if any man draw back

The Necessity for Christians to Retain Strong Faith in Christ, while Persisting in Prayer, and NOT Losing Heart even in the Face of Injustice or Delay!

12 Apr 2026 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a faith that persists in prayer, a motivation to maintain the faith, a rhetorical inquiry, after ye have done the will of God, all of us can make small changes, allowed the evil one, at the end it shall speak and not lie, be passionate about Jesus, bounden duty to reduce negativity, break Jesus' heart, cast not away your confidence, christianity, Christians, does not lose heart, endure to the end, enduring faith will be rare at the end times, even in the face of injustice or delay, faith, for those I've left behind, from the bottom of my heart, great recompense of reward, greet him with a smile, have need of patience, he may run that readeth it, he that shall come will come, he who runs can read it, his soul which is lifted, holy spirit, if any man draw back, in the Lord's timing, is not upright in him, it will not tarry, it will surely come, Jesus Christ, Jesus encourages a specific type of faith, Jesus is depending on us, Johnny Reid, LOVE, love the Lord and your neighbour as yourself, made my resolution, make a strong resolution to change our problems, make it plain upon tables, make sure my children know right from wrong, mercy, my soul shall have no pleasure in him, never turn my back on those in need, not for me, obedient disciples of Christ, one day at a time, one one cocoa full basket, open up our eyes, opened up my eyes, our descendants will have a better world, paying lip service, put the major commandments into action, put up a serious fight against the enemy, receive the promise, salvation, say hello to my neighbour, see myself through another's eyes, see the many problems we face, shake the hand of a stranger, shall he find faith on the earth, sincere heartfelt version, sit and talk for a while, small changes eventually become big ones, sweet sacrifices of praise, take it one day at a time, tell someone I love them, the BIBLE, the first Sunday of Easter, the godly thing to do, the just shall live by faith, the necessity of trusting God's love, the promise of salvation and eternal life, the vision is yet for an appointed time, them that believe to the saving of the soul, though it tarry wait for it, to keep the faith alive, to perpetrate his evil machinations, today I'm gonna try and change the world, truth, very little resistance, we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, when the Son of man cometh, wisdom, write the vision

Luke 18:8b. ‘Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?’

So we’ve come to the first Sunday after Easter… And what now? Well, we keep on being passionate about Jesus; His death, resurrection and the promise of salvation and eternal life those two events made possible! It’s time to be very concerned about our world and the great amount of negative stuff that’s overtaken it. If we truly LOVE and appreciate all that He’s done for us, then it’s our bounden duty to try and reduce the negativity; the evil and ungodliness in our world.

And to help us do that, we’re going to sing a most appropriate song titled, ‘Today I’m Gonna Try And Change The World.’ It’s a song released in 2010 by Canadian Country Music Artist, Johnny Reid, one that all believers’ ought to take to heart right now and staunchly put into action, for that’s the only way we’re going to turn things around. So, without further ado, let’s offer our sweet sacrifices of praise in a soulful, sincere and heartfelt mid-tempo version of the song.

And we’ll begin with the ‘(Chorus: Today I’m gonna try and change the world Gonna take it one day at a time I’ve made my resolution I’ve opened up my eyes Today I’m gonna try and change the world.) I’m gonna say hello to my neighbor Gonna greet him with a smile Shake the hand of a stranger Sit and talk for a while Gonna tell someone I love them From the bottom of my heart Today I’m gonna try and change the world.

(Chorus) Gonna make sure my children Know there’s a right and wrong I’ll never turn my back On those of us who need someone Always gonna try to see myself Through another’s eyes Today I’m gonna try and change the world. (Chorus: Today I’m gonna try and change the world Gonna take it one day at a time I’ve made my resolution I’ve opened up my eyes Today I’m gonna try and change the world…Yes, I’ve made my resolution, I’ve opened up my eyes Today I’m gonna try and change the world Not for me, but for those I’ll leave behind I’ve made my resolution Gonna change it one day at time Today I’m gonna try and change the world. Yes, Today I’m gonna try and change the world…one day at a time.’

Oh friends, let’s hope we were not simply paying lip service as we sang that wonderful song, because I’m sure it would break Jesus’ heart, since His great desire is for us to indeed change this evil and ungodly world as much as we can! And my fellow believers, He is depending on us to keep faith very much alive on the earth until He returns, as He asks this question at the end of the parable on the persistent widow. ‘Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?’ (Luke 18:8b)

And as this commentary explains: ‘It is a rhetorical inquiry, suggesting that true, enduring faith will be rare or under severe strain during the end times, encouraging believers to remain faithful and prayerful. The question implies that a large part of humanity may have lost faith, rather than an abundance of it being present. Jesus is encouraging a specific type of faith—one that persists in prayer and does not lose heart, even in the face of injustice or delay. It highlights the necessity of trusting in God’s LOVE and justice, even when it seems absent or delayed. The verse is a warning and a motivation for believers to maintain their faith until His return.’

Oh my people, what more can I add to that eh? Not much. Except to say that from the way we’ve allowed the evil one to perpetrate his ungodly machinations without much pressure, with very little resistance or push back on our part, we’re definitely not shaping up to be the kind of followers Jesus truly desires and desperately needs. However, let’s not forget what the author of Hebrews tells us, as he recounts our former days, when our faith was much stronger than it currently is.

‘Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience (endurance), that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry (delay). Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition (destruction): but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.’ (Heb. 10:35-39)

Now there’s a very inspiring scripture passage! And it’s calling us to be faithful followers of Christ, to be patient, to endure to the end. That was quoted from the prophet Habakkuk, as the Lord told him. ‘Write the vision and make it plain upon tables (tablets), that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted (proud) is not upright in him: but the just shall live by faith.’ (Hab. 2:2-4)

So my people, whatever the Lord has promised, will eventually come to pass, but in the Lord’s timing, not ours. Our part is to wait faithfully and patiently until it comes true. But while we’re waiting, we must also put up a serious fight against the enemy, not let him make any further inroads into the culture and power structure of our world. And I know that only a handful of us are in positions to make big changes to our world, but all of us can make small ones, and as the Jamaicans say, ‘one one cocoa full basket.’ Yes, many small changes eventually become big ones.

And how do we do that? Simply by doing what the song we sang today says. Open up our eyes and see the many problems that we face. Then make a strong resolution to change them, one day at a time, by doing things like saying hello to our neighbours, greeting them with a big, genuine smile; shaking the hand of a stranger as you sit and talk to him for a while. And what about telling someone you LOVE them from the bottom of your heart? Now that alone would make a great difference in so many relationships.

Obviously, we’re also going to teach our children the difference between right and wrong, while never turning our backs on anyone who needs our help, and seeing ourselves through the eyes of others, thinking of their situation rather than ours. And one big reason we should try and change our world one day at a time is not for us, but for those we leave behind, so that they will have a better world than we have.

So please my fellow believers, on this first Sunday after Easter in this year of 2026, it’s imperative that we take time to ponder the situations of both our world and ourselves, and as obedient disciples of Christ, make the resolution to implement whatever changes we can, in whatever time we have left to us, for that’s the godly thing to do! Much LOVE!

…all Christians need to do…is to put the major commandments into action…LOVE the Lord…and your neighbour as yourself…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

The Overwhelming Importance of Christians Trusting in God’s Promises, Despite the Negative Circumstances They Face!

11 Feb 2026 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a major part of our lives, after ye have done the will of God, are you in the dark, believe to the saving of the soul, cast not away your confidence, cause our faith to doubt, christianity, Christians, confidently live life resting in God's faithfulness, consistently rely on God's immutable Word, deepen your understanding of Gods' faithfulness, despair, dig down deep and find the faith to trust, discover God's promises in new ways, disregard the darkness, don't understand God's timimng, don't' understand why life is topsy-turvy, endure to the end with Jesus, every promise of God has come true, eyes fixed straight ahead, faith, faith is all about trusting God, feeling or no feeling, God can be trusted, God keeps His promises, God waits for us to trust Him, God will give you a very precious message for someone else, God's immutable word, God's intention, God's promise remains certain through our deepest trial, God's promises, God's promises do not suddenly disappear, going the way of all the earth, great recompense of reward, halfway home, hands on the plough, he that shall come will come, he will not tarry, holy spirit, if any man draw back, if we stand strong in faith we will receive the promises, increasing joy, it stands firm, Jesus Christ, listen, loneliness, looking to Jesus, LOVE, mercy, my soul shall no pleasure in him, negative situations, not turning back, One Year Book of Bible promises, our courage fails, our fears become overwhelming, our second wind day, our wonderful position in Christ Jesus, regardless of negative circumstances, Ruth Harms Calkin, salvation, sincerely and humbly ask for divine help, so glad to be alive, testify to the truth of that statement, thank God, the author and finisher of our faith, the BIBLE, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the gospel truth, the just shall live by faith, the Lord always helps us to stand strong, the privilege of prayer, the truth of God's promises to be foundational in our lives, times of questioning, times of saadness, to a glorious future with Jesus, trusting seems the most difficult thing to do, truth, we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, weather the tough times, Wednesday Wail, when God gives a promise that speaks directly to our need, when you are in the light, wisdom, ye have need of patience, you have need of endurance, you might receive the promise

Hebrews 10:36. For ye have need of patience (endurance), that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Round three of our workweek fight is up today friends, that’s Wednesday. And it’s a good day, because it allows us to catch our second wind. So let’s do just that nuh, then keep on fighting the good fight for Jesus, as we are expected to do. (smile) And today we’re going to check out one of the amazing poems in our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin, simply titled, ‘God’s Promises.’ And we all know that God’s Plentiful Promises are supposed to be a major part of our lives, but many of them don’t happen automatically, we have to seek them and then action them.

So please read with me: ‘With increasing joy I am discovering that God’s promises do not suddenly disappear when our courage fails and our fears become overwhelming. Feeling or no feeling, when God gives a promise that speaks directly to our need, it stands firm regardless of negative circumstances. There may be times of questioning, and we may not understand God’s timing, but His promise remains certain through our deepest trial.

If we consistently rely on His immutable Word, we can disregard the darkness. Oswald Chambers says, “Are you in the dark right now regarding your circumstances? Then listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else when you are in the light.’’ God waits for us to trust Him when trusting seems the most difficult thing of all.’

Oh friends, most of us can testify to the truth of that last statement, because it’s in our very dark, or our darkest times that the Lord expects our faith to rise up and trust Him. And that’s not always easy to do, but if we truly believe, then we dig down deep and find that faith to trust whatever promise He’s made to us, even if it seems most unlikely to come true.

And the unfortunate part is that we all go through times of sadness, of despair, of loneliness and all those negative situations that cause our faith to doubt, to stumble, to wonder what it’s all about. However, that’s why we have the Holy Spirit, God’s unchangeable Word and the privilege of prayer to help us weather those tough times. And believe me, the Lord will always help us stand strong when we sincerely and humbly ask for His divine help.

Now, the Bible passage that is attached to today’s poem is certainly an interesting and encouraging one for the hard times. The Book uses the New Living Translation (NLT), which says: ‘Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised.’ (Heb. 10:35-36) And that’s oh so true: if we stand strong in faith we will receive the promises.

But yuh know what, I’m chuckling here because as I opened Our One year Book of Bible Promises just now, I stumbled across a very appropriate passage for this poem. It’s actually the Introduction to the Book. I don’t remember ever seeing it before, but in the Lord’s mysterious ways of working, (smile) He obviously intended me to see and use it today.

So, please read with me: ‘God keeps His promises. You’ve heard it; in fact, you’ve probably even said it a few times. But how well do you know it? God’s intention is for this great truth to be so foundational in your heart that you confidently live life resting in His faithfulness. God can be trusted. Discover His promises in new ways this year and deepen your understanding of His faithfulness.’ And it ends with this NLT translation of Joshua 23:14. “Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the Lord your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!”

Now isn’t that a marvellous intro my faithful brethren! Indeed it is! And it’s just what we’ve been talking about. The Lord desires us to live confidently in the truth of His faithfulness throughout all of our lives, despite the negative situations we will encounter from time to time! And that’s what faith is all about: trusting God, even when you don’t know or understand why your life is all topsy-turvy.

And for our information, that passage from Joshua, is actually Moses, on his death bed telling the Israelites about the faithful promises of God. ‘And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.’ (Josh. 23:14) And that’s the gospel truth my people! Not one of God’s promises have ever failed. When we interpret them properly, they all come true.

That brings us back to the scripture passage for our poem today, and we’ll look now at the King James Version. ‘Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience (endurance), that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry (delay). Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition (destruction); but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.’ (Heb. 10:36-39)

Yes friends, I thought we needed to hear the last few verses of that scripture, because they help to raise our level of faith and keep us strong, and remind us that we are not of those who turn away from Christ and end up in ruin, but those who believe and thus save our souls! Now let’s go home declaring (steupsss!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus.

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

And if we really want to see a more than glorious future, then we’ll endure to the end with Jesus, because then, a future so amazing that we cannot comprehend it will shine forth. And I do hope that we’ll all be there to enjoy it together! Much LOVE!

…true Christian faith…is found only by looking to Jesus…the author and finisher…the originator and perfector…of that faith…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

SCRIP-BITS

The Necessity for Christians to Retain Strong Faith in Christ, while Persisting in Prayer, and NOT Losing Heart even in the Face of Injustice or Delay!

The Overwhelming Importance of Christians Trusting in God’s Promises, Despite the Negative Circumstances They Face!

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