Today’s Scrip-Bit 16 July 2014 Mark 5:36b

16 Jul 2014 Leave a comment

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

Mark 5:36b.     Be not afraid, only believe.

Oh Friends, oh Friends, the ole fella experienced a Eureka moment yesterday afternoon! Glory Hallelujah! I don’t know if I’ve ever shared this info before, but in the last little while I’ve developed this theory, and yesterday afternoon, while out on my deck eating a Julie (July) mango, the last few threads fell into place.
 
And the conclusion my people – wait for the drum rolls braising brass and clanging symbols – is that the nonsense about Eve giving Adam an apple to eat in the garden of Eden, that made mankind fall into the dire clutches of sin is just that –nonsense! The forbidden fruit that they disobediently ate was a Julie mango!
 
Oh mih breddren, the Julie I ate yesterday was pretty nice; so nice that when I was finished you could only see the white of the seed. Now that’s how a Julie should have you going; right down to the seed!
 
It just puts me in mind of those wonderful Julies we use to steal, or rather get unofficially (smile) from the Botanical Gardens back in Tobago when I was growing up. And this one, though nice, was no match for those. So you can imagine what the ones in the Garden of Eden were like. Mama Mia!
 
So from now on Friends, when you hear about the forbidden fruit in Paradise, just remember that it was a sweet, succulent, golden yellow Julie mango, with a beautiful aroma wafting from it that just titillated all the senses – sight, smell, touch and taste – and sound too, as you bite into the juicy, mouth watering flesh!
 
And all God’s people said a loud and joyful ‘Amen!’
 
Oh Friends, life is too short not to enjoy it. Remember that Jesus said He came that we might have abundant life. And in any case, who is there that has overwhelming facts to prove my theory wrong eh? Nobody!
 
And though Lucifer might not be too bright in trying to overthrow Almighty God, he was smart enough not to try and entice Eve with a simple apple, when there was that exotic Julie mango available; looking so good, and smelling so nice.
 
So now that we’ve had our daily fun, let’s turn to our walk of faith with Jehovah God. And today I want to share this inspiring poem from Dr. Robert H. Schuller’s Hour of Power Devotional. It’s simply titled, ‘My Walk.’
 
‘O God, I’m inspired. For you have just impressed this truth into my mind: The most powerful force in the world is a positive idea in the mind of a believer who is walking in your will! I now reach forth my life and say, “God, put my life into the centre of your will.” Amen.’
 
Yes my people, there’s nothing more powerful than a God-given idea in the mind of a true and faithful believer! That’s why we have to look to God for direction in our lives, and why Jesus encouraged Jairus, the synagogue leader, and consequently us in our Bit: ‘Be not afraid, only believe.’
 
Yes my brethren, it all begins with belief, strong belief, aka faith! And today we’ll look at some other passages of scripture where Jesus enjoined the people of His day, and now of our day, to believe, to have faith.
 
Let’s start with the demon spirit in the child that the disciples could not drive out. What did Jesus say to the father who came seeking His compassion and His help? ‘Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.’ (Mark 9:23) Strong, but very truthful words, my people!
 
‘And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.’ (Mark 9:24)
 
And the scholars have an interesting footnote to that last verse. ‘9:24. He had a certain faith; but it was confession of his undeniable inner turmoil and doubt that marked his faltering faith as truly authentic, if imperfect, trust. Before God honesty is a wise course.’
 
And isn’t that the obvious truth! Yet so many of us go to God with a less than honest approach. He sees all, and knows all, so why try to fool Him eh, when it’s simply IMPOSSIBLE to do that? It just shows up our stupidity, insincerity and lack of true faith and understanding.
 
Now in Luke’s gospel, re the instance of our Bit, where the people of Jairus’ household came and told him that his daughter was dead and so to stop bothering Jesus, it’s told like this. ‘But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.’ (Luke 8:50)
 
And then we come to the passage of scripture, where shortly after Jesus’ resurrection, He’s walking along the road to Emmaus with two believers who obviously don’t recognize Him, and they are recounting the confusion and disbelief back in the disciples camp in Jerusalem, as to whether Jesus was really risen or not.
 
‘Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.’ (Luke 24:25-27)
 
Now here is what the scholars have to say about those verses. ’24:26. Ought (Gr. dei) bespeaks a divine necessity; what the prophets had foretold (see Is:53, Ps.16; 22) must and did come to pass. The disciples had been ready to see in Jesus a glorious deliverer, but Jesus’ rebuke (vs.25) relates to their unwillingness to take seriously the many Old Testament texts that speak not only of the Messiah’s glory, but also of His suffering.’
 
’24:7. The entire Old Testament is indispensable for a grounded grasp of the identity and significance of Jesus.’
 
And right there Friends, is where a whole lot of believers fall down; wrongly thinking that the Old Testament is just that; old and out of date! But without understanding the Old Testament, we can NEVER fully understand the New, because they are both so closely intertwined.
 
The New is basically the Old brought to life, to fulfillment through Jesus. It’s like the saying; you can’t know where you’re going, if you don’t know where you came from. So Friends, please don’t decry, don’t disparage and cry down the Old Testament, because you do so at your own peril of understanding.
 
And we’ll close with these memorable words of Jesus to Nicodemus, the Jewish ruler who came by night to Jesus, looking for answers. ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, we speak that (what) we do know, and testify that (what) we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?’ (John 3:11-12)
 
And unfortunately Friends, even to this day, we refuse to believe the truthful words of Jesus! How sad my people.
 
But fortunately, a few of us do believe, and that few will soldier on in faith, until we bring all the earth to repentance and salvation, as Jesus desires; to the recognition of His glory and majesty and Lordship! That’s our sincere belief and wish for all believers today! Much LOVE!
 
…fear not…only believe…only believe…only believe…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 17 July 2013 Matthew 13:22

17 Jul 2013 Leave a comment

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

Matthew 13:22.   He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
 
Oh Friends, it’s going to be another hot, sweltering day in my area! Summer seems to be finally hitting us with a big stick! Last night I went for a walk around midnight, and it was still so hot and humid that even the insects refused to come out and play. (smile)
 
The best part though, was when I came back, I sat down on my porch and devoured a cold, delicious Julie mango. My, my, my, was it ever tasty! Now usually I don’t like them cold, but that was just what the doctor ordered for that particular time.
 
Anyway, here’s an interesting, but also very important question for us. Are we ready to receive the bountiful blessings, mercies and forgiveness that’s about to descend on us today from heaven?  
 
We better had be ready, be on the lookout for them, otherwise we’ll miss them, and our day will not be as wonderful and joyful as it could have been. The darkness that’s now giving way to light in the physical world will also be lifted from our souls and be filled with the everlasting LIGHT that’s Jesus, so we can go about His business here on earth.
 
That brings us to our Bit: ‘He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care (cares) of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.’  
 
Ah mih people, that is so true of many of us today, it’s not funny. We hear the Word, even know the Word, but the lusts of our flesh overrules it way too often. So much so that we become unfruitful, we’re not working successfully for Jesus, our lives and actions are not a testimony to His LOVING-kindness, mercy and forgiveness.
 
But Friends, it’s very important that our lives bear testimony to Jesus, for as He asks, after foretelling His passion: ‘For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
 
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels: and then he shall reward every man according to his works.’ (Matt.16:26-27)   
 
Oh my brethren, do we want to gain the world and things it has to offer, all of which will eventually be destroyed, and lose our soul in the process? I doubt it very much. Though the things of the world seem bright and flashy and golden and beckon us with great promises, they’re mostly dressed up garbage, stuff adorned with beautiful exteriors, but inside they’re worthless, they have no real substance.
 
But if we want to save our souls, we need to raise our standards, elevate our level of Christianity, both as individuals and as the body of Christ, the church. Remember yesterday we said that as the individual members go, so does the body, the church. And the only way to change that is by rising up, first as individuals, then as the church, and pursuing true Christian behaviour and habits.
 
Our motto should be: ‘Excellence in Jesus’ Name!’
 
But we can’t do that if we’re concentrating too much on the things of the world. For as James so rightly says: ‘Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of (with) the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will (wants to) be a friend of the world is (makes himself) the enemy of God.’ (James 4:4)
 
And that’s gospel Friends! We definitely can’t be a LOVER of God and of the world at the same time. We therefore have to choose one to follow, and in my humble opinion, following God is the wisest choice.
 
For as John so wisely advises us: ‘LOVE not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man LOVE the world, the LOVE of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever!’ (1 John 2:15-17)
 
Ah mih breddren, truer words were never spoken!
 
Now we’ll end with some info from the scholars on those verses. ‘World for John signifies the evil desire and sin so much a part of human existence. Though all people are tempted differently, according to their individual weaknesses, temptations follow patterns. They appeal to three fundamental areas of life: (1) the lust of the flesh (physical desires); (2) the lust of the eyes (personal desires); and (3) the pride of life (self-interest).
 
Illustration: When Satan caused the fall of the race, he appealed to each of these areas of weakness (Gen.3:6). He also appealed to them when he tempted Christ (Matt.4:1-11), who defied Satan’s temptations by relying on the authority of the Scriptures.
 
Application: The Christian today should also depend on the Scriptures to defeat temptation. (First Ref. Gen.3:1-6; Primary Ref. 1 John 2:15-17; cf. Rom.5:12)’ 
 
So my people, as I regularly ask us to do, with all that important info at hand, let’s take a few moments to ponder how it all affects us personally nuh. Then let’s sincerely ask the Father to help us make whatever changes are necessary, so that we can come ever closer in line to the plan He has for our lives.
 
That’s both wisdom and common sense at their zenith! Much LOVE!
 
…when we covet the things of the world…it turns our hearts away from the things of heaven… and thus of God… 
 
 
 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 14 July 2013 Psalm 94:11

14 Jul 2013 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 94:11.    The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
 
Oh Friends, yesterday I couldn’t come up with a preamble of my own, today though I have one. (smile) And this first part presents a rather interesting theory. A few days ago, I was on my back deck eating a julie mango, when it suddenly dawned on me that the fruit tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden, the one Adam and Eve were not supposed to eat from, was indeed a julie mango tree!  Selah.  
 
Yeh people, think on that for a moment nuh. The julie I had was big and firm, with a golden brown and pinkish skin. And when I passed it below my nose… oh such a tantalizing odour wafted off from it.
 
Now just imagine that ole crook, the master deceiver, Lucifer showing such a beautiful looking julie, to Eve, then passing it under her nostrils. And when she inhaled that sweet aroma, she must have considered it a heavenly smell.
 
And don’t talk about when he peeled back that golden skin and showed her the luscious yellow flesh inside, with some of the heavenly nectar already running down his hand …poor Eve, she was totally captivated by the amazing fruit! So how could she refuse it eh?
 
And now you know! It was a julie mango that caused sin to come into the world! God made it so beautiful, luscious and sweet tasting that Eve just could not resist the temptation to try it. And when she handed it to Adam, brow beaten man that he already was, how could he say no to her eh? (smile)
 
Oh Friends, I guess by now you’ve realized that a julie mango is my favourite fruit, and as far as I’m concerned, the best fruit God ever made! Matter finish! No arguments! Yes mih breddren, when you get a really nice julie mango, there’s no nicer fruit in the world! 
 
However, on a serious note, what’s happening to our world eh? We’re supposed to be at the height of our technological prowess, but everyday we’re hearing of and seeing more disasters, disasters that we can’t seem to figure out and/or understand how they happened.
 
Check out the train en route from Paris to some other part of France on Friday evening, with over three hundred unaware souls on board, many to join friends and family for summer vacation and to celebrate France’s big day, Bastille Day.
 
It’s celebrated on July 14, commemorating the end of feudalism in France, when the people of Paris in July 1789, stormed the Bastille, the prison-like fortress that was used to hold citizens, political and otherwise, unlawfully.
 
Twenty minutes out of Paris, some of the cars just seemed to derail without any observable cause, creating total havoc and utter chaos, with numerous injuries, loss of life and millions of dollars in damages.
 
Then the 787 Boeing plane, the Dreamliner, the latest one on the market, while sitting idle on a back part of Heathrow Airport in London, England, suddenly catches fire. Hn! The same type of plane that’s been causing problems since it recently went into service.
 
The technology nowadays seems to me more exotic than reliable, cheap too. And in spite of all of the computer assisted, design, build and quality control features, we seem to be falling behind, rather than moving ahead. Just look at the millions of vehicles being recalled every year over the last decade or so! I don’t remember there being so many recalls, when men had a bigger hand in building them.
 
Anyway Friends, I don’t have answers to all the questions in the preamble, it’s just food for thought. But when we turn to our Bit, now that’s an entirely different story. ‘The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity (futile).’ 
 
That my brethren, is the epitome of truth! And it relates to both side of the equation; that the Lord knows man’s thoughts, and also that those thoughts are vain and utterly futile.
 
But sadly, on both counts, man seems to think otherwise. And that’s one of the major reasons why our world is in such shambles and getting worse every day. We’re hurtling down the rocky road to hell because mankind thinks he’s so big and bright and wonderful.
 
With all his technological skill and knowledge, he now considers himself superior to God, and thus no longer has any use for Him, so he’s doing his utmost best to remove God from our lives. And unfortunately he’s succeeding, because we, the supposed believers are not putting up a big enough fight.
 
But Friends, listen to this passage of scripture, when Job’s supposed friend, Zophar, reproves him, because he believes that Job’s committed some dreadful sin, thus his sudden fall from grace.
 
He asks: ‘Canst thou by searching find out God (search out the deep things of God)? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
 
The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. If he cut off (passes by), and shut up (imprisons), or gather together, then who can hinder (restrain) him? For he knoweth vain (deceitful) men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?
 
For vain (empty headed) man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt (when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man). If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him.’ (Job 11:7-13) 
 
Yes my people, mankind cannot fathom the moves of our omnipotent God, because our minds are so small and finite, neither can we stop Him once He chooses a certain pathway, though we certainly try.
 
Instead though, man who is born with the mentality much like a wild ass in comparison to God, ought to sit up and take notice and repent and reach out to Him for forgiveness, because the sovereign, omniscient God sees all our sins.
 
Friends, God made us and thus knows everything about us. It’s just like when we make something, we tend to know everything about it. Now listen to Bruh Paul on the subject to the church at Corinth, re men being God’s temple.
 
‘Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world (age), let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain (futile).
 
Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours. Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your; and ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.’ (1 Cor.3:18-23)
 
And we’ll let those words of absolute wisdom take us home today my people. Please, let’s read and inwardly digest them, and ponder them seriously, to ensure that we’re not caught up in the common and very prevalent trap of thinking that we’re oh so wise, when we’re really, oh so foolish. Now that’s the height of wisdom. Much LOVE!
 
…to him who thinks he’s something great…when he’s not…God will eventually set him straight…though not necessarily in the nicest of ways…