Today’s Scrip-Bit 18 April 2017 Romans 10:15b.

18 Apr 2017 Leave a comment

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

Romans 10:15b.   How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

And then it was Tuesday; Easter Tuesday, a day of work for most! Yeh friends, the over the top celebrations finish now, and it’s time to get back to some serious labouring, both in our worldly occupations and also our spiritual work for Jesus. 

Hopefully the Easter festivities, especially Christ’s resurrection, has buoyed our spirits, reignited the flame of LOVE and service in our hearts, thus giving us a rejuvenated mind set, moving us up a notch on the stairway of maturity. 

Oh my people, my people, it’s at crucial times like these where we need to improve our spiritual witness, and move up the glory ladder; from glory to glory, where we’re once more alive and bubbling with hungry hope and expectant faith in Jesus! 

The end times are drawing ever closer my brethren, but the harvest is still plentiful, there’s yet much to be reaped, and since we are the reapers, we need to be strong and enthusiastic so that we can put our best foot forward for Christ. 

Remember we are Christ’s ambassadors, His worker bees here on earth, and He’s expecting us to bring as many people as possible – in fact ALL people to His saving grace. 

That’s what the Easter season is about; why He selflessly sacrificed His sinless life on the cross; so that whosoever will may come and receive His cleansing and healing and new way of life, which includes salvation, reconciliation and eternal life with the Father and Himself. 

Now how precious is that eh? But friends, how can the unbelievers get this wonderful news unless someone shares it with them eh? 

And we are that someone! It’s our responsibility to share the wonderful and free saving grace, mercy, and forgiveness of Christ to all and sundry. ‘So that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ (Rom.10:13) 

Yes my fellow believers, as Bruh Paul reminds the Romans, using the words found in Joel 2:32, salvation comes from calling upon the Lord for His saving grace. 

But then, as he further queries the Romans: ‘How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?’ (Rom.10:14-15a) 

And that’s all very pertinent stuff my people. How can unbelievers be saved if they don’t hear the gospel? And they can only hear it if someone shares it with them. 

That brings us to our Bit. ‘How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!’ 

Oh friends that’s such a touching bit of scripture! And it’s also indisputable, gospel truth! 

For there is nothing as wonderful as believers obeying Jesus’ last command to His disciples: ‘Go ye therefore, and teach (make disciples) of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always(s), even unto the end of the world.’ (Matt.28:19-20) 

Now that’s our basic job as followers of Jesus. And you’ll notice at the end that Jesus even assured us that He’d be always with us wherever and whenever we’re spreading His word. 

Unfortunately though my faithful brethren, we’re not doing it as well, as purposefully and diligently as we ought to. Why, I really can’t say. It might be through fear of repercussions from this evil world in which we dwell. Or it might just be simple laziness and sloth, or us being more concerned about living a comfortable earthly life than laying up rewards in heaven. 

But friends, whatever the reason or reasons might be, if we aren’t helping to spread the good news of Jesus gospel in some form and fashion, then we’re not being good ambassadors of His. 

It’s as plain and simple as that. And in these times of quick and far reaching communication tools, there is really no good excuse for any of us to not participate in the spreading of the gospel. 

Now let’s look at the two Old Testament Scriptures from which Bruh Paul fashioned our Bit. The first comes from Isaiah, as he promises that the Lord will deliver His people Zion from captivity. 

‘How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings (good news), that publisheth (proclaims) peace; that bringeth good tidings (good news) of good (good things), that publisheth (proclaims) salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!’ (Is.52:7) 

And the second piece of scripture comes from the prophet Nahum, as he proclaims God’s majesty in mercy and judgement. ‘Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings (news), that publisheth (proclaims) peace! 

Oh Judah, keep thy solemn (sacred, appointed) feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked (one of Belial, or worthless one) shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.’ (Nah.1:15) 

And there you have it friends, the sources of our Bit. (smile) Now let’s go home sincerely declaring our Tuesday Mantra. 

‘I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world.  Amen!’ 

So if we believe it, then let’s go out and do it as we ought to nuh! Much LOVE!

…only as we spread the gospel of Jesus…will the world be saved…

 

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 February 2016 Psalm 40:4‏‏‏‏

03 Feb 2016 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 40:4.  Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Oh friends, can you believe it’s already the third day of February? How come eh? And it just started a couple days ago… (smile)

Yes mih breddren, time is not waiting on us, and it just seems to be flying by faster and faster. We just celebrated New Years, now we’re about to celebrate Valentine’s day. Hn!

And talking about New Year’s, now is as good a time as any to check and see how we’re doing with our New Year’s resolution, that of following Jesus more closely than we did before. I do hope that we have not already forgotten about it, otherwise our lives will not improve.

And the good thing about that resolution is that when we fulfil it, everything comes together for good in our lives. We don’t have to worry and be anxious for anything, for as we saw yesterday in Jesus’ words, when we seek His righteousness, then all that we need will be provided by our heavenly Father.

What a wonderful promise my people! Please let’s take it to heart and truly begin to seek the righteousness of God, so that we can be blessed nuh.

Anyway, it’s Wednesday, which means we need to declare our Wednesday Wail. So let’s wail nuh friends, with sincerity, truth and feeling! 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!’

Oh my people, I definitely do appreciate the breath of life that’s flowing through me this morning! And how could I not, as I look out at the waves of the sea rolling in to shore and admire the beauty of the land that surrounds me?

Plus, I am feeling somewhat healthier than when I got here a week ago…Steups! A week’s gone by already! Chuh! The time’s definitely flying by too fast for my liking yes! And I hear the North Country is having almost summer like temps…good for you!  

And having declared our Wednesday Wail, please my people, let’s keep looking forward nuh, focusing on Jesus, and the glorious future He has planned for all those who sincerely seek Him. As His supposed followers, that is what we’re expected to do.

Unfortunately though, many of us, for one reason or another, are not doing such a good job of it. And I believe that most of our doubts, fears, anxieties and lust for the things of the world stem from a basic lack of true trust in our God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

For if He says to seek Him first and everything we need will be granted to us, the only reason I can come up with for us not doing so, is that we don’t truly believe or trust Him.

And even before Jesus came to earth, His kinsman, Bruh David enthusiastically voiced it in our Bit. ‘Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.’

Oh friends, I don’t see how much simpler or straightforward God’s word can be nuh! All we need to do is surrender our lives to His plans for them, and all will be right with us.

One of the problems I suspect is that when we surrender, we expect to live a life of simply wine, roses and song. And when we don’t, when we experience trials and tribulations instead, we lose the enthusiasm for God and revert back to the ugliness, lustfulness and ungodliness of the world.

But I remind us friends, that Jesus said we would indeed suffer, have trials and tribulations, from just believing in Him. But as true believers, we were to be of good cheer, stay strong and purposeful, because He had already overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Now there again is where the element of trust comes in. If you don’t trust, then most likely you won’t believe, and vice versa. But that’s what required of us. As Bruh Paul told the Corinthians: ‘For we walk by faith, not by sight.’ (2 Cor.5:7) Yeh friends, in Jesus’ realm, you have to believe it before you see it, while the world only believes after they see it.

Remember what Jesus told the two blind men when He healed them? ‘According to your faith be it unto you.’ (Matt.9:29) And that’s the gospel truth friends! According to the level of our faith and consequently trust, that’s how our lives will unfold. The greater the faith and trust, the more blessed we’ll be.

Now let’s look at a couple of scriptures that reinforce our Bit, beginning with this verse from Psalm 34 – The Lord heareth the righteous. Bruh David boldly and truthfully proclaims: ‘O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want (lack) to them that fear him.’ (Ps.34:8-9)

There again we have it; trust and reverence will cause NO lack!  

Now listen to Micah, the prophet of olden times. ‘Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide (companion): keep (guard) the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.’ (Mic.7:5)

Now that might be taking it a bit far, because we do have to have some measure of trust in our close friends and spouses, but by the same token we need to keep some things close to our chests and only reveal to God; the ONLY ONE we can fully trust.

And we’ll end with the words of another old time prophet, Nahum, who righty and truthfully declares: ‘The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.’ (Nah.1:7)

And that’s indisputable truth friends! So please, let’s go out today, walking in the Lord’s goodness and mercy, because He knows that we sincerely revere and trust Him. Much LOVE!

…trust and obey…for there’s no better way…to be happy in Jesus…than to trust and obey…