The Absolute Importance of Christians Knowing and Sincerely Believing Almighty God’s Great LOVE for Us, despite Our Differences!

Today’s Scrip-Bit   15 August 2026   Romans 5:8.

Romans 5:8.        ‘But God commendeth (demonstrated) his (own) LOVE toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’

And then it was our lazy-day Saturday, where some of us have the option and/or opportunity to laze around and do nothing much, or nothing at all! And that’s always nice, especially after a hard week’s work, fighting through the traffic and all the other stuff that comes with a job; a lot of it unpleasant and negative. But thankfully we’re children of God; followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, the great Lord of Lords and King of Kings, who has most generously imbued us with His Holy Spirit that leads and guides us through all the rough times of this earthly life…that is if we listen to His guidance. (smile)

Now, before we get too far into that lazy-day Saturday mode, let’s offer up our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer in all sincerity and truth. As one strong voice: ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

And what does that prayer mean? Basically that we’re seeking greater intimacy with our heavenly Father. We desire to get closer to Him, to know Him better, and thus arrive at a more intimate relationship than we currently have. And believe me, that’s also the Lord’s greatest desire. Yes, having a close, intimate relationship with us was His initial goal for creating human beings. However, through the disobedience of our forefathers, Adam and Eve, the relationship soured and we were set adrift on our own. And we all know the great mess we’ve made of our lives without the proper guidance and direction of our Creator.

But although He allowed us to do our own thing, doesn’t mean that He forgot about us, or stopped LOVING us, No way! His LOVE continued as strong as ever, and it hurt His heart to see the awful problems we were facing on our own and the bondage that Satan had us tied up in. Thus, when the time was right, when He could not take the ‘sufferation’  we were experiencing through the guidance of Satan, making us automatically hell bound, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross of Calvary to pay for our sins, thereby giving us another and better option for life, both this one and the next.

And if you don’t believe that it was indeed God’s great LOVE for mankind that fuelled His actions, then please listen to this seminal, highly influential verse of scripture, as penned by Bruh Paul in his letter to the church at Rome. ‘But God commendeth (demonstrated) his (own) LOVE toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Rom. 5:8) Now, has any other supposed god throughout the annals of history ever down such a groundbreaking action; doing good for their followers, while they were still intent on being disobedient ?

Absolutely not! That’s because the other supposed gods have no real LOVE for those who worship them; they’re just greedy and selfish and want more than they ever deign to offer. But the Creator of the universe; the One True God, He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has an entirely different perspective on the subject; that’s because His very nature is one of LOVE, compassion, mercy and grace, and not one of greed and hate, bondage and cruelty like the other supposed gods that have filled history.

And if you don’t believe Bruh Paul, then listen to Jesus as He explains the situation to the Jewish Leader Nicodemus. ‘For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.’ (John 3:16-18)

Look at that miraculous situation nuh mih bredrin! Jesus came to save the world, and all we have to do is believe in Him! What could be simpler than that eh? Believe and you’re saved! That’s why it’s ever so wise to turn to Christ and accept Him as Lord and Saviour! And once you do that, according to Bruh Paul, you become sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption. (Eph. 4:30b) Meaning that when you believe in Jesus, you are sealed as His forever by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Consequently, Bruh Paul could further write to the church at Rome: ‘For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the LOVE of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ (Rom. 8:38-39)

Wow! What an awesome statement! Nothing in this world can separate us from God’s LOVE! What could be more important than that eh? Nothing! Once we pledge our allegiance to Christ nothing can ever separate us from the LOVE of the Father! Now that should make some of us sit up and take notice, and stop complaining about all the stuff we have to go through in this sinful world, moaning and groaning about God doesn’t LOVE us, otherwise He wouldn’t allow us to go through them! That’s just the whining of spoiled and entitled children, who don’t expect to suffer any hardship at all.

And if Jesus endured the ‘sufferation’ He did for us, without batting an eyelash, the least we can do is stand a few hard times, while looking forward to the glorious future we will eventually have with Him, when He comes into His glory. And I believe this glorious, summer, lazy-day Saturday is the right time to consider how good we have it, and instead of complaining, glorify the Father through Jesus Christ! Much LOVE!

…if Jesus could leave the glory of heaven and come to earth to suffer on our behalf…why can’t we suffer a little here on earth for Him…until we see the glory of heaven…

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

The Overwhelming Importance of Christians Giving Inumerable Thanks and Praise to Jesus, Their Saviour, Lord and King!

Psalm 135:1.         ‘Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the name of the Lord; praise him, O ye servants of the Lord.’ 

It’s another cold Sunday in this cold and snowy month of February friends, but let’s hope that will not stop us from congregating in worship with other believers in the Lord’s sanctuary, on this His special day. We need to give Him thanks and praise and receive His awesome grace and mercy to face another week in the battle trenches called work. (smile) 

And today we have an interesting song to open our worship session. It’s one of the many from that blind but prolific American hymn writer Fanny Crosby, titled ‘Praise Him, Praise Him!’ written somewhere around 1869.  The hymn celebrates Jesus as our “blessed Redeemer” and praises His amazing gifts of salvation and redemption.

So, without further ado, let’s raise our sweet sacrifices of praise to high heaven, in a soulful, mid-tempo, heartfelt version of the song, letting our exaltation of Jesus ring forth with all sincerity and truth. Singing: ‘Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer! Sing, O Earth, His wonderful LOVE proclaim! Hail Him! hail Him! highest archangels in glory; Strength and honor give to His holy name!

Like a shepherd Jesus will guard His children, In His arms He carries them all day long: (Refrain: Praise Him! praise Him! tell of His excellent greatness; Praise Him! praise Him! ever in joyful song.) Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer! For our sins He suffered, and bled and died; He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation, Hail Him! hail Him!

Jesus the Crucified. Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows; LOVE unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong:(Refrain:) Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer! Heavenly portals loud with hosannas ring! Jesus, Saviour, reigneth forever and ever; Crown Him! crown Him! Prophet and Priest and King!

Christ is coming! over the world victorious, Power and glory unto the Lord belong:(Refrain: Praise Him! praise Him! tell of His excellent greatness; Praise Him! praise Him! ever in joyful song. Praise Him! praise Him! Power and glory unto the Lord belong: Power and glory unto the Lord belong:’ 

Now that was an excellent version my people! All heaven could hear the sincerity of our praise. And there are so many scriptural references in the song, that we could spend all day and not list them all. (smile) But let’s look at the few that time and space will allow us. And we’ll begin with the first two words ‘Praise Him.’ 

Well friends, throughout the Bible we are encouraged to praise the Lord, for one reason or another, especially in the Psalms. And Psalm 135, opens thus: ‘Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the name of the Lord; praise him, O ye servants of the Lord.’ (Ps. 135:1) Meanwhile Psalms 146-150, all open with the advice to praise the Lord. So, there is very good reason to praise our great God, like Ms. Crosby contends.

Then we come to ‘Jesus our blessed Redeemer,’ and there’s absolutely no doubt that He is indeed our Redeemer, having sacrificed His sinless life on the cross of Calvary to pay our sin debt. He is the one that’s caused us to have the option of salvation and eternal life. And we have this great prophetic reference of Job, to Christ as the ultimate Redeemer, when He declares to his friends: ‘For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter (last) day upon the earth.’ (Job 19:25)

Meanwhile in the New Testament there are several scriptures which talk about Jesus as our Redeemer. Listen to Bruh Paul to the Galatians: ‘Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse (having become) a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.’ (Gal. 3:13) Christ became cursed as He took our sins on His sinless shoulders.

And Bruh Paul writes thus to the Ephesians: ‘In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.’ (Eph. 1:7) There it’s stated that redemption was through His blood, and there are several places where Jesus’ redemptive work was seen as paying a ransom for us. Jesus Himself said it in the gospel of Matthew when talking to the disciples about the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ‘Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto (be served) but to minister (serve), and to give his life a ransom for many.’ (Matt. 20:28)

Then we come to this verse that says: ‘Like a shepherd Jesus will guard His children, In His arms He carries them all day long:’ And that’s the gospel truth!  Isaiah made that reference to the Lord carrying sheep in His arms like a shepherd. ‘He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.’ (Is. 40:11)

And we all know that Bruh David spoke of the Lord as his shepherd in that famous Psalm 23: ‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters.’ (Ps. 23:1-2) So the reference to Jesus as a shepherd of His flock is indeed a very appropriate one, as He also referred to Himself as a shepherd. ‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep…I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.’ (John 10:11&14)

Then the song says: ‘Jesus, Saviour, reigneth forever and ever; Crown Him! crown Him! Prophet and Priest and King!’ And so we ought to, because He’s been exalted for His obedience to the Father’s will. As Bruh Paul writes to the Philippians: ‘And (Jesus) being found in fashion (appearance) as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient even unto death, even the death of the cross.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of (those) things in heaven, and (those) things in earth, and (those) things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ (Phil. 2:8-11)

And not only that but He’s also been given the titles of King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Revelation tells us that ‘These (pagan kings) shall make war with the Lamb, and the lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.’ (Rev. 17:14) And for further info on that, we can turn to Revelation 19, where in speaking of Jesus battle gear, it says: ‘And he hath on his vesture (robe) and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’ (Rev. 19:16) 

Now that puts paid to the whole scenario, for He will be coming in all His glory, with might and power. To claim Hic victory! Let’s hope and pray that we will be there to receive and honour Him like we ought to. Much LOVE!

…there’s no other name that compares to Jesus’… 

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit 25 April 2104 Lamentations 3:32

Lamentations 3:32.    But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

 Oh Friends, oh Friends, glory be! Yes, it’s another new day in paradise! Another marvellous and wondrous gift from our magnanimous Creator!

Oh my people, it just stirs me up so much when I consider the wonderful God we serve and worship!

 

Wow! Which other supposed deity gives His people new mercies and blessings every single morning eh? Who shows such undeserved compassion each and every day eh? NONE but our omnipotent God, my brethren!

 

That’s why we ought to give Him enormous thanks and continually praise His Holy Name. Remember, He doesn’t have to do what He’s done and doing for us, neither do our puny efforts deserve His LOVING-kindness. But it’s His unsurpassed unconditional LOVE that causes Him to bless us so richly, in spite of our sinful nature and behaviour.

 

And please remember too, that while we were yet stooges and slaves of Beelzebub, He sent His ONLY Son Jesus to die for us, so that we could be made justified, righteous, and all the other wonderful things that Jesus’ selfless, sacrificial death, resurrection and ascension accomplished.

 

So there are indeed numerous reasons for us to be thankful and grateful! Therefore, instead of trying to belittle Jesus’ importance, or take God out of our society, as we are allowing the evil powers that be to do, we ought to be jumping and shouting, beseeching and pleading, picketing and protesting, advocating and exhorting, to raise up the name of Jesus, just like the Father did after His triumphant victory over death and the grave!

 

We ought to be encouraging ALL knees to bow, and ALL lips to solemnly and sincerely declare that Jesus is indeed the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

 

Oh Friends, we ought to be filled with such a hungry hope and expectant faith, that we can clearly see, totally envision through our eyes of faith, a saved world; a world where Almighty God and Jesus Christ are once again at the forefront of our society!

 

Oh my people, my fellow believers, that’s the ONLY WAY our society will once again prosper, both spiritually and materially. If we don’t feel that way, don’t envision it happening, then we’ll just continue the downward spiral in which we’re now totally engaged.

 

Oh my brethren, the quicksand in the evil and ungodly mire of the world is slowly sucking away our lifeblood, unfortunately causing us to drift further and further away from the ONE TRUE GOD, He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and if we don’t soon put a stop to it, then our children, and their children too, will be the ones to suffer the real pangs of misery and defeat, since we’ll already be dead and gone.

 

Now is that the legacy we want to bequeath to our children, whom most of us LOVE like the Lord LOVES us? I sincerely doubt it.

 

However Friends, it’s also necessary to remember that though we are currently a very sinful people, and that sometimes the Lord will take us to task for our sins, He will not cast us off forever. (Lam.3:31)

 

And all God’s people loudly declared: ‘All glory, praise, thanks and honour be to our magnificent and magnanimous God!’

 

Yes Friends, those are indeed wonderful sentiments, but we need to not only mouth them, but even more importantly put them into action!

 

And as our Bit so wisely and rightly states: ‘But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.’

 

Ah mih breddren, it gives our God no joy, no pleasure to punish us, but as a just and righteous Deity, He has to keep things right. Now listen to the words of Jeremiah, as he laments the state of his people Israel, which very much approximates to our current state.

 

‘For he doth not afflict willingly (with delight), nor grieve the children of men. To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth. To turn aside the right of (justice due) a man before the face of the most High. To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.

 

Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil (woe) and good (well being)? Wherefore doth (how then can) a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

 

Let us search and try (examine) our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.’ (Lam.3:33-41)

 

Oh Friends and fellow believers, that bit of scripture both highlights our current situation, and also points the way to our salvation!

 

Please, let’s accept the challenge with a strong faith, and ask God to ‘reignite His image in our hearts, and rekindle His fire in our souls,’ so that we can turn this evil and ungodly world around, and once again walk in the steadfastness of His abounding grace and undying LOVE!

 

Now that my people, is truly heavenly wisdom! Much LOVE!

 

’…the walk of faith is ultimately…a journey of HOPE and LOVE…’

 

P.S.  Those words in inverted commas above, have been taken from a devotional booklet on healing, based on the writings and actions of St. Therese, the Saint of the Little Flower.

 

Please, please, my people, let’s use them to truly reignite the flame and fire of God’s LOVE within us nuh, and thus bring some much needed change to our badly drifting and listing world!  Much LOVE!