The Overwhelming Importance of Unity, Compassion, Humility and Selflessness in the Christian Church!

29 Oct 2025 Leave a comment

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

Ephesians 2:5.        Let this mind be in you, which was in Christ Jesus:

It’s a sunny Wednesday friends, time to catch our second wind and get going again, all in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Remember what we said yesterday? That be we slaves or free, we ought to do all that we do, as though we’re doing it for Jesus, that means in an excellent manner and with a good attitude. And not because there’s a rich reward from Christ, but because we simply LOVE Him and want to do all that He desires. 

And today, we’re going to check out the Let Us Pray Section in this month’s In Touch Devotional. So please pray with me: ‘Lord, grant me humility – to see the world through my neighbour’s eyes, to experience life from their perspectives, both the good days and the bad. Help me kneel beside them in hard places, to bubble over with delight when they rejoice, to forego the need for words when theirs fail, to be a companion on their journey. Let me be of the same mind as my brothers and sisters, and – like You – be moved by compassion. In Jesus’ name, amen.’ 

Now that’s what you’d call a concerned, caring and compassionate prayer! It’s all about others, not about us, except in the sense that we think about others as much as we do ourselves. And there’s a lot of scripture that commands us to do just that. As one commentary says; ‘passages that emphasize unity in purpose, LOVE, and harmony, grounded in humility and a shared commitment to Christ.’  So let’s check out a few of them nuh, starting with this one from Bruh Paul’s missive to the Philippians, where he writes. 

‘Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same LOVE, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things (interests) of others. Let this mind be in you, which was in Christ Jesus: 

Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men (emptied himself of his privileges): And being found in fashion (appearance) as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient  unto death, even the death of the cross.’  (Phil. 2:2-8) 

Yes my brethren, that’s the kind of example we need to follow! Jesus gave up all His godly privileges so that He could come to earth and become one of us. He humbled himself and was obedient to the Father’s directives, even to death on the cross. That says a whole lot about His obedience, something that far too many of us lack in these turbulent and ungodly times. But let’s get to some important explanations from the scholars, as they tell us that Bruh Paul rejoiced over the Philippians, but there was some disunity and lack of harmony among them. Thus he wants them to fulfil his joy, or make it complete by being likeminded, or living in harmony with each other. 

And that means: (1) having the same LOVE toward one believer as shown toward another, without partiality; (2) being of one accord; that is to be united in spirit; (3) of one mind; that is, the whole church is to have the same values, and goals; (4) let nothing be done trough strife or vainglory, for selfish ambition or conceit; (5) let each esteem the other better than themselves; that is, each is to regard his fellow Christian as more important than himself; and (6) look…every man also on the things of others; that is, each is to be just as concerned for the needs and problems of his brother as he is for his own affairs.’ 

Wow! What a wonderful world we would live in if only a half of the supposed believers lived like that! But unfortunately that’s not happening, for today there’s more infighting and backbiting within the church than within the devil’s legions. Too many supposed believers are following the wide and winding road that leads to destruction. That’s why the devil is ruling the roost. And he doesn’t even have to try hard to divide and conquer us, because we are doing the dividing ourselves. Oh my people, it’s so heartrending when you see fellow Christians illtreating each other for selfish purposes. 

And Peter also admonishes us on the subject, with these poignant and powerful words. ‘Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, LOVE as brethren, be pitiful (tenderhearted), be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing (reviling for reviling): but contrariwise (instead) blessing; knowing that ye should inherit a blessing. 

For he that will LOVE life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile (deceit): Let him eschew (turn away from) evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue (pursue) it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.’ (1 Pet. 3:8-12) 

Ah mih bredrin, when will our Christian community ever get to be like that eh? Do we have to wait until Jesus returns? Now that would indeed be a sad commentary on our faith. But who knows? All we can do as individuals is to try to live the way we’re supposed to, and hope and pray that more of us will fall into line through the perseverance of the Holy Spirit and our own compassionate efforts. Now, let’s go home declaring (chuh!!!) our Wednesday Wail. Tomorrow, if God spares life, we’ll continue looking at some scriptures that talk about unity. 

So, 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 if you didn’t know it, there’s a promise that says all those who endure with Jesus right to the very end, will enjoy a future so glorious we won’t comprehend it. So please, let’s do our best to endure to the very end with Jesus nuh, so that we can enjoy that more than glorious future together! Much LOVE!

…the basics of the Christian church are…humility, compassion, obedience and unity…

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

The Foundation of the Christian Life is Based on Promoting Good over Evil!

27 Feb 2025 Leave a comment

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

Romans 12:21.       Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Oh friends, I woke up this morning, looked outside and saw snow raining down like manna from heaven and thought the balmy weather was over. But a short while later the snow stopped and it began melting. And therein lies the source of my biggest problem this Thursday morning. Ah Lord eh! But as the old people would say, when it’s not one thing in this life, it’s certainly another! 

I came down to write the Bit about an hour ago, only to discover an unknown leak in the laundry room of my basement that the melting snow was seeping through, apparently for some time now, because all the stuff on the ground around it was wet, and water was flowing down to the furnace. We thought that the furnace was leaking, and called the furnace people, but I’m not so sure about that now nuh. (smile) So I obviously had to move things around and clean it all up, plus set some preventive measures in place so that the new leak would not spread water all over the laundry room floor. 

By the way, the furnace repair man eventually came, wasted a half hour more of my time, only to reaffirm my suspicion, the furnace was not leaking, it was the water from the leak on the wall finding its way down to the drain at the bottom of the furnace. No wonder the Bit keeps getting delayed. (smile) Anyway, as promised, today we’ll continue with the words of Bruh Paul from Chapter 12 of Romans. And my fellow believers, these are some very important ones pertaining to our behaviour between good and evil. 

So please read and inwardly digest with me. ‘Recompence (repay) to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest (have regard for good things) in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in (depends on) you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not your selves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.’ (Rom. 12:17-21) 

Ah mih people, those instructions are indeed godly and good, but very difficult to maintain in this evil and vengeful world. Nonetheless, as believers in Christ we have to try our best and live up to them. Not repaying evil for evil seems to be the same thing Jesus teaches on forgiveness in Matthew 5:38 42., about not giving an eye for an eye, or a tooth for a tooth, turning the other cheek and going two miles when asked to go one. It’s just not a natural human reaction. But the truth of the story is that Jesus’ kingdom and ways are different to normal human reactions. 

And Peter also weighs in on the topic. ‘Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, LOVE as brethren, be pitiful (tenderhearted), be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing (reviling) for railing (reviling): but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. (1 Pet. 3:8-9) 

Next comes the admonishment to live peacefully with all men. Now that’s truly difficult to do with the angry, hateful and resentful attitudes that are now running rampant in our world. Then there’s the big one, where we are advised not to give way to anger and take vengeance in our own hands, for that is the Lord’s jurisdiction. The scholars say that ‘Paul quotes Deuteronomy 32:35 to show that only God has the right to avenge, and he certainly will avenge.’ 

As per heaping coals of fire on an enemies head by treating him good, the scholars believe that Bruh Paul might have been referring to ‘a sense of shame or remorse engendered when we treat an evildoer kindly. Paul is discussing personal, not national enemies. He is not teaching pacifism.’ And it’s interesting to note that Bruh Paul might have gotten those words of being kind to our enemies and heaping coals of fire on an enemy’s head from the wisdom of Cousin Sol. In Proverbs 25, he solemnly states: ‘If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.’ (Prov. 25:21-22) 

Now, isn’t it interesting that throughout the Bible you have different people reiterating different things from by gone times to reinforce the stuff they want to get home to their readers and/or listeners. That’s why the Bible is such a wonderful Book, it gives encouragement, wisdom and spiritual understanding all the way through, from the first page to the last. That’s why Bruh Paul could attest to these facts to Timothy: ‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished (equipped) unto all good works.’ (2 Tim. 3:16-17) 

And one of the most important of those facts that are good for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness is this last one that Bruh Paul wrote in our scripture passage for today: ‘Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.’ (Rom. 12:21) Once again, that’s a hard nut to crack, especially with all the evil that’s floating around in our current world. However, we are required to do our best, obviously with God’s help. And to show how our God is a good and wonderful God, He’s generously bestowed on us all kinds of tools to help us do His earthly work. We call them our Thursday Blessings. So, let’s declare and thus activate them right now nuh. 

As one strong voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! 

I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’ 

Now, we’re fully equipped to do God’s work, and therefore duty bound to go out and share those blessings with others just as generously as the Lord shared them with us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!

…Let us always strive to be kind and make the right choices…for in the end…good will always prevail over evil…

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   21 September 2022 Matthew 5:9.

21 Sep 2022 Leave a comment

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

Matthew 5:9.       Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children (sons) of God.

Brother, oh brother! What a morning! More costly interruptions than yesterday…but at least these were legitimate. (smile) We ordered some stuff and it came earlier than we expected, so I had to spend time checking it out to make sure it was what we had ordered, because in this flim flam world of new commerce and employee disregard for good service, more often than not you don’t get exactly what you ordered. 

Thankfully, it seems to be what we had ordered, and the Duchess is happy. Now that’s the most important thing; the Duchess’ contentment with her purchase. And though the saying that a happy wife makes a happy life, isn’t always true, yuh better believe that an unhappy wife does make for an unhappy life. (smile) 

Enough of my sob story though, let’s see what the Lord will have us write about today. And as I opened the Good Book, it fell at the Beatitudes in Matthew; those attributes that Jesus spoke of that characterize a saved person. After looking through them, it struck me that the one we most need in our world right now is: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children (sons) of God.’ (Matt. 5:9) And do we ever desperately need peacemakers in this current warmongering, strife filled, angry and hate consumed world! 

It’s so much easier to name the few places in our world that are not currently strife-filled, than to name those where strife is rampant. It’s so very sad to see the numerous places, where brother is at odds with brother, even to the level of internecine war, that’s serious internal destruction and displacement. There are more refugees in our world now than ever before, because every day more unfortunate people are being displaced by strife-filled actions and activities. 

And there are so many Bible verses that preach the importance of peace in Christ’s people and kingdom, that it’s ever so sad to see so many of His supposed believers and followers blatantly ignore them in favour of anger, hatred and strife. Let’s take a look at a few of those scriptures nuh, and see if they can bring us back to the overwhelming importance of peace in Christ’s affairs. 

And this first one from Psalm 34, says it all my brethren. Bruh David writes in the fullness of God: ‘What man is he that desireth life, and LOVETH many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile (deceit). Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.’ (Ps. 34:12-14) 

Oh my people, peace doesn’t just come to us, we have to do the things that cause or bring peace, like stopping the flow of evil in our lives, and then consciously seeking peace and pursuing it! We have to run down peace if we truly want it. That’s possibly because our human nature isn’t naturally one that tends to peace, but more towards evil and strife. 

And Bruh Paul wrote it thus to the church at Rome. ‘Let not then your good be evil spoken of. For the kingdom of God is not meat (food) and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify (build up) another.’  (Rom. 14:16-19) Yes friends, God’s people are enjoined to do the things that make for peace, not for strife. How much clearer can it get eh? 

Meanwhile, Peter, in his advice re the behaviour of wives and husbands, writes in heartfelt passion. ‘Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, LOVE as brethren, be pitiful (tenderhearted), be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing (reviling) for railing (reviling): but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye should inherit a blessing.’ (1 Pet. 3:8-9) Then he goes on to quote Bruh David in Psalm 34 as we’ve done above. 

It’s oh so obvious my fellow believers that peace, kindness and brotherly LOVE is of the utmost importance in Christ’s world. Just listen to what the fruit of Christ’s Spirit breeds nuh: ‘LOVE, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. (Gal. 5:22) Wow! There’s absolutely no strife, anger or hatred involved in it! So why are we being so envious, angry, resentful, hateful and deceitful to our brothers in Christ eh…and even to our own brothers and sisters by blood? 

Because the devil has invaded our spirits. We have allowed him to gain strongholds in our minds and lives, believing his atrocious lies and deceits. And the author of Hebrews tells us quite clearly that’s not how we ought to behave. Listen up to some of his warning on disobedience…and basically that’s what allows the devil to get his evil grip on us. 

‘Wherefore lift up (strengthen) the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way (dislocated); but let it rather be healed. Follow (pursue) peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Looking diligently lest any man fail (fall short) of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.’ (Heb. 12:12-15) 

Ah mih people, I know life here on earth is not a bed of roses, it’s not an easy experience, and like the scholars say’ some of us ‘have grown so weary that we have become stooped and need spiritual strength to be straightened up again. We must be given help, yet we ourselves also must straighten our paths by avoiding obstacles that would spiritually trip us up.’ 

And is that ever so true. The easiest way to stay sinless is to avoid those things and areas we know that have sinful power over us. We all have weaknesses, and to improve or conquer them, it’s very necessary to take them to Almighty God for help. That’s the only way we’ll ever overcome them, or at least keep them in check. 

Now listen to some more of Bruh Paul’s words to the church at Rome. ‘Recompense (repay) to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest (have regard to good things) in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in (depends on) you, live peaceably with all men. …Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.’ (Rom. 12:17-18. 21) 

And we couldn’t end without these majestic verses of scripture on peace, directly from Christ’s lips. ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ (John 14:27) Then there’s this even better one. ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) 

Glory be mih people! What wonderful words of inspiration and encouragement! And if you choose not to accept them, then that’s your problem. You will suffer the anxiety, fear and worry that comes from not accepting Jesus’ encouragement. However, for those of us who accept and believe it, let’s go home declaring (oh yeahhh!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. 

Altogether now: ‘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 just a li’l more encouragement my fellow saints. If we endure to the very end, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine. So, see you at the end. (smile) Much LOVE!

…the peace of God…which passeth all understanding…shall keep (guard) your hearts and minds…through Jesus Christ… (Phil. 4:7)   

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