Today’s Scrip-Bit 23 July 2015 James 1:19‏‏

23 Jul 2015 Leave a comment

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

James 1:19.    Wherefore my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. 

Oh Friends, it’s so wonderful to be alive on this Thursday morning that promises to be such a terrific day! Glory to God! Regardless of all the aches and pains in my life, and whatever trials and tribulations are in the offing, I still prefer to have God’s eternal breath of life flowing through my body in these heady but difficult times.

And I know that most of you will agree with me, for despite the many unfavourable situations existing on this side of the great divide, we’re just not ready to go over to the other side as yet. (smile)

Oh we know that the other side will be great and exciting, but there’s stuff we still need to take care of on this side. Jesus’ work is calling out to us, and until we finish our allotted portion we cannot head for nirvana on the other side.

And to help us handle all the stuff we have to handle on this side, here are some words of wisdom and truth to help us. They come from a card on my wall that the Lord caused me to see a short while ago.

It’s one of the first things I stuck up there eons ago, but like so many of the other things tacked up around my office that are supposed to be there to motivate me, I haven’t noticed this one in quite some time.

Obviously I don’t remember where I got it from. It might even have been something I put together myself, (smile) and I believe I’ve shared it with you long ago.

Listen up. ‘A man or woman, who is self-reliant, positive, optimistic, and undertakes their work with the assurance of success, magnetizes his or her condition. They draw to themselves the creative powers of the universe.’

That’s absolute truth Friends! There’s something about setting out to accomplish a task with a positive and optimistic attitude, believing that we will be successful, that draws the creative powers of the universe to us. I guess that’s the way the Lord set it up.

And it’s a proven fact that being positive and optimistic usually wins over being negative and pessimistic. So this morning, in whatever we’re involved, please, let’s put on that positive and optimistic attitude, and believe that we will be successful, so that we can draw some of the creative powers of the universe to ourselves and our projects.

It’s the Lord’s desire for all we do on His behalf. But oh, if we’d only do what our Bit says eh, life would be even greater than it is now. ‘Wherefore my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.’

Ah mih people, talking too much and not listening enough is one of the biggest drawbacks to peace and harmony in our world. Look at all the wars, rumours of wars and strife that’s currently engulfing our planet, nobody is willing to sit down and listen to the other side, they all just want to be the ones that are heard.

Well how can anything be accomplished without mutual talking and listening eh? It just cannot be. In fact that hardnosed and hardheaded attitude is what usually begins the strife.

Oh my brethren, for better or for worse, we Christians have been chosen to bring peace and LOVE to this fallen world through the spreading of the Good News of Jesus’ birth, death, resurrection and ascension.

And though it’s oftimes difficult to do with the evil enemy of Lucifer and his minions fighting us all the way, we have to do what we have to do, and one of the ways we can accomplish that is by listening more than we talk.

The little tongues in our mouths are such powerful instruments that we don’t realize the half of their power, but listen to James as he so aptly describes the dangers it can produce.

‘My brethren, be not many masters (let not many of you be teachers), knowing that we will receive the greater condemnation (stricter judgement). For in many things we offend (stumble) all. If any man offend (stumble) not in word, the same is a perfect man, and also able to bridle the whole body.

Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm (rudder), whithersoever the governor listeth (the pilot wants).

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold how great a matter (a forest) a little fire kindleth (sets on fire)! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue (the tongue is so set) among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature (existence); and it is set on fire of hell.

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude (likeness) of God.

Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.’ (James 3:1-12)

Oh Friends, what a true and pertinent discourse also for our time! Our tongues surely are deadly instruments, especially with the unthinking way we tend to use them nowadays.

Now here are some pertinent facts from the scholars. ‘3:6. The tongue is a system (world) of iniquity that sets on fire the whole course of life, and is even set on fire by Satan (cf. 3:15).’

‘3:7.  The “taming” has nothing to do with domesticating animals or training them to perform. The meaning is control or domination. Mankind can control every lesser creature, but no one can control his own tongue.’

‘3:9. James explains that man is made in God’s image (cf. Gen.1:26-27; 5:1), so to curse people and yet bless God is inconsistent. Though the fall of mankind has marred that image or likeness, James teaches that it still exists (as do Gen.9:6 and 1 Cor.11:7).’

‘3:12. The last clause of verse 12 differs from those that precede it. The former are questions that attempt to illustrate; this one is a statement to teach. As salt water cannot make sweet water, so the person who curses others cannot bless God. The cursing of people truly indicates what lies within a person.’

Oh my people, I do hope that after this series of messages on living together in unity and the very real dangers that our tongues possess, we will come to a serious reckoning with ourselves as to our use of that deadly, boastful member, and with God’s help, desperately try to contain and control it and thus lessen the strife that’s overtaking our wonderful world. For that is the wisdom of heaven! Much LOVE!

…Jesus said that what comes out of us is what defiles us…not what goes in…and that we will be judged…condemned or saved by our words…nuff said…

 

 

 

 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 8 March 2015 1 Corinthians 3:11

08 Mar 2015 Leave a comment

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

1 Corinthians 3:11. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Well Friends, we’ve jumped forward an hour this Sunday morning to what we call Daylight Saving Time, having lost an hour a few months ago. Hn! If that jumping back and forth benefits anyone, is open to argument, but it does seem to have some negative effects on people’s sleep and their metabolism. And I don’t think that the countries who don’t follow this eccentric behaviour (smile) suffer any setbacks either. So why do we play this mental hopscotch every year eh?

I guess that only God and the powers that be understand it. The normal, run of the mill man certainly doesn’t. He just knows that twice a year it confuses his life. Now because of that, many of us will be late for work or other important appointments, including church, since we either didn’t know or didn’t remember that the clocks were going forward one hour this morning.

Hopefully though, not many of us will miss the glorious opportunity for worship, fellowship, praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God, and in return get His strength, wisdom and confidence to face this wicked world for another week.  And today I’m excited to share this good, no wonderful news about Christianity, from Gramp’s Schuller’s (Dr. Robert H. Schuller) Hour of Power Devotional. Now it’s something we all know, or should know, but we need to be reminded of it every so often.

Listen up: ‘Christianity is a religion based on mercy. It is rooted in forgiveness. Of all the religions in the world, Christianity is the only belief system that accepts grace as its source of salvation. Every other religion is based on good works – work hard enough or be good enough and you will earn your salvation, your heaven, your Nirvana. Christianity alone says, “You can’t do it. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes. We all suffer from guilt and shame. We are all victims.

But Jesus died on the cross with these final words: ‘Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’ (Luke 23:34) He has risen again. He has paid for my sins. He has paid for yours. The gift of salvation is free – no strings attached.”

Ah mih people, in light of all of that, how could I choose to be other than a Christian eh, a believer in Jesus Christ? It is certainly the best belief system in the world; spiritually, psychologically, philosophically and any other ‘ally’ you choose to bring up! (smile) It definitely beats all other belief systems in the way humans ought to live and interact with each other, and with their God.

So why are we so reluctant to embrace it eh? I really don’t know nuh. I just know that the wise people will accept and embrace it with joyful hearts, minds and souls, because that’s what it is designed to do. That’s why Bruh Paul proclaims in our Bit to the church at Corinth: ‘For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.’

And that’s indisputable, gospel truth my brethren! Jesus was the foundation for all mankind from day one!  

The prophet Isaiah warned Jerusalem thus: ‘Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.’ (Is.28:16)

Yes Friends, the Lord promised that foundation stone a long, long time before Jesus came to fulfill it. Meanwhile, in Psalm 118 – Thanksgiving for the Lord’s salvation, the psalmist said it this way: ‘I will praise thee: for thou hast heard (answered) me, and art become my salvation.

The stone which the builders refused (rejected) is become the head stone of the corner (chief cornerstone). This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ (Ps.118:21-24)

Oh Friends, in light of Jesus’ sacrifice, of God’s wonderful grace, of offering salvation freely, that is what we need to do each and every day; rejoice and be glad that we are alive and kicking and have heaven and eternal life with Jesus to look forward to, no matter what happens here on earth. Does any other belief system have that ensconced in their promises? Obviously not! So why aren’t we more joyful than we are eh?

I think it just shows that we are not very true, but merely half-hearted believers. No other religion has the wonderful and fulfilled promises that ours does, but yet they rejoice in theirs more than we do in ours. Maybe it’s because we are like the church at Laodicea, to whom Jesus sent this message.

‘And unto the angel (messenger) of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen,  the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God (Christ); I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would (wish) thou wert (were) cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew (spit, vomit) thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods (have become wealthy), and have need of nothing: and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.’ (Rev.3:14-17)

Yes Friends, Laodicea was famous for its wealth, but that did not translate into a genuine and strong faith. Likewise our faith today is somewhat compromised by our wealth and freedom, which lead us to not trust and have as much faith in Jesus as we ought to.

Please, I implore us to get really serious about Jesus, so that those words to the Laodiceans no longer are applicable to us, for if we continue in our less than genuine faith, Jesus is liable to spit us out, eject us from His church. And that my brethren is the last thing we can afford to have happen to us. So let’s ponder it all and come to the wise conclusion to raise our faith in Jesus nuh, which is wisdom to the nth degree. Much LOVE!

…He that hath and ear…let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches…