02 Jun 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a haven of peace and truth, after their own lusts, all church members are equally valued, all the members of that one body being many are one body, any day is capable of rumpling our feathers, as the body is one and hath many members, be a breeze from here on in, be alert, be bond or free, be Jews or Gentiles, be turned unto fables, been all made to drink into one Spirit, biblically speaking, both an individual and corporate matter, bring light and love to mankind, by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, called to care for one another, causing grief, church members are interconnected, come to know and love christ like we do, comfort those who suffer, diverse gifts and functions, doing many things differently, duty bound, every part is essential to the whole, exhort with longsuffering and doctrine, faith, fall into bad habits, for all the saints, get down to the nitty gritty, give thanks to Jesus' commitment to the church, God's compassions are new every morning, granted life, great is thy faithfulness, grow in love discernment and good works, have the Holy Spirit present wherever you are lifted up, have the same care for one another, heap tp themselves teachers, holy spirit, hurry, I am the beloved of god, in god's eyes, instead of what they need to hear, It is of the Lord's mercies that we're not consumed, itching ears, Jesus Christ, Jesus is the legal head of the church, Jesus will not let the church fall, keep us safe as we hope in you, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, live in righteousness and thanksgiving, lock stock and barrel, LOVE, make your church ready for your return, mercy, need to keep praying for the church, no one part can say it does not need the others, no schism in the body, not guaranteed to see tomorrow, not to the standard it ought to, on Christ's behalf, please protect and encourage your people, Prayer Cards from IN Touch Ministries, prayer is of the utmost importance, praying always with all prayer and supplication, preach the world, preachers telling people what they want to hear, preaching different doctrines, presenting challenges, provide for those in need, rumpled Monday's feathers, salvation, share His love with my neighbours, so also is Christ, spiritual combat, strengthen us against temptation, take one day at a time, thank you for the church, the analogy of the human body, the body of Christ, the church is a single unified body under Christ, the church is badly disunified, the church is strife-filled, the church is the worldwide body of Christian believers, the last days, the spiritual armour of God, the time will come, the truth is skewered, the whole body experiences it together, they will not endure sound doctrine, to go out and share the love and friendship of Christ, too many different denominations, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, turn away their ears from the truth, unified by the Holy Spirit, vigilant against deception, watching thereunto, we cannot give up, welcoming to all, when one part suffered or is honoured, wisdom, with all perseverance and petition, with all perseverance and supplication for all saints, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, worry
Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 June 2026 Ephesians 6:18.
Ephesians 6:18. ‘Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.’
Oh boy, it’s Tuesday, sunshiny and warm! And since we’ve rumpled Monday’s feathers, it ought to be a breeze from here on in! I wouldn’t be so sure of that nuh, for Tuesday might just rumple our feathers. For any day is capable of rumpling our feathers, presenting challenges that we cannot handle and thus causing us grief. So let’s take one day at a time, don’t belittle any of them, but deal with each one seriously, as though it was our last one. And who knows, it just might be, since we’re not guaranteed to see tomorrow.
And as the prophet Jeremiah so rightly declares 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) Yes friends, let’s remember that it’s only because of God’s goodness and mercy that we are granted life to see a new day, and therefore live the way we ought to, in righteousness and thanksgiving.
Now, today, we’re going to look at one of the Prayer Cards issued by the In Touch Organization a few years ago. This one deals with the church. So please pray with me. ‘Lord Jesus, thank You for the church. Please protect and encourage Your people. Comfort those who suffer, and provide for those in need. Strengthen us against temptation. Help us grow in LOVE, discernment, and good works. May your church be a haven of peace and truth, welcoming to all and vigilant against deception. Let Your Holy Spirit be fully present wherever You are lifted up. Make Your church ready for your return, Lord Jesus, and keep us safe as we hope in You. Amen.’
Yes my fellow believers, that’s a wonderful description of all the things Christ’s church ought to be and do! But is it doing them? Definitely not to the standard it ought to. But before we get down to the nitty gritty, let’s see what the church really is. Many people understand it as the building where believers gather to worship, however in the real sense the church is not so much the building, but biblically it refers to the worldwide body of Christian believers with Jesus as it’s legal head.
It’s as Bruh Paul describes the church in 1 Corinthians. ‘For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we bond (slaves) or free; and have been all made to drink into one spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.’ (1 Cor. 12:12-14) Bruh Paul uses the analogy of the human body to explain the church. Just as a body has many parts (hands, feet, eyes, and ears), the church has many members, but they form a single, unified body, under Christ, unified by the Holy Spirit.
And later on in that same passage, Bruh Paul further states that although the church is composed of many individual members with diverse gifts and functions, every part is essential to the whole. This means all members are interconnected, equally valued, and called to care for one another. And further still, he emphasizes that no one part can say it does not need the others, and when one part suffers or is honored, the whole body experiences it together. (1 Cor. 12:15-27) Yes mih bredrin, Christ’s church is just like the human body, with Christ at the head and the many other parts making it up into one whole, all unified by the Holy Spirit.
So let’s see now, how it’s living up to its purpose. Per the Prayer Card, the church should be a place where people are encouraged, comforted and provided for when in need; a haven of peace and truth, welcoming to all and vigilant against deception.’ How much of that is the church really doing eh? Not enough. And it cannot when it’s so badly broken up and disunified, when there are so many different denominations, cliques and different entities all claiming to be a part of Christ’s body and preaching different doctrines, as well as doing many things differently.
Therefore, it’s totally contrary to Bruh Paul’s words; ‘That there should be no schism (division) in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.’ (1 Cor. 12:25) And is the church really a haven of peace and truth? No way! For today’s church is strife-filled and what truth that’s being preached is usually skewered to the preacher or the people’s liking.
To a great extent it’s like Bruh Paul warned Timothy: ‘Preach the word; be instant (ready) in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.’ (2 Tim. 4:2-4)
And are we ever seeing that in these last days, where preachers are telling people what they want to hear, rather than what they need to hear. But regardless of how bad things might seem, we still cannot afford to give up. No way! For giving up does not exist in Christ’s vocabulary! And we desperately need to keep on praying for the church, for the body of Christ that’s supposed to bring light and LOVE to mankind on Christ’s behalf, for if we don’t, it will only continue to fall into bad habits and eventually crumble. And that we definitely don’t want to happen.
So, let’s do as the Prayer Card strongly suggests by using as it’s Bible verse: ‘Be alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.’ Now that’s a new-fangled version of Bruh Paul’s declaration after admonishing us to put on the spiritual armour of God in Ephesians. But here’s the real McCoy. (smile) ‘Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.’ (Eph. 6:18)
Yes my people, prayer is of the utmost importance in the Christian life. For even the spiritual armour of God is inadequate without it. And we are to pray not only for ourselves, but for all of God’s saints, because, as the scholars tell us; ‘spiritual combat is both an individual and corporate matter.’
And now, with all that information re the church and its purpose refreshed and renewed in our minds, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
That now makes us duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
And as per the Prayer Card …Give thanks for Jesus’ commitment to His church…He will not let her fall…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
26 May 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a shortsighted situation, a wise and perceptive passage, as the grave, as those that go down to the pit, behold the upright, bringing tough circumstances to the forefronteach day can cause tous, cast in thy lot among us, caught with our pants below our knees, christianity, Christians, come to know and love christ like we do, come with us, death-bringing sinfulness, deliver them from the wicked, do not err my beloved brethren, drawn away of his own lust, duty bound, each day can cause serious challenges, earthly pleasures, enticed, every man is tempted, faith, fill our houses with spoil, find all precious substance, for the innocent without cause, full grown sin brings forth death, God cannot be tempted with evil, God tempts no man, have rule over all my labour, he shall exalt thee to inherit the land, I am tempted of God, I am the beloved of god, I hated all my labour, I sought him but he culd not be found, if sinners entice thee consent not, in god's eyes, in the sight of any bird, in vain the net is spread, involved with the schemes of the wicked, Jesus Christ, leave it unto the man tat comes after me, let no man say when he is tempted, let the world know to whom we belong, let us all have one purse, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily, let us lurk secretly, lie in wait for blood, lock stock and barrel, LOVE, lurk privily for their own lives, lust brings forth sin, make haste to shed blood, make Tuesday and easy target, mark the perfect man, mercy, one strong and sincere voice, our nemesis, plunder, promise wealth without work, refrain thy foot from their path, salvation, save them because they trust in him, seen the wicked in great power, share His love with my neighbours, shewed myself wise under the sun, sin brings painful consequences, so few seeking righteousness, so many practicing wickedness, spreading himself like a green bay tree, swallow them up alive, taken under the sun, taketh away the life of the owners, the BIBLE, the counsels of the wicked are deceit, the end of sin is always death and destruction, the end of that man is peace, the end of the wicked shall be cut off, the house of the righteous shall stand, the individual's responsibility, the Lord shall help them, the mouth of the upright shall deliver them, the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord, the thoughts of the righteous are right, the transgressors shall be destroyed together, the way of sinners, the ways of every one that is greedy of gain, the wicked are no more, the wicked are overthrown, the wise son rejects the invitation of criminals, the words of the wicked, their feet run to evil, their strength in time of trouble, they lay in wait for their own blood, this also is vanity, to avoid the tempter's snare, to go out and share the love and friendship of Christ, trust in the Lord, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, wait on the Lord and keep his way, walk not thou in the way with them, when the wicked are cut off, who knows whether he shall be a wise man or a fool, wisdom, with the whole wide world, worry, yet he passed away, you shall see when the wicked are cut off
Today’s Scrip-Bit 26 May 2026 Proverbs 12:7.
Proverbs 12:7. The wicked are overthrown, and are not (no more): but the house of the righteous shall stand.
Oh boy, we’ve beaten our nemesis Monday into the ground! But please, don’t think that will make Tuesday an easy target. It most likely won’t be, for Monday might give us starting problems after the weekend break, but each day is very capable of bringing tough circumstances to the forefront. That means every day is a challenge in itself, and we cannot afford to lower our expectations, otherwise we can be caught with out pants below our knees. (smile)
And on this bright, warm, sunshiny Tuesday, with temps in the mid-twenties, we’re going to look at a few verses from the wisdom of Cousin Sol in Proverbs, re the difference between the wicked and the righteous. He expounds thus: ‘The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit. The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. The wicked are overthrown, and are not (no more): but the house of the righteous shall stand.’ (Prov. 12:5-7)
Oh friends, how many times in the Bible have we been told the same basic story eh – that the wicked shall be destroyed and the righteous saved? But too many of us seem not to believe it, otherwise there would not be so many wicked people in the world practicing their wicked behaviour, and not so few seeking righteousness. And right at the beginning of Proverbs, Cousin Sol warns us about walking in the way of sinners with a very wise and perceptive passage.
‘My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, come with us, let us lay wait for blood (to shed blood), let us lurk privily (secretly) for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down to the pit: We shall find all precious substance (wealth), we shall fill our houses with spoil (plunder): Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain (keep) thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Surely in vain (futility) the net is spread in the sight of any bird. And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily (secretly) for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.’ (Prov. 1:10-19)
Yes my brethren, we could not get a better discourse on the actions of the wicked and advice not to fall into their snare. As the scholars explain: ‘The wise son rejects the invitation of criminals who promise wealth without work (vs.13). The verse stresses the individual’s responsibility to avoid the tempter’s snare (cf. James 1:14-15).’ And that’s the point we’re trying to make, it’s our responsibility, not anybody else’s, to avoid getting involved with the deeds and schemes of the wicked.
As James states it: ‘Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust (desire), and enticed. Then when lust (desire) hath conceived, it bringeth forth (gives birth to) sin: and sin, when it is finished (full grown), bringeth forth death. Do not err (be deceived), my beloved brethren.’ (James 1:13-16) So when we’re tempted to sin, we cannot say it’s God tempting us, but it’s our own lustful, carnal desires that are driving us to sin. And in the end, that sinful desire only causes death!
How many times do we need to hear that before we turn away from sin eh? Obviously some of us must like death, the way we live such a sinful life. But that’s a shortsighted and very unwise situation, for you cannot carry any of the wealth and pleasures you amass here into the next life; in fact you’ll forfeit it all to someone else. As Cousin Sol writes as the Preacher in Ecclesiastes:
‘Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken (toiled) under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity (futility).’ (Eccl. 2:18-19) Yes, you’ll leave all your earthly wealth for someone else to possibly use and abuse. So what’s the point in toiling hard to amass it eh?
And if you don’t believe Cousin Sol or James, or me, (smile) then listen to Bruh David from Psalm 37, titled ‘Trust in the Lord.’ where he confidently declares: ‘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. I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree (a native green tree). Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
Mark the perfect (blameless) man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust him’ (Ps. 37:34-40)
Oh my people, it could not be said any clearer than that! Stay away from evil and trust in the Lord and your life will be saved. It as simple as that! So please, let’s cut out, turn away from all the foolish and death-bringing sinfulness that we’re currently involved in nuh, because it certainly doesn’t do us any good, neither now or in the hereafter. And furthermore, sin always brings painful consequences right here on earth. So why pursue it eh?
Now, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
That makes us duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…sin might bring some earthly pleasures…but its end is always…death and destruction…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
20 Jan 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a Christian not dressed in spiritual armour, a cold sunshiny day, a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, a knowledge of the truth of God's Word, a tool for deep introspection and transformation, a weapon for spiritual offence, another beautiful day on Planet Earth, come to know and love christ like we do, driven with the wind and tossed, duty bound, eagerness to advance against the enemy, faith, feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, fighting a spiritual battle, holy character, holy spirit, hurry, I am the beloved of god, in god's eyes, Jesus Christ, knowledge of the truth of scripture, like a wave of the sea, logos -the whole Word of God, LOVE, mercy, moral conduct, of the joints and marrow, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, prayer is indispensable, praying always, protection for our chest, protective clothing, protective shoes, put on the whole armour of God, quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one, rhema, rhema - particular verses of scripture, salvation, share His love with my neighbours, sharper than any twoedged sword, stand against the wiles of the devil, stand therefore, take the fight to the enemy, the assurance of salvation, the best method of defence is attack, the breastplate of righteousness, the Christian's spiritual belt, the evil schemes of the enemy, the gospel of peace, the gospel of peace frees us from anxiety, the gospel of peace on your feet, the helmet of salvation, the hope of salvation, the shield of faith, the shield of faith enables us to believe God's promises, the spiritual armour of God, the sword of the Spirit, the Word of god, the Word of God is quick and powerful, to go out and share the love and friendship of Christ, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, watching thereunto, wisdom, with all perseverance and supplication for all saints, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, without prayer God's armour is inadequate, worry, your loins girt about with truth
Ephesians 6:14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.
Aye friends, it’s a cold but sunshiny Tuesday morning! And can you believe that we’ve already reached the 20th day of the month, when we just celebrated New Year’s a few days ago? (smile) This year seems to be hustling along as quickly as the last few others, so we’ve got to get up and get moving before it passes us by. And since the Lord has spared our lives, allowing us to see another beautiful day on planet earth, let’s keep our promise and delve into the specifics of the spiritual armour of God that we were talking about yesterday.
We recognized that we are fighting a spiritual battle against the forces of evil and darkness, and thus we needed protective clothing from their wicked attacks, and the Lord has provided just such protection for us, but first we have to understand what it’s all about, then dress ourselves in it, and stay dressed in it, so it can afford us God’s protection against the powerful evil schemes of the enemy. Or as Bruh Paul told us yesterday: ‘Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (evil schemes) of the devil.’ (Eph. 6:11)
Now what exactly does this protective armour consist of eh? Bruh Paul elucidates when he writes: ‘Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked (one). And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.’ (Eph. 6:14-18)
And that’s certainly a mouthful, but what does it all mean? Let’s hear the scholars’ explanation. They say: ‘The whole armour of God consists of six pieces. The first one is Truth, which is a knowledge of the truth of God’s Word. The ancient soldier’s loins (waist) were girt about with a leather belt which held most of the other pieces of his armour in place. Similarly, the other pieces of the Christian’s armour depend on, and are held in place by his spiritual “belt” or his knowledge of the “truth” of Scripture.
The next piece of spiritual armour is the breastplate of righteousness, which relates to protection for our chest. That represents a holy character and moral conduct. Obedience to the “truth” known produces a godly life (“righteousness”). The third piece of our spiritual armour consists of the preparation of the gospel of peace or our protective shoes. That means the “eagerness that comes from the gospel of peace.” That is, as the Roman soldier wore special shoes called caligae on his feet, enabling him to advance against the enemy, so the Christian must have on his feet (possess) a sense of “eagerness” or “willingness” to advance against the Devil and take the fight to him.
(Remember that the best method of defence is attack.) Such “eagerness” to contend with Satan “comes from the gospel of peace.” The gospel gives peace to the believer, freeing him from anxiety though he advances against such a powerful opponent. Then we have the shield of (which is) faith. It means taking God at His Word by believing His promises. Such trust will protect one from doubts induced by Satan. Next up is the helmet of salvation. Since the readers are already Christians (2:8), they are not here urged to be saved. First Thessalonians 5:8 describes this helmet as “the hope of salvation” that is the certainty (assurance) of salvation.
Then comes the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: That’s what we fight with, what we slash and cut the enemy to bits with; the mighty Word of God! Remember how Hebrews describes it? ‘For the word of God is quick (alive, living), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner (able to judge) of the thoughts and intents (intentions) of the heart.’ (Heb. 4:12)
As this commentary declares: ‘The Word of God is seen as both a weapon for spiritual offense (like Jesus used against temptation) and a tool for deep introspection and transformation, cutting to the core to reveal what’s truly inside.’ Now which enemy can stand against such a marvellous weapon eh? Neither Satan nor mankind! The scholars though, point out that the Greek term rendered “word” is not logos, referring to the whole Word of God, but rhema, referring to certain portions or selected verses of Scripture.
And there you have the six pieces of spiritual armour; the kind of stuff that a Christian soldier does not go into battle without. It’s the belt of truth, that holds up all our equipment; the breastplate of righteousness that protects our chest, the shoes of the gospel of peace that lends us eagerness to take the fight to the enemy, the shield of faith that helps to deflect the fiery darts of the enemy, the helmet of salvation which protects our head and gives us the assurance of salvation, and the marvellous sword of the Spirit, that deadly weapon which no foe can stand against when wielded by a true believer.
However, there is one more very important aspect to our spiritual armour, that’s prayer. Remember what Bruh Paul said above? ‘Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…’ (Eph. 6:18) Well, as the scholars tell us, ‘Without prayer God’s armour is inadequate to achieve victory. Prayer is indispensable.’ And so it is my fellow believers. It has to be, since it is our method of communicating with God. So, in actual fact we have seven weapons of spiritual armour.
And I do hope that our discourse today helps us better understand what it’s all about, because if you don’t know it, and don’t have it at your disposal, then things will be even rougher than normal. Remember, the first thing we need to know is the truth; the truth of God’s Word, and that only comes by reading and studying it. So, if you don’t understand all we’ve said, then please delve into the Word and acquaint your self with it. (smile)
Now, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
That means we’re now duty bound to go out and share the LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…a Christian not dressed in their spiritual armour…is like a wave of the sea…driven with the wind and tossed…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
25 Nov 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a soggy mess, a steady presence, apologize, bend down and pray, bits and pieces of pitch, come to know and love christ like we do, Debe, dinner engagement, done the experience justice, East Indian delicacy, extenuating circumstances, faith, falling asleep, he said unto me, holy spirit, houses built on stilts, hurry, I am the beloved of god, in god's eyes, Jesus Christ, La Brea, live this life, LOVE, memorable adventure, mercy, my grace is sufficent for thee, my strength is made perfect in weakness, pockmarked, put it to shame, real success, salvation, share His love with my neighbours, share the amazing love and friendship of Christ, shut eye, sincere faith, stood in the drizzle, the doubles capital, the Lord's awesome power, the penultimate day of our work week, the Pitch Lake, the truth of the matter, the wilds of the lake, to get to heaven, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Manrta, two hellish days, wisdom, worry
2 Corinthians 9a. And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength (power) is made perfect in weakness.
Ah friends, the ole fella is here once again. Let’s see if we can get something done today, because it’s been …what …5 days without a Bit. That’s the longest break there’s ever been in all the years I’ve been writing it. And it’s not like I did not try to write any, because I did begin one on Thursday as well as Saturday, but unfortunately certain extenuating circumstances prevented me from finishing them.
Now let’s see if we can catch up all those days in one… no, it’s very doubtful with all the stuff that’s gone down. (smile) So we will just see how far we can get. Now this is how Thursday’s Bit began: And then it was Thursday, the penultimate day of the work week, which for many of you will be almost finished by the time you receive this, and you’d be looking forward to Friday.
But first things first; let me apologize for the real lateness of yesterday’s Bit. The truth of the matter is, I was falling asleep on myself by the time I finished writing it around seven o’clock T& T time, and thought I’d sent it then, so I dragged myself over to the bed for some much deserved shut eye.
But was I ever surprised to get up around ten p.m. and discover that it hadn’t been sent out. Obviously the ole fella was not thrilled with himself, but as they say, that’s life. Sad fact of the matter is I don’t know if this one is going to be any earlier, because as I am writing now around five thirty, I have a dinner engagement with some family for seven p.m. which means that I might have to stop and leave it till I come back later.
But friends, if I thought yesterday was somewhat rough…well…today put it to shame. (smile) As the ole people would say, what a bam bam! We started out around 8.40, heading for South, that’s southern Trinidad, with plans to stop at Debe, the doubles capital of Trinidad, to get some doubles that the young ladies craved. That’s an East Indian delicacy with curried Channa between two small round pieces of baked dough.
After doing that we headed to the famous Pitch Lake, where for a few hundred years pitch has been excavated from a portion of the land in the La Brea area. And would you believe that’s it a vast area, covering a lot of land on which the community is built, and since the lake is constantly moving some of the houses are built on stilts, while the road to the visible lake is filled with all sorts of humps and hollows where it’s reared its ugly head or sunk some.
Oh, I forgot to mention that coming down the highway the rain began falling, and for most of the day thereafter it kept up a steady presence. This means when we got to the Pitch Lake it was wet and muddy, but we still took the tour that we had booked. And was it ever an interesting exercise, both mentally and physically.
However, since it was raining and thus the ground a soggy mess we decided to leave the Duchess at the station, while the guide, my two daughters and I set out with umbrellas. And I can laugh now, but my bredrin it was tough slogging all the way for the ole fella.
And what made it worse we had a guide, Gavin, who knew exactly what was happening with the Pitch Lake and was thus able to answer all the scientific questions my young daughter the scientist posed to him. Then the trail was pockmarked with bits and pieces of pitch and water flowing all over, and the shoe I had on was not bult for such rugged terrain, but give it full marks, because, much to my surprise, it held up, although now it’s soaking wet. (smile)
Now, when we were halfway through the tour, my guide and children wanted to leave me behind at a li’l hut in the wilds of the lake, but I refused and went along with them out on the area that is actively mined for the pitch. And believe me, it was more tough slogging, but I kept on going, sometimes behind them, sometimes alongside them, all the time Gavin the guide, spouting stuff about the Lake.
Finally, half way to the middle of the lake, I decided to call it quits and let them go on without me. At one stage I even closed the umbrella and just stood in the drizzle because the wind was trying to blow the umbrella away. I even considered turning back by myself, but after looking around, and only seeing bushes in every direction, I could not figure out the way back to the hut. So I just stood up there and waited for them to come back.
And brother, the walk back was more difficult than going out, and a couple of times I had to bend down and pray, and remind the Lord that He says that in my weakness I would find strength in Him. As Bruh Paul wrote when he entreated the Lord three times to remove the thorn from his flesh. ‘And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength (power) is made perfect in weakness.’ (2 Cor. 12:9a)
And ever true and faithful to His Word, in my weakness, the Lord’s awesome power enabled me to make it back safely to the hut, and then to our original starting point. I don’t know if I’ve done the experience justice with my description of the place itself, but it was one of the many tough but memorable adventures in my life, and at this late stage of my life too.
But again, with the Lord’s help, we finally returned to Port of Spain, and if I remember rightly, there was little or no rain on the way back. So after getting back to the hotel and having a short nap, I began to write the Bit, but as I said earlier on, halfway through it, I had to leave to go to dinner with some family members, and by the time I returned about 11 p.m. I didn’t have the strength nor the inclination to continue writing it. So I simply went to bed.
And that friends is the truth of the matter. And it was just like I began Saturday’s Bit, saying, I had to go through two hellish days to get to heaven in Tobago. (smile) But more on that part of the story tomorrow. Now let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
And having made that declaration, it now behooves us to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like do! Much LOVE!
…without strong and sincere faith…it is impossible to live this life…with any real success…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
28 Oct 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a worthy walk of faithful believers, after God, alienated from God, alive and kicking, all efforts to obtain happiness end in failure, as God for Christ's sake forgave you, assume a new character and life, be separated from God, be ye angry and sin not, be ye kind one to another, being past feeling, Christian teaching, come to know and love christ like we do, corrupt according to deceitful lusts, created in righteousness and true holiness, darkened understanding, do whatever feels right, evil speaking, faith, forgiving one another, foul language, futility of their mind, Gentile obstinacy against the divine will, given themselves over unto lasciviousness, godly perseverance, gone so deep in sin, gracious speech, grieve not the holy Spirit of God, having become calloused, he may have to give to him that needs, holy spirit, honest work, Hurricane Melissa, hurry, I am the beloved of god, immoral attitude, in god's eyes, in the vanity of their mind, insensitive to moral right and wrong, into line with God's viewpoint, Jesus Christ, let all bitterness, let him labour, let him that stole steal no more, Let no corrupt communication proceed out of thy mouth, let not the sun go down on your wrath, living for Jesus, lock stock and barrel, LOVE, meet the needs of others, mercy, minister grace unto the hearers, neither give place to the devil, practical advice, pray for Jamaica, put off the former conversation, put off the old man, put on the new man, putting away lying, renounce our pre-conversion life, resentment and wrath, righteous indignation, running rampant, salvation, sealed unto the day of redemption, share His love with my neighbours, share the amazing love and friendship of Christ, sinful anger, sins to be discarded, speak every man the truth with his neighbour, tenderhearted, that which is good to the use of edifying, the blindness of their heart, the hardening of their hearts, the right motives, the thing which is good, the truth is in Jesus, theft, through ignorance, to give way to kindness and forgiveness, to work all uncleanness with greediness, trust my friend Jesus, truth, truth-telling, Tuesday Mantra, walk not as other Gentiles walk, we are members one of another, we can do anything through Jesus who strengthens us, wisdom, with all malice, without proper purpose, working with his hands, worry, wrath clamour anger be put away from you, ye have not so learned Christ
Ephesians 4:24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Ah friends, the chilly days, or rather the chilly nights, seem like they are now here to stay, for the daytime temperature still isn’t too bad when there’s sunshine. Unfortunately though, today the sun is not as powerful as we would like it, thus it’s somewhat cloudy. But as we keep saying, regardless of the weather conditions, once we’re alive and kicking, and living for Jesus, we’re all right! In fact better than all right, we’re wonderful, filled with His LOVE and peace! We can’t ask for anything better than that!
However, our fellow believers in Jamaica are surely not so well off, as Hurricane Melissa batters their beautiful island paradise. Please, let’s pray for them, that the loss of lives and property will not be too bad, and that godly recovery will begin right away. For a serious hurricane is no matter to joke about, as I can tell from personal experience in 1963, when Hurricane Flora which blew down Tobago much earlier than forecasted and caused enormous damage.
And today we’re going to talk about believers putting on the new man, as Bruh Paul wrote to the Ephesians. ‘This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity (futility) of their mind. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through (because of) the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness (hardening) of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness (licentiousness), to work all uncleanness with greediness.’ (Eph. 4:17-20)
Yes my brethren, Bruh Paul there continues to spell out what constitutes a worthy walk of faithful believers in Christ. And the scholars further explain that ‘since each Christian is divinely enabled with some spiritual gift, he must walk not as other Gentiles walk, lest his much-needed contribution to the church’s growth be sorely missed. Unbelieving Gentiles live in the vanity of their mind, without proper purpose, causing all their efforts to obtain happiness to end in failure.
The blindness of their heart refers to the hardness of their will. Gentiles’ obstinacy against the divine will has caused them to be separated from God’s life. Being past feeling means “having become calloused.” These unbelievers have gone so deep in sin that they are insensitive to moral right and wrong.’
And we see that immoral attitude running rampant all over our world today. Very few of us care about moral right and wrong nowadays. The current fashion is to do whatever feels right to us. However that does not apply to true believers in Christ Jesus. As Bruh Paul continues: ‘But ye have not so learned Christ;’ (Eph. 4;20) In other words, we didn’t learn that behaviour of the unbelieving Gentiles in our Christian teaching.
Instead, ‘If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus. That ye put off concerning the former conversation (conduct) the old man, which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.’ (Eph. 4:21-24)
Now that’s what we’ve been taught in our Christian teaching; to put off the old man, or ‘renounce our pre-conversion life and sins; to be renewed in … your mind, or be constantly changed, being brought more and more into line with God’s viewpoint, as well as to put on the new man, which is to assume a new nature (character) and conduct (life) at conversion.’
And it’s all well and good to tell us to do that stuff, but how do we do it in real life? But that’s the beauty of most of Bruh Paul’s writing; after giving you some doctrine or task, he usually gives you some practical advice on how to accomplish said task. And here, he does give some practical advice on how to take off the old man and put on the new one.
‘Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place (an opportunity) to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.’ (Eph. 4:25-32)
Yes mih people, that’s what our world ought to look like. As the scholars tell us: ‘This section gives practical guidelines as to how “the old man” can be laid aside and how “the new man” can be assumed in daily living. The passage specifies five sins to be discarded, the virtues that are to replace them, and the motive for such exchange: (1) Lying is to be replaced by truth-telling, since Christians are fellow members. (2) Sinful anger is to be replaced by (briefly held) righteous indignation, that the Devil may not be given an opportunity.
(3) Theft is to be replaced by honest work, so that one may have the means to meet the needs of others. (4) Foul language is to be replaced by gracious speech, that it may edify others and not grieve the Holy spirit. (5) Resentment and wrath are to give way to kindness and forgiveness, since God has forgiven us through Christ’s sacrificial doings.’
Now, putting those actions into daily practice will surely take a lot of energy and perseverance, but let’s not forget we have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. The long and short of the story though is that we sincerely want to make the changes Bruh Paul describes. If we do, then we will succeed, because we will make the effort, and we can do anything through Christ who strengthens us. So, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
And having said that, it now behooves us to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…with the right motives…and godly perseverance…we can do anything that’s in God’s will…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
14 Oct 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a man toils in his own strength, after the image of God, all these things shall be added unto you, all things are full of labour, another generation cometh, appear with Christ in glory, come to know and love christ like we do, duty bound, enjoy his work, failed to bring lasting satisfaction, faith, fear God and keep his commandments, finding fulfillment in material accomplishment, from the hand of God, frustrating tasks, futility, give up our earthly vices, god giveth to man who is good in his sight, God shall bring every evil work into judgement, grasping for the wind, he should eat and drink, holy spirit, hurry, I am the beloved of god, if ye then be risen with Christ, if you don't work you can't play, in god's eyes, in search of enduring fulfillment, is that which shall be done, it is that which shall be, Jesus Christ, joy, knowledge, leave the fruit of our labour behind, life is a roller coaster ride, life is not one jolly party, LOVE, make his soul enjoy good in his labour, man caanot express it, man's days are filled with sorrow, mercy, nor the ear filled with hearing, not on things on earth, nothing better for a man, obey God and leave all the consequences to him, on the right hand of God, one can only find true fulfillment in God, one generation passeth away, pursued fulfillment, put off the old man with his deeds, put on the new man, receiving it as a gift of God, renewed in knowledge, salvation, seek those things which are above, seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, set your affection on things above, share His love with my neighbours, share the amazing love and friendship of Christ, stop complaining about our jobs, struggles, suffer pain and grief, suffering, teaches us patience, Thanksgiving celebrations, that which is done, the daily grind and common task, the earth abideth for ever, the eye is not satisfied with seeing, the Preacher, the same routine, the sphere of God's blessing, the task of gathering and collecting, the thing that hath been, the whole duty of man, there is no new thing under the sun, this also is vanity, to find some sense of lasting fulfillment, to give to him that is good before God, to the sinner he giveth travail, trust my friend Jesus, truth, trying every avenue possible, Tuesday Mantra, vexation of spirit, wearisome, when Christ who is our life shall appear, where Christ sits, whether it be good or evil, who can have more enjoyment than i, wisdom, wisdom exceeds folly, wisdom knowledge and joy, wise words, with every secret thing, work and play are essential, work takes first place, ye are dead, your life is hid with Christ in god
Ecclesiastes 2:24a. There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour.
And then it was Tuesday…and all the thanksgiving celebrations finish…and we back to the same old daily grind and common task. (smile) But that’s what life is all about, doing the same routine and ofttimes boring and frustrating tasks every day. And that’s good for us, because it teaches us patience and not to expect life to be one jolly party all the time, and learn that work and play are essential, but work takes first place, for if you don’t work, you cannot afford to play. (smile) And some wise words from Cousin Sol, as the Preacher in Ecclesiastes, might help us better understand what life is all about.
He says: ‘One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever… All things are full of labour (wearisome); man cannot utter (express) it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.’ (Eccl. 1:4; 8-9) And that’s basically true; life is a roller coaster ride, and most of what happens now, has happened before, and will most likely happen again, although it might take a different form and shape or intensity.
Yes friends, Cousin Sol with his wealth and wisdom took to studying life, and in Chapter 2, according to the scholars ‘he pursued fulfillment through pleasure, wine, great artistic works, wealth, aesthetic and artistic pleasures and fame. However, all of these failed to bring lasting satisfaction to the wisest man of all time, yet people three thousand years later are still trying them in search of enduring fulfillment.’ And we see it all around the world where we’re trying every avenue possible to find some sense of lasting fulfillment.
But after discovering that wisdom exceeds folly, as far as light excelleth darkness (Eccl. 2:13) and that man’s day are filled with sorrow, (Eccl. 2:18-23) Cousin Sol comes to the conclusion: ‘There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto (have enjoyment), more than I? For God giveth to a man that (who) is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail to gather and to heap up (the task of gathering and collecting), that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity (futility) and vexation of spirit (a grasping for the wind).’ (Eccl. 2:24-26)
Ah mih people, although Cousin Sol found that a lot of life was futile because we try to find fulfillment in material accomplishment, but then have to leave the fruit of our labour behind for someone else to enjoy or waste, he still maintained that the best way to live this life is to enjoy it and work as though it is all a gift from God. As the scholars explain: ‘When a man toils in his own strength, he is bound to suffer pain and grief. The answer then is for him to enjoy his work by receiving it as a gift of God. Elsewhere work is said to be part of God’s curse on man (Gen. 3:17-19), but it can become the sphere of God’s blessing.’
And if we hope to get through these tough and perilous times, then that’s exactly how we ought to consider work; as a gift from God. Remember, there are lots of folks out there who don’t have a job, and although they do their best to get one, just cannot do so, which obviously causes them all sorts of struggles and suffering. Therefore, for those of us who are blessed to have a job, we ought to stop complaining about it, and instead enjoy it as the gift of God, by which we are able to eat, clothe and cover ourselves and our families. And yes, the job might not be the greatest, but it’s a job, and there are many out there who would be glad to have it.
However, we need to take Cousin Sol’s wise advice very seriously, for if the wisest and richest man ever tried to find fulfillment in life and material things and personal pleasures, and found it all futile and wasteful, why are we still running down those things trying to find fulfillment in them eh? Remember, the ONLY place that one can find true fulfillment is in God. Bruh Paul wrote it thus to the Colossians. ‘If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.’ (Col. 3:1-4)
Yes friends, to find true fulfillment down here, we have to give up all the earthly vices and lusts and instead concentrate on the good things that are above. And as Bruh Paul later says, ‘put off the old man with all his deeds …and put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.’ (Col. 3:9-10) That means in the image of Jesus, the plan that God has for all of His human creation. Meanwhile, Jesus also advised us on the finding of fulfillment, when in the Sermon on the Mount, He instructed us to stop worrying about clothes, food and shelter: ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt. 6:33)
So, enjoying the good things of life is not wrong, but the real duty of man is like Cousin Sol says at the end of Ecclesiastes. ‘Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every evil work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.’ (Eccl. 12:13-14) And that’s exactly what the Bible tells us from Genesis right back to Revelation: God is Supreme, and He will manifest the works of mankind in His own time.
Now let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Wail, letting the whole world know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
And having made that declaration, (awright!!!) we’re now duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
the best advice…obey God…and leave all the consequences to Him… (Dr. Charles Stanley).
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
05 Aug 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: adopt the righteousness of God right now, air quality advisory, all the horns of the wicked will I cut off, all the wicked of the earth, all these things shall be added unto you, before it's too late, blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, but the dregs thereof, caribana festivities, christianity, come to know and love him like we do, cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord, duty bound, early destroy all the wicked of the land, exalt the righteous, faith, give thanks for God's deliverance, God is the judge, God's justice will prevail, God's righteous judgement, God's role as the ultimate judge, God's Sovereignty, God's wrath, he poureth out of the same, he shall serve me, he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight, he that walketh in a perfect way, he that worketh deceit, holy spirit, humble the wicked, hurry, I am the beloved of god, I will declare for ever, in god's eyes, in the hnad of the Lord is a cup, it is full of mixture, it is fully mixed, Jesus Christ, leggo-beast kind of partying, LOVE, mercy, mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, no one can take that from me, not be aligned with the wicked of the earth, not what I do, not what I have, on the late bus, salvation, seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, shall not dwell within my house, shall wring them out and drink them, share His love with my neighbours, share the amazing love and friendship of Christ, sing praises to the God of jacob, the BIBLE, the breath of life, the horns of the righteous shall be exalted, the righteous judge, the ultimate faith of the wicked is in God's hands, the wicked may seem to prosper, the wine is red, they shall be filled, to go to bed late is to rise up late, trust in god's righteousness, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, Walk with a Perfect Heart, wisdom, workers of iniquity, worry
Psalm 75:9. But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
Oh friends, forgive me, but we’re on the late bus this Tuesday morning. And it’s not because I was partying, I’m too old to get into that leggo-beast kind of partying, but I was up late doing some other stuff, and thus went to bed late, and consequently the old adage applies; to go to bed late is to rise up late. (smile) Anyway, the long weekend holiday celebrations are now over; as they say; deh done like dinner! Now we’ll have to wait another year to get back into the Caribana festivities and what ever activities take place at this time of year.
But since the Lord has granted us the breath of life to see another day, although we have another bad air quality advisory, (smile) let’s keep our promise of yesterday to continue looking at the marvellous words of Asaph in Psalm 75, titled ‘The Righteous Judge.’ Yesterday we saw where he offers up thanks for God’s presence and amazing works (vs.1), then tells of the promise of God’s righteous judgement in His own time (vs. 2-5), then he explains, gives us some idea of what that judgment will be like, (vs. 6-8).
However, yesterday we only progressed to verse 7, meaning we did not get all that Asaph said about the judgement. And after Asaph tells us in verse 7 that ‘God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up (exalts) another,’ he paints a tough picture of that judgement in verse 8. So let’s begin there today, as Asaph writes: ‘For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture (fully mixed, foaming); and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them (drain it) out, and drink them.’ (Ps. 75:8)
Now that’s surely an interesting way for the wicked to be destroyed. And I like the overview this commentary offers. ‘Psalm 75 is a psalm of thanksgiving that focuses on God’s righteous judgment and sovereignty. It highlights God’s role as the ultimate judge, who will exalt the righteous and humble the wicked. The psalm uses imagery of a “cup” to represent God’s wrath, which the wicked will be forced to drink. It also emphasizes God’s power to both exalt and humble individuals, regardless of their earthly status.’
Hopefully friends, we will acknowledge that coming judgement and do our best not to have to drink of the dregs of that deadly cup of wine. Meaning, we will not be aligned with the wicked of the earth, but with the righteous, to whom the kingdom of God is promised. As Jesus says in the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount; ‘Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.’ (Matt. 5:6) And later on He admonishes us thus: ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt. 6:33)
Yes my brethren, the Lord urges us to seek righteousness above all else, for when we do, everything else will fall into place. That’s the Lord’s promise, and He never makes idle promises, or reneges on them. And having said all of that, (smile) let’s turn back to Psalm 75, the last two verses, where Asaph shows his confidence in God’s judgement, as he writes: ‘But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. All the horns (strength) of the wicked also will I cut off (destroy); but the horns (strength) of the righteous shall be exalted.’ (Ps. 75:9-10)
Oh my fellow believers, that’s what’s in store for us all; if we’re wicked, we’ll be destroyed forever, but if we’re righteous, we’ll be exalted, lifted up, by Almighty God! So which scenario looks the best eh? Obviously the one that promotes righteousness! And there are numerous promises in the Bible that the wicked will eventually destroyed, so it couldn’t be a joke. Promises like this one written by Bruh David in Psalm 101, titled ‘Walk with a Perfect Heart.’
Speaking on God’s behalf, he ends the psalm thus: ‘Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect (blameless) way, he shall serve me. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry (continue) in my sight. I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers (workers of iniquity) from the city of the Lord.’ (Ps. 101: 6-8)
There we have it my brethren, more ammunition that the Lord will eventually destroy the wicked from the face of the earth and give it to the righteous. So what are we waiting for to turn to righteousness and grab hold of it with all of our souls, bodies, hearts and minds eh? For that’s where the answer to everything lies!
And I believe it’s fitting for us to end today’s chat the same way the above commentary does. It concludes: ‘The psalm can be interpreted as a reminder that God’s justice will prevail, and that while the wicked may seem to prosper for a time, their ultimate fate is in God’s hands. It also encourages believers to trust in God’s righteousness and to give thanks for His deliverance.’
Oh my fellow saints, I could not have said it any better! But I can certainly encourage us to do what the commentary says: ‘trust in God’s righteousness and give thanks for His deliverance,’ for that’s where our salvation and eternal life comes from. And for those of us who are trying to live righteously, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
And with that declaration (awright!!!), we’re now duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him the way we do! Much LOVE!
…let’s adopt the righteousness of God…RIGHT NOW…for soon it might be too late…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
29 Apr 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a word picture, alleviate our problem, apt to make mistakes, asking questions, beat upon the house, beliefs, believers cry out to God in their confusion, built his house on a rock, choose time and again, christianity, Christians, consider and hear me.O Lord my God, Consider This, covered by prayer, don't fell guilty, doubt God's presence, doubts, enlighten me, faith, faith and doubt are vital to one another, felt ashamed, for ever, gently confronted honest skepticism, God wants to hear everything that's on your mind, good with bad, had doubts about God, having sorrow in my heart daily, he hath dealt bountifully with me, hesitating, holy spirit, how long must he struggle seemingly alone, how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me, how long wilt thou forget me, how long wilt thou hide thy face from me, human, hurry, I am the beloved of god, I have prevailed against him, I have trusted in thy mercy, I will sing unto the Lord, in god's eyes, in times of doubt, In Touch Devotional Magazine, indisputable truth, it behooves us, it fell not, it was founded upon a rock, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus did not shame him, lest mine eney say, let the world know to whom we belong, lighten mine eyes, liken him unto a wise man, live by Christ's teaching, lock stock and barrel, LOVE, loving-kindness, mercy, misgivings, more fully understand faith because of doubt, not uncommon emotions, only one person to turn to, our faith is founded on the solid bedrock that's Jesus, prayer is our number one recourse, rejoice when I am moved, salvation, seemingly alone, share His love with my neighbours, simply talk to God, sleep the sleep of death, sorrow and doubt, spiritual strength, take counsel in my soul, the author and finisher of our faith, the BIBLE, the floods came, the Lord has forgotten him, the necessary proof, the rain descended, the winds blew, their constructed life, Thomas doubted Jesus' resurrection, those that trouble me, times of uncertainty, to affirm our beliefs, to go out and share the love and friendship of Christ, to whom we belong, trust my friend Jesuss, truth, Tuesday Manrta, turned his face away, uncertainty, whosoever hears these sayings of mine, wisdom, wondering, worry, ye must coexist with no
Psalm 13:5. But I have trusted in thy mercy (LOVING-KINDNESS); my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
Oh friends on this cloudy and somewhat warm, but rainy and windy Tuesday morning, let me apologize for a mistake I made in yesterday’s Bit, claiming that only Lot and his family were saved during the Great Flood, when it should have been only Noah and his family. Hopefully, most of you knew better and recognized it as the mistake it was. I don’t know where my head was when I wrote that and then reread it a couple of times too. But it just shows that I am human, and thus apt to make mistakes. (smile) And since you are beautiful Christians, you will also graciously forgive me. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your forgiveness, and I know that Jesus is proud of you for your forgiving spirit. (smile)
Anyway, today we’ll look at an interesting article in the April In Touch Devotional Magazine, under the heading of ‘Consider This.’ So please read with me. ‘No matter how long you’ve been a believer, you’ve probably had doubts about God and felt ashamed of them. However – just as yes must coexist with no and good with bad – faith and doubt are vital to one another. We more fully understand what faith is because we doubt.
By asking questions, wondering, and hesitating, we choose time and again to affirm what we believe. Remember that Thomas doubted Jesus’ resurrection, but Jesus did not shame him. Instead, He gently confronted honest skepticism with the necessary proof. Whenever you wonder about your faith or a trial makes you doubt God’s presence in your life, don’t feel guilty. Simply talk to God. He wants to hear everything that’s on your mind – even your uncertainty.’
And that’s the indisputable truth my brethren! Our God wants to hear everything that’s happening with us, because He LOVES us so deeply and desires to be involved in whatever we’re doing or thinking, even our doubts and misgivings. Once it’s a genuine doubt or question, the Lord will ensure that we receive whatever we need to ease or alleviate our problem. And please, let’s not feel guilty or unchristian if we ever have doubts or questions regarding our faith, because even the most righteous of believers sometimes have problems that cause them to doubt or question what’s happening.
And a great example of that is Bruh David, the supposed man after God’s own heart. Look at the problems he endured in the many years that he was anointed king of Israel before that event actually took place. His constant running from King Saul, in all innocence, must have caused him to question the truth and sincerity of God’s promise. And he certainly voices his concerns in Psalm 13 – A prayer for God’s Grace, when he cries out: ‘How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?’ (Ps. 13:1-2)
Now, if such a righteous believer could put forth those questions of doubt and uncertainty during his many trials, so can we, when we’re uncertain about what’s happening in our lives. And Bruh David continues his cry to God thus: ‘Consider, and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes (enlighten me), lest I sleep the sleep of death; Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.’ (Ps. 13:3-4)
And this commentary explains Bruh David’s predicament thus. ‘Psalm 13:1–4 exposed David’s sorrow and doubt. These are not uncommon emotions, and Scripture includes moments when believers cry out to God in their confusion. In this situation, David feels the Lord has forgotten him and turned His face away. He asks the Lord how long he must struggle, seemingly alone.’
Ah friends, how often have we been faced with serious situations that we were unable to handle eh…and hopefully, we cried out to Almighty God for help. I know I have done it numerous times over my many years of life. But the difference between Bruh David’s cry and ours can possibly be summed up in the last two verses of the psalm, where, despite his problems, Bruh David acknowledges his absolute faith in God. ‘But I have trusted in thy mercy (LOVING-KINDNESS); my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.’ (Ps. 13:5-6)
And the scholars offer this explanation of the psalm. ‘The distance between four occurrences of How long, punctuated with question marks (vs, 1-2) and the confident and joyful song at the end (vs. 6) is covered only with prayer (vs. 3-4) and trust (vs. 5).’ Yes my faithful brethren, sincere prayer must always be our number ONE recourse in times of doubt or trouble, for our faith, though it can be sometimes shaken, it can never broken, because it’s founded on the solid bedrock that’ s Jesus.
It’s like Jesus Himself described it. ‘Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a (the) rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a (the) rock.’ (Matt. 7:24-25)
And what does all of that mean? This commentary explains: ‘Jesus is using the word picture of building a house. This “house” is a person’s spiritual strength, their beliefs, and the life they construct as a result. Those who live by His teaching will be like a man who has built a house on a foundation of rock.’ And that rock is Jesus! Let’s never forget that my fellow believers!
Now let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
Now, it behooves us to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…in times of uncertainty…there’s ONLY ONE place or person to turn to…that’s Jesus…the author and finisher of our faith…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
08 Apr 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a holocaust, a miscalculation, a new earth, abuse, accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour, according to his promise, all tears from their eyes, as a bride adorned for her husband, At last, at long last, be diligent, be their God, Behold, behooves us, Bible, blameless, born with a sinful nature, catastrophe, centuries of war, chaos, christianity, Christians, climate change, come as a thief in the night, coming down from God out of heaven, criem, cruelty, curses, despair, devilish, diabolical, endorse that plead, every man did that which was right in his own eyes, faith, for God's goodness to hurry up, glorious words of wonder, God himself shall be with them, God shall wipe away all tears, God's immense wisdom, God's incalculable love, grace, greed, hatred, he that sat upon the throne, he will dwell with them, holy conduct, holy spirit, hostility, hurry, I am the beloved of god, I heard a great voice out of heaven, I saw a new heaven and a new earth, implode our world, importuning prayer, in all holy conversation and godliness, in god's eyes, in the new world, in those days, indulgences shamelessly practiced, inhumanity, jealousy, Jesus Christ, lawlessness, lock stock and barrel, lonliness, look for new heavens and a new earth, looking forward to God's promise of new heavens, Lord your promise is your guarantee, LOVE, lust, man doesn't care about his mortal self, man no longer cares about the things of God, man's enlightenment, martyrdom, mercy, murder, neither shall there be any more pain, neither sorrow, New Jerusalem, no more death, no more sea, nor crying, nor of himself, One Year Book of Bible promises, Only Goodness, only the goodness of God, please hurry a little, prohibit injustice and inhumanity, rebellion, Ruth Harms Calkin, salvation, shall be burned up, share His love with my neighbours, starving children, sunshine worshippers, that ye may be found of him in peace, the ;lawless time in Israel, the Apostle Peter, the bad to override the good, the day of the Lord, the earth and the works therein, the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, the former things are passed away, the heavens shall pass away, the height of his supposed intelligence, the holy city, the tabernacle of god is with men, the world is in shambles, there was no king in Israel, thoughtlessness, tired of snow, to share Christ's amazing love, to whom we belong, tragedy, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, what manner of persons ought ye to be, where there will be only goodness, wherein dwelleth righteousness, whimpering cries, wisdom, with a great noise, without spot, worry, write for these words are true and faithful
2 Peter 3:13. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
And Tuesday’s opened nice and sunny, though cold and windy, while earlier on there were a few splotches of that white stuff on the ground. Not much, but just enough to remind us that they had forecasted 8 cm. of the stuff for today. But let’s hope that was a miscalculation and the reality won’t make itself felt, because we’re really tired with snow and all it’s cold, icy family. (smile) Yes, we’ve had more snow and ice this year than we’ve had for several years, so it’s time climate change gives us a break. And all the sunshine worshippers said a prayer, importuning climate change to leave us alone. (smile)
Now, today we want to share another importuning prayer, but a more serious and very appropriate one, and this one to God Almighty. It comes from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. And this one I don’t think I’ve ever shared before, because it seems oh so new and strange to me. But believe me, it’s very right for these chaotic times. It has a weird but simple title of ‘Only Goodness.’ And once we read it, you’ll understand why I called it weird. (smile)
So please read with me: ‘What glorious words of wonder Come from the Apostle Peter. He wrote, “But we are looking forward To God’s promise of new heavens And a new earth afterwards Where there will be only goodness.” O dear God “Where there will be only goodness.” After centuries of war, greed, and lust After indulgences shamelessly practiced After hatred, hostility Jealousy and abuse. Murder and martyrdom Crime and cruelty Curses and rebellion. After whimpering cries from starving children After tragedy and catastrophe Loneliness and despair At last…at long last “There will be only goodness.” O dear Lord Your promise is Your guarantee But please hurry a little!’
And I’m sure most of us will endorse that plea for God’s goodness to hurry up and come because our world is in such a state of shambles and disbelief, that it’s ever so difficult to comprehend! I don’t know if there’s ever been a time like this, when in man’s enlightenment, in his most knowledgeable and progressive time, has he ever treated his fellow man with such inhumanity, greed and thoughtlessness. And the sad thing is that he’s doing it at the height of his supposed intelligence and understanding. That’s what makes it even more disgusting and downright ungodly!
Unfortunately, it hearkens back to that lawless time in Israel when as the Good Book says: ‘In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.’ (Judg. 21:25) I can understand that; no rulers or judges meant chaos and lawlessness, but in an era when there are so many judges and so many laws that supposedly prohibit injustice and inhumanity, those two devilish and diabolical things are flourishing. Why is that eh? Has mankind gotten so far away from God and the things of God that he no longer cares about anything or anyone, including his mortal self?
Because, if we continue along the inhumane, lawless line we’re currently following, we will eventually implode our world and ourselves. We just need a li’l more time along that track to accomplish it. Let’s hope that the Lord’s timing for all those new things occurs before we reach to that stage, because there will be such a holocaust, nuclear or otherwise, that will make all the other wars and arguments miniscule by comparison. That’s why Peter could write these memorable words: ‘But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation (conduct) and godliness. Looking for and hasting (hastening) unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.’ (2 Pet. 3:10-14)
Yes friends, that’s how we ought to be waiting for the coming of God’s day, not the way we currently are. Oh, it’s so sad, that in mankind’s most glorious evolutionary moment, where things like education, technology, health care and lifestyle are at their highest, he’s at his worst behaviour! But I guess that’s what comes from being born with a sinful nature; the possibility for the bad to override the good. But thankfully that won’t be forever, for God in His immense wisdom and incalculable LOVE, has made other much better arrangements for those who sincerely LOVE and reverence Him.
And what’s that better arrangement? Oh friends, just listen to it!It’s the Bible Promise on which our poem today was based. It comes from the Revelation of John. Or as one pastor likes to call him, John the Revelator. (smile) But regardless of what you call him, you must be mightily enthused about his revelation, which reads as follows. ‘And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne (Jesus) said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me (John), Write: for these words are true and faithful.’ (Rev. 21:1-6)
Yes my fellow saints, that’s the goodness of God we have to look forward to. But we must have accepted His Son, Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, if we want to be included in that bright New World! And for those of us who have already done that, let’s go home now declaring (chuh!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
And having said all of that, it now behooves us to go out and share Christ’s amazing LOVE and friendship with those we meet, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…thankfully…in the new world…there will only be the goodness of God…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
07 Jan 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: after all these things do the Gentiles seek, anxious care is the direct opposite of faith, bring us to the truth of God's faithfulness, build our faith in God, can add one cubit unto his stature, challenges, deprivation, deprive oneself, doing our best, don't worry about tomorrow, even Solomon in all his glory, faith, gather in barns, God knows you need these things, God's most precious creation, holy spirit, hurry, I am the beloved of god, if God so clothes the grass which today is, in god's eyes, inner mental stability, Jesus Christ, leaving the rest to God, life is more than meat, live in perpetual insecurity, LOVE, mercy, neither do they reap, neither do they spin, O ye of little faith, outward physical provisions, personal experience, placing it all in God's faithful hands, put God Number One, salvation, seek first the things of heaven, seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, Sermon on the Mount, shall he not much more clothe you, share His love with my neighbours, sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof, take no thought for your life, take therefore no thought for tomorrow, the best earthly life, the body is more than clothing, the fowls of the air, the lilies of the field, the morrow shall take thought for itself, the spirit of man, the spiritual blessings of God, they sow not, they toil not, thrown into the dustbin of time, to be forgotten forever, to be responsibly handled, to set one's heart on material possessions, tomorrow is cast into the oven, troubles, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, was not arrayed like one of these, what people say about me, which of you by taking thought, who can add one cubit unto his height by worrying, why worry about clothing, wisdom, worry, worry about the lack of material possessions, you can't serve God and mammon, your heavenly Father feeds them
Matthew 6:34a. Take therefore no thought for the morrow (don’t worry about tomorrow): for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.
Oh friends, thankfully we’ve lived to see Tuesday, while Monday, with all its frustrations has been thrown into the dustbin of time to be forever forgotten. That’s why we need to find a balance between taking each day seriously and not taking it too seriously. And possibly the best advice on that subject comes from Jesus Himself, when, in the Sermon on the Mount, he taught us thus:
‘Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for (don’t worry about) your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat (food), and the body than raiment (clothing)?’ (Matt. 6:25) What an awesome statement that is my brethren! It encompasses so much. Prior to this Jesus spoke about trying to serve God and mammon. (Matt. 6:24)
That therefore explains the scholars’ opening remarks. ‘Jesus now deals with the equally dangerous tendency of those who have few possessions: worry! Take no thought means “Do not be anxious.” Meaning to be so disturbed about material needs that we distrust God and are distracted from faithfully doing His will. Anxious care is the direct opposite of faith. Therefore, even the poor are not to worry needlessly about what they should eat, drink, or wear.
The question Is not the life more than meat, and the body more than clothing? indicates that inner mental stability must come from the spirit of a man and not from outward physical provisions. To set one’s heart on material possessions or to worry about the lack of them is to live in perpetual insecurity and to deprive oneself of the spiritual blessings of God.’
Oh my people, that’s a lot to take in, and also much easier said than done when we’re going through serious deprivation. However, it’s in those times when we can build out faith in God, by doing what we can, then leaving the rest to Him, placing it all in His faithful and generous hands. And I can tell you from personal experience that that’s not very easy to do when you have no idea how your going to make both ends meet. But, if we’re true believers in Christ Jesus, that’s exactly when we have to take a leap of faith and trust in Him, surrender our all to Him.
And that kind of faith doesn’t grow overnight; it takes trusting Him on several occasions and seeing Him come through on each one, before your faith will start to grow. And each time you lay your trust in God, it becomes easier to believe and have faith that He will faithfully do what He’s promised. Yes friends, that’s how faith grows. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to grow it; only personal experience can bring us to the truth of God’s faithfulness and trust.
And I like how Jesus illustrates His point in that verse by using the things of nature around Him. ‘Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather in barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought (by worrying) can add one cubit unto his stature (height)? And why take ye thought for raiment (worry about clothing)?
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed (clothed) like one of these. Wherefore if God so clothe (clothes) the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?’ (Matt. 6:26-30)
And truthfully friends, we can’t argue with any of Jesus’ statements, for the birds of the air, the lilies of the field and the grass of the earth are all fed and made beautiful by the Lord God Almighty. And if those less important things are so well looked after, why wouldn’t our heavenly father look after His most precious creation eh? No reason whatsoever!
That’s why Jesus exhorts us: ‘Therefore take no thought (do not worry), saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt. 6:31-33)
Yes my people, that’s the right way to go. Having pledged allegiance to God, we must continue seeking His kingdom and His righteousness above everything else. If we put God as Number ONE in our lives, we will be blessed with all that we need. Please note, not necessarily what we want, but what we need, for our needs and wants are not always the same, neither do they always match up with God’s will for our lives. (smile)
And to end the subject of worry, Jesus leaves us with this tidbit of advice. ‘Take therefore no thought for the morrow (don’t worry about tomorrow): for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil (trouble ) thereof.’ (Matt. 6:34) And the scholars tell us; “This means that each day has its own troubles and challenges to be responsibly handled, without worrying about hypothetical problems that could arise tomorrow.’
Yes my fellow saints, living for Christ is not a cakewalk, but if we take what He says seriously and put it into practice, we will live a life that’s incomparable, and one that shines bright like the sun at noonday! We will be blessed with the abundant life that Christ died for us to have! God will faithfully keep His part of the bargain, if we keep ours. Now let’s concentrate on keeping ours by declaring (chuh!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
And having made that pledge, it’s now our duty to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…for the best earthly life…seek first the things of heaven…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
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