02 Nov 2012
by randyobrien50
in Inspirational Living
Tags: darkness, expectant hope, Friday chant, intercessory prayers, Jesus, light, LOVE, man's humanity to man, mercy, opportune time for repentance, physical and emotional hurt, pray diligently, prayer of the righteous, proclaim God's praises, ravages of Sandy, TGIF!, Thank God it's Friday, wake up call, weekend
1 Peter 2:9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
Oh Friends, it’s Friday, but unfortunately many of us in North America and the Caribbean are not as jolly as we usually are on a Friday. There are very few shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ and even the few that we’re hearing lack the usual joy and expectant hope that the weekend usually brings. And we can lay it all at the feet of super-storm Sandy, which has seriously ravaged us over the past week. Millions of people are seriously hurting, both physically and emotionally, without food and light. Some have no water, while others have too much, from the resultant flooding. Oh Friends, this is a very disastrous time in which man’s humanity to man needs to be shown, must take first place. So please, let’s concentrate on helping those in dire need now, and most importantly, let’s pray diligently for them. Remember the Lord heareth the prayer of the righteous (Prov.15:29), and also, as we saw yesterday, intercessory prayers are one of our major responsibilities. So let’s get seriously praying nuh Friends and fellow believers. This is also an excellent opportunity for all nations to come together in prayer to Almighty God. We need to use it as a wake up call, an opportune time for nations to repent and return to diligently worshipping and serving the Most High God Jehovah, Creator and Controller of us all. It’s time to return to His caring and LOVING confines, for who knows if He specifically designed Sandy as a means of drawing us closer to Him, since it’s mostly in times of dire need that many of us run to Him seeking His powerful help and fatherly mercy. Yes my brethren, it’s the opportune time to reinvigorate the LOVE Revolution we’ve been trying to forge without much success. But as everything to do with true (agape) LOVE, it must first start with believers. Why? Because God is LOVE, and we are His LOVING subjects. And as our Bit so rightly reminds us: ‘But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar (his own special) people; that ye should show forth (proclaim) the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.’ Yes Friends, as representatives of Christ here on earth, we need to be at the forefront of helping, giving, caring, sharing and LOVING, because that’s what Jesus is about. And though it’s never easy to walk in Jesus’ footsteps, as His loyal followers we have to at least attempt to do so. With that in mind, let’s boost our spirits some and remind ourselves of the true purpose of the weekend, by chanting our Friday Chant. As one now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’ Ah my brethren, hopefully that gets us to stop for a moment and ponder our personal goals and directions in Jesus this weekend. Now let’s continue looking at some scripture that validates our Bit. Yesterday we looked at two passages from Isaiah, today we’ll continue with another from Chapter 42, re the Lord’s servant coming to glorify Him. ‘And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things (places) straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.’ (Is.42:16) Oh Friends, every time I read about God’s awesome promises, it makes me shake my head in wonder at our lukewarm acceptance of them, or our complete disbelief. No wonder our lives and our world are so messed up. Now hear this scripture from Acts, where Bruh Paul testifies of his conversion on the road to Damascus to king Agrippa. While lying flat on his back, having been blinded by a burst of heavenly light, Jesus informs him. ‘But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear (reveal) unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I now send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan into God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith in me.’ (Acts 26:16-18) There we go Friends, from the very beginning, God’s purpose was definitely to take us out of the darkness of sin, by introducing us to the light found in His Son Jesus. Now why can’t we understand that and live by it eh? I really don’t know nuh. And we’ll end with some more energizing words from Bruh Paul, from his message to the Corinthians, re God’s power in the ministry. ‘For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.’ (2 Cor.4:5-6) What an awesome and caring kindness on God’s part my people! Now let’s go and do our part by seriously and diligently living for Jesus. That’s the least we can do, after all the selfless sacrifices He’s made for us. Much LOVE!…to truly know Jesus…is to LOVE Him…and greatly desire to live your life for Him…
31 Oct 2012
by randyobrien50
in Inspirational Living
Tags: be strong and of a good courage, do it afraid, don't despair, faith, fear, fear not, God cares, Hurricane Sandy, Jesus, just God, righteous prayers, wake up call, wallowing in sin
Deuteronomy 31:6. Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail nor forsake thee.
Oh Friends, the negative saga of ‘Frankenstorm’ Sandy continues. Thankfully it’s been toned down some, but the unfortunate effects are still being felt all over Central and Eastern North America. Hopefully in a couple more days it will finally dissipate and leave us to recover and rebuild. Deaths and damage are still piling up, but that’s par for the course. And if we consider that it could have been worse, then we’ll have a sliver of daylight to hang on to. The Lord in His LOVING-kindness must have heard the prayers of many righteous and mitigated the disastrous effects that Sandy could have caused. Let’s hold on to that thought for good measure nuh. Now here’s a rather significant quote from Mayor Bloomberg as He assessed the damage wreaked by Sandy on the mighty City of New York. He rightly declares: ‘Nature is an awful lot more powerful than we are.’ And that’s an undeniable truth Friends! I only wish a whole lot more of us, especially those in positions of power would recognize that. And then, I ‘d like to ask Mr. Bloomberg and all the leaders of the nations, whom they think controls those powerful forces of nature? Oh my people, there’s ONLY ONE RIGHT answer to the question: ALMIGHTY GOD! The same ONE who created the universe and the very forces of nature. And yuh know Friends, until the majority of the world’s population wakes up and realizes that fact, then attempts to live in harmony with it, our world will be under constant attack, because our righteous and just God WILL NOT allow us to continue wallowing in the mire of sin, as we’re so effervescently and happily doing today. Last year we experienced Hurricane Irene who did billions of dollars worth of damage and caused many lives to be lost, but we never used that as a wake up call. Now we have Sandy, who first rose up from the South, then came North on an unfamiliar path to meet two other storms coming from other directions, to become the first storm of that kind we’ve ever experienced. And I ask Friends, will our response be any better than it was to Irene, or will we continue in the same, evil, sinful, ungodly manner as before? Ah mih people, I sure hope we use this as a wake up call, otherwise the next disaster might just be much worse. And did you notice Sandy’s timing; a week before the Presidential Elections in the U.S.? That’s going to cause even more confusion than there already was. But my faithful brethren, with all that negativity surrounding us, there’s still no need to fear, because our mighty, wise and ever-LOVING God is still in control of His universe. And He WILL definitely do as He promised long ago in our Bit, if we acknowledge and live by it. ‘Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail nor forsake thee.’ Now can you imagine the natural fear and despair that gripped a large portion of the Caribbean and North America before Sandy landed, and is still gripping us after this overwhelming catastrophe? Yes Friends, it’s only normal to fear what we don’t know and/or understand. However, true believers in Jesus Christ won’t allow any fear to stop their progress, because they have the awesome promises of Jehovah God to stand on. And as Sister Joyce ( Joyce Meyer) likes to say, even if we’re fearful, but it’s God’s command, then we should do it afraid. And that makes sense. But now let’s check out some scriptures on fear, that also give us the ONLY antidote for it, FAITH. We’ll begin with Isaiah, as he talks about the final restoration of Israel. ‘Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.’ (Is.41:10) And if that doesn’t lift your spirits, then listen to these true and stirring words of Bruh Paul to Timothy, words that we all know, but don’t seem to take very seriously. ‘For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of LOVE, and of a sound mind.’ (2 Tim.1:7) And if that still doesn’t move you, let’s hear Peter, as he declares: ‘Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.’ (1 Pet.5:6-7) Yes Friends, our God does care greatly for us, otherwise He would not have sacrificed His ONLY Son Jesus for us, but we have to live according to His directives, for He’s the BOSS! Just like our earthly bosses will reprimand or fire us if we don’t do as they say, our God will reprimand and punish us if we’re not obedient to His dictates. And we’ll end with the last words Jesus said to His disciples as He gave them the Great Commission. ‘…and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ (Matt.28:20b) Oh my people, if you can’t believe and take comfort in the words of those men of great faith, and also in Jesus’ promise, then I don’t know what else to say, except may the Lord have mercy on you, and work a miracle in your soul, so that you can truly believe in His faithful promises, and sincerely act on them without fear, but rather – in FAITH. Much LOVE!…do be aware…and do care…but please, please don’t fear…or despair… P.S. Due to time and space constraints, I couldn’t include these scriptures, but please read them on your own, as they will be very valuable, re the fear aspect. (Is.43: 1-5; Phil.4:6-7) Much LOVE!
14 Oct 2012
by randyobrien50
in Inspirational Living
Tags: a pure heart, build on today, effort, idols, Jesus, seek God, speak truth, thanks and praise, today is here, tomorrow never comes, vanity, walk uprightly, work righteousness, yesterday's gone
Psalm 15:1. Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
Ah Friends, unfortunately or otherwise, yesterday has bitten the dust! But don’t worry, our God is such a wonderful Deity, that He’s sent today to replace it. Wow! And talking about today, I found this most appropriate quote in one of my devotionals. It’s attributed to U.S. writer/editor, Veronica Shoffstal, who confidently declares: ‘You learn to build your roads on today, because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans, and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.’ And isn’t that the gospel truth my people? We know not what the future holds, or will bring. And as they say; yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, plus it never comes. That means the only sort of sure thing we have is TODAY! It’s both the present time, as well as a present, a gift from God, that’s why we have to make the most of it, use it wisely, grow today, don’t leave it for tomorrow, for who knows what will happen then. So please my brethren, let’s all seriously concentrate on making today, the best today we can, beginning of course with giving God thanks and praise, then going out and living a life worthy of Him. And how does one live a life worthy of Almighty God? Bruh David asks that question in our Bit: ‘Lord, who shall abide (sojourn) in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?’ Technically speaking, he’s asking who is qualified, what qualifications are necessary to sojourn, to work in the tabernacle, God’s house? But it certainly affects us all, for it should be the desired aim of every believer to walk worthily enough to serve in God’s holy of holies. And here’s the answer Bruh David gives: ‘He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up (receives) a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned (despised); but he honoureth them that fear the Lord, He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.’ (Ps.15:2-5) Ah mih people, Bruh David has certainly laid out a hard row there for us to hoe, for it’s not easy to live righteously and worthily when surrounded by an evil, ungodly world as we are today. But we need to remind ourselves everyday, and sometimes several times a day, that with our generous, LOVING, merciful, forgiving, omnipotent God, ALL things are possible! We just have to keep the lines of communication open to Him, and He will lead us along the path He’s planned for us. That means constantly seeking Him, my brethren, not sitting around waiting for Him to come to us. And on that note, hear these wise and encouraging words of Bruh David to Cousin Sol: ‘And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: If thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.’ (1 Chr.28:9) That’s the unvarnished truth Friends! If we don’t seek God the Father, through Jesus the Son, in conjunction with the Holy Spirit, then we’ll be lost for all eternity, forever separated from the Holy Trinity, THE ONE TRUE GOD! And as I keep saying, that’s the worst fate that can ever befall a human being. Now in Psalm 24, the king of glory, Bruh David asks almost the same question: ‘Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place?’ (Ps.24:3) And the answer is roughly the same: ‘He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity (to an idol), nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness form the God of his salvation.’ (Ps.24:4-5) Yes Friends, the answer to our question, what it takes to walk worthily of God is basically to be humble, contrite, generous, truthful, merciful, and all the other attributes of Jehovah. When we so walk, then we will be abundantly blessed. Now we will never be perfect in all those things, and our heavenly Father knows that, He just wants to be able to give us an A+ + + for effort. As in all doings and dealings, the effort is always number one, for whatever effort we put out, that’s how much success we’ll have. Thus the more effort we put into living worthily for God, the more successful we’ll be. And as Bruh David said of his generation, so long ago: ‘This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.’ (Ps.24:6) Yes Friends, ponder that for a moment. And now, if we want to enjoy heavenly blessings down here on this ungodly earth, then I implore us to make those words also applicable to our generation today, by diligently seeking the Most High God Jehovah, by continuously seeking His face, His LOVE, His grace and His mercy. Doing that is nothing but pure and simple wisdom. Much LOVE!…sow good seeds…and you shall reap abundant harvests…seek the Lord diligently…and you shall find Him speedily…those are His ever-faithful promises…
06 Oct 2012
by randyobrien50
in Inspirational Living
Tags: atonement, breath of life, christianity, faith, good morning, good news, gospel, grace, Jesus, justification, reconciliation, righteousness., sacrifice, salvation, the Life, the Light, the Truth, the Way
Romans 8:32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things.
Bonjour mes amis! (smile) That’s supposed to be the French equivalent of ‘Good morning my Friends.’ And though in my area it was a wet, rainy night, and the day has begun cloudy and damp, it is definitely a good morning! First of all because we’re alive and kicking, with the breath of life from God flowing generously and graciously through our bodies. Then, most importantly, we have Jesus as our Lord and Saviour! Wow! So how could it be anything but a good morning eh my people? And I have a li’l something to share that helps make life even better. I don’t think I’ve shared it before, and it seems like something I’ve rustled up myself. It’s not earth shattering, but certainly enlightening and helpful. It says: ‘The Gospel is the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ and His offer of Salvation, through His Birth, Death, Burial and Resurrection, to be received by Faith!’ And without a doubt Friends, that’s indeed GOOD NEWS! In fact it’s the BEST NEWS available here on earth! And it blends in beautifully with our Bit: ‘He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things.’ That’s just simple logic and common sense my brethren. For if the Lord sacrificed the life of His ONLY Son Jesus for us, which is the greatest sacrifice that was ever made, why wouldn’t He give us the lesser things we need to live a righteous earthly life eh? No reason why not! And the verse that precedes our Bit, which we all know and like to quote conveniently, certainly enhances it. ‘What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?’ (Rom.8:31) And the emphatic answer to that question my Friends, is a big NOBODY! I think we can best explain our Bit by turning to Romans 5, where Bruh Paul talks about the results of justification. Beginning in verse 6, he rightfully declares: ‘For when we were yet without strength, in due time (at the right time), Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure (perhaps) for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his (demonstrates his own) LOVE toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now (having been) justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more being (having been) reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement (reconciliation).’ (Rom.5:6-11) Yes Friends, if while we were still abominable sinners, and thus enemies of the holy, righteous and just God, He allowed His Son to be sacrificed for us, then all things; joy, reconciliation, salvation, etc. etc. are now and forever more ours, if we believe in Jesus as Lord and Saviour. And the scholars add this colour commentary on our Bit. ‘For us all: This does not teach or necessitate limited atonement (the view that Christ died only for the elect), for Christ died for all the sins of all the world (2 Cor.5:19). His death is effective unto salvation, however, only for those who call upon the name of the Lord. (Rom.10:13,17).’ Yes my brethren, contrary to some opinions, Christ didn’t die for the elect few, but paid the price for ALL sin, for ALL time, for ANY INDIVIDUAL who acknowledges Him as the WAY, the TRUTH, the LIFE, and the LIGHT, and thus the ONLY MEANS by which Salvation can be had! And earlier on in Romans 4, where Bruh Paul talks about the promise realized through faith, and says of Abraham: ‘He staggered (wavered) not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong (strengthened) in the faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded (convinced) that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for (because of) our offenses, and was raised again for (because of) our justification.’ (Rom.4:20-25) Here’s the scholar’s commentary: ‘But for us also: The principle of justification valid for Abraham is valid for all believers. Raised again for our justification: Because Jesus was raised from the dead we know that His sacrifice on Calvary was accepted in God’s sight and Jesus’ righteousness is available to all.’ Yes Friends, ALL that Jesus did, is available to ALL who call on the Father through His Holy, glorious name. That’s what is so great about Christianity; it’s an all inclusive body, not exclusive like some other faiths. And all you need to do is to call on Jesus’ name in sincere repentance and receive salvation through the free gift of God’s wonderful grace! How can anything be better than that on this troubled planet earth eh? So my people, I implore us to remember our wonderful heritage as Christians, and the awesome price Jesus paid for our redemption. Consequently let’s do our best to use it wisely, and spread His Word as He commissioned us, (Matt.28:19-20) because it will be our great loss if we don’t. Much LOVE!…Christians should use the power of Christ to build His church…as He desires…not to tear it down…as some are doing…
02 Oct 2012
by randyobrien50
in Inspirational Living
Tags: abomination, awesomeness, caring God, comfort, encouragement, friend, gospel truth, Jesus, lifting up, lonely, momentous year, precious thoughts, presence of god, promises, rejoicing, renewal, support, thanskgiving, worship
Psalm 139:17. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
Well Friends, it’s now October! Wow! Next week is Canadian Thanksgiving, then it’s Halloween, American Thanksgiving and finally Christmas once again! Doesn’t it seem like we had Christmas just the other day? This year has flown by so fast that I’m not sure of all that happened in it, but it definitely was a momentous year, filled with plenty mind boggling stuff, and we still have three more months to go. So by the end, who knows what other interesting and/or calamitous stuff is going to happen. But thankfully, we don’t have to worry about it all because our caring and considerate God has promised to protect us come what may, and He does keep His promises. And to show you just how faithful He is, check out this awesome prayer from Dr. Robert H. Schuller’s Hour of Power Devotional. It’s called, What a Friend. ‘You have never failed, Lord, to be my one, essential, intimate friend. When I was: Lonely in striving – you encouraged me. Lonely in struggling – you lifted me. Lonely in serving – you supported me. Lonely in suffering – you comforted me. Lonely in sinning – you forgave me. Lonely in sinking – you renewed me. Lonely in succeeding – you rejoiced with me. What a friend I have in Jesus! Thank you, Lord. Amen.’ Now isn’t that the gospel, gospel, gospel truth my brethren! And all God’s children unequivocally declared: ‘All thanks and praise to Almighty God who created us and takes care of us in every circumstance!’ Yes Friends, our God has never failed us yet! In whatever area we struggle, He always helps us. Even when we were so lost, so deep in sin, unto eternal death, He readily gave His ONLY Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice to wash our unspeakable abominations away, so that we could once again have communion with Him. How awesome and caring is that eh! I doubt that many, if any of us would have made such a sacrifice for unworthy creatures. Bruh David knew the awesomeness of the God of his fathers, not only from their stories, but more importantly from his own experience. That’s why in Psalm 139, The everlasting presence and power of God, from which our Bit is taken, he proclaims in glorious wonder: ‘How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!’ More undeniable truth Friends! And the verse after our Bit nicely sums it up. ‘If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.’ (Ps.139:18) Oh my people, with all this LOVING-kindness showered upon us by the most Wonderful God Jehovah, I don’t understand how we could ever go a-whoring after other supposed gods, for our Heavenly Father is the epitome of a God! He is exactly what a God should be; omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and full of mercy, LOVE, kindness, justice, truth and forgiveness on top of all that. Wow! Listen to how Job says it in acknowledging God’s justice: ‘I know it is of a truth: but how should man be just with God (can a man be righteous before God)… He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered? …Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number. Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not. Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him (turn him back)? Who will say unto him, what doest thou?’ (Job 9:2, 4, 10-12) Nobody in his or her right mind will do, or rather try to do that my Friends! That means therefore, that the many in this world who despise God, ignore, abuse, try to control or put Him out of business must have more than a few screws missing, because it just cannot be done by mere mortals, insignificant beings comprised of fallible, easily destroyed, flesh, blood and bones. And we’ll end today with the immortal words of Bruh Paul on the subject. Ever noticed how he has a take on almost every topic? (smile) This one is exceedingly good though. To the church at Rome he gloriously declares: ‘O the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed (repaid) unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.’ (Rom.11:33-36) Yes Friends, in there Bruh Paul uses his vast knowledge of the Old Testament and quotes Is.40:13, Jer.23:18, Job 36:22, Job 41:11. Now hear how the scholars explain that last verse. I think it’s important for us to understand it. ‘God is the source of all things – of him; God is the channel of all things – through him; God is the goal of all things – to him; and Man’s only proper response to God is to worship Him.’ That says it all my people! Now let’s go out there and worship our God, like we ought to. Much LOVE!…our duty is to…LOVE our God…LIVE our Faith…and SPREAD His Word…
12 Sep 2012
by randyobrien50
in Inspirational Living
Tags: blessings, bureaucracy, commandments, cooperation, corruption, fallen nature, God's glorious kingdom, heartfelt thanks, Jesus, justice, laws, mercy, praise to God, reign, righteousness., truth, unchanging, wise advice
2 Samuel 23:3. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
Oh Friends, another beautiful day is in the offing! Let’s give our most wonderful God some praise for that nuh. ‘Oh Lord, you are so generous and merciful to your often ungrateful earthly children. However, today, we give You much heartfelt thanks and praise for favouring us with the breath of life and allowing us to see, for at lest one more day, all the wonders of creation that You have designed and made for our enjoyment. We also offer thanks for the many other blessings that You have prepared to shower us with today. We LOVE You Lord, and ask that You help us to walk worthy of You down here on this wicked, ungodly earth, furthering your glorious kingdom as we go. All this we pray in the Holy Name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who shed His precious blood at Calvary, so that we could once more be connected to You, and enjoy your everlasting mercies. Amen!’ Ah mih people, the ole fella got carried away there, because there’s so much to thank our ever-LOVING God for! I’m not sure though how many of us realize how truly lucky… no not lucky, but truly blessed we are to be living the comparatively good life that we currently enjoy. We’re living better than approximately 90 % of the world. But do we even know that? And if we do, do we give sufficient thanks for our blessed situations? Remember Bruh Paul’s wise and timely advice to the Ephesians: ‘Giving thanks ALWAYS for ALL things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (Eph.5:20) I do believe though, that if more of us would give more thanks, more often, our world would improve quite a lot. So Friends, let’s try and improve our giving of thanks nuh, so that our world would become a much better place, and thus raise up brethren who can, and will comply with our Bit. ‘The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.’ Now yesterday we looked at some scripture that dealt with the meaning of the term ‘Rock’ in our faith, and saw that it was basically a description of a stable, unchanging, powerful Deity, who, amongst other things, offers His followers peace, rest, safety and eternal salvation. And we also noted that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was the ONLY ONE in possession of such amazing attributes. Today, let’s look at the second part of our Bit; ‘He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.’ Hn! It will certainly be difficult to find that kind of ruler in this day and age yes Friends! But unfortunately it’s exactly the kind of leader’s we need to try and bring some semblance of balance and righteousness to our very unbalanced, very disturbed, troubled and ungodly world. And the sad part is that when such leaders rise up, the evil minions of Lucifer do their very best to beat and/or keep them down, while the righteous mostly sit around and wring their hands in anxiety, but don’t do too much to help. Ah mih breddren, be it known that a leader is only as good as the people he leads. That’s why the saying ‘people get the leaders they deserve’ is oh so true. Look at Moses; one of the greatest leaders of all time. He was doing his very best to lead some two million people through the wilderness, but do you think they would cooperate with him, even after seeing all the miracles their God had performed in their favour? No sir! They just kept on grumbling and complaining about every little inconvenience. Shades of us nowadays eh! The stress and strain of leading that rebellious and disobedient people were certainly taking a toll on Moses until his father-in law, Jethro, gave him some wise and wonderful advice. ‘Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy (much) for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel (advice), and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to Godward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.’ (Ex.18:18-22) Sure words of wisdom my brethren! However, in today’s society it sets up too many levels of authority, which only lead to unwieldy bureaucracy, and is a sure breeding ground for all kinds of corruption. But it’s still the best way for men to rule, for one man cannot do it all, and do it properly too, regardless of how just, righteous and reverential he is. I guess it will just have to continue like that until the righteous reign of the branch of Jesse is entrenched. Please read Isaiah 11: 1-5 for that, as we don’t have time nor space to include it. Yes Friends, when Jesus finally comes to reign over His followers in a world without sin and evil, then there’ll be need for only ONE Ruler! Please, let’s think on that today, and let it guide us as we go along our righteous way. Much LOVE!…when men rule over men…there will always be problems…because of our fallen nature…
07 Sep 2012
by randyobrien50
in Inspirational Living
Tags: angels, christianity, enthusiasm, faith walk, freedom, Friday chant, furthering God's kingdom, glorifying God, God's promises, Jesus, joyful harbinger, rejuvenation, righteousness., stable foundation, Thank God it's Friday, the Holy Trinity, verve, weekend, wisdom
Psalm 89:15. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.
‘Friday, Friday! Oh how we LOVE that day! Friday, Friday! The weekend’s on its way!’ Yes Friends, it’s Friday, and we’re all exuberantly declaring: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ You know, even the weak and tired find strength to be exuberant on Fridays. Hn! And no other day of the week creates such excitement. The strange part though is that Friday itself, doesn’t do all that much, we still have to go to work, but it’s a joyful harbinger of the weekend and certainly ratchets up our expectation and enthusiasm for those two short days off. But remember though that we can’t afford to get too carried away by the freedom of the weekend. Like all else in our walk of faith, we have to handle it in and with the right perspective. And to help us do that, let’s chant our Friday Chant with much verve and enthusiasm. As usual let’s give the angels something to talk about, and bring a big, bright, proud smile to Jesus’ face and His heart, letting Him know that we truly LOVE and glorify the Father and Him, in this our song of praise. All together now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’ Yes Friends, now we can go ahead and make plans for the weekend, knowing that we’re doing so from a wise and stable foundation. And I just LOVE it too that our Bit talks about making music to God. Listen as Ethan the Ezrahite declares the power of God’s blessing in his contemplation, titled, God’s sure promises to Bruh David. ‘Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.’ And that’s the living truth my brethren! From the earliest days, music has always been and essential and intrinsic part of worshipping our wonderful God. When we make music to and for God, our spirits are rejuvenated, we see Him in the true and brilliant light that emanates from Him, and consequently, to our great benefit, we walk in that light. Now hear how Ethan continues after our Bit: ‘In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn (our strength) shall be exalted. For the Lord is our defense (our shield); and the Holy One of Israel is our king.’ (Ps.89:16-18) What awesome words of wisdom and truth my people! Now Friends, this musical appreciation doesn’t look as though it was dreamed up by man, but was a direct command of the Lord. Numbers 10 describes it. ‘And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. (Num.10:2) Blowing on both trumpets simultaneously would be a sign for all to assemble at the door of the tabernacle. When only one trumpet was blown, that would be a sign for the princes, leaders of the tribes to gather round Moses. (Num.10:3-4) ‘And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance (statute) for ever throughout your generations. And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets, and ye shall be remembered before the Lord your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn (appointed) days, and in the beginning of your months, ye shall blow with your trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the Lord your God.’ (Num.10:8-10) Yes mih people, our God is high on His music! Note too that when the end time arrives, we’ll also be singing and making music in heaven, worshipping and glorifying the Lamb that was slain for us, and the Father who gave Him up through a heart that abounded with LOVE for us, His sinful creation. Listen to how John saw it in Revelations. ‘And he (the Lamb) came and took the book (of life) out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts (living creatures) and four and twenty elders fell down before the lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials (bowls) full of odours (incense), which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred (tribe) and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.’ (Rev.5:7-10) Oh mih people, it won’t just be partying in heaven, or on the new earth, but you better believe music will still play a vital role in our worship of the Everlasting Trinity. So let’s get accustomed to it from now nuh, with much singing and praising! (smile) Much LOVE!…to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Him…is to sing His praises…night and day… P.S. I want to say Happy Birthday to my mother Molly. She would have been 86 years young today. If they celebrate birthdays in heaven, where she is, I’m sure they’re celebrating with her. And if they don’t, I’m sure they’re still singing up a storm of thanks and praise. (smile) Much LOVE!
30 Aug 2012
by randyobrien50
in Inspirational Living
Tags: blasphemy, calamity, circumcision, controversial, disasters, fellowship, freedom, God's Word, imprisonment, Jesus, knees bow, persecution, revenge, salvation, slaves
Galatians 5:1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Oh Friends, our world’s a mess; man-made disasters as well as God sent calamity. You name it, and we’re suffering it. And on a more personal level, millions of Christians are still suffering persecution in numerous places, simply because they believe in Christ, talk about Him and try to live by His Word and His will. One extreme example of that is the Christian teenaged girl recently imprisoned in Pakistan for supposedly burning some pages of a holy book. Now you cannot get a straight story about her age, what she actually burnt, or how it all came about, cause all they have left is ashes, but the Muslim people are all up in arms calling for her death, due to some vague and unenlightened blasphemy law that’s only being used and abused to satisfy personal agendas, and vendettas, especially against Christians. Hundreds of believers had to flee their homes as the Muslim mobs cried out for vengeance. And there’s no justice to be had for God’s people! Ah Friends, it’s not fair, but unfortunately it’s part of being a believer in some places. But remember though, that the name of Jesus is the most powerful and controversial name on all the earth. It’s the name to which all knees shall eventually bow and all voices make confession to. So there will always be those who want to engage in some kind of controversy over it. However, here is the true insight on the matter: ‘The action of God is flowing through us, through all believers in a pattern of success right now!’ Yes my people, regardless of our troubles, the Lord’s blessing us all today with a strength of purpose that will inevitably bring success. Jesus had it and was able to overcome His problems and so will we. But that success doesn’t just come without any effort on our part. We need to be strong and keep living by faith to see that success. That’s why our Bit encourages, exhorts and admonishes us to: ‘Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.’ Words of impeccable wisdom that all believers ought to live by! Here’s what the scholars have to say about it. ‘The verse can be rendered: “For freedom Christ freed us. Therefore stand fast and do not again be subject to a yoke of bondage.” The “freedom” in view is freedom from the law, here called “a yoke of bondage.” Paul wants the Galatians to “stand fast,” that is retain their spiritual freedom.’ Likewise my brethren, believers in these turbulent times need to stand fast in their faith, retain the spiritual freedom that Christ died to give us, and not to become slaves to the law again. And Bruh Paul uses as an example the Jewish law of circumcision, which at the time was causing much friction between the Jewish and Gentile believers. He says that circumcision will not provide any special benefits, or bring you any closer to Christ, but it will enslave you to the law. It’s an external ritual or symbol, showing that you accept the law, and therefore are dependent on man’s legality to provide salvation, rather than on God’s grace. But by the same token, being uncircumcised doesn’t profit you anything either. ‘For we through the Spirit (eagerly) wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by LOVE.’ (Gal.5:5-6) So whether we’re circumcised or not, we’ll not benefit spiritually from that physical state. Thus, if we try to be justified by the law, we will not have the favour, the grace of God that Jesus died for us to have. But through faith, instilled in and kept working in us by the Holy Spirit, believers can, and do find justification, and hope for the salvation promised by Jesus, in and through His sacrificial death. As the scholars declare: ‘Faith is man’s response to God who LOVES him, and this divine LOVE that produces human faith results in his justification.’ So my brethren, please let us not become too entangled with man’s law, which will only yoke us in slavery once again. Now listen to Bruh Paul’s exhortation to steadfastness to the church at Philippi: ‘Only let your conversation (conduct) be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing (no way) terrified by your adversaries: which is to them and evident token (a proof) of perdition (destruction), but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.’ (Phil.1:27-29) And the scholar’s give us a good explanation on the meaning of fellowship to believers. ‘Fellowship, one of the keys to spiritual growth, occurs when Christians share their walk with God in an atmosphere of LOVE and respect. Fellowship occurs when everyone communicates in LOVE with other believers, and the whole assembly becomes strengthened as a result. Sometimes fellowship requires confessing our faults (James 5:16) as we strive to develop a unity of spirit and mind. Those who work to hinder the fellowship of the brethren practice a sin that is hated by God (Prov. 6:19) Illustration: The church at Philippi was particularly noted for its spirit of fellowship, but Paul’s warning to two women in the church reminds how we must constantly work to maintain fellowship (4:1-3). Application: Fellowship is so vital that we cannot live for God by ourselves. As we develop deeper relationships with others, we should remember that we come to resemble those with whom we fellowship. (Matt.18:19). Now, sadly, true fellowship is something that’s missing from Christ’s church today. I’ll rephrase that, because there is some. Let’s say it’s not as strong and united as it ought to be, otherwise there wouldn’t be all the divisions and divisiveness found in Christ’s body. Friends, please realize that only in unity is there strength, and we believers are fighting an uphill battle against the spiritual forces of evil and bondage, so it’s absolutely necessary that we stick together if we want to be successful. And today, let’s pray for all those who are suffering disaster, or being unfairly persecuted. Let’s send up plenty prayers to heaven, for the Lord to assuage some of our problems down here on earth. Much LOVE!…if the Lord hears the prayer of one righteous person…won’t He pay more attention to the prayers of plenty righteous people…
28 Aug 2012
by randyobrien50
in Inspirational Living
Tags: anger, anxiety, bitterness, charity, covers, earthquake, evil, flooding, good stewards, gossipmongers, Haiti, holy spirit, hurricane, Isaac, Jesus, LOVE, manifold grace of God, prayers, rejoice, relationships, resentment, sins, stress, tension
1 Peter 4:8. And above all things have fervent charity (LOVE) among yourselves: for charity (LOVE) shall cover the multitude of sins.
Oh Friends, we at last had a touch of rain in my area yesterday morning; first time in over a week. And I guess most people were pleased to receive it, but Friends, think about those rather unfortunate people in Haiti, where Hurricane Isaac brought an abnormal amount of rain, wind, flooding and destruction to their already bruised, battered and impoverished lives. The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and they’ve now undergone what; two hurricanes and a massive earthquake in the last few years? Ah Lord eh! It’s one calamity after the other. Before they can recover from one, another strikes them! Please my people, let’s pray some serious and heart-rending prayers for them, and also help in whatever other way we can. Please ask the Lord to guide our thoughts and prayers too to those unfortunates in the Dominican Republic and Cuba who felt some of Isaac’s wrath, but certainly not as much as Haiti. And let’s also remember in our words to heaven the people in the Southern U.S. where Isaac is scheduled to do some serious damage. Let’s pray that it will extinguish itself out at sea, and leave the land and people unscathed, cause they already have enough calamity to deal with. And if that’s not in the Lord’s plan, then pray that it will do minimal damage. Can you imagine the suffering that will cause with the serious job and home losses, plus social upheaval, drought and economic decline that’s already plaguing the nation? All I can say my brethren, is that we look to our Bit for guidance in these really troubled times. ‘And above all things have fervent charity (LOVE) among yourselves: for charity (LOVE) shall cover the multitude of sins.’ And that’s an undisputable fact Friends! LOVE does cover an amazing amount of troubles and wrongdoings. Hear how Cousin Sol says it in Proverbs 10. ‘Hatred stirreth up strifes: but LOVE covereth ALL sins.’ (Prov.10:12) That’s why they say LOVE makes the world go round. It can surely handle all kinds of misfortune and negative circumstances. Peter further advises us: ‘Use hospitality one to another without grudging (grumbling) As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.’ (1 Pet.4:9-10) And you know what happens when we don’t take that advice? Listen to Cousin Sol tell it. ‘He that covereth a transgression seeketh LOVE: but he that repeateth a matter separateth very (the best of) friends.’ (Prov.17:9) Gospel truth my brethren, to which many of us can personally attest! For we have all seen and experienced situations where friends keep their peace on certain things, relationships endure and often prosper because of that held tongue. But when the gossip-mongers spread their evil offering, it inevitably breaks up relationships, leaving in their wake, trails of bitterness, anger, resentment and strife. However, as Bruh Paul so wisely and truthfully tells the Corinthians: ‘Charity (LOVE) suffereth long, and is kind; charity (LOVE) envieth not; charity (LOVE) vaunteth not (does not brag) on itself, is not puffed up (arrogant). Doth not behave itself unseemly (rudely), seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no (keeps no accounts of) evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity (LOVE) never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail (cease); whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away (cease).’ (1 Cor.13:4-8) Yes my people; LOVE NEVER FAILS! It is the great reliever of stress, tension, anxiety and all misfortune. Even in the most difficult of times, just a little show or act of LOVE can bring a smile and/or a sense of relief to the unfortunate person’s face and spirit. That’s because it’s the essential essence of our all-knowing, all-seeing and all-powerful God! And it’s why Bruh Paul thus admonished the Galatians. ‘And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections (its passions) and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory (conceited), provoking one another, envying one another.’ (Gal.5:24-26) My fellow believers, it’s only LOVE that’s given through the Holy Spirit that can cause unity among humans. No wonder Bruh Paul advised the Ephesians. ‘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.4:30-32) And therein lies the rub my brethren. That forgiveness of God came to us through His LOVE, otherwise we’d still be tightly enmeshed, wrapped up in sin and discarded unto death. But note, the LOVE of God, through the sacrifice of Jesus, covered not only a multitude of sins, but ALL of the sins of those who believe on His Son. And if you’re one of those fortunate people to have your sins covered by God’s LOVE through Jesus’ death, then please go out and tell and live it, so that the rest of the world can see the great benefits it provides, and come to know and LOVE Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, just like you. As James says: ‘Let him know, that he which converteth (turns) the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide (cover) a multitude of sins.’ (James 5:20) And all God’s people said a loud and sincere ‘Amen!’ Oh Friends, it’s our time to go out and spread some LOVE, if we want things to improve in our world. Let’s do it for Jesus nuh! Much LOVE!…LOVE…it’s the panacea for what ails our world…
22 Aug 2012
by randyobrien50
in Inspirational Living
Tags: attributes, begotten Son, Calvary, characteristics, cross, death, disobedience, eternal separation, everlasting life, friends, god, gospel truth, holy spirit, Jesus, LOVE, lusts, pleasure, rebellion, sacrifice, salvation, selfishness, selflessness, talk, unworthy sinners, walk
1 John 4:16. And we have known and believed the LOVE that God hath to us. God is LOVE; and he that dwelleth in LOVE dwelleth in God, and God in him.
Oh Friends, the word for today is LOVE! It is the supreme attribute and characteristic of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Therefore it should also be the supreme characteristic of those who claim to follow Him. And how do we know that LOVE is the major attribute of our God eh? Because His Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ told us so. ‘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.’ (John 3:16) And Jesus later corroborates that feeling of LOVE by saying: ‘Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.’ (John 15:13-14) And what did Jesus do shortly after that? He gave His sinless, holy life as a sacrifice on the cross at Calvary for His Friends, those who were doing as He instructed! Wow! What a champion my people! Just think about it nuh Friends, Jesus gave up His good life in heaven to come to earth and die for us, a bunch of unworthy sinners, so that we could be reconciled to The Father, and receive forgiveness of our sins, salvation and eternal life. Now if that isn’t the highest form of selflessness, which in this case denotes absolute LOVE, I don’t know what is. Jesus walked His talk! And so should we. But sadly Friends, our world is desperately lacking in that kind of selflessness. Instead everything begins and ends with ‘Me, My, I and Mine.’ In contrast to that, selflessness talks about ‘You and Yours,’ puts the other person’s welfare first. Can you imagine what our lives would be like if God, then Jesus, had said: ‘Chuh pool! They’re just a bunch of ignorant, disobedient, rebellious, lustful, fleshly, pleasure bound no goods. Leave them be, and let them fend for themselves. They think they know everything anyway. And if they want to follow that fool Lucifer, then let them. They’ll pay the price of death and eternal separation for their stupidity, just like he will.’ But no my brethren, the Lord God Jehovah made every one of us, and just like we LOVE even our most rebellious, disobedient children, He LOVES us the same way too! Please note when our children do wrong and end up in the courts, or prison, we still don’t give up on them, although they may justly deserve their punishment. No, we still pray for them, talk to them, and try to show them the error of their ways, notwithstanding that we’ve been preaching the same sermon to them from their youth. Friends, it’s the same way our great, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God felt, and still feels about us. As John says in our Bit: ‘And we have known and believed the LOVE that God hath to us. God is LOVE; and he that dwelleth (abides) in LOVE dwelleth in God, and God in him.’ Those are powerful words of truth my people! If God could do us such a great favour, we should also be able to do it to our fellow humans. And it doesn’t necessarily mean actually giving up one’s physical life, although in some cases it can, but it refers to more of a selfless attitude towards others, thinking about their well-being above ours, making sure they are well taken care of, helping them in any way we can. Oh my Friends, the basic premise of God’s LOVE is that we don’t only look out for ourselves, but also for others. As John asks earlier on: ‘But whoso hath this world’s good (goods), and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion (heart) from him, how dwelleth the LOVE of God in him?’ (1 John 3:17) It obviously doesn’t, my people! Now listen to Jesus, when Judas Iscariot asked how He would manifest Himself to the disciples and the world. ‘If a man LOVE me, he will keep my words; and my Father will LOVE him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode (home) with him.’ (John 14:23) It’s simple Friends, if we truly LOVE Jesus, we will keep His commandments. As the scholars say: ‘The divine indwelling (of the Holy Spirit) is conditional on LOVE, and obedience to Jesus’ words. The Word of the gospel is primarily (though not exclusively) in view here.’ And John tells it this way: ‘And this is His commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and LOVE one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.’ (1 John 3:23-24) Oh Friends, that’s the gospel truth! Please let’s ponder that scripture today and see how it works in our lives, so that we can better represent Jesus here on earth. More on this tomorrow, provided we’re still breathing. Till then, let’s all try and walk in as much LOVE as possible nuh. Much LOVE!…he who truly walks in LOVE…is a true reflection of Jesus…and truly pleases Him…
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