Today’s Scrip-Bit 23 January 2016 John 3:16

23 Jan 2016 Leave a comment

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

John 3:16.   For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

And the people sang: ‘Saturday, oh Saturday, what do you have in store for us today?’ 

And the Lord replied likewise in song: ‘For my beloved followers, today I have brand new blessings, brand new mercies, etched with forgiveness, grace, care, compassion and LOVING-kindness. That’s my constant menu, except they are freshly prepared each and every day. I don’t do leftovers for those I sincerely care about. 

And I have the best server in the world, My Holy Spirit. He will lead and guide you through the entire day, giving you good advice as to what to do and say. 

So if you like what I’m offering, come on down and sample my wares. I guarantee that once you’ve sampled them, you’ll never go away; you’ll just keep running back for more. So see you soon. All my LOVE! Your heavenly Father.’ 

And that’s exactly how it is friends! Our magnificent God prepares His menu of delights afresh for us every day. As he says, He doesn’t do leftovers. But the only way you can truly sample His wares is by surrendering your life and soul to Him, so that He can set up His Holy Spirit in your soul. 

The Holy Spirit is the server, so if you don’t surrender and allow Him in, then you won’t be able to sample the menu. No rocket science my brethren, just simple logic! 

And all of that is borne out in the marvelous words of our Bit. ‘For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ 

Oh precious people, how can we doubt or disbelieve those life-changing words eh? It’s been historically proven that Jesus did die on the cross at Calvary, and if He was indeed whom He claimed to be, and there’s no reason to doubt it, then that’s the greatest gift that has ever been given to mankind! Glory Hallelujah! 

We should all be shouting and praising and thanking God for His wonderful gift of salvation through Christ, and be ever so willing to live under His easy yoke and light burden. 

But mankind is a different animal, possessing free choice, foolish pride and a sinful nature, so he doesn’t always make the wisest decisions. And even when you read and spell for him, like I’m trying to do here, he still insists on going his own way. 

However, let’s turn to the scriptures for more facts on the subject. Yesterday we were looking at Bruh Paul’s message to the Ephesians, concerning faith and grace and how they work in a believer’s life. We ended up where he declared that God’s purpose was to demonstrate His goodness to them through Jesus Christ so they could have a better understanding of Him. (2:7) 

Today, we’ll continue from there. ‘For by grace are ye (you have been) saved through faith; and not that of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship (creation), created in Christ Jesus unto (for) good works, which God hath before ordained (prepared) that we should walk in them.’ (Eph.2:8-10) 

Now friends, those are three of the most important verses concerning our faith! The first thing we need to realize is that we are saved by God’s grace, His unmerited favour, and nothing that we have done ourselves. 

The scholars explain that verse thus. ‘2:8. For gives the reason for this future demonstration of divine grace. It is because man owes his salvation to this grace or undeserved divine favour.’  Then they go into all sorts of explanations about the different tenses and genders of the Greek words which I will leave out. 

The long and short of the story though is: ‘This means that no part of salvation is “of yourselves” or due to what we do – the whole of salvation is the gift of God. Man is saved “by grace” that is, by the kindness of God in having Jesus die for our sins. But this grace is appropriated through faith, that is, man believes what God has done for him and relies upon Christ’s atonement to blot out his sins and bring him into a proper relationship with God.’ 

In other words, NONE of our good works can get us into heaven. We can ONLY get there by accepting God’s LOVING-kindness and having faith, believing In Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.  Unfortunately though, a lot of people still misguidedly believe that good works will get them into heaven. I sincerely hope that they smarten up before it’s too late. 

As for ‘2:9. The reason in part, that salvation is not achieved by good works is to prevent men from bragging of having earned a place in heaven by themselves.’ 

Yuh think the Lord stupid? He made man, and He knows what we are capable of. Can you imagine the bragging and boasting that would have gone on if we could get to heaven through good works! 

‘2:10. For verifies the assertion of man’s good works having no part in obtaining salvation. Workmanship refers not to our original or physical birth, but to our spiritual birth: what we are spiritually in the good sense is due to God, not ourselves. Created in Christ Jesus unto good works means “having been (morally) recreated by Christ Jesus for good works;” that is, Jesus remade our spiritual lives so that we could then do good works. 

The apostle’s thinking is this: since the Christian has been given spiritual life for the purpose of doing good works, there could have been no good works by him prior to conversion that would merit salvation. Good works follow – do not precede – salvation.’ 

There you have it friends, Bruh Paul’s treatise on grace and faith. I know I’ve shared most of this stuff before, but it’s such an important part of our belief system that we can never hear it enough. 

So today let’s spend some time pondering on the meat and potatoes set before us nuh. It’s time we stop drinking milk and eating baby food and gain some maturity, moving on to a higher understanding of God’s Word (smile). Much LOVE!

…we can only grow in Christ…by gaining a deeper understanding of His Word…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 26 March 2015 1 John 1:9‏‏

26 Mar 2015 Leave a comment

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

1 John 1:9.      If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 
Ah Friends, it’s just one of those late nights that naturally morphed into a late morning. And running around in the rain yesterday didn’t help matters any, as my allergies are threatening to act up. (smile) But not to worry; the caffeine is hot, strong and sweet, and we’re riding along with Jesus, which means that all is well. Glory Hallelujah!

We couldn’t want, ask for, or find a better companion to journey with through this confused, troubled and sinful world. And the word for today is ‘LOVE!’

Oh my people, for serious believers in Jesus, LOVE should be our watchword each and every day, because that’s the quality that our Lord and Saviour put forth the most when He came to earth to be the sacrificial lamb for the atonement of our sins.

If He hadn’t LOVED us dearly and deeply, He would have remained resting on His laurels in heaven. But instead, He selflessly and obediently became man, became one of us, so that we could be released from the dark and dangerous abyss of sin in which we were then floundering.

Unfortunately though, too many of us are still floundering in that dark dungeon of sin. However, in keeping with our talk on LOVE, let me share a few words from my ‘p.s. I LOVE YOU’ poster, designed to bring out the LOVE in us. It says that, ‘LOVE is like wildflowers. It’s often found in the most unlikely places.’

And isn’t that the gospel truth Friends! LOVE, the real thing that is, often crops up in places we least expect to find it. So please, in our travels today, let’s be aware, let’s keep a sharp eye out for the LOVE we might find in those unusual places.

And though some say that it’s money which makes the world go round, I believe it’s LOVE! Just look at the numerous households and places where there’s plenty money, but also lot’s of strife and little or no LOVE.

Meanwhile, in so many other households and places, where there’s little or no money, but the absence of strife is very notable, and true LOVE abounds in abundance! (smile) 

Oh Friends, our God is a most wonderful God, please believe that! But you won’t really experience Him in all His glory until you truly surrender yourself to His will and wise plan for your life. That’s when He shows up in bright and living colour!

In other words, God makes His move when we do as our Bit advises: ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’

And that’s the living truth, my brethren! I wouldn’t lead you astray. I’m talking from personal experience, not hearsay. When you put God first in your life and sincerely and diligently work towards obedience and His glorification, you’ll see wonders that you never dreamed of, or even imagined possible!

Yes Friends, until we come to God like Bruh David did in Psalm 38 – The prayer of a penitent heart – and earnestly declare: ‘For I am ready to halt (fall), and my sorrow is continually before me. For I will declare mine iniquity, I will be sorry for my sin.’ (Ps.38.17-18) We won’t fully experience the mercies and LOVING-kindness of our magnanimous God.

And He makes that abundantly clear from this passage in Isaiah, where he calls for repentance from His sinful people, Israel. ‘Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat of the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.’ (Is.1:18-20)

Oh my brethren, it couldn’t be put any clearer and simpler than that. And believe me, that provision still stands today. That’s one of the reasons why our world is in such a disastrous mess; we are refusing and rebelling against the Lord.

And the scholars give us some good information, re those verses. ‘1:18-20. The prophet’s appeal to come and reason together reveals God’s gracious invitation to all men. It literally means to be “reasonable” by repenting and turning to God.

Their sin is described as scarlet and red like crimson, referring to their bloodguiltiness before God. The term crimson also means “worm,” referring to the colourfast red dye of the scarlet worm.

The eradication of this stain turns it snowy white and is symbolic of the life-changing grace of God, which delivers men from the guilt and condemnation of sin. Thus the prophet reminds his readers that God stands ready to cleanse and forgive all who turn to Him.’

And Friends, today, I’m re-reminding us of all of that! So please pay serious attention, for it can mean the difference between eternal life and eternal damnation!

And we’ll end with these most appropriate words from Bruh David from Psalm 19 – The creation and covenants of God. ‘Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great (much) transgression.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength (rock), and my redeemer.’ (Ps.19:12-14)

Yes Friends, that is what we need to do today, as we make our pilgrim’s journey through this wicked and deceitful world! Let’s confess our sins, then ask for guidance to do what is right in the sight of the Lord.

If we’re sincere in our requests and desires, then His mercy and LOVING-kindness will be showered down on us, for that’s the faithful kind of Deity He is! Much LOVE!

…confession is good for the soul…and repentance leads to eternal life…

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 15 May 2014 Proverbs 30:3

15 May 2014 Leave a comment

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

Proverbs 30:3.    I neither learned wisdom, nor have I the knowledge of the holy (Holy One).

Ah Friends, some of us just don’t seem to ever learn nuh! We’re like what the old people would call ‘hard ears pickney.’ Hn, hn!

Would you believe I did it again? Chuh! I got up earlier on in the morning, decided it was too early to rise and shine, so I just went to the bathroom then went back to bed. Lo and behold, some two hours later I finally got up, feeling lousy, with my back and other parts of my anatomy aching.

Not only that, but during those final two hours of restless sleep, I dreamt a strange dream. In the dream, it seems like the duchess and I attended some function up some hill or the other, and after the festivities were over, she wasn’t sure of the way down, so I went over to her car and pointed it out to her, and she drove off.

Meanwhile, somehow or the other, I got into a conversation with this lady who was walking down the hill and I fell into step beside her. Halfway down the hill, we stopped at a restaurant, she to get something to eat, and me to look for the duchess. But the place was so busy and confusing that after a few minutes I gave up and continued down the hill to my apartment building.

Then, much to my astonishment and displeasure, as I was about to enter the front door of the building, which someone was holding open for me, I put my hand in my pocket and only felt my car keys.

Steups! It was only then I realized that going into the building didn’t make any sense since I couldn’t get into my apartment anyway, because I had left my car with all my other belongings back up the hill where the festivities had taken place.

Ah Lord eh! To make matters worse, the duchess was nowhere to be found. So you can imagine my consternation – no consternation is too mild a word – (smile) at having to trudge back up the hill to retrieve my car and my other belongings. 

Oh Friends, I’m chuckling now, but in the dream it surely wasn’t funny! Now would you think that the Lord was trying to send me a message?

Namely, when I wake you up, and you’re feeling fine, regardless of the hour of the morning, don’t listen to the deceitful Lucifer and go back to bed. Just rise and shine then and there, because there’s method to my madness, and you’ll be worse off later on if you ignore me.

Ah mih people, I believe I finally got the message… at least for my sake, I hope so. But life is certainly interesting though when you surrender your life to Almighty God and allow Him to unfold the plan He’s prepared for you since before the beginning of time.

And very often, like me, when we try to interject our own plans into the mix, we suffer some misfortune or setback, which only creates unnecessary turmoil in our lives, and sadly affects our communication with our heavenly Father.

No wonder the words of Agur in our Bit can be applied to so many of us. I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy (Holy One).’

And that’s rather unfortunate Friends! For as Agur continues: ‘Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell (know it)? (Prov.30:4)

Oh my people, can we answer those questions? I surely hope so, otherwise things will be very bleak with us.

And the scholars inform us thus: ’30:4. The questions are designed, as God’s questions to Job in Job 38-41, to press home the limitations of man’s knowledge.’  

Please read those chapters sometime on your own, for they will give you great insight into God’s nature.

And yes my brethren, man’s knowledge is very limited. However, there’s One whose knowledge is infinite and limitless! His name is Almighty God, the Lord of hosts, the One and Only Living God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!

Do we know Him, personally and intimately, like a son knows a father? We better had, else our lives will be unsettled, topsy-turvy, without direction and purpose.

For as Agur declares: ‘Every word of God is pure (tried, found pure): he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.’ (Prov.30:5-6)

Yes Friends, without a doubt, every word that our God utters is indeed eternal truth, and He fiercely protects those who trust in Him! And since our knowledge is limited, we ought not to try and add our own take, our own spin on His words, because our God doesn’t take kindly to falsehood.

Ah my fellow believers, as the Good Book tells us in several places, true wisdom comes from Jehovah God and from Him only!

Now let’s check out a couple of those scriptures. During his time of severe adversity, Job asked the always and ever important question: ‘But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?’ (Job 28:12)

And later on in the same chapter, he gives us the answer: ‘And unto man he said, Behold, the fear (reverence, awe) of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.’ (Job 28:28)

Oh my people, wisdom to live successfully on this earth is truly a Godsend!

And Cousin Sol reminds us of that when he proclaims: ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy (Holy One) is understanding. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased (years of life will be added to you). If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shall bear it.’ (Prov.9:10-12)

What more is there to say eh my fellow believers? Nothing really! The questions have been asked, answered and clarified. If you want to live wisely on this earth, then you MUST first sincerely embrace Jehovah God, and then you NEED to keep Him totally involved in all your doings.

That’s eternal wisdom Friends! So let’s try and attain to it today and everyday hence nuh. Much LOVE!

…give instruction to a wise man…and he will be yet wiser…teach a just man…and he will increase in learning… (Prov. 9:10)