The Overwhelming Importance of Christians Living by the Dictates of Christ and Vetting Their Plans First with God!

04 Mar 2026 Leave a comment

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

Matthew 7:24.       Therefore whosoever heareth these saying of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man who built his house upon a (the) rock.

Then it was Wednesday; the day we catch our second wind. And unfortunately we’re on a late bus because I finally went to my church group today after missing several weeks. And they were all glad to see me, like I’d risen from the dead (smile) Then I ran a couple of errands, then had to come home and rest, before writing the Bit. So that’s my story…and I’m sticking to it. 

Anyway,  it’s a bright and sunshiny, comparatively warm day, with a little more of the snow melting.  However, the computer is calling for a fair amount of rain tomorrow. But we’ll wait and see how that pans out, for as Jesus says; ‘Take therefore no thought for the morrow (do not worry about tomorrow): for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil (trouble) thereof.’ (Matt. 6:34)

Yes, though we should not completely forget about tomorrow, we must concentrate on the day before us, for as the scholars explain: ‘This means that each day has its own troubles and challenges to be responsibly handled, without worrying about the hypothetical problems that could arise tomorrow.’ So let’s focus on today while we’re alive to do so, for who knows, we might not even be around to handle tomorrow’s challenges. (smile) That just points to how fragile life really is. You can be here today in flourishing health, but the next, for one reason or another, you’ve gone home to meet your maker.

That’s why it’s so important to cherish your friends and LOVED ones all the time. Let them know without any doubt that you sincerely care about them. It’s also important to stop all strife and resentment, do it now, don’t put it off for tomorrow, for without a moment’s notice, they can just vanish out of your life, and then you’re left holding all sorts of guilt and regrets, that you didn’t tell them you LOVED them, or didn’t straighten our your selfish and child-like disagreements. That’s why we are always admonished to not put off for tomorrow, what we can and should do today, because tomorrow might just be too late.

The very same thing goes for accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour! Why put it off for tomorrow when you can do it today eh? That reminds us of  Jesus’ parable about the rich fool. This fellow was blessed with an abundant harvest, and instead of sharing it, in his foolish wisdom decided to tear down his old barns and build bigger and better ones to store the abundant harvest. (Luke 12:13-18)

And as Jesus tells it, he then revels in his own wisdom: ‘And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.’ (Luke 12:19-21)

Yes friends, that doesn’t only show a lack of respect for God and the abundance He blesses us with, but also too much emphasis on planning for tomorrow, or defining our lives by our possessions. Oh, he was going to ‘take his ease, eat drink and be merry.’ Hn! But God had other plans for Him. That’s what happens when we are not in tune with God’s will for our lives. We plan to do stuff that He doesn’t agree with, and next thing we know, all our plans fall apart. Not necessarily because they are bad, but because we didn’t first consult God before making them.

And I’ve learned that from hard experience during my numerous years. There have been things I tried to do without any success, but later on those same things just fell into my lap, most likely because it was God’s right time. So before we make any great plans, let’s make sure we talk to our heavenly Father first on the wisdom of those plans, for sometimes He might say a definite No; or simply wait.  But let’s remember it’s all in His hands.

That brings us to these other wise words of Jesus, where He talks about building foundations on rock or sand. ‘Therefore whosoever heareth these saying of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man who built his house upon a (the) rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a (the) rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.’ (Matt. 7:24-27)

Oh my brethren, that’s exactly what happens to those of us who supposedly are of the faith, but yet refuse to do what Jesus expects of us. Like the rich fool, and the fellow who built on the sand, our houses will eventually tumble down if we don’t buck up and start behaving the way we ought to. We can see definite damage already happening all over the world, because people are not listening to and following Jesus’ teachings. You can’t be a saint while behaving like a sinner. Saints do saintly things, while sinners do sinful things, and a lot more of the later is currently happening in today’s society.

No wonder life is so topsy-turvy. There is no real truth and LOVE to it; just false voices crying out the devil’s lies. But all is not lost. We are the children of the Most High God Jehovah, and if we decide to get up and turn things around, then that is exactly what will happen. However, we first have to make that a concrete decision,  then live up to it. That though will only come to pass through a lessening of the divisions and dissensions in Christ’s church. Let’s hope and pray that we will wake up real soon and see our errors, and become willing to change them, not only for our sakes, but more so for those of our descendants.

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

And that’s a good future, but there’s an even more glorious one in store for those who endure with Jesus right to the very end, one that our puny minds cannot comprehend. So let’s make plans to endure to the end and thus enjoy that more than glorious future together nuh! Much LOVE!

…you cannot be a true Christian…and not live by the dictates of Christ…

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit 18 April 2021 Matthew 7:24.

18 Apr 2021 Leave a comment

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

Matthew 7:24.     ​Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a (the) rock.

So here we go again, another Sunday of virtual gathering. But the important thing is that we gather, not the how or where we do it. The Lord just wants us to gather however we can and celebrate His day, to give Him thanks and praise for all that He’s done for us this past week, and renew our confidence that He will keep on looking after us in the upcoming week. So, if the earthly powers that be say we can’t gather in large groups under one roof or mango tree, then, being the ingenious people we are, we will gather virtually. (smile) We can’t hug and kiss and shake hands, but we can do most of the other things necessary for worship. 

As always then, let’s begin with a song of praise, something to lively up both heaven and earth, this cloudy spring morning. (smile) Today’s hymn was written by British Baptist minister, Edward Mote (1797-1874) and it’s one of our favourites. Oh brother, do we have many favourites! And why not eh, since they are all celebrating the goodness and glory of our great God? 

Anyway, enough suspense, our hymn is titled ‘My Hope is built on nothing less.’ And is that ever the awesome truth friends! Our hope is indeed built on Christ Jesus and NO ONE, or nothing else. So let’s sing it like we truly mean it nuh, in harmony, loud and clear, at a nice up-tempo speed. 

Altogether now: ‘My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. (Refrain: On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.) When darkness veils his lovely face I rest on His unchanging grace In every high and stormy gale My anchor holds within the veil. (Refrain) His oath, his covenant, his blood Supports me in the ‘whelming flood When all around my soul gives way He then is all my hope and stay. 

(Refrain) Not earth, nor hell, my soul can move; I rest upon unchanging LOVE. I trust his righteous character, his counsel, promise, and his pow’r. [Refrain] When he shall come with trumpet sound, oh, may I then in him be found, dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne. [Refrain: On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.’ 

What a magnificent rendition my people! All heaven was singing along with us, including the Father. He’s usually the first to join in whenever anyone is singing praises to His awesome Son, for He’s a very proud Father! What makes me chuckle though, is how Jesus sits there on His throne, quietly tapping His feet and nodding His head to the music, with that shy, boyish smile on His handsome face, somewhat embarrassed by all the praise. 

But that’s why we LOVE and adore Him so much. Despite all the honour and glory the Father has bestowed on Him, all the accolades He’s received down through the ages, He’s still the same down to earth, unassuming person He’s always been. That doesn’t mean to say He’s a pushover, as the wicked will find out when He comes back the second time, but He’s like the real great men of earth who know their power and don’t need to flaunt it. 

And what was Brother Mote trying to tell or instill in us when he wrote those wonderful words so long ago eh? I think it’s basically that Jesus is the everlasting hope, the assurance, the refuge, the best place to find solace and comfort in this crazy, sinful world. And that’s the indisputable truth friends! Jesus is the ONLY ONE who can sincerely offer us the comfort that we so desperately need in these rather trying and difficult times. Remember His Great Invitation? ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ (Matt. 11:28) Well He can truly do that! 

Furthermore, His selfless sacrifice on the cross of Calvary, paid the price for our sins, and thus puts us in His eternal debt. Oh friends, the blood of Jesus is ever so powerful, it enacted the New Covenant and made blood sacrifices obsolete. His death stopped us from being slaves to sin and Satan, and His resurrection caused us to have new life in the family of God. Yes friends, Jesus is the best foundation on which to build one’s life. Brother Mote said it nicely in our song: ‘Not earth, nor hell, my soul can move; I rest upon unchanging LOVE. I trust his righteous character, his counsel, promise, and his pow’r.’ What better foundation to build on eh my brethren? NONE! 

Jesus said it this way, when He spoke about the two foundations on which we can build our lives. ‘Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a (the) rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a (the) rock. And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.’ (Matt. 7:24-27) 

And the scholars offer this explanation on those verses. ‘7:24-27. In drawing His concluding illustration of the two foundations, Jesus begins with the word Therefore. On the basis of all that He has taught and illustrated, He concluded that all who both hear and do His sayings shall be saved. As a great Master Counselor, Jesus reminded His listener that hearing this message alone will not change his life. He must both hear and do what Jesus has said. 

The elements of the closing illustration are drawn from the simplicity of nature itself, the rock, the rain, and the winds. The man whose house collapsed was at fault, not because he failed to labour, but because he did not lay the proper foundation. The shifting sand represents human opinion and the doctrines of men as opposed to “these sayings.” 

Now, we all know that the most important aspect of building anything is the foundation. If the foundation is strong, whatever edifice we erect will stand the test of time and nature. But if the foundation is not up to scratch, then the edifice will eventually tumble down when it comes up against powerful forces. Likewise, in life, there is no doubt that Christ is the best foundation for us to build our lives on, for He is strong and steady, steadfast and solid, impenetrable and immovable, like a rock; the rock of all ages! Much LOVE!

…what’s your foundation built on…the rock…or the shifting sand…  

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8