The Overwhelming Importance of Christians Understanding the Unrepayable Debt They Owe to Jesus!

02 Nov 2026 Leave a comment

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   2 November 2026   2 Timothy 4:7.

2 Timothy 4:7.       I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course (race), I have kept the faith:

Well friends, here we go round the mulberry bush again on this mostly sunny and warm first Monday in November. Nothing’s much changed in our lives or the world over the weekend, so it’s the same old, same old that we’re back to at the beginning of this new week. However, there’s one same old that we are everlastingly grateful for, and that’s the continued presence of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in our lives, because He is the one that keeps us keeping on, when things seem to be unravelling, to be falling apart, and we can’t seem to make head nor tail of what’s happening around us.

He is the One, through His indwelling Holy Spirit, that quiets our souls and sets us aright, puts us back on solid ground, by offering His awesome peace that we can’t understand, but can certainly feel deep in our souls. What would we do without Him eh? I refuse to dwell on that possibility. Jesus has done so much for us, that I can’t see or understand how supposedly wise and sensible people could reject His marvellous offer of salvation and eternal life. So today, let’s look at some of the things He did for us, the ‘sufferation’ He underwent on our behalf.

And I believe the best place to start is with the prophecy of Isaiah. He speaks thus of Jesus several hundred years before it became reality. ‘He is despised and rejected of (forsaken by) men; a man of sorrows, (pains), and acquainted with grief (sickness): and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs (sickness): and carried our sorrows (pains): yet we did esteem (reckon) him stricken, smitten of (struck down by) God, and afflicted. But he was wounded (pierced though) for our transgressions, he was bruised (crushed) for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes (blows that cut into His body) we are healed.’  (Is. 53:3-5)

Now tell me, should one man, especially one who is guilty of no wrongdoing, be made to suffer such a heinous fate? Obviously not! But Jesus suffered exactly such a fate on our behalf. He offered His sinless life for our sinful one, taking our sins and giving us His righteousness. Bruh Paul says it quite plainly in 2 Corinthians. ‘For he (God the Father) hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.’  (2 Cor. 5:21)

One Overview refers to that action as ‘The Great Exchange or Penal Substitution, grounded primarily in the New Testament.’ Yes, Jesus took the punishment that we deserved, died a substitutionary death, so that we could be set free, be forgiven of our abominable sins. And yuh still want to tell me that we don’t owe Him anything? Heifer dust! Meanwhile, listen to how Peter describes the situation. ‘For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Who did no sin, neither was guile (deceit) found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again (in return); when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes (wounds) ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop (Overseer) of your souls.’ (1 Pet. 221-25)

And all of that is the living truth my people! Isaiah prophesied in the Old Testament, and it came to pass in the New Testament. Jesus paid our sin debt in full for us, and it’s a debt we can never repay. However, Jesus isn’t looking for repayment, all He’s expecting, is as Peter says, that we should copy His example, follow in His footsteps. And how do we do that? Listen as the author of Hebrews explains: ‘Wherefore seeing (since) we also are compassed about with (surrounded by) so great a cloud of witnesses (heroes of faith), let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset (ensnare) us, and let us run with patience (perseverance) the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author (originator) and finisher (perfector) of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction (hostility) of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint (discouraged) in your minds (souls).’  (Heb. 12:1-3)

Now that’s the general kind of example we should be setting; walking as closely as possible in the footsteps of Jesus, because that’s what disciples do. And we all know that it’s not easy, but it’s doable with Jesus’ help. Look at all those heroes of faith that endured running their tough races with perseverance. Like Bruh Paul said to Timothy: ‘For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure (death) is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course (race), I have kept the faith: ” (2 Tim. 4:6-7) Now that’s how we ought to bow out of this world. And to help us do that, let’s go to the throne of grace, through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, seeking divine aid.

Altogether: ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise and thank You this Monday morning for our jobs; jobs we sometimes don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose; keeping lives and families together. We also thank You Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm You’ve wrought in our weary souls over the weekend. It’s that rejuvenation of spirit which now allows us to sally forth with confidence into the evil and ungodly world, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s evil schemes.

But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing Your powerful, protective spiritual armour! We surrender our all to You, and humbly ask that You allow Your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit to lead and guide all Your servants, as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, thereby furthering Your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ! Amen!’

Now, with that spiritual encouragement under our belts, let’s go out and challenge the enemy, mano a mano! Much LOVE!

…Jesus is our leader…and followers always follow their leader’s example…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit   28 March 2022 Romans 5:6.

28 Mar 2022 Leave a comment

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

Romans 5:6.      For when we were yet without strength, in due time (at the right time) Christ died for the ungodly.

Bless the Lord O my soul for life and light this last Monday morning of March 2022! The sun’s shining, though it seems somewhat chilly, but as the song is saying, ‘Lift your hands and praise the Lord despite the circumstances.’ Yes, as true believers, that’s what is expected of us. And as they are saying ‘If you want to see the glory of the Lord, Lift up your hands and praise the Lord!’ We must command our hands, feet and mouths to praise the Lord, if we want to enjoy His benefits. 

Now answer me this most important question. What do you think about Jesus? And the correct answer is that ‘Jesus is DYNOMITE!’ (smile) Yes mih faithful brethren, that’s the only word to truly describe the power and glory of our wonderful and ever-precious Lord and Saviour! His power is awesome, NOTHING is impossible to him! His forgiveness, LOVE, mercy and grace are without bounds and limits, and He gives them freely to all who sincerely desire them! No wonder we praise and worship Him that highly! 

No One else but Him could have sacrificed His holy, sinless life for our sinful ones, taking our sins unto Himself and giving us His righteousness. As Bruh Paul wrote to the church at Corinth in his second missive. ‘For he (God, the Father) hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.’ (2 Cor. 5:21) And all God’s people shouted a loud, proud and grateful: ‘Glory to the Lamb that was slain on our behalf! Praise His holy name, that’s Jesus: the name above every other; the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!’ 

Oh my people, there’s never been as great a sacrifice on all the earth as Jesus dying in our place. But in heaven, there might have been the greatest sacrifice ever; that of the Father sacrificing His only Son, placing the sins of the whole world on His sinless shoulders so a bunch of ingrates could be saved, be made righteous and be reconciled to Him. 

Bruh Paul says it earlier on in that chapter: ‘And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given us the ministry of reconciliation. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.’ (2 Cor. 5:18-19) 

Yes friends, it was all the work of the Father, operating through Christ! And what’s reconciliation you ask? Listen as the scholars explain it. ‘Reconciliation is the act whereby God on the basis of Christ’s death, has eliminated the cause of hostility between himself and humanity, making possible a complete and maturing fellowship. (The hostility was caused by sin, and was eliminated by the Cross.’ 

Oh my fellow believers, what can ever be better than that eh; sins wiped away in one fell stroke by someone else’s sacrifice? NOTHING! And we talk a lot about Jesus, and so we ought to, but I think one of the things we don’t consider enough is the great courage and LOVE it took for the Father to sacrifice Jesus on our behalf. Just consider for a moment your having to give up your only son for someone who wasn’t even truly grateful for your sacrifice. You obviously had to be very courageous and LOVE and care for that person a whole lot. 

And the Lord did have that eternal, heart-rending LOVE and compassion for us, His most important and precious creation. As Bruh Paul recounts so realistically and ‘tear-jerkingly’ in his letter to the church at Rome. ‘For when we were yet without strength, in due time (at the right time) Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure (perhaps) for a good man some would even dare to die. But God, commendeth (demonstrated) his (own) LOVE toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Rom. 5:6-8) 

How many of us would have done that eh, despite all the LOVE we proclaim? Very few, if any. But God the Father LOVED us so much that He was willing to put His mouth and heart to the test without any reassurances from us. But sadly, so many of us refuse to return that trust and confidence, refuse to be reconciled to Him! What a pity, what a crying shame, that we have not learned from all the mistakes of our ancestors down through the ages, and all the negative consequences they’ve suffered as a result of those rebellious and ungodly errors. 

But friends, it’s not too late. In fact, it’s never too late to turn to the God of our creation and salvation, for once there is life, there is ALWAYS hope in Him. So today, let’s be wise and take a leap of faith and go confidently to the throne of the God of many chances, and through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, lay our problems before Him, all in Jesus’ name. 

Altogether now: ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise Your Holy Name and thank You this Monday morning for life and strong faith in Christ, despite the mass confusion in our world. We desperately need Your divine help, for You are the ONLY ONE with the power to solve our many problems. 

Heavenly Father, we admit that we have all sinned and seriously disobeyed Your Word, but we know that You are a merciful, forgiving and gracious God, who has faithfully promised to hear and answer our prayers when we humble ourselves, pray, and sincerely seek Your face. That’s why we come to You now, with sincere repentance in our hearts, pleading with You to give us wise guidance and direction to alleviate our problems. 

And Father, we pray that you will ease the pain of the many who are suffering from negative situations. Please show them Your awesome grace and mercy, and keep Your promise that You’ll hear our prayer, forgive us, and heal our land if we turn from our evil ways. Show this evil world that You are indeed Jehovah Rapha; the God who heals! We pray this in the holy and blessed name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen! And again, we say: Amen!’ 

And now, the answers to those prayers depend upon our keeping the promises we’ve made, for as Cousin Sol, writing as the Preacher, puts it so clearly and bluntly 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 that thou shouldest vow and not pay.’ (Eccl. 5:4-5) 

Oh my fellow saints, that’s wisdom in spades! So please let’s take it to heart nuh, and put it into action! Much LOVE!

…God created promises to be kept…not to be broken…He made them in the Old Testament…and fulfilled them in the New Testament…all through Jesus… 

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