Today’s Scrip-Bit 12 July 2015 Zechariah 9:17

12 Jul 2015 Leave a comment

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

Zechariah 9:17.   For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn (grain) shall make the young men cheerful (thrive), and new wine the maids.

Aye Friends, it’s the big day, Sunday! Yeh, the day when we come together to sing and dance before the Lord, like Bruh David did when he brought the Ark of the Covenant home to Jerusalem. (2 Sam.6:14-15)

Yes Friends, it’s the day that Christians all over the world gather to fellowship, to celebrate the life and good news of Christ, whether it be in a palatial cathedral, a medium sized sanctuary, mud huts or tin shanties.

The physical structure is not all that important, though it’s certainly nice to worship Jehovah God in beautiful surroundings, for Jesus said that ‘where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.’ (Matt.18:20)

So please, let’s all make a serious and sincere effort to get out today and worship with other believers, because there are things we definitely receive when we fellowship as Christ’s body, that we don’t really get when we worship alone. I’m talking about things like joyful communion and communication, overall encouragement, strength and guidance between believers. The singing and praising of many voices also inspires us to greater faith.

So as I said earlier, it is imperative that we get out each Sunday to sing and dance, praise and worship our Creator and constant Provider.  Please, no flimsy excuses will be accepted.

Anyway my people, lately I’ve been pondering, ruminating on the wonderful attributes of our most venerable God. And you know there are no words to truly describe Him, or describe Him fully, but these give us some idea of His majesty and magnificence.

We talk about His great and unconditional LOVE, His kindness, goodness, grace and compassion. Then there is His merciful and understanding ways, plus His everlasting wisdom and tender heart full of forgiveness. And we can’t forget His holiness, justice and truth, as well as His utter faithfulness.

Wow! Is that a God or a God my people! That’s why I can’t understand why so many people are turning away from Him, abusing His holy name and casting serious doubts and aspersions on His character. No other supposed deity has the endearing characteristics that our God possesses. Plus we’ve seen His magnificent works from way back when to the present time, and furthermore He is a living and breathing God, which cannot be said of any other deity.  

So why the big fuss and rush to get Him out of our society and our lives eh? I guess because Lucifer’s minions are afraid that if His followers are left to worship Him in peace, their evil deeds, thoughts and plans will all come to naught. And that’s more than just a plausible assumption, it’s a guaranteed promise. So they figure to take in front before in front takes them. (smile)  

But my people we are not going to allow the evil folks and spirits of this world to take over God’s great earth are we? Definitely not! That’s why as Christ’s body we have to dwell in harmony and unity, all for the greater good. The selfish and petty disagreements that mostly separate us have to be acknowledged and cast aside once and for all time, if we want to wage a successful war against the infidel.

They are using the long time tactic of divide and conquer to successfully keep us fighting each other instead of them, and we have to wake up and smell the roses, the coffee or whatever is necessary to stop the internal feuding of Christ’s people. And I’m chuckling, because I don’t know how I got to where I am. Hn, Hn!

My intentions were merely to encourage us to go to church today, mention the wonderful attributes of God, then consider His goodness in particular. But better late than never. So let’s consider the goodness of God, beginning with our Bit and the verse before it. The prophet Zechariah is talking about Zion’s future king.

‘And the Lord their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones (jewels) of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon (a banner over) his land. For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn (grain) shall make the young men cheerful (thrive), and new wine the maids.’  

Yes my brethren, if it wasn’t for the Lord’s goodness and LOVING-kindness we would already have perished on account of our abominable sinfulness. But He’s so wonderful, He gives us chance after chance after chance. One day though, sometime in the foreseeable future, those chances will disappear, as Christ returns in glory to rule the earth.

So it is ever so important that we make use of the opportunities we now have to get right with God ASAP, because as soon as we depart this life, or Jesus returns, and our names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, then we’ll unfortunately spend eternity on the outside looking in. And I can guarantee you that that will not be a very pleasant experience. Nuff said.  

Now listen to Isaiah as he talks about the Lord’s favour shown to Israel. ‘I will mention the LOVING-kindness of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his LOVING-kindness.’ (Is.63:7)

Oh Friends, we’ve seen God’s goodness to the Israelites all down through the ages, so why is it so difficult for us to believe and be obedient to His holy will eh?

And we’ll end with these marvellous words of Bruh David from Psalm 31- In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust. ‘Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men.’ (Ps.31:19)

Yes my brethren, the Lord has laid up much goodness for those of us who serve and worship Him in sincerity and truth. I implore us all to be that kind of person so that goodness, rather than evil and destruction will be our just reward. That is indeed the zenith of wisdom! Much LOVE!

…surely goodness and mercy (LOVING-kindness) shall follow me…all the days of my life…and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever… (Ps.23:6)

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 20 October 2013 Isaiah 42:5

20 Oct 2013 Leave a comment

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

Isaiah 42:5.    Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein.
 
Oh Friends, I must be hallucinating yes, because it couldn’t be Sunday already. (smile) It was just Sunday a few days ago. True. But I guess that’s what they mean by time flies when you’re having fun, and also time waits for no one. 
 
However, regardless of what day it is, we’re grateful to be alive and kicking due to the mercy and LOVING-kindness of our omnipotent God! And under any circumstances whatsoever, that calls for a mighty shout of ‘Praise the Lord!’
 
And what better way to praise Him than by getting together with other believers and worshipping Him; singing songs of praise and thanksgiving this Sunday morning to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD in this entire universe, who created it and all therein.
 
And if you don’t believe me, then listen to our Bit: ‘Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein.’
 
Yes Friends, our wonderful and mighty God is responsible for creating the heavens and the earth; for giving life and spirit to all who walk thereon. Now let’s look at some scripture that heartily agrees with our Bit. Listen first to the prophet Zechariah, as he prophetically ruminates (smile) on the future deliverance of Jerusalem. 
 
‘The burden (oracle or prophecy) of the word of the Lord for (against) Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.’ (Zech.12:1)
 
Now hear Isaiah as he talks about the Redeemer of Israel. ‘Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth (out) the heavens (all) alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.’ (Is.44:24) 
 
Please note people, how the Lord makes sure and specifies that He does all that stuff ‘alone, by myself.’ He does it all in His own omnipotence! He needs no help whatsoever to run His universe. So anyone who tries to lay claim to any part of His work is a total liar.
 
And as per the Lord’s claim to the breath of life and spirit given to mankind, hear these most beautiful and poignant scriptures.
 
Job in acknowledging God’s omnipotence, wisely declares: ‘But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul (life) of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind (flesh of man).’ (Job 12:7-10)
 
Yes Friends, everything that has life, owes that life to the Most High God Jehovah, our Creator, Controller and Provider!
 
Meanwhile, later on, when Elihu, Job’s friend, reasons with him, he too proclaims: ‘My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly (purely). The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.’ (Job 33:3-4)
 
There’s nothing to dispute there my people, since it’s the ultimate in truth! Then ever-faithful Daniel, in interpreting a dream for the Babylonian king Belshazzar, first tells him about his forefather, Nebuchadnezzar’s problems.
 
‘But when his heart was lifted up (made proud), and his mind (spirit) hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses (donkeys): they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew (recognized) that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointed over it whomsoever he will.
 
And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; But hast lifted up (exalted) thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought thee the vessels of his house (the temple) before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass (bronze), iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified.’ (Dan.5:20-23)
 
Yes my brethren, all that we are and have depend entirely on the Lord God Almighty, and when we don’t acknowledge Him, we pay a serious price. Yuh see what happened to Nebuchadnezzar; he ended up crazy and living like a wild animal until he recognised Almighty God. And then Belshazzar, the same night that Daniel scolded him and interpreted his dream, he was killed and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom. (Dan.5:30-31)
 
And last, but by no means least, hear Bruh Paul as he stood on Mars Hill and declared to the people of Athens: ‘For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions (objects of worship) I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship (worship without knowing), him declare I unto you.
 
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is the Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.’ (Acts.17:23-25)
 
Ah Friends, yuh see even if we don’t actually know God, like the Athenians, there’s a part of us that subconsciously knows of Him, and has us naturally gravitating towards Him. Therefore Friends, please let’s all join together and worship the ONLY TRUE GOD in existence nuh. It’s the only thing that makes sense, that smacks of true heavenly wisdom! Much LOVE!
 
…every fibre of our being has been made by…and is controlled by God…so why are we all foolishly acting like…trying to be God eh…