and nurture them and let them grow in and through us, by reading His Word and sincerely living it. 

That’s why Jesus said: ‘Wherefore by their fruit ye shall know them,’ speaking of false prophets and evil deceivers. (Matt.7:20) A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. And we need to also remember these famous words of Bruh Paul to the Corinthians: ‘And now abideth faith, hope, charity (LOVE), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (LOVE).’ (1 Cor. 13:13). 

Yes brothers and sisters, LOVE is indeed the greatest, because God is LOVE, and LOVE does no harm, but covers a multitude of sins, neither is there any fear in LOVE! And if  God first LOVED us, then we should also LOVE Him, and LOVE one another too: those are His two greatest desires! And now that all of that is indelibly written in our hearts, minds, bodies and souls, let’s go home celebrating our position in Christ by declaring (chuh!) our Wednesday Wail. 

Altogether now, in strong voice and sincere hearts: ‘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 in light of all Jesus has promised, friends, it will certainly be a glorious future indeed! Much LOVE!

…JESUS…the answer to EVERYTHING…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 22 January 2020 Psalm 68:19.

22 Jan 2020 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 68:19.    ​Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
 
Awright mih people, we’ve been granted another wonderful day in God’s great universe, so let’s do the right, wise and sensible thing and rejoice and be glad in it nuh! Or, as Papa James Brown would say, ‘Let’s get up on the good foot people!’ And there’s absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t because we true believers in Jesus Christ are the most blessed people on the face of planet earth! And that’s just cause to rejoice and be glad! 

Yuh know how many thousands of people didn’t open their eyes this morning…but the Lord specifically chose us to get on with His work down here in this evil world, so let’s not disappoint Him and do it to the best of our ability nuh. That’s all He asks of us, to do our best, and better still, He helps us to do it, because He gives us all the tools to do what He wants us to do. So all we need to do is hunker down and put it together in His name! 

And yuh see, we’ve made it through to Wednesday, the hump day of the work week, so everything’s progressing as it should, and there ought to be big smiles on our faces and joy and gladness in our hearts! Wow! If anybody ever had a reason to be alive and kicking, it’s the true believer in Christ Jesus! As Bruh David so rightly declares in Psalm 68 – God has gone before his people: ‘Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.’ And isn’t that the gospel truth friends! 

As Cousin Jerry (smile) rightly says in his Lamentations: ‘It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’ (Lam. 3:22-23) And yuh better believe that we ought to be everlastingly grateful that the Lord has compassion on us, generally speaking, and specifically every day, because if He didn’t, we’d be languishing in hellfire with the ole fool, the fallen angel Lucifer, who calls himself the prince of this dark world! 

Yes friends, it’s God’s compassion, His indescribable, infinite LOVE that caused Him to send His Only Son Jesus to be offered up on the cross as a sacrificial lamb to pay for our sins. As Bruh Paul told the church at Rome: ‘But God commendeth (demonstrated His own) LOVE toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Rom. 8:5) 

Yuh see that people, our wonderful, compassionate, ever-LOVING God didn’t wait for us to come to Him, cause He would have waited till thy kingdom come, (smile) but showed His awesome LOVE for us first, while we were still the mangiest of sinners! That’s why we ought to praise and worship and reverence and exalt and give endless, undying thanks to Him! For without His LOVING-kindness we’d just be blown away like chaff in the wind. But thank God, He had a heart full of compassion for His sinful creation! 

And that’s why, as Bruh David says in Psalm 103, there ought to be thanksgiving in our hearts, bodies and souls for God’s unending mercy. Please pray these awesome words of his with me: ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with LOVING-kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.’ (Ps. 103:1-5) 

Now don’t tell me you can read those awesome words of God’s goodness to us and don’t have a tear fall from your eyes, and a spark of LOVE flame in your heart! If those words don’t touch you, then you’re no child of God! Simple as that! So friends, let’s remember that we owe it ALL to God, our mighty Creator and Redeemer! He first created us with free will, then when we fell out of favour through ungodly sin, He redeemed us through the sacrificial death of His Son, giving us another option, eternal life in heaven with Him, not just eternal separation, damnation and hellfire with Satan. 

So if we’re wise, we’d be truly grateful and rejoice and give thanks to Him all the days of our lives, because we’re headed for heaven, not hell. But there again, that’s where the free will He granted us comes in; we’re free to choose who and whom we belong to or work for. And as we go home this morning, as true believers, let’s shout out our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know just whom we serve and our current position in our heavenward journey. 

In strong voice, with sincere hearts: ‘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!’ 

Yes my faithful brethren, Jesus is the only wise choice there is! So let’s keep looking to him nuh, because He is indeed our EVERYTHING, and the future with Him will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine! Much LOVE!

…only a fool believes there’s no God…and he will pay the price for it…in hell…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 1 January 2020 Psalm 146:2.

01 Jan 2020 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 146:2.    ​While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
 

HAPPY  NEW  YEAR !

Well we’re wishing all and sundry a Happy 2020 indeed! Yes 2019 was sort of rough for many of us, but we’re definitely going to keep keeping on in 2020, fighting the good fight, hoping for, and by our strong faith, eagerly expecting the best! Our God is a good God, so why shouldn’t we expect the best from Him eh? No reason whatsoever! And I hope that you all had a wonderful New Year’s Eve celebration last night, but didn’t give the evil Lucifer any room to raise his ugly head in your affairs. My celebrations were minimal, but I did get to bed rather late, hence the tardiness of the Bit. (smile) 

But most of all, I hope that we ALL made the significant resolution to walk with Jesus even closer in this new year, this new decade! Why? Because it’s the most significant and productive resolve we can ever have in this life. If He’s truly the Way, the Truth and the Life, then who else can you follow and be successful eh? NOBODY! So let’s wake up and smell the roses, the coffee, whatever will put sense and wisdom in our heads, and help us to get as tight as possible with Jesus this year my people. 

Remember, He is the great ‘butterer’ of our bread, the one who enables us to get true wealth and success! He is also a maker and keeper of wonderful promises, the giver of second chances and new beginnings. So on this first day of this new year of 2020, let’s celebrate all of God’s goodness with this poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin, appropriately titled ‘HAPPY NEW YEAR!’ 

Please pray with me: ‘This very first day Of the fresh new year I sing a new song – A joyful, exalted song! With Israel’s sweet singer I exclaim: “How good it is to sing God’s praise How delightful and how right.” The volume increases The tempo accelerates. With glorious anticipation I shout a rousing welcome To the up-and-coming days. The future cannot daunt me Every inscrutable mystery Becomes a consolation of joy For with You in control, dear God The worst may happen but the best is yet to come.’  

And isn’t that the God awesome truth my faithful brethren! The Best is yet to come for all true believers in Christ Jesus! Wow! What a way to begin this new year with high and glorious expectations and a rousing shout of joy, knowing that our Most Venerable Father God is still on the throne, running things, with His most able assistant and right hand man Jesus in the wings watching over our every move and step, providing heavenly and angelic hands to guide us and keep us from falling. And all God’s people gave a loud and proud and grateful cheer of: ‘Hallelujah! The Lord is great! Great and most worthy to be praised in all the earth and heavens! Amen!’ 

And thus our Bit for today is the same as the Bible Promise for our poem; the magnificent words of the psalmist as he declares (yeah!) the blessedness of  trusting God. So please sing with me in loud and sincere voice: ‘Praise ye the Lord (shout Hallelujah). Praise the Lord, O my soul. While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.’ (Ps.146:1-2) Yes my people, praising our great God is indeed wisdom of the highest order! 

And that’s not all, the psalmist continues his wise advice: ‘Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man (a human being), in whom there is no help (no salvation). His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.’ (Ps.146:3-4) What gospel truth my brethren! Mankind really doesn’t have much to offer because he was made from the dirt and that’s where he eventually returns when the Lord recovers his breath of life. 

But hear the ultimate wisdom nuh: ‘Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.’ (Ps.146:5) Mamma Mia! What an awesome bit of advice and everlasting truth! The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the ONLY ONE worthy of worship! 

Why? Because Hs is the ONE ‘Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever: Which executeth judgement (justice) for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth (gives freedom to) the prisoners: The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord LOVETH the righteous: The Lord preserveth (watches over) the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down (makes crooked).’ (Ps.146:6:9) 

Now friends, if you can show me another deity who does all of that, plus give us Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, then I’ll certainly bow down and worship him. But until then, I’ll stick with the One I know, He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, because there simply is not another capable of His mighty deeds, amazing compassion and unconditional LOVE, neither is there any other who can provide salvation. End of story! 

Now let’s go home declaring (yeah!) our Wednesday Wail, with much gusto and sincerity, letting the world know in no uncertain terms our awesome position in Christ. As one 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 my people, what a truly glorious future that will be if we persevere and endure in strong faith till the end. Much LOVE!

…let’s up the ante in 2020…by walking closer to, and with God…each and every day…it’s true wisdom…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 25 December 2019 John 1:14.

25 Dec 2019 Leave a comment

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

John 1:14.    ​And the Word was made (became) flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
 

 

MERRY  CHRISTMAS !

Merry Christmas all you beautiful Scrip-Bit friends and family! We’re rolling out a tad late, due to a small family gathering that began late and continued into the wee hours of the morning. (smile) But the good thing is that we’re rolling out, hale and hearty and giving thanks to our magnificent and magnanimous God who LOVED us so many, that He gave us the greatest gift that He, even as the Almighty Lord of the universe could ever give: His wonderful Son Jesus Christ as the sacrificial Lamb to take away all our sins! 

And all God’s children declared a loud and grateful: ‘Thank You Lord! Thank You ever so much for sending Jesus to us this day so long ago as a babe in swaddling clothes, so that He could grow amongst us to eventually be our Lord and Saviour and Eternal King! We give You everlasting thanks and praise for that gift; the greatest gift this sinful and evil world has ever seen. Lord we LOVE You and praise, glorify and exalt Your holy name!’ 

Mama Mia! The ole fella’s on a roll this Christmas morning mih people! (smile) But even better still, let’s get into the poem for Christmas Day from our One Year Book of Bible Promises, with writings from Ruth Harms Calkin, appropriately titled: ‘ITS CHRISTMAS!’ 

Please pray with me: ‘It’s Christmas! Sing! Rejoice! Celebrate! Let God create in you Colourful explosions Of joy and excitement. Smile away fears, push away tears. Out with pretense, in with praise. It’s Christmas! Open your heart to light To trust, to LOVE, to hope. Awaken slumbering memories Stir up stupendous dreams Anticipate surprises Open your arms wide. 

It’s Christmas! Time for candles and cards For carols and cookies For brightly lit trees With the fragrance of pine. Time to hug and hold To think and thank Time to greet the world with the Good News. It’s Christmas! Thank God for life Thank Him for the manger For the splintered cross For the empty tomb Thank Him for His holy Son The Saviour of the world. Shout! Laugh! Share! Care! And say to God On Christmas morning: “I entrust myself anew To You.” 

Oh friends, what beautiful sentiments for this Christmas Day and Season, and even for all year round! As true believers we really should be doing those things year round, because we have them all year to be thankful for. But today though, let’s do as the poem says nuh; let’s entrust our lives, our hearts, bodies and souls and minds anew to God nuh. It’s such a wonderful thing to do. And though the Lord will greatly appreciate it, please be aware that dealing with God is ALWAYS for our benefit! 

Let’s remember that today nuh, as we celebrate Christ’s incarnate birth, as we sincerely and seriously ponder on all it means to sinful and evil man. And please, please, don’t let the day be all about gifts and eating and drinking and partying, but let’s find, no let’s MAKE some time to include Jesus in our thoughts, words and deeds today, because remember, He is the reason for the season! That’s why I can’t fathom all the nonsense about ‘Happy Holidays’ etc. etc. If you took Jesus out of the equation, there’d be no blooming holidays! 

I’m simply tired with all the nonsense about being politically correct. Don’t other faiths say things like ‘Happy Hanukkah! Happy Eid,’ and all the other rest? So why can’t Christians say ‘Happy Christmas’ without it offending other faiths eh? Don’t they think that we Christians get offended too when we hear other faiths declaring (steups!) their holidays without a blush or fear? Chuh man!! It seems like it’s only Christians who are required to give up their stuff. But we won’t get into that political minefield today. (smile) We’ll keep it light and lovely! 

And the Bible verse of promise for our poem is also our Bit today; the momentous words of John! ‘And the Word was made (became) flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.’ Yes friends, God Himself, fashioned as a man came, down from heaven to dwell with us, to give us a more intimate and close up look at who He was, and how He wanted to interact with us. 

And the scholars explain that verse thus: ‘1:14. Made flesh indicates the incarnation (miracle birth) of God the Son. The use of ‘flesh’ contradicts the Gnostic heresy that God could not be united with human flesh, which was seen as evil. Dwelt among us: John used the word for ‘tabernacled,” here translated as “dwelt.” The Old Testament tabernacle was where God dwelt among the Jews in the wilderness. In this context, God is dwelling in the person of Jesus Christ. We beheld his glory: Perhaps John refers to the shekinah glory which appeared in the tabernacle of the Old Testament. The expression signifies the visible manifestation of God. John later uses ‘glory’ to refer to Jesus’ life (2:11), death and resurrection (12.23).’ 

Ah mih people, without a doubt, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did come to earth and dwell with His human subjects as one of them, but still completely sinless, because that was the only way He could pay for our abominable sins. And please remember friends that Jesus will be coming a second time, as portrayed by John in his revelations; then riding on a white horse called ‘Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war… and his name is called The Word of God.’ (Rev.19:11c, 13b) 

Yes fellow believers, when Jesus comes again, He will be coming in victory, to take His rightful place as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The first time He came at Christmas, it was to reveal the LOVE and grace of God, the next time will be to reveal His holiness, justice and judgement. Let’s remember that and continue living the faithful obedient life, as we expound in our Wednesday Wail. 

‘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!’ 

Please have a blessed and joyful Christmas Day my people, being assured that our faith In Jesus Christ will be greatly rewarded in His time! Much LOVE!

…only the LOVE of Jesus…will see us safely through to eternity…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 18 December 2019 Psalm 104:13.

18 Dec 2019 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 104:13.    ​He watereth the hills from his (upper) chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
 
Well, I guess we can handle a li’l white amongst the dark and dreary grey of most of these winter days. Note, just a li’l snow like we got last night. And with the bright sunshine we also blessedly have, it just lifts up the whole spectre of winter. (smile) Yeh friends, you’d be surprised at how a li’l snow and some sunshine can brighten up your winter days. And I just looked to see where the Good Book had opened at this morning, and behold it was opened unto a most appropriate scripture, Psalm 104 – God’s preservation of nature. 

And I read these wonderful words: ‘He watereth the hills from his (upper) chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.’ And isn’t that the gospel truth friends? Our great God looks after the universe, the nature He created with the LOVE and tender care of an expert, as well as a compassionate gardener. Hear how the psalmist describes it nuh: ‘He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: (sorry, not the herb you’re thinking about, but vegetation (smile) that he may bring forth food out of the earth. And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.’ (Ps. 104:14-15) 

And who says that God doesn’t have man’s best interest at heart eh? No wonder the psalmist could later on proclaim: ‘O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches (possessions).’ (Ps. 104:24) And if you didn’t believe the last psalmist, then listen to this one, as he proclaims the greatness of our God and His amazing power, His omnipotence! ‘Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked to the ground. 

Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp to our God. Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy (LOVING-kindness).’ (Ps. 147:5-11) 

Yuh see that mih people? The Lord likes all that He’s made and expertly services them, but His first LOVE is those who seek Him, revere Him and put their sincere trust in His awesome power and mercy! Can we count ourselves amongst that blessed lot? I certainly hope so, for all of our sakes, otherwise crapaud certainly smoke we pipe! Now this bit of the psalm is for those of us who live in the wintry climes. (smile) ‘He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoar frost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels (fragments of food): who can stand before his cold?’ (Ps. 147:16-17) 

And as always friends, the sad answer to that last question is ‘NOBODY!’ That’s simply because the created can never hope to stand before the awesome might of their Creator. That’s a lesson the foolish Lucifer never learned, to his sad demise, and too many of us are following in his stupid footsteps. But hear how the Lord melts the ice and connects to all that are in his fold. ‘He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters to flow. He showeth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgements unto Israel.’ (Ps. 147:18-19) 

Ah friends, the Word of the Lord is the encyclopedia for living! Knowing it and living it brings success. The opposite brings only failure. And Cousin Sol in his finite wisdom confirms it. ‘The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths (deeps) are broken up, and the clouds drop down dew. My son, let them not depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace (favour) unto thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.’ (Prov. 3:19-24) 

Yes friends, wisdom is indeed the essence to this life. And is that possibly why so many of us don’t have sweet sleep at nights? As the scholars say: 3:19-20. Wisdom is so important that God Himself used it in creating the world.’ So if God used it to create us, the universe and all therein, who are we to do otherwise eh? But it’s all a cosmic cycle friends (smile) As Cousin Sol wisely advises: ‘Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.’ (Prov. 4:7) 

But then we ask, where can wisdom be found? Cousin Sol also provides the answer. ‘The fear (reverence) of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.’ (Prov. 1:7) That says it all friends: We need wisdom to live this life successfully, but to get it, we need to begin by revering our Creator, who made us through wisdom, and keeps us going by the same. Ah mih people, why can’t we see that it all begins and ends with our omnipotent God eh? 

Now for those of us who have gotten the picture, the truth, let’s declare (yeah!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our secure position in Christ. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘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!’ 

Ah friends, we’ll never know just how glorious that future will be nuh until we experience it! Much LOVE!

…man cannot live by bread alone…but by the wisdom of God’s Word…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 11 December 2019 Psalm 14:1.

11 Dec 2019 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 14:1.    ​The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable iniquity (works): there is none that doeth good.
 

Oh my people, let me begin by apologizing for the lateness of the Bit. But I was really abed rather late this morning and thus my rising was also rather late. The devil got in my spirit! Chuh! I looked at the clock and thought I saw eight, but it was really nine. (smile) And to upset the apple cart even further, remember yesterday I spoke about missing seeing the snow on the housetops? Well who says there isn’t a dusting of snow on the housetops and the ground this Wednesday morning eh! 

As the ole people would warn, be careful what you wish for, because you might just get it, but then realize it’s not what you really wanted. And I guess that can be a warning for many of us this Christmas season, where we tend to desire so much stuff, half of which we don’t really need, but the season just seems to spawn our feelings of want and greed. Remember too, the old Jamaican saying: ‘wanty wanty nuh get it.’ (smile) I guess the ole fella is in an ole people frame of mind this morning. (smile) 

And keeping all that stuff in mind, the Lord has led me to this rather potent scripture for us to check out this morning; something dealing with the foolishness of men. Oh my people, has mankind ever gotten unbelievably foolish in these trying times! It seems like the more worldly knowledge he acquires, the more foolish he becomes. Listen to Bruh David’s opening statement in his contemplation on the subject. ‘The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable iniquity (works): there is none that doeth good.’ 

And if Bruh David thought that things were bad in his time, he should see them now. He would hold his head and bawl like crazy, such is the ungodliness and sinfulness of man. As I said earlier, it seems like the more prosperous and knowledgeable the Lord allows him to become, the more evil and ungodly he becomes. Yeah, because he thinks that all that increase is his doing. How foolish and short sighted can we be eh my people? How can we ever forget that it’s the Lord God Almighty who created us in the first place and now allows us the opportunity to get wealth and knowledge? 

As Bruh David continues: ‘The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand and seek God.’ (Ps.14:2) Oh friends, don’t you think the Lord is doing the same thing today? Most definitely! And what do you think He’s finding eh? The very same thing Bruh David found in his time; a whole set of ungodliness and unrighteousness, and in greater numbers too. ‘They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy (corrupt): there is none that doeth good, no not one.’ (Ps. 14:3) 

And you don’t have to be a seer, or overflowing with wisdom to know and see the indescribable level of corruption that’s present in our current world. And what makes it even worse, is the blatant, blase, don’t care, ‘unfearing’ way in which it’s been promoted and promulgated! The question God asked through Bruh David back then is also very apropos to our time. ‘Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord.’ (Ps. 14:4) Oh my faithful brethren, I guess the answer to that is a loud ‘NO!’ 

Now check out this info from the scholars. ‘Psalm 14. This psalm could be dedicated to the atheist. With the denial of God’s existence comes the moral decay described in verses 1-6, and which was used by Paul to prove the universal depravity of the human race (Rom. 3:10-12). While the fool may deny that God is, the righteous finds in Him the object of hopeful prayer for deliverance (vs.7).’ And I had to chuckle when I read about the psalm being a possible dedication to the atheist. 

And yuh wouldn’t believe how bold face the atheist and them could be nuh? Recently I heard something about them fighting to be called a church! Steups! If you don’t believe in the existence of any god, how can you have a church eh? But it seems like what they really want is the ability to become a non-profit or charitable organization, so they can reap the tax and other monetary benefits. As usual; it’s all about the money! 

And I don’t know why, but the same psalm is also found in the Psalter as Psalm 53. According to the scholars, it’s been slightly revised. ‘Two major differences are apparent: this psalm (53) substitutes the generic word for God, Elohim, for the personal name of God used in Psalm 14, Yahweh. This was done evidently to give the psalm a wider appeal. Second, verse 5 has been rewritten and has become an encouraging affirmation of God’s protection.’ 

So let’s hear it nuh: ‘There they were in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.’ (Ps. 53:5) Oh my fellow believers, our great, powerful and ever-faithful God will do the same thing for us, because He still despises the workers of iniquity and has promised to eradicate them and send them into the realms of eternal darkness, just in His own time. So please hang in there and don’t give up! 

Now let’s go home declaring (steups!) our Wednesday Wail letting the heathen, the atheist, the workers of iniquity know right well our strong and potent position in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In strong voice, with sincere hearts: ‘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 please be reassured that if we keep that up, we will be rewarded with a future so glorious that our puny, finite minds won’t be able to comprehend it. (smile) That’s how great and wonderful our God is! Much LOVE!

…foolishness is highly contagious…so please stay away from it…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 27 November 2019 Psalm 37:31.

27 Nov 2019 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 37:31.    ​The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide (slip).
 

It’s a rainy Wednesday morning… And to make matters even worse, I just got up, and the first thing I heard was that my chariot needs a whole lot of maintenance work, which means a whole lot of money! Chuh! But I guess that’s to be expected since I’ve had the chariot for over a year now and haven’t spent any money on it. And as the repair man in the old Maytag ad would say: ‘Pay me now, or pay me later.’ Hn, hn! Guess I’m paying him later. So I’ll just have to grin and bear it. 

And let me apologize for not including our Tuesday Mantra in yesterday’s Bit. Don’t suppose many of you noticed that eh? (smile) I had it at the bottom of my rough copy, just forgot to include it in the finished product. Oh, let me go and get our Wednesday Wail, before I forget that too. (smile) Good! I have it now and made sure it’s not too far down the page, so I won’t forget to include it. Age certainly has a way of playing games with the mind yes! And having said all of that, what shall we talk about today? 

Well the Good Book opened today at Psalm 37, and as I perused it, I saw this interesting verse: ‘The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide (slip).’ Yes friends, if the God of Jacob is our God, then that’s gospel truth. For as Bruh David continues: ‘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. 37:32-33) We just have to believe that, live by faith and not by sight. 

Consequently, we need to ‘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) That’s the Lord’s faithful promise! Remember how Bruh David opened the psalm? ‘Fret not thyself because of evil doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed (feed on his faithfulness).’ (Ps. 37:1-3) 

Now we’re supposed to already know all of that, but we need to be reminded of it every so often, so we can actually live by it. (smile) So let’s get back to our Bit. What is this law of God eh? Hear the scholars: ‘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. 22:37-38). 

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 views 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. 7:7-14; cf. Ex. 3:13.)’ 

Yes my people, the law of God is a valid instrument in our lives, teaching us how God desires us to live, but we need to remember that it cannot save us. Saving grace only comes from believing in Christ Jesus; acknowledging that His sacrificial death on the cross paid for our sins, and receiving Him into our hearts as our Lord and Saviour! 

And since we have a li’l time and space, I’ll spoon feed us with a few of those scriptures. (smile) Re the physical existence: ‘While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.’ (Ex. 8:22) ‘And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.’ (Col. 1:17) Christ holds together and preserves ALL the things He’s made in creation. 

Re the moral law: ‘But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the word, this man shall be blessed in his deed (what he does).’ (James 1:25) The scholars tell us: ‘1:25. The perfect law of liberty probably refers to the teachings of Christ and His apostles. This law is perfect since Christ brought to completion the teachings and work of the Mosaic Law. (cf. Matt. 5:17-20; Rom. 10:4). It is a law of liberty because it frees from the principles of sin and death (Rom. 8:2-3; Gal. 5:1-8). And James also describes it as the royal law (James 2:8) for it is the law of the messianic King (cf. Gal. 6:2).’ 

And what is the royal law? ‘If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.’ (James 2:8) And we all know the spiritual law is that we LOVE God first and foremost, with all our being! So let’s go home now, declaring (steups!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the world know our position in Christ Jesus. 

All together 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 it will indeed be glorious, if we stand strong and steadfast! Much LOVE!

…if God created the universe and all therein…then it stands to reason…that He is the undisputed BOSS of it all…

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