Matthew 5:4. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Oh Friends, this was definitely not how I had planned to begin today’s message, but having heard of this dreadful happening, I had to change my plans. As Cousin Sol so wisely says: ‘A man’s heart deviseth (plans) his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.’ (Prov.16:9)
Now I’m talking about the tragedy of a 12 year old boy in a small town near Reno, Nevada, going to school early yesterday morning and shooting a Math teacher, wounding two other boys, then killing himself.
Ah Lord eh! How many times Friends, am I going to bewail the sorry state of our world before we see some improvement eh? In particular, what is America coming to eh? Once upon a time she was the model of godliness… Steups! But now she is the pin up girl for Lucifer.
This shooting up of schools, either by pupils or outside interests, seems to be turning into a habit now. And yet guns are still much easier to get than dope, on which they’ve wasted billions of dollars trying to curb it.
They’re not seeing the forest for the trees. Guns are killing many more people everyday than drugs. And you only hear about the gun deaths when it’s a rampage or some other high profile shooting. When is America going to wake up and realize that the old saying is very true: ‘If you live by the gun, you’ll die by the gun!’
And sadly, as in so many other things, their culture is being transferred all over the globe. It’s in more than money and economics that as America goes, so does the rest of the world.
And why that tragedy struck me more forcefully than normal, is because I’m currently reading a novel, ‘Nineteen Minutes,’ in which a 17 year old boy in small town America goes into his High School one inauspicious autumn morning and rampages through it, killing ten people both students and adults, and wounding many others.
This lad had been teased and bullied from the first day he got on the bus to attend kindergarten, even by his own star pupil brother. Apparently this 12 year old in real life was also being bullied. Now the question is, is life copying fiction, or fiction copying life? But whatever is following what, this bullying thing is really getting out of hand.
What is it, are we raising children without any spine, any backbone, so that they have to resort to such serious measures; shoot up the place or commit suicide?
I remember growing up that there were bullies around, and that some got bullied more than others, but it wasn’t the incessant type of thing that’s happening now, and I never heard of anyone picking up a gun or other weapon to exact revenge, or kill themselves because they couldn’t handle the pressure.
And apparently the supposed social media nonsense, more like the anti-social media, just seems to make matters worse, for some of the atrocities committed by our young people are brazenly posted there and go viral, oftimes with more likes than dislikes.
Doesn’t that tell us that our society is truly going to the dogs, when we’re raising children who take such pleasure in demeaning others? What kind of animals are they going to turn out to be as adults eh?
And sadly, we the parents don’t seem to have a clue about what’s happening with our children; we simply don’t care, or are too busy trying to make a living to pay serious attention to what’s happening to them.
The parents of this boy in the novel didn’t even know that he had guns in his room, or he was a big Internet freak on evil sites. And no doubt a lot of that is happening in real life today.
Ah Friends, I don’t have the answers, but somehow or the other we’ve got to stop the nonsense. And unfortunately all of that just links up so smoothly with our Bit. ‘Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.’
Ah mih breddren, so far from that disaster, two families are mourning and badly in need of serious comfort. Who will provide it to them eh? I just hope, for their sakes, that they are Christian families. Our Bit is another of the Beatitudes that Jesus delivered in His Sermon on the Mount.
And according to the scholars: ‘5:4. Those that mourn…shall be comforted. The depth of the promise of these statements is almost inexhaustible. Those who mourn for sin shall be comforted in confession. Those who mourn for the human anguish of the lost shall be comforted by the compassion of God.’
Let’s sincerely hope and pray that those families mourning right now are somehow comforted by God’s compassion, because ONLY Jesus can successfully minimize the yokes and burdens that have just been laid on them. (Matt.11:28-30)
Yes my people, for all the unfortunate things that happen to us in this oftimes wretched life, Jesus stands out as the bright light shining in our darkest hours. He is the ONE we can and should always turn to in dire situations.
For as Bruh Paul said to the church at Corinth: ‘Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble (tribulation), by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted by God.’ (2 Cor.1:3-4)
And that’s the undeniable truth Friends! God comforts us so that we can comfort others in their time of need. And we WILL ALL endure trials and tribulations and be in need of comfort at some time(s) in our earthly lives.
But please remember Jesus’ faithful promise: ‘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)
Oh my fellow believers, I know that’s easier said than done, but with strong faith and trust in the Almighty, we can get through it. And we’ll close with a scripture that we’re all looking forward to; the arrival of the new heaven and the new earth.
‘And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.’ (Rev.21:4)
Yes mih people, then, and only then, will the cause for mourning and comfort cease. Till then, please wisely take hold of ALL God’s promises of help and succour, for they are the only sure means of comfort we have in this wicked, ungodly world. Much LOVE!
…when a human heart is hurting…only Almighty God can truly comfort it…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 15 October 2013 Ephesians 6:13
15 Oct 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: accoutrements of battle, almighty god, armour of god, battle gear, Beelzebub, belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, bumper harvest, Canadian Thanksgiving, Christian witness, conviction, courage, deceitful one, demonic onslaughts, destroy, doing God's work, earthly life, encouraging statement, enemy, Ephesians 6, evil day, fellow believers, fertile soil, fiery arrows, fight to the death, formidable foe, friends, further God's glorious kingdom, God's name, God's provision, God-awesome truth, gung ho, health, helmet of salvation, jesus name, joyful, learn by heart, LOVE, Lucifer, meditate, miraculous movement, necessary resources, no power on earth, peace, perseverance, planting good seeds, ponder, Praise the Lord, protective armour, read and digest, ready for battle, reaping, repentance, resist Satan, riled my soul, Satanic assaults, shield of faith, spiritual armour, spiritual food, stand, strength, supreme confidence, sword of the Spirit, time of need, tranquility, wealth, wise warrior, withstand, zeal
Ephesians 6:13. Wherefore take unto you (take up) the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Awright Friends, the Canadian Thanksgiving Party done now! It’s time to go back out and labour; to start clearing the land and planting more good seeds, so that, with God’s grace and mercy, we can reap another bumper harvest next year.
And all God’s people joyfully shouted: ‘Thank You Lord for this year’s bountiful harvest! Please give us the health, strength, perseverance and wisdom to sow good seeds on fertile soil, so that we can reap an even more bountiful harvest next year and further glorify Your glorious kingdom! This we pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen!’
Oh Friends, this morning my spirit is somewhat riled. Lucifer’s been getting to me through my printer. I put in a new ink cartridge, but it’s still telling me that the ink is low, and is printing stuff I can’t even make out. However, since the time for writing the Bit was imminent, I decided to leave the printer for later, when I had more time to fool with it. Please note that mih young D. (smile)
And our God is so wonderful, that while going through some pieces of paper on which I have written possible stuff to share, I happened to come across this rather encouraging statement. I don’t know whether I’ve shared it before, or where I got it from, or who even said it – might even have been me (smile) – but it sure ‘deriled’ or ‘unriled’ my soul.
It says: ‘When a man or a woman has the conviction that he or she is doing the work God gave him or her to do, there’s a zeal and a courage in his or her soul that all the forces in this world cannot destroy.’
And that’s the God-awesome truth, my fellow believers, to which many of us can attest! For when we’re serious about doing God’s work, no power on this earth can stop us!
Right now I have to write God’s Bit, so I can’t allow Lucifer to mess with my mind, so to fight him off, I’ve put on all aspects of my spiritual armour, and now I’m ready for battle! Praise the Lord!
Ah Friends, I’m not joking. Most mornings before I begin writing the Bit, I ask the Lord to help me put on His spiritual armour, those fine accoutrements of spiritual battle… And He does. After that, I ‘m gung ho, and have the necessary resources to fight Lucifer to the death!
I’d strongly suggest that you all try it some time too. Go to Ephesians 6, and read from verses 10-20. But also write down the accoutrements of battle you need (vs.14-17) and keep it handy, so you can quickly refer to it in time of need. Better yet, learn it by heart!
And I think it’s much easier to learn if you start putting on your armour from the top. The helmet of salvation to guard your mind; the breastplate of righteousness to guard your inner man; the belt of truth so you can stay centred in the Word; the sandals of peace so you can go about in peace and tranquility; then take up that massive shield of faith to protect you from the fiery arrows of the enemy; and finally that magnificent sword of the Spirit, which brings man to his knees before Almighty God in conviction and repentance.
Wow Friends, what awesome battle gear! And would you believe that I don’t have a Bit as yet…
Ohhh! But I do now! Such is the mysterious and miraculous movement of our great God!
And out Bit so wisely and rightly says: ‘Wherefore take unto you (take up) the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.’
Now I believe we’ve used this scripture as a Bit before, but there’s nothing that says we can’t use it again, and as often as possible, especially when the time for it is ripe. And what I find most appealing about our Bit is the last portion: ‘and having done all, to stand.’
Yes my brethren, that’s what having on the spiritual armour of God allows us to do; to stand strong against the enemy.
Hear the scholars take on the Bit. ‘6:13. Wherefore means “because of this,” that is, because we face such a formidable foe, we must avail ourselves of God’s provision lest the enemy destroy our Christian witness and ministry.
The evil day refers to the periodic demonic onslaughts and Satanic assaults. Having done all includes both dressing oneself in God’s armour and resisting Satan. Having done all these, be ready, for the Devil will attack again and again.’
Oh my fellow believers, that is one other thing that we can be sure of in this life, beside death and taxes. No matter how we parry and trust the enemy away, ole Beelzebub will keep attacking us right up to the very second that the Lord calls us home.
Right at that very moment, the lying, deceitful one will show up and try to tear us away from God, telling us that there’s no heaven, etc. etc. So even at the last moment of earthly life, we have to be very careful to have on that spiritual armour.
Oh Friends, there’s so much more I’d like to share with you, but time and space are running out, so we’ll leave that for tomorrow, God willing of course. In any case, we already have enough spiritual food on our plates to read and digest today.
Therefore my people, let’s ponder and meditate on it all, and plant it deep in our souls nuh, so that when the enemy attacks, we can face up to him with supreme confidence, and in God’s Great Name, boldly STAND! Much LOVE my brethren!
…no wise warrior goes into battle without good protective armour…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 11 October 2013 Proverbs 24:10
11 Oct 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: adversity, alleviate our problems, bastards, be of good cheer, blessed, champions, chasten, corporal punishment, day of adversity, despise not, discipline, discouraged, endure chastening, energy, exhortation, faint, faithful promise, Father of Spirits, fear, fellowship, first step, followers of Christ, forsake his inheritance, Friday chant, friends, fun, generous help, God's discipline, God's glorious kingdom, God's Law, God's principle of discipline, gospel truth, grievous, Helper, holiness, hostility, human practices, i have overcome the world, Jesus, joyous, jump for joy, just, LOVE, peace, peaceable fruit, pray in Jesus' Name, profit, Proverbs, rebuked, relaxation, renewed and refeshed, repent, respect, rest, reverence, righteous God, righteousness., scourge, sinners, soothing music, soul body and mind, spare the rod, spoil the child, stand strong in Faith, step out in faith, strength in the face of adversity, striving against sin, subjection to God, successful believers, supreme example of endurance, teach, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, thank God, thanks and praise, the weekend, the wicked triumph, this too shall pass, thousand-mile journey, trials and tribluations, true perspective, true test of endurance, upright in heart, vision, wisdom, wonderful leader, your strength is small, zealous
Proverbs 24:10. If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
Oh Friends, please join me in singing: ‘It’s Friday, it’s Friday! Thank God it’s Friday, and the workweek soon finish! The weekend is here…but Chuh! I have to go home and do the laundry, clean the house, make the groceries, get the children ready for next week…
Oh Lord I can’t wait for Monday nuh, so I can once again sit in the traffic and listen to my soothing music. Then get to work and do the stuff that’s much easier than housework. But still, I thank God that it’s Friday! I thank God for every new day that I see, despite the many pressures of life. Thank You again God!’
Yes mih breddren, some of us have it easier at work than at home. But that shouldn’t stop us from enjoying our busy lives, and giving thanks and praise for all that God’s doing for us, because we’re still doing better than the vast majority of the world.
And since it’s Friday, let’s chant our Friday Chant which gives us a true perspective on how to handle the weekend. With one voice now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Ah my fellow believers, I surely hope that between our two songs, we’ve now got enough energy and vision on how to handle the weekend. (smile) And just in case you haven’t received it, please remember that the thousand-mile journey begins with the FIRST STEP.
So please step out in faith this weekend, while asking our wonderful leader, Jesus, to guide you as you perform your many tasks. You can be assured that He won’t say no. On the contrary, He’ll jump for joy to be your Helper!
And this is where our ever so appropriate Bit comes in: ‘If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.’
And that’s gospel truth, my brethren! For as the scholars note: ’24:10. Strength in the face of adversity is the true test of one’s endurance.’
We can’t be successful believers, followers of Christ and faint and fall at the slightest appearance of adversity. Remember Jesus’ life was full of adversity, and if we want to walk in His footsteps, then we must be able to endure the trials and tribulations of this world.
Remember too His prophetic promise. ‘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) So right there Friends, we have one less anxiety, one less thing to worry about, and one more faithful promise to stand strong on.
Now I will shut up… And I hear numerous shouts of: ‘Thank You Lord!’ (smile) Yes my beautiful followers of Christ, I will endeavour to shut up and just let the scripture do the talking. And we’ll open with Psalm 94 – How long shall the wicked triumph.
The psalmist wisely declares: ‘Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest (instructeth), O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law; That thou mayest give him rest (relief) from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. For the Lord will not cast of (abandon) his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance. But judgement shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart will follow it.’ (Ps.94:12-15)
So Friends, though the Lord chastens us, or allows adversity to befall us, there is no need to fear. For once we stand strong in faith and accept whatever comes our way, the just and righteous God we serve will eventually alleviate our problems. As the saying goes, this too shall pass.
And this final passage of scripture comes from Hebrews 12, re God’s discipline. ‘For consider him that endured such contradiction (hostility) of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint (discouraged) in your minds (souls). Ye have not yet resisted unto blood (bloodshed), striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as children (sons),
My son, despise not the chastening (discipline) of the Lord, nor faint (be discouraged) when thou art rebuked of Him: for whom the Lord LOVETH He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then ye are bastards (illegitimate), and not sons. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence (respect): shall we not rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure (as seemed best to them); but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening (discipline) for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised (trained) thereby.’ (Heb.12:3-11)
Yes Friends, that says it all! I’ll just add some notes from the scholars on the subject. ’12:3-4. Though chapter 11 provides many champions for believers to emulate, the supreme example of endurance is Jesus Himself.
12:6. Whom the Lord LOVETH he chasteneth: God’s principle of disciplining His own people is completely congruous (appropriate, fitting) with human practices. This quotation from Proverbs 3:12, stating God’s practice, corresponds to the commands God gave to the fathers:
“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that LOVETH him chasteneth him betimes (promptly)” (Prov.13:24; cf. 22:15; 23:13) LOVE and corporal punishment are not incongruous; they are two complementary and necessary aspects of training.’
There’s no more to say Friends! Now let’s take some time and ponder all that we’ve said, and see how it fits into our lives, for that’s true wisdom. Much LOVE!
…as many as I LOVE…I rebuke and chasten…be zealous therefore and repent… (Rev.3:19)
Today’s Scrip-Bit 6 October 2013 Psalm 109:5
06 Oct 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: adversaries, affirmative, angry, anguish, bless them that curse you, blessings, consciousness, enjoy, evil, faithfulness, forgiveness, godly wisdom, good, goodwill, grow, hatred, heed, hidden recesses, Jeremiah, LOVE, Love your enemies, loving kindness, manna, mature, mercies, motives, negative emotions, New Year's resolution, omnipotent god, opposition, peace, persecution, philosophy, physical hurt, powerful words, pray for them which despise you, recompensed, rejoice, rejoice and be glad, relationship with Jesus, resentful, revive our spirits, sincerity, souls, steadfast followers of Christ, the day the Lord's made, tolerant, truth, unbelievers, understanding, vengeance
Psalm 109:5. And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my LOVE.
Oh Friends, as the psalmist so wisely and rightly proclaimed eons ago: ‘This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ (Ps.118:24) Please, let’s all do that today nuh, this first Sunday in October 2013.
And all God’s people joyfully declared: ‘We shall, yes we will rejoice in this day our great God has made for us to enjoy! A new day of new mercies, blessings, manna and forgiveness to revive our spirits! It is mete and right for us to enjoy the Lord’s LOVING-kindness and glorify His Holy Name!’
And since we’re so into God this morning Friends, (smile) what better time than now to check out that New Year’s promise we made, some nine months ago, to walk closer and more faithfully with Jesus, and to add our two bits worth to His glorious LOVE Revolution.
Now have we improved the strength of our relationship with our Lord and Saviour, and consequently with our fellow believers? And what about the unbelievers, the unwashed, the angry and resentful? Have we been more understanding and tolerant?
Oh my people, I surely do hope that ALL our answers to the foregoing questions are in the affirmative! And if by chance they’re not, then I’m strongly urging us to go to God today, and ask for His help in making them so. That’s provided we’re seriously interested in becoming true, strong and steadfast followers of Christ. For you know He will NEVER refuse our requests, if we come to Him in sincerity and truth.
Remember, we can always fool ourselves and our fellow man, but we can’t fool Jehovah God, because He sees right down into the deepest, darkest, hidden recesses of our souls, and unearths our true motives.
And with all that godly wisdom laid out before us, (smile) let’s turn to our Bit. ‘And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my LOVE.’
Now Friends, all we’ve said above greatly impacts the way we handle situations like that encountered by Bruh David in our Bit. Do we return evil for evil, and hatred for hatred? We certainly ought not to, for Jesus doesn’t subscribe to, or embrace that philosophy.
Listen to His pronouncement on the subject. ‘But I say unto you which hear, LOVE your enemies, do good to them which hate you. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully (spitefully) use you.’ (Luke 6:27-28)
Ah mih breddren, we all know that’s not an easy philosophy to adopt and then put into practice. And we’ll never be perfect at it, but we must try our best to execute it, if we truly want to grow and mature in our LOVE for, and faithfulness to Jesus.
Now let’s turn to a scripture where the prophet Jeremiah encountered that rendering of evil for good. He’s telling God: ‘Then said they, Come and let us devise devices (plans) against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come and let us smite (attack) him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.
Give heed to me, O Lord, and hearken (listen) to the voice of them that contend with me. Shall evil be recompensed (repaid) for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul (life). Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for (concerning) them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.’ (Jer.19:18-20)
Yes Friends, Jeremiah suffered intense persecution for his efforts on God’s behalf. But like Bruh David, though he too cited what he’d like to see happen to his enemies, (Jer. 19:21-23) he left the actual revenge up to God. And so too should we, because vengeance doesn’t belong to us, but to Almighty God. (Deut. 32:35)
And I like how Bruh David puts it in this verse from Psalm 38, the prayer of a penitent heart. ‘They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.’ (Ps.38:20)
Yes my brethren, once we try to do what is right in the sight of the Lord, we’ll always encounter opposition, sometimes even physical hurt. But we can’t allow that to stop us. Please look at all that Jesus innocently suffered on our behalf. The least we can do is put up with a little anguish to help Him build His wonderful kingdom. (smile)
And we’ll close with these few, simple, but oh so powerful and productive words of Bruh Paul to the church at Rome. ‘Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.’ (Rom.12:21)
Oh Friends, those truly are exceptional words, undoubtedly words of godly wisdom! So let’s take them to heart, bury them deep in our consciousness, and go out and put them into practice today nuh. It’s what Jesus desires of us. Much LOVE!
…the negative emotions of evil, anger and hatred…can NEVER be more powerful and productive…than those of peace, LOVE and goodwill…because they come from the Most High and omnipotent God…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 4 October 2013 Psalm 109:5
04 Oct 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: accuser, anger, Bruh David, calamity, comfort, common grind, condemned, cry out to God, daily rush, deceitful, disappointment, enemies, evil for evil, evil for good, evil world, fellowship, Friday chant, fun, generous help, God's glorious kingdom, good deeds, good works, goodness, gospel truth, great anticipation, hard experience, hatred for Love, hurtful experiences, jesus name, justice, leave revenge to God, LOVE, loving kindness, misery, new workweek, peace, perpetrates, prayer, punishment, recompense, refeshed in body soul and mind, relaxation, repay wrong with wrong, resentment, rest, revenge, rewarded, shame, sin, stone me, such is life, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the weekend, time off, true believers in Christ, undeserving children of men, unfaithful, unrighteous, wicked works, wrongdoers
Psalm 109:5. And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my LOVE.
And suddenly it was Friday! And in recognition of that fateful day, a loud and raucous shout rang out from the workingman. ‘TGIF! Thank the Lord it’s Friday at last! Thought this week would never end, cause it’s just been one headache after another. But give God praise and shout again: ‘TGIF! Thank the Lord is Friday!’
Yeh Friends, some of us look forward with great anticipation to Friday and the start of the weekend. And nothing’s wrong with that, because we are entitled to some time off from the daily rush and common grind. The problem though is how we use the weekend when it arrives.
And since our Friday Chant wisely advises us on the proper use of the weekend, let’s chant it then with great gusto. ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Yes my people, we need to use the weekend very astutely, otherwise we’ll just make life even more difficult than it already is, when the new workweek begins. Why bring unnecessary problems on ourselves eh, when we’re already dealing with so many caused by others?
And our Bit highlights that quite nicely. ‘And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my LOVE.’
Oh Friends, many of us can declare those same words this morning, because we live in such a deceitful, unrighteous, unfaithful and evil world. That means, oftimes the good we’ve done, is sadly repaid with resentment and wicked works.
And I can tell you from hard experience, that that is one of the most hurtful experiences we’ll ever encounter, especially when a close family member, or someone we considered a friend or an ally perpetrates it. But unfortunately such is life my brethren.
As Jesus said to the Jews, who on one instance took up stones to stone Him: ‘Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?’ (John 10:32)
Yes Friends, though we often want to repay the wrong done to us with another wrong, we need to do like Jesus did, just continue on with our good deeds, leaving revenge in God’s hands.
Bruh David, in the Psalm from which our Bit is taken, a prayer for punishment for the wicked, cried out to God for justice. ‘Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan (an accuser) stand at his right hand. When he shall be judged, let him be condemned (found guilty): and let his prayer become sin. Let his days be few; and let another take his office.’ (Ps.109:6-8) And he goes on for another dozen verses advising the Lord how to deal with his enemies.
Now that’s the way it should be Friends. Though we don’t need to tell God the justice that we seek, we do need to leave any revenge up to Him, as He adamantly proclaims: ‘To me belongeth vengeance, and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.’ (Deut.32:35)
Oh my brethren, I know that’s often hard to do, especially when the wound caused by the hurt and disappointment is fresh, and the anger is really pumping, but do it we must, if we are to consider ourselves true believers in Christ.
And as Bruh Paul so wisely and rightly tells us in Romans 12: ‘Recompense to (repay) no man evil for evil. Provide things honest (have regard for good things) in the sight of all men.’ (Rom.12:17) And that’s what the followers of Jesus are expected to do, all the time, my brethren!
But we do have wise words of Cousin Sol, from which to take comfort, as he declares: ‘Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.’ (Prov.17:13) Gospel truth my people, so please beware of how you handle those situations!
And we’ll let Bruh David take us home with his own words of wisdom. ‘The heathen (nations, gentiles) are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken (caught). The Lord is known by the judgement which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion (meditation or song). Selah.’ (Ps.9:15-16)
Yes Friends, the wicked are usually caught up in their own wickedness and suffer the shame and misery set for the righteous. That’s the Lord’s way! We can therefore have some comfort and peace when wrongdoers come against us, for our mighty God will handle it all on our behalf. We couldn’t ask for more than that.
And all God’s people loudly and gratefully declared: ‘Oh what a wonderful God we serve and worship! Give Him much thanks and praise for His goodness and LOVING-kindness to the undeserving children of men! Amen!’
Now let’s go out today and do just that, my fellow believers in Christ! Much LOVE!
…to know, know, know Him…is to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Him…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 September 2013 John 3:27
19 Sep 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a day in the life, abhor evil, Apollos, bear witness, beautiful reflections, beheaded, bind, bitter fights, bland, blessings, bridegroom, calm, caring, cheerfulness, Christ, Christian faith, Christian's conduct, christianity, cleave, cling to good, co-workers, Corinthians, decrease, different colour thread, diligence, disjointed, dissimulation, divided, encouragement, endowed, exhortation, faith, fellow believers, forgiveness, fountainhead, fragrance, friend, fulfilled, genuine, gifts, giving, God's Holy Will, God's plan, grace, hearts, help of God, hope and pray, hypocrisy, hypocritical actions, imprisoned, increase, indisputable fact, jean paul richter, joy, labourers, liberally, light of the world, local church, LOVE, members, mercies, mercy, minds, ministry, mish-mash world, Most High God, ONE body in Christ, opportunities from heaven, Paul, peace, planted, prophecy, prophesy, purposes, rainbow, reflections, rejoice, religion, ruling, salt of the earth, same old, scriptures, segue, short attention span, souls, source, spiritual challenges, spiritual undercurrent, spirituality, storm, strong cord, sweet smelling flower, take root, teaching, Togetherness, truth, uneventful, unfeigned, ungodly earth, watered, weak, wise words, wonderful god
John 3:27. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
Oh mih Friends, it’s another day in the life! And I know that many of us live the same bland, same old, uneventful lives from day to day, but if we truly believe in Almighty God, then though the events might seem the same – home, work, home – the spiritual undercurrent and happenings will definitely be different. Everyday we’ll be faced with different spiritual challenges.
And getting logical, (smile) how can each day be truly be the same eh, when we’re getting new mercies, blessings, forgiveness and opportunities from heaven above? Our God is so wonderful that He threads the needle of each day with a different colour thread, so that our lives will all seem to be beautiful reflections of His rainbow. (smile)
And to add some encouragement to all of that, because that’s what we try to do here at the Bit, here is this interesting quote. I might have shared it before, but if I did, it’s certainly worthy of sharing again. It comes from the German writer, Jean Paul Richter (1763-1825).
It says: ‘Flowers never emit so sweet and strong a fragrance as before a storm. When a storm approaches thee, be as fragrant as a sweet smelling flower.’
Ah mih people, those are certainly wise and encouraging words, but not always easy to live by in this mish-mash world. But whoever said that living on this ungodly earth was meant to be easy eh? We’ll all endure times of storm and times of peace and calm, we just have to hope and pray that the latter will greatly outweigh the former.
And regardless of what comes against us, we can only face it as a sweet smelling flower with the help of Jehovah God!
And with that indisputable fact, we’ll segue smoothly into our new Bit. ‘John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.’
Now Friends, that is the truth of all truths! And we’ll prove it with some scriptures in a minute. But first let’s get some background on the subject.
John gave that answer to his disciples when they came and told him: ‘Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.’ (John 3:26)
Then after our Bit, John continued: ‘Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.’ (John 3:28-30)
John’s ministry and that of Jesus ran concurrently for a short period. And as Jesus’ was increasing, John’s was decreasing. This however didn’t bother John, because He knew that was God’s plan. John’s ministry didn’t really end until he was imprisoned and then beheaded.
And with that bit of background, let’s check out some supporting scriptures, beginning with Bruh Paul’s exhortation to the church at Rome, re the service of LOVE to all.
‘So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one (individually) members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith. Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity (liberality); he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.’ (Rom.12:5-8)
Yes mih breddren, we have all been endowed with different gifts for different purposes, but they all come from the same source, the same eternal fountainhead; the Most High God, He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! And we are all supposed to use those gifts, whatever they may be, in doing God’s holy will; being the salt of the earth and the light of the world, not hiding our lights or abusing and abandoning God’s gifts.
And as Bruh Paul continues to the Roman church: ‘Let LOVE be without dissimulation (hypocrisy). Abhor that which is evil; cleave (cling) to that which is good.’ (Rom.12:9)
Now that, my people, is the greatest thing a believer can ever do!
And as the scholars advise: ‘The Christian’s conduct in the local church toward fellow believers is to be a volitional caring for others, (exercised through one’s will), LOVING faithfully in spite of the response received. The LOVE is to be genuine and unfeigned.’
Unfortunately though, that doesn’t happen in our churches today as much as it ought to. Some of the bitterest fights and most hypocritical actions are currently consuming our churches, that’s why the body of Christ is so divided, disjointed and much weaker than it should be.
And since I’m so concerned about our short attention span, (smile) we’ll end with one more scripture. Don’t want you all to blame the length of the Bit for your not reading it. Hn, hn! But we all know that’s one of our favourite complaints today for anything that takes a few minutes to comprehend.
And this last scripture is from Bruh Paul to the Corinthians, trying to make them understand that Christians ought to be co-workers, not simply individual labourers. Remember there was some confusion as to whom the Corinthians should follow, Bruh Paul or Apollos?
Well he straightaway tells them: ‘Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.’ (1 Cor.3:5-7)
And on that note of gospel truth, my Friends, we’ll close today. Let’s hope that the words we’ve read will reach deep down into our hearts, minds and souls and take root, and thus make a sincere difference to the way we treat each other, especially those of the Christian faith, for it’s all about togetherness and LOVE.
Much LOVE, my fellow believers!
…LOVE is the strong cord that’s supposed to bind Christ’s body together…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 12 September 2013 Habakkuk 2:4
12 Sep 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: advances, anger, ashamed of Christ, Beelzebub, believers in Jesus, bitterness, blessed day, blessings, bounden duty, christianity, cold and rainy, conquer the nations, darkness, death, demonic gates, destruction, doctrine of justification, enduring faith, entreaties, eternal life, evil, faith in the Lord, forgiveness, God's countenance, God's essential attribute, God's revelation, God-sent day, golden arches of heaven, gospel, Great Tribulation, Habakkuk's prophecy, Hades, hate, haughty, hot and sunny, injustice, justification by faith, kneel at Christ's footstool, life, life eternal, light, live our faith, lost souls, LOVE, Love God, loving god, Lucifer, mercy, moral sphere, New Testament, obey God's commandments, Old Testament, part of the problem, part of the solution, peace, plans of mice and men, proud, religion, revenge, righteous, salvation, scholarly explanations, separation from God, sin, Spread God's Word, stand strong, steadfast, suppress the truth, thanks and praise, the enemy, the Father, the guilt of mankind, the just shall live by faith, the power of God, the power of the gospel, the righteousness of God, the SON, theology, true repentance, ultimate gifts, ungodliness, ungodly world, union with God, unrighteousness, upright, victors, weather forecasts, wrath of God
Habakkuk 2:4. Behold, his soul which is lifted up (proud) is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Today’s Scrip-Bit 11 September 2013 Habakkuk 2:4
11 Sep 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: 9/11/2001, affect our souls negatively, almighty god, Amen, anger, believers in Jesus Christ, calamitous day, capable hands, Chaldeans, christianity, comforting grace, common sense, cowardly, dastardly deeds, death, destruction, difficult situations, embittered souls, emotional comfort, encouragement, enlightenment, faith, faith-filled, flaming glory, foreshadowing, glorious kingdom, God's arena, God's will, hand in hand with jesus, hate, heavenly Father, Holy Name, human understanding, Jesus Christ, Jesus returns, justification by faith, live by faith, look to heaven, Lord and Saviour, LOVE, loving kindness, moving forward, negative memories, New Testament, obstacles, offer up a prayer, Old Testament, Patriot's Day, peace, peaceful faith, Praise the Lord, promise, prophecies, prophet Habakkuk, proud, religion, repayment, rumours of war, saviour jesus christ, tablets of clay, tarry, the fall of Babylon, the just, theology, totally submissive, trials, undeniable truth, understanding, unfortunate incident, ungodly, vengeance, victory through Christ, wait for it, walk safely, walking hand in hand with Jesus, walking obediently, war, wisdom, wonderful peace, World Trade Centre, write the vision
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