Today’s Scrip-Bit   25 September 2022 Matthew 7:13.

25 Sep 2022 Leave a comment

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

Matthew 7:13.        Enter ye in at the strait (narrow) gate: for wide is the gate and broad the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many they be which go in thereat.

It’s the Lord’s day friends, the Lord’s day, so gather round, let’s give thanks and praise for being alive to see another Sunday, and being able to fellowship with each other, despite the rainy weather conditions, either physically in the Lord’s sanctuary, or by telecommunications. Remember, there’s no distance in prayer. What a glorious day Sunday is; one where believers all over the world gather to celebrate Christ and His marvellous doings for mankind! 

So let’s open, as we always do, with a song of praise and thanksgiving. And today’s song is an old one, we don’t know who wrote it, or when, but it’s in the vein of the Negro Spirituals, made popular during the time of slavery. It’s titled ‘One More River To Cross.’ We all know it, so let’s sing it with plenty passion, in a soulful, mid-tempo, down home, Southern, hand clapping bluesy style. 

But before we open up our harmonious pipes in sacrificial praise, we have a spoken intro, borrowed from the song ‘One more mountain to climb,’ that sounded very appropriate for our song too. (smile) It says: ‘(Hey Lord, my troubles never seem to end, Tell me, are you still my friend? I got such a heavy load. When will I reach that glory road?)  Now that’s a question I’m sure we would all like a positive answer to. (smile) 

And then we begin swinging with the chorus. (Chorus: One more river to cross, one more mountain to climb One more valley that I’ve gotta go thru then I’m leaving my troubles behind One more battle with the devil, then I know he’ll understand I’m going thru with Jesus, Hallelujah, Holding to His nail scarred hand, holding to His nail scarred hand.) Oh, I’ve had a lot of troubles and trials, in my little life span And when I’m standing alone, and the battle gets hard, I always do the best I can I’ve crossed a million valleys, and shed a million tears, But when I come to the River of Jordan, Hallelujah, then I’ll have no fear (repeat)

 (Chorus: One more river to cross, one more mountain to climb One more valley that I’ve gotta go thru then I’m leaving my troubles behind One more battle with the devil, then I know he’ll understand I’m going thru with Jesus, Hallelujah, Holding to His nail scarred hand, holding to His nail scarred hand.) Yes, There’s been a lot of people talking ‘bout me since I’ve walked this narrow way But that’s just another little valley, I came thru it when I prayed, I’ve climbed a lot of high mountains and crossed a lot of little streams But when I see ol’ Jordan cold and dark, that’ll be the last for me (repeat)

 (Chorus: One more river to cross, one more mountain to climb One more valley that I’ve gotta go thru then I’m leaving my troubles behind One more battle with the devil, then I know he’ll understand I’m going thru with Jesus, Hallelujah, Holding to His nail scarred hand, holding to His nail scarred hand.) repeat.’ 

Ah mih people, what peace and joy it brings to a believer’s heart to be able to sing such encouraging and uplifting songs! And the wonderful thing about that song is that it names many of the problems we go through in this earthly life, but if we’re wise, we’ll find Jesus, and go through them all holding His nail scarred hands by which He was cruelly impaled on the cross at Calvary, all for our sins. 

Wow! Thus, the problems of this world pale in comparison to the peace, joy and LOVE we get from going through it with Jesus as our Leader and Guide, our Lord and Saviour. And I like how the song says: ‘One more battle with the devil, then I know he’ll understand I’m going through with Jesus, holding on to His nail scarred hands.’ Yes friends, at some stage the devil will be forced to understand that it’s Jesus we desire and not Him. He’s S.O.L, cause he’s never done anything like what Jesus has done for us. 

And isn’t it strange, but rather interesting, how none of the people who initiated the words of this song ever saw the River Jordan, but used crossing it as the landmark in their dream of entering heaven, like the Israelites crossed it to enter the Promised Land. But please notice that the Israelites didn’t just go across the Jordan without their own problems. The priests that bore the Ark of the covenant had to, by faith, step into the overflowing river, before it to backed up, and then stand there while the Israelites crossed on the dry ground around them. (Josh. 3:11-17) In the same manner, we need strong faith to cross over to whatever home we’re seeking with Jesus. 

Then there’s the part of the song which says: ‘There’s been a lot of people talking about me since I walked this narrow way.’ And that’s just the straight and narrow path that leads to Jesus and His righteousness. As He rightly proclaims: ‘Enter ye in at the strait (narrow) gate: for wide is the gate and broad the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many they be which go in thereat. Because strait (how narrow) is the gate and narrow (difficult or confined) is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.’ (Matt. 7:13-14) 

Yes, it’s sometimes rough travelling that straight and narrow path, but in the end it’s all worth it! And how did our forefathers put it in the song? ‘But that’s just another little valley, I came thru it when I prayed,’ Oh, do we ever need to pray when we’re in those valleys, struggling to get a foothold on life, struggling to climb up the formidable looking mountains set before us, because that’s the only thing that will bring us out of them, help us reach the mountain tops. Like Bruh David says in Psalm 23: ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.’ (Ps. 23:4) 

Isn’t it wonderful to know that even in the deepest and darkest valleys that we are not alone, that the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ leads and guides us even in those dismal times. So, though ‘we’ve crossed a million valleys, and shed a million tears’ when we come to the end, we won’t be afraid, because Jesus will be right there with his nail scarred hands outstretched, waiting to meet us and help us cross over that ole River Jordan. 

However, that means getting prepared from right now, because none of us know when we’ll come to that river with Jesus waiting on the other side. And if you’re not ready when you get there, then His nail scarred hands won’t be outstretched to meet you. So, a word of warning to the wise. Much LOVE!

…with Jesus as our guide…there are no problems we can’t handle… 

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Today’s Scrip-Bit 22 November 2020 2 Samuel 6:14.

22 Nov 2020 Leave a comment

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

2 Samuel 6:14.    ​And David danced (whirled about) before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

Well we back to the virtual Sunday business in my area because the Covid-19 count has sky-rocketed, so the churches have been advised to close or to keep their physical gathering to a minimum. My church has decided that the hassle to have physical gatherings is not worth its weight in gold, so we have closed for at least the next four weeks. Yes, though we like the physical gathering, the way that the virus is spreading makes the virtual gathering safer and wiser. The Lord knows our hearts, and He knows that we would gather in His sanctuary if we could, but then again, church is not merely the physical place of meeting, but rather the spiritual activity that takes place between believers. 

And we going to begin that spiritual activity with some praise and worship, reverence and adoration to our Creator, through the traditional song,‘One More River to Cross.’And we going to do it in a soulful, down home, Southern, hand clapping, jumping and jiving blues style, with plenty passion, in sweet harmony. (smile) Oh, the spoken Intro is borrowed from the song ‘One more Mountain to climb’, because I thought it sounded quite appropriate for our song too. (smile) Then we’ll segue straight into the chorus of our song, 

So let’s get with it nuh.(Intro: ‘Hey Lord, my troubles never seem to end, Tell me, are you still my friend? I got such a heavy load. When will I reach that glory road?)’ (Chorus: One more river to cross, one more mountain to climb One more valley that I’ve gotta go thru then I’m leaving my troubles behind One more battle with the devil, then I know he’ll understand I’m going thru with Jesus, Hallelujah, Holding to His nail scarred hand, holding to His nail scarred hand.) 

I’ve had a lot of troubles and trials, in my little life span When I’m standing alone, and the battle gets hard, I always do the best I can I’ve crossed a million valleys, and shed a million tears, But when I come to the River of Jordan, Hallelujah, then I’ll have no fear, then I’ll have no fear. (Chorus: One more river to cross, one more mountain to climb One more valley that I’ve gotta go thru then I’m leaving my troubles behind One more battle with the devil, then I know he’ll understand I’m going thru with Jesus, Hallelujah, Holding to His nail scarred hand, holding to His nail scarred hand.) 

Yes, There’s been a lot of people talking ‘bout me since I’ve walked this narrow way But that’s just another little valley, I came thru it when I prayed, I’ve climbed a lot of high mountains and crossed a lot of little streams But when I see ol’ Jordan cold and dark, that’ll be the last for me, that’ll be the last for me. (Chorus One more river to cross, one more mountain to climb One more valley that I’ve gotta go thru then I’m leaving my troubles behind One more battle with the devil, then I know he’ll understand I’m going thru with Jesus, Hallelujah, Holding to His nail scarred hand, holding to His nail scarred hand.)’ repeat chorus.  

Oh friends, wasn’t that wonderful! Reminds you of olden days when people really enjoyed their praise and worship, not just singing the songs in a dreary, wooden manner, with li’l or no passion or riddim. But our heavenly Father likes passion and riddim, with the praise and worship truly coming from our soul. And what better example do we have than that auspicious and momentous occasion when Bruh David brought the Ark of the Covenant up to Jerusalem eh. 

Hear how the Good Book tells it nuh. ‘So David went and brought up the ark from the house of Obed-edom into the city with gladness. And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And David danced (whirled about) before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of trumpet.’ (2 Sam. 6:12b-15) 

Mama Mia! What a celebration that must have been! And being the musician and poet that he was, Bruh David must have certainly been in his element. So much so that the Good Book continues: ‘And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David (Jerusalem), Michal, Saul’s daughter (David’s wife) looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord; (half-naked) and she despised him in her heart.’ (2 Sam.6:16) 

But the story gets more interesting. After Bruh David finished celebrating with the people, offering burnt offerings and peace offerings and giving them cake and wine, the Good Book tells it thus: ‘Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain (base) fellows shamelessly (openly) uncovereth himself.’ (2 Sam. 6:20) 

Believe me people, I can testify to that kind of dressing down for my dancing behaviour. But unlike Bruh David, that was just water running off my back. (smile) Bruh David though traced Michal good and proper: ‘And David said unto Michal, It was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord over Israel: therefore will I play before the Lord. And I will yet be more vile (undignified) than thus, and will be base (humble) in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.’ (2 Sam. 6:20-23) 

Bubba! Bruh David didn’t make skylark at all nuh! He banished her from his presence. Now hear some explanations from the scholars. ‘6:12. The ark, which had been placed in the house of Obed-edom, a Levite of the family of Korah (cf. 1 Chr. 13:13-14), was now brought up to Jerusalem in the prescribed manner. It was done with careful forethought (1 Chr. 15:1-2) (Remember Uzza was smitten by the Lord when he put his hand on it to stop it from falling. 1 Chr. 13:9-13) The transferal of the ark was accompanied by sacrifices, pomp, and great rejoicing. David’s dancing or whirling about (vs. 14) was an expression of spiritual joy (cf. 1 Chr. 15:25-28).’ 

Yeh! That’s the kind of spiritual joy that is so sadly lacking in our times. And it certainly was dicey work transporting the ark, but Bruh David managed, with the Lord’s help of course. And this last explanation from the scholars: ‘6:16. Michal saw in David’s actions a conduct unbefitting a king. She doubtless neither appreciated or entered into the spirit of the occasion. Accordingly, David rebuked her and consigned her to separation from the king’s graces, a condemnation that left her childless (vs. 20-23). A negative and critical spirit born of spiritual shallowness and insensitivity is a dangerous thing!’ 

And so it is my brethren, so please let’s not allow our spirits to become shallow or insensitive nuh, because that can bring us such joyless lives. Much LOVE!

…if we don’t show our joy and passion before the Lord…where and when will we show it eh…