Today’s Scrip-Bit   2 July 2023 Ecclesiastes 5:5.

02 Jul 2023 Leave a comment

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

Ecclesiastes 5:5.      Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than thou shouldest vow and not pay.

Awright friends, it’s that time again, Sunday! Time to gather round in sincere fellowship, giving thanks and praise to our wonderful God on His holy day! And there’s absolutely no excuse for it on this Canada Day holiday weekend. It’s of the utmost importance that we show our eternal gratitude for all the good things that He’s bestowed on our blessed country! We might be far from perfect, but we’re doing far better than most countries! And today we’re going to open with a popular song titled ‘The Days of Elijah (No God Like Jehovah). It was written in 1994 by Northern Irish Christian singer Robin Mark. There’s an interesting story behind the song which we will look at briefly after we sing it. 

So, in an up-tempo, soulful, scintillating version of the song, let’s raise those sacrifices of praise to heaven on this Sunday, as we celebrate our country’s birthday. Singing: ‘These are the days of Elijah, Declaring the word of the Lord: And these are the days of Your servant Moses, Righteousness being restored. And though these are days of great trial, Of famine and darkness and sword, Still, we are the voice in the desert crying ‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord!’ (Chorus Behold He comes, riding on the clouds Shining like the sun, at the trumpet call! Lift your voice, it’s the year of jubilee And out of Zion’s hill salvation comes!) 

These are the days of Ezekiel, The dry bones becoming as flesh. And these are the days of Your servant David, Rebuilding a temple of praise. These are the days of the harvest, The fields are as white in Your world! And we are the laborers in Your vineyard, Declaring the word of the Lord! (Chorus Behold He comes, riding on the clouds Shining like the sun, at the trumpet call! Lift your voice, it’s the year of jubilee And out of Zion’s hill salvation comes! (Bridge There is no God like Jehovah. There is no God like Jehovah!’ (which we repeat some 11 times)

 (Chorus Behold He comes, riding on the clouds Shining like the sun, at the trumpet call! Lift your voice, it’s the year of jubilee And out of Zion’s hill salvation comes! Behold He comes, riding on the clouds Shining like the sun, at the trumpet call! Lift your voice, it’s the year of jubilee And out of Zion’s hill salvation comes!’  Oh my people, that was indeed a rollicking version of the song! Even heaven rollicked along with us. (smile) 

Now, let’s hear some of what the author has to say about the song. I’ll have to paraphrase it, because it’s pretty long. According to Robin Mark, ‘The song is principally a song of ‘hope’ which came from watching a television “Review of the Year” at the end of 1994. This was the year of the Rwandan civil war tragedy which claimed 1 million people’s lives, and also when the first ceasefires in (Northern Ireland) were declared. On this TV review were a lot of daft stories, happy stories, serious stories, and then absolutely devastating stories like the Rwandan situation. 

As I watched the review unfold, I found myself despairing about the state of the world and, in prayer, began asking God if He was really in control and what sort of days were we living in. I felt in my spirit that He replied to my prayer by saying that indeed He was very much in control and that the days we were living in were special times when He would require Christians to be filled with integrity and to stand up for Him just like Elijah did, particularly with the prophets of Baal. 

“These are ‘Elijah’ days”. Elijah’s story is in the book of Kings (1 Kings chapters 16-19) and you can read how he felt isolated and alone in the culture in which he lived. But God told him to stand up and speak for Him.’ And that’s exactly what God is saying to us right now my people! These are special times and He expects His followers to stand up strong on His behalf and fight the enemy tooth and nail, not run from them, as so many of us are doing. 

Mark continues by saying ‘We also needed to be a holy and just people and hence the reference to the “days of your servant Moses”, meaning that righteousness and right living was important in all our attitudes and works. Now, we are under grace and not under law, but the righteousness that comes by faith can be no less than the moral law that Moses brought direct from God. It has not been superseded. In fact, Jesus told us that our ‘righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees”, who were the most ardent followers of Gods laws as presented by Moses. Jesus was after righteous, servant hearts, of course, that desired to live holy lives for Him.’ 

The full quote is: ‘For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case (by no means) enter into the kingdom of heaven.’ In other words, Jesus is “contrasting the external righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees with the interior righteousness that proceeds from the heart and which is to characterize his followers. Jesus is telling his disciples how to be righteous–not how to look righteous.” And unfortunately, that’s how many of us behave; we look righteous on the outside, but inside we’re like the Jesus described the scribes and Pharisees, ‘whited sepulchres filled with dead men’s bones.’ (Mat. 23:27) 

Meanwhile, Mark informs us that “Days of great trial, of famine, darkness and sword” reflects the apparent times in which we live when thousands of people still die every day from starvation, malnutrition and war. In the midst of it all we are called to make a declaration of what and who we believe in. The second verse refers to the restoration of unity of the body, what Jesus prayed for – “that they may be one even as I and the Father are one…” by reference to Ezekiel’s prophetic vision of the valley of the dry bones becoming flesh and being knit together. (Ezek. 37) There are lots of interpretations of this picture, but one of a united church rising up in unity and purpose, is a powerful call on us in these days.’ 

And my fellow saints, the call for ‘a united church rising up in unity and purpose’ and fully doing Christ’s work has never been louder and more necessary, as we see our world continually sinking into the mire of death and destruction because we believers are not doing our best to keep it afloat and alive! And the “days of the Harvest” point towards the purpose of the Christian to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations.’ That’s our bounden duty, our Great Commission, and there’s no doubt that we are failing at it.

 And the reference to “The fields are as white in the world” refer to the ripe harvest of unbelievers, which we, as supposed labourers of the harvest, are not harvesting, because we’re either afraid or couldn’t care less. But let’s remember the Judgement Day, when we stand before the Lord and give an account of our lives. There’ll be no room for excuses or blame sharing then. That means for our own sakes we ought to get up and get together and do the Lord’s work like we promised to do when we became believers. 

And we’ll close with these wise and most appropriate words from Cousin Sol writing as the Preacher in Ecclesiastes. ‘When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer (delay) not to pay it: for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than thou shouldest vow and not pay.’ (Eccl. 5:4-5) Please let that be a serious warning to us my fellow Christians! Much LOVE!

…the unbelieving and idolatrous days of Elijah…have come back to haunt us…once again…let’s stand strong and conquer them…like they did in the days of old… 

 Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ      

Today’s Scrip-Bit   26 October 2021 John 15:12.

26 Oct 2021 Leave a comment

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

John 15:12.     This is my commandment, That ye LOVE one another, as I have LOVED you.

Oh brother, when it rains, it does rain yes! All day yesterday, last night, and it’s still wet and drizzly now with no apparent let up in sight. But our God is a good God, and through His most wonderful Son, Jesus Christ, He allows, or rather, enables us to handle any negative aspects of the weather, or for that matter anything else that comes against us in this crazy and mixed-up world. All praise and glory be to the Most High God Jehovah, Creator and Controller of the universe and all therein! 

So what’s happening with us this rainy Tuesday eh my brethren? Are we putting God first and foremost in our lives like Jesus advised, when He said: ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt. 6:33) And hopefully, if we are doing that, then we are also leaning wholeheartedly on this promise from Bruh Paul that ‘my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 4:19) And that He will too. 

But then, we come to the next important aspect of our Christian faith; the way we treat each other. Now that’s something I don’t believe we’re doing such a good job at, for there’s too much dissension, disunity, feuds and strife amongst the brethren, even amongst the same denominations and cliques. Whatever happened to this directive of Jesus eh? ‘This is my commandment, That ye LOVE one another, as I have LOVED you.’ (John 15:12) I don’t think you have to look very far to realize that that’s not a prominent aspect of our Christian fellowship. 

Yes friends, whatever happened to the Golden Rule, that so many of us were brought up to uphold? Jesus also decreed it: ‘Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.’ (Matt. 7:12) Oh my people, that wasn’t something new Jesus was teaching, but it was the law and had been preached by the prophets since the beginning of time. 

And furthermore, it’s just simple common sense; you do to others what you want them to do to you! You can’t want to abuse and reject people, but then when the shoe falls on the other foot, you cry out for injustice and mercy! But that’s the way of our current world, for selfishness, anger, strife and injustice rule the roost. And yet we expect to live good, healthy and sane lives. 

Hn! Look at the world my fellow saints; it’s in a total uproar. Nobody’s happy about anything. Everybody has some kind of axe to grind; some injustice to be corrected, some right to be fulfilled, but in the meanwhile, we don’t care that we are causing injustice to others, and trampling on the God-given rights of others. No, we just want what we believe we are entitled to, and crapaud smoke the pipe of those who get in our way of achieving it! We couldn’t give a ‘darm’ about their interests or betterment! 

So where does that put us in respect to these words of John in his first epistle? ‘If a man say, I LOVE God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that LOVETH not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he LOVE God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who LOVETH God LOVE his brother also.’ (1 John 4:20-21) 

Now that’s a very good question! And in our current society we see that very thing playing out to a great extent. Even in many biological Christian families, there is serious hate churning amongst the members. The same with Christian congregations. So where is the LOVE and affection we spout about so much eh? And how do we expect others to come to Christ through our unchristian-like examples eh? 

Oh my fellow saints, please, please, let’s remember these telling words of Jesus. ‘For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.’ (Matt. 5:20) Yes friends, the scribes and Pharisees were considered the most religious and righteous people back then, but their righteousness was mostly an outward show of self-righteousness. And outward shows of righteousness profits no one anything! It’s what inside a body that really counts. 

That’s why the Lord looks at our hearts before He even listens to our words. And sadly, in these times when believers are supposed to be standing strong and steadfast and bearing much good fruit, too many of us are like the blooming scribes and Pharisees, only outward show! We talk a most excellent talk, but our walk leaves a lot to be desired. Oh my people, whatever happened to these heartfelt verses of scripture from Bruh Paul to the Ephesians? 

‘Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.’ (Eph. 4:29-32) We have either forgotten them, or simply chosen to ignore them, because today, when they are so badly needed, they are not being practiced by believers as much as they ought to. 

Oh friends, there are so many verses of scripture that deal with treating each other good, that I could go on for the whole day, and still not be done. It’s one of the most important topics in the Good Book; in fact it’s the second most important as Jesus pointed out when questioned by a pompous, arrogant Pharisee lawyer about the most important commandment. ‘Thou shalt LOVE the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’ (Matt. 22:37-40) 

And just for our information friends, our neighbour is anyone with whom we come into contact! So why is there all this bad blood betwixt and between us eh? As believers in Christ Jesus, there is no justified reason for it. So please let’s move to cut it out nuh…asap… for if we don’t, when Jesus comes back, many who thought that we’d be herded to His right side with the sheep, will unfortunately find ourselves herded to the left with the goats. (Matt. 25:31-46) And friends, if you don’t know that scripture, then please read it as quickly as possible, because it is very important. It has to do with your earthly behaviour and where you will spend eternity on account of it. 

Now for those of us who are sincerely trying to live for Christ, let’s go home declaring (yesss!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know who and whose we are. Altogether now: ‘In God’s eyes, 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!’ 

Well then, let’s go out and do exactly that; share the LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!

…A friend LOVES at all times…and a brother is born for adversity… (Prov. 17:17)                                                                                                              

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8