Today’s Scrip-Bit   6 May 2024   2 Thessalonians 3:13.

06 May 2024 Leave a comment

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

2 Thessalonians 3:13.       But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

One more Monday, one more day of work, that’s the way the cookie crumbles! Yes friends, that’s how modern-day life works; no work, no pay, and no money, no food, clothing or shelter. And I do know that the Lord has promised that if we keep Him Number One in our lives, He will provide all of our material needs, but that doesn’t mean just sitting down and doing nothing. We are expected to work down here on earth, as well as in heaven above. 

Don’t let all the glorious and marvellous aspects of heaven fool you into thinking that you’ll be doing nothing for eternity. No sir! And though I don’t know exactly what we will be doing in heaven, I do know that we will be doing something constructive, not just lazing around and enjoying the high life, like so many of us want to do down here. 

And it always intrigues me when I think of Bruh Paul’s writings to the Thessalonians on the subject of working and eating. ‘For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk disorderly among you, working not at all, but are busybodies. 

Now them that are such, we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not an enemy.’ (2 Thess. 3:10-15) 

Now in these modern times there are many busybodies, gadabouts and lazy people who don’t want to work, but prefer to live like parasites off of others who toil and labour for their daily bread. And I wonder how Bruh Paul’s system would work in today’s crazy and oh so convoluted world. He doesn’t mean to have the lazy person excommunicated, just shamed into working. 

Hn! I don’t believe that would work very well in our society, because there are so many layabouts who have absolutely no shame. In fact, our current society is one in general that doesn’t know the meaning of the word. Some of the things we do, the atrocities we commit nowadays, would never have been committed just a few generations ago, because they would just be too shameful and definitely not appreciated. But in today’s free for all society, any and everything goes, and words like shame, disgrace, disrepute and embarrassment, no longer carry a strong deterrent value. 

But what we really want to talk about today is the li’l gem hidden in Bruh Paul’s words above: ‘But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.’ That friends, is one of the most important aspects of our Christian faith. Jesus alluded to it in Matthew 25:31-46, when He spoke of the separation of the sheep and the goats, where doing good to the poor and needy also meant doing good to him. ‘Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.’ (Matt. 25:40) 

And Bruh Paul exhorts us in several scriptures to do the same thing. Listen to him in the letter to the Galatians. ‘And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.’ (Gal. 6:9-10) 

Then in his first letter to the Corinthians, in speaking of victory over death, he says: ‘But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain (futile) in the Lord.’ (1 Cor. 15:57-58) 

And last but not least, to the church at Rome, Bruh Paul writes: ‘Let LOVE be without dissimulation (hypocrisy). Abhor that which is evil; cleave (cling) to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned (be affectionate) one to another with brotherly LOVE; in honour preferring (giving preference to) one another…Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation (persevering in tough times); continuing instant (steadfastly) in prayer; Distributing to the necessity (needs) of the saints; given to hospitality. 

Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not…Recompense (repay) to no man evil for evil. Provide (have regard for) things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in (depends on) you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.’ (Rom. 12:9-10, 11-14, 17-21) 

Now, having read and inwardly digested those scriptures, (smile) let’s go to the throne of grace in prayer, through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, for divine aid to put it all into action. Altogether: ‘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. Heavenly Father, You are the ONLY ONE with the power to solve our many problems. 

Yes, we have all sinned and seriously disobeyed Your Word, but 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. So, we come to You now, with sincere repentance in our hearts, pleading for wise guidance and direction to alleviate our problems. 

Oh Father, please ease the pain of the many suffering from negative situations, show them Your awesome grace and mercy. And faithfully keep Your promise to prosper us 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!’ Please, let’s not forget that God promised to prosper us… if we turn from our evil ways, so let’s be wise and begin there nuh. Much LOVE!

…if ye LOVE me…keep my commandments… (John 14:15)

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Today’s Scrip-Bit 27 June 2015 Galatians 6:7

27 Jun 2015 Leave a comment

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

Galatians 6:7.  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Greetings mih breddren on this wonderful Saturday morning in early summer!  And as Bruh Paul said to Galatians in his opening remarks: ‘Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world (age), according to the will of God and our Father. To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.’ (Gal.1:3-5)

Yes Friends, I am wishing those sentiments on us all this morning, so that we begin the day on the right foot; in lockstep with Jesus, for there is no other wise and sensible way to start your day. Glory to God!

And today we’ll get right into our Bit because I have an interesting story to share on the subject. And the Bit is something that we all know and like to quote, but don’t really take time to contemplate and ponder it, before we do many of our actions.  And it simply says: ‘Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’

Oh my people, that is like the number one rule in God’s domain. Whatever you do, whatever you give out, the same will be returned to you, like a boomerang, and usually in greater abundance too. So it behoves us to be very careful in what we say, do and think in this life.

And as Bruh Paul continues: ‘For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.’ (Gal.6:8)

And we have some explanations from the scholars. ‘6:7. Mocked (outwitted, outfoxed): To disobey God’s commands and then escape divine punishment would be to outwit God, thus making a mockery of Him and His Word. Soweth means “does,” “practices.” Reap could also be said “be requited,” “recompensed.” Contextually, the Galatians cannot disregard the command to support their Christian instructors (v.6) and escape divine discipline.’

‘6:8. For expands the principle of verse 7 to wider application. Soweth to his flesh means to conduct oneself by the evil dictates and desires of the sinful nature, thus practising the deeds of the flesh. (5:19-21). Such a person shall…reap corruption, that is be requited with eternal destruction. Soweth to the spirit means to live by His enabling help in accord with the Spirit’s prompting and leading, thus cultivating the fruit of 5:22-23. Such a person shall…reap life everlasting, that is be rewarded with eternal life.’

Now listen to this story that dramatically brings out the truth in our Bit. And I don’t remember where or when, or from whom or what I got a copy of this story, but it’s been sitting on a chair in study for eons. I might even have shared it before, and if so, it certainly deserves sharing again. Some of you might even know it.

And the story goes thus: A certain successful Christian business man thought it was time for him to retire, but didn’t want to be replaced by any of his family or his directors. So he came up with this wonderful plan to give a group of young executives each a seed to plant, and at the end of a certain period of time, he would have them bring in their plants, and the one he liked the best, the owner would become the new CEO.

Well after a few weeks everybody was talking about their wonderful plants, except this one fellow named Jim. Despite all the water, manure and effort he put into it, nothing would sprout from the seed. He felt he had killed it and considered himself a failure.

A year later the boss called for the plants. But Jim’s pot was still empty. He considered not going to work, but his wife exhorted him to be honest and go with his empty pot. Now we can all imagine how Jim felt when he got to work that morning and saw all the others with a wide variety of beautiful plants in their pots, while his was the only empty one.

But to cut a long story short, Jim became the next CEO, because the boss had given them all boiled seeds which could not grow. All of them, except Jim, had changed the seeds, that’s how they managed to get such beautiful plants.

And the moral of the story is that Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring back the seed the boss had given them. Please pay special attention to that story my brethren, because you can find yourself in such a situation at any time.

Now hear these universal truths about planting. ‘If you plant honesty, you will reap trust. If you plant goodness, you will reap friends. If you plant humility, you will reap greatness. If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment. If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective. If you plant hard work, you will reap success. If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation. If you plant faith in Christ, you will reap a harvest. So be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you reap later.’

And Friends, those are words of absolute and incomparable truth! Whatever we sow, at some later date, we will surely reap the same thing. It’s as simple as that. So please let’s be very careful in what we sow, because the consequences of negative sowing can be very disheartening and destructive.

And Bruh Paul continues to the Galatians. ‘And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not (do not lose heart). As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.’ (Gal.6:9-10)

And we’ll end with this paraphrase of 1 Peter. ‘We are the grass that will wither and die, but the incorruptible seed of God’s Word will live forever – sow it daily into the life of your family.’ (1 Pet.1:23-25)

And that’s wonderful advice my people. So please let’s get wise and just do it nuh, for it will greatly benefit us as individuals, our families and the world in which we live. Much LOVE!

…if one wants to reap a good and plentiful harvest…then one needs to plant good and plentiful seeds…simple logic…