Today’s Scrip-Bit 25 October 2020 John 3:17.

25 Oct 2020 Leave a comment

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

John 3:17.     ​For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Oh mih people, the time for praise and worship and ‘gatheration’ (smile) – if you can – has come around again, and we must not be found wanting in keeping the Lord’s Day holy as He desires, in whatever form and fashion we can. Good sentence eh? Bruh Paul would have been proud of it. (smile) The long and short of the story though is if we can go to church, let us go to church, and if we can’t, then let us get together through the radio, telephone, t.v., computer or however we can, for it’s important that Christians assemble, or congregate or worship together. 

Remember the words of Hebrews: ‘Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is: but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.’ (Heb. 10:25) And no, that doesn’t mean we can’t miss a church service here and there, but that it is important for us to gather so we can encourage and exhort each other to keep the faith, especially in tough and uncertain times like these. As the scholars tell us: ‘The church is a body interacting (1 Cor. 12:14-27); it is not merely a dispensary of spiritual food and medicine.’ Although that’s also a part of its job. (smile) 

So now that we’ve gathered on this Sabbath Day in late October of this watershed year of 2020, let’s do our best to encourage and exhort each other to stay the course with Jesus, difficult as it might be. And as always we going to begin the proceedings with a song of praise and worship, a li’l soulful ditty written by one Fernando Ortega, but today we’re doing a live soulful version by Danny Gokey. 

I first heard it last week when I asked the duchess for something to sing, and soon thereafter she sent me ‘Buried Alive’ by Buju Banton, which we sung last week, and this tune by Danny Gokey, which I told myself that we’d sing this week, and which I sent to some of you by what’s app. That means some of you already know it, so it won’t be hard to sing. (smile) And it’s strange that after listening to several different versions of the song, I came right back to this one because of its powerful, soulful and heart-rending appeal. 

So let’s all join together and raise our voices in harmonious, sincere, soulful, sacrificial praise, declaring the thing, the person, we desire most in this world. As the song says: ‘Give Me Jesus!’ Yes friends, He is definitely ALL we need in this world. Singing: ‘Ohhh ohhh, Give me Jesus… Give me Jesus… In the morning, when I rise In the morning, when I rise In the morning, when I rise Give me Jesus. (Chorus: Give me Jesus, Give me Jesus. You can have all this world, Just give me Jesus.) 

When I am alone, Oh When I am alone, When I am alone, Give me Jesus. (Give me Jesus. Give me Jesus, Give me Jesus. You can have all this world, Just give me Jesus. For He is all that I need. Just give me Jesus) When I come to die, Oh, When I come to die, When I come to die, Give me Jesus. Ohhhh Give me Jesus. Give me Jesus, Give me Jesus. You can have all this world, Just give me Jesus. Oh it’s all I need, all I need is Jesus. So Give me Jesus. Give me Jesus, Give me Jesus. You can have all this world, You can have all this world, You can have all this world, Just give me Jesus. Give me Jesus, Give me Jesus, He’s all I need. He’s all I need. 

Give me Jesus…in the morning when I rise…when I lay my head down… when I wake up, when I lay my head down, said I need him, said I need you… said I only want Jesus…when I wake up… Just give me Jesus. All I need is him. We worship you, we worship you, I say we worship you Lord. You’re the answer to my prayers, you’re the calm in the storm, you’re my rest and my refuge…oh yeahhh…’ 

Oh my brethren, that was indeed heart-rending. Jesus couldn’t doubt the sincerity of our plea to have Him in our lives. And why wouldn’t we desire Him when He’s so omnipotent and compassionate and LOVING eh? Let’s look at a few scriptures that paint that wonderful picture. To begin with, John tells us that Jesus was the Word, and that He was with God from the beginning. Then He was made flesh to come into this world to bring light to us poor sinners who were living in darkness, but who unfortunately did not understand the light. (John 1:1-5) 

‘That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.’ (John 1:9) And Jesus Himself corroborated that truth when He told His doubting listeners: ‘I am the Light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’ (John 8:12) That just goes to show Jesus’ amazing power. As a part of the Godhead, the Holy Trinity, how can we not be drawn to Him eh? 

And then what greater LOVE could He show than coming to earth to sacrifice His sinless life to save us from the fires of hell eh? Hear Him: ‘For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.’ (John 3:17) Now why would He do such a thing if He didn’t care deeply and dearly for us eh? It’s all about LOVE, my people, that outstanding characteristic the Lord holds for His creation, mankind. And Jesus puts it in a nutshell. ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father, but by me.’ (John 14:6) Yeh people, the only way one can receive salvation is through Jesus Christ! NO OTHER WAY! 

And hear how Bruh Paul puts it to the church at Rome nuh. ‘For as by one man’s disobedience (Adam) many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.’ (Rom. 5:19) And that ONE is Jesus! The ONE who died on the cross to pay for our sins! So why wouldn’t we want Him eh, why wouldn’t He be our FIRST and ONLY choice eh, when He’s done so much for us, done what no one else could ever do? 

And when yuh talking about ‘sufferation’ on our behalf, nobody did it like Jesus. Look at what He bore so that we could be set free. As Hebrews says: ‘For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched (sympathize) with the feeling of our infirmities (our weaknesses); but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.’ (Heb. 4:15) That’s why He can be our Comforter and Intercessor friends! He was tempted and suffered just like us, so He fully understands what we’re going through. 

And we’ll end with these immortal words of Bruh Paul to the Philippians. ‘Let this mind be in you, which was also 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: And being found in fashion (appearance) as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name; That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of (those) things in heaven, and (those) things in earth, and (those) things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ (Phil. 2:5-11) 

And if all of that doesn’t convince you that Christ is ALL you need in this world, then I don’t know what will nuh! Much LOVE!

…Christ is our…High Priest…Lord…Saviour…King…Comforter…Intercessor…our EVERYTHING… 

P.S. Yes, it’s long, but justifiably so. (smile)  

Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 May 2018 Isaiah 1:19.

02 May 2018 Leave a comment

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

Isaiah 1:19.   If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.

And then it was Wednesday; the midway point of the work week… And we’re getting a li’l bit earlier everyday with the Bit. (smile) Hope within the next few days we’ll be back to an early morning Bit. And when are we going to dance the Maypole eh people? Wonder if some of the young people even know what that is. 

It’s a celebration for the month of May. You have a tall decorated flagpole with long ribbon streamers attached at the top, and then everybody takes a ribbon and dances around it to form an intricate pattern all the way down the pole. I remember going to May fairs as a boy in High School, but usually thinking myself too macho to dance the maypole. That was something for girls. 

Now here is a li’l something from Matt Chandler, lead Pastor of the Village Church, a Southern Baptist Church in Texas. He tells us that ‘God is awesome. He doesn’t need us to be awesome. He needs us to be obedient.’ And isn’t that the gospel truth friends? 

All our magnanimous and magnificent God really wants from us is obedience to His law. If we’d only practice greater obedience, we’d be surprised at how blessed we’d truly be. But we insist on choosing our own areas of obedience. However my brethren, our God wants total obedience from His people. Not some obedience here, and some obedience there, like a hodgepodge of obedience and disobedience. 

And friends, the Lord made His intentions clear a long time ago to the Israelites through the prophet Isaiah in our Bit. ‘If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.’ That’s fairly simple and straightforward eh my fellow believers. 

And the corollary to that is the next verse: ‘But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.’ (Is.1:20) And it’s not like the Israelites, who were found to be disobedient several times did not suffer by the sword and all kinds of pestilence. 

I don’t know why we think that the Lord isn’t going to keep His word. He kept it with the Israelites and He’s going to keep it with us too, as our disobedience level is riding sky high. Can’t we see all the unusual things that are happening in our society? And even though we’re the most advanced civilization ever, we’re still flailing along in a mire of poverty, sickness, greed and poor relationships. 

A lot of our trouble stems from our disobedience. The Lord is not going to allow us to continue the way we’re currently going forever, so we need to smarten up as soon as possible, if we want to get out of the quicksand that we’re slowly drowning in. 

Now let’s look at some important scriptures that tell us about obedience. And we’ll begin at the beginning, with the words of Bruh Paul to the Roman church. ‘For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.’ (Rom.5:19). 

Yeh friends, by Adam’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, sin flooded the world, likewise by the sacrificial death of Jesus, on the cross at Calvary, grace, salvation, and eternal life were provided by our Lord to overcome the bondage of sin. 

And more words from Bruh Paul, this time to the Philippian church, pertaining to Jesus. ‘And being found in fashion (appearance) as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.’ (Phil.2:9) 

Oh my people, there’s no better example of obedience than our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!  Though He was God Himself, once He took the form of man, He didn’t try to boost His ego or importance here on earth, but gave total obedience to His heavenly father. Even when He tried to get out of going to the cross in the Garden of Gethsemane, He finally gave in and said, ‘not my will, but thine,’ acknowledging the Father’s supremacy. 

As Hebrews tells us: ‘Though he (Jesus) were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the author of salvation unto all them that obey him.’ (Heb.5:8-10) Yeh people, Jesus learned obedience just like all of us do, through suffering, through adversity and trials. That’s the only way to learn it. And that’s why the Father elevated him to the highest position there is; the one to whom all knees will bow, and all voices will cry Lord to the glory of the Father. 

Now listen to this last scripture from Peter in his call to Christian dedication. ‘Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind (prepare your mind for action), be sober, and hope to the end for the grace (rest your hope fully upon the grace) that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 

As obedient children, not fashioning (conforming) yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (conduct). Because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy.’’ (1 Pet.2:13-16) 

I can’t say anything more friends, except to lead us in our declaration of our Wednesday Wail, which tells the world our strong and obedient position in Christ. 

As one 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 we can’t even imagine how glorious that future will be, because our minds are too small and finite! Much LOVE!

…to obey is better than sacrifice…and to hearken than the fat of rams… (1 Sam.15:22b)