Today’s Scrip-Bit   26 March 2023 Luke 19:10.

26 Mar 2023 Leave a comment

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

Luke 19:10.        For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost.

Well come on down friends, it’s Sunday, the Lord’s Day once more! That means fellowshipping in His sanctuary, for the giving of thanks and praise and receiving His divine blessings for the upcoming week. And I’m sure you’ll enjoy todays song, titled ‘I’m just a Nobody’ because it’s a Contemporary Christian tune that we’re going to do in a rocking, raunchy, good times version, similar to that of the Casting Crowns featuring Matthew West. There’ll be lots of clapping, dancing, and  of course singing. (smile) 

Without further ado then, let’s get rocking. And we’ll begin with some handclapping, in three fourths time, then sing the first line of the chorus three times acapella, then get into the full chorus as the music comes up. So here goes: ‘clap, clap: I’m just a nobody…clap, clap: I’m just a nobody…clap, clap: I’m just a nobody…’  And now the music comes in and everybody goes crazy: ‘I’m just a nobody, trying to tell everybody, all about Somebody, who saved my soul. Ever since You rescued me, You gave my heart a song to sing. I’m living for the world to see…Nobody but Jesus! I’m living for the world to see…Nobody but Jesus! 

Why you ever chose me, has always been a mystery. All my life, I’ve been told I belong, at the end of the line. With all the other “Not Quites” with all the “Never-Get-it Rights” But it turns out, they’re the ones You’ve been looking for all this time, Cause I’m just a nobody, trying to tell everybody, all about Somebody, who saved my soul. Ever since You rescued me, You gave my heart a song to sing. I’m living for the world to see…Nobody but Jesus! I’m living for the world to see…Nobody but Jesus! 

Moses had stage fright, and David brought a rock to a sword fight, You picked twelve outsiders, nobody would have ever chosen, and you changed the world. Well the moral of the story is, Everybody’s got a purpose. So when I hear that devil start talking to me saying, “Who do you think you are?” I say, I’m just a nobody, trying to tell everybody, all about Somebody, who saved my soul. Ever since You rescued me, You gave my heart a song to sing. I’m living for the world to see…Nobody but Jesus! I’m living for the world to see…Nobody but Jesus! 

So let me go down, down, down in history, as another blood-bought faithful member of the family. And if they all forget my name, well, that’s fine with me. I’m living for the world to see…Nobody but Jesus… So let me go down, down, down in history, as another blood-bought faithful member of the family…That’s all I ever want to be… 

And if they all forget my name, well, that’s fine with me. I’m living for the world to see…Nobody but Jesus… Cause I’m just a nobody, trying to tell everybody, all about Somebody, who saved my soul. Ever since You rescued me, You gave my heart a song to sing. I’m living for the world to see…Nobody but Jesus! I’m living for the world to see…Nobody but Jesus! I’m living for the world to see…Nobody but Jesus!’ 

Now didn’t that up-tempo bit of worship gladden your soul, put some pep in your step? Of course it did! And that’s what happens when we celebrate the wonderful ministry of Jesus. One commentary says: ‘The lyrics describe how God uses ordinary people to spread the Gospel of Jesus! We are all flawed, yet the Lord has a purpose for us. In our joy of having been forgiven, we excitedly point to the forgiver, Jesus Christ!’ 

And that’s the undeniable truth! When Jesus takes us up from what ever lowly place we’ve fallen and causes us to be reconciled to the Father, forgiven, justified, sanctified and all the other marvellous things His death and resurrection did for us, it’s hard not to be filled with joy; His joy, that then makes us want to go and tell EVERYBODY about what He’s done for us! And as the song says, Jesus has indeed been looking for all the “Not Quites” with all the “Never-Get-it Rights.” That’s the ones who are lost, fallen through the cracks and are wallowing in the mire of darkness of Satan and his sinful doings. 

He made it very clear that He came to save and not to condemn when He said: ‘For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.’ (John 3:17) And furthermore, He was mostly interested in the sick, the lost and suffering as He declared (chuh man!!!) several times. For example, when He ate at the house of Zaccheus, the publican. Zaccheus repented after lunching with Jesus. ‘And Jesus said unto him. This day is salvation come to this house forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost.’ (Luke 19:9-10) 

He also told His audience the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son, noting that the owners of the lost sheep and coin searched diligently for what they had lost, while the Father of the prodigal son was always on the lookout for his lost boy coming back home, so he saw him as soon as he crossed the horizon, ran an hugged him and forgave him and made a celebration on his return. Likewise the owners of the lost cheep and coin also had celebrations when they found their lost property. (Luke 15) 

And in the midst of those parables, Jesus made the following observation twice. ‘I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just (upright) persons, which need no repentance. (Luke 15:7) And then three verses later Jesus again declares (yesss!!!): ‘Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.’ (Luke 15:10) 

And if you still don’t believe that Jesus came for the lost and hurting souls, then listen to Him again, this time after the scribes and Pharisees murmured against Him for eating and drinking with the publican (tax collector) Levi and other sinners. ‘And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole (healthy) need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ (Luke 5:31-32) 

Yes my fellow saints Jesus came to save those that are lost, those who cannot help themselves, so if you are amongst that unfortunate lot, then please, I urge you to look to Jesus and take His free offer of salvation through the gift of grace, asap! It will be the wisest decision you’ve ever made, and can ever make. Much LOVE!

…ONLY in Jesus…can one find…one’s lost soul… 

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   5 March 2023 Matthew 14:27.

05 Mar 2023 Leave a comment

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

Matthew 14:27.       But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer (take courage), It is I; be not afraid.

One more time around the block dear friends, and we’re right back where we started; Sunday, the Lord’s Day! And there’s no better place to be on the first day of the week than in His sanctuary worshipping Him, offering up grateful thanks and praise. And if for whatever reason you can’t make it to the sanctuary, then be sure to join fellow worshippers through some technological means or the other, because it is ever so important to begin our week with the LOVE, renewal, refreshment and confidence that comes from worshipping our heavenly Father. 

And today’s song of worship is a beautiful hymn with heartfelt lyrics, written by James Rowe (1865-1933) most aptly titled ‘LOVE Lifted Me.’  Rowe was born in England, the son of a copper miner, but immigrated to the United States from Ireland in 1889. ‘LOVE Lifted Me’ was written and published in 1912, quickly gaining popularity among United Methodists as one of the frequently sung songs in The Cokesbury Hymnal. The lyrics they say, are drawn from the stories of Jesus and his disciples at sea from the Book of Matthew. Rowe plays upon the idea of sinking in water to sinking in sin and that Jesus can lift us out of despair to salvation. 

But before we get into the whys and wherefores of the hymn, let’s sing it nuh, with heartfelt sincerity, in a scintillating mid-tempo version, because it’s a joyful song, so let’s sing it like our souls are truly joyful, and we’re not just mouthing the words. (smile) Singing: ‘I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more; But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me, now safe am I. (Refrain: LOVE lifted me! LOVE lifted me! When nothing else could help, LOVE lifted me. LOVE lifted me! LOVE lifted me! When nothing else could help, LOVE lifted me.) 

All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I’ll cling, In his blessed presence live, ever his praises sing. LOVE so mighty and so true merits my soul’s best songs; Faithful LOVING service, too, to Him belongs. [Refrain] Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves; He will lift you by His LOVE out of the angry waves; He’s the master of the sea, billows His will obey He your Saviour wants to be, be saved today. (Refrain: LOVE lifted me! LOVE lifted me! When nothing else could help, LOVE lifted me. LOVE lifted me! LOVE lifted me! When nothing else could help, LOVE lifted me.) 

Oh my people, is that ever so true! The LOVE of Jesus is the ONLY thing that can really lift us from the depths of sin, darkness, sorrow, depression, or whatever other negative situations we may face! Wow! There’s NOTHING as precious and soul satisfying in this world like the awesome LOVE of Jesus! And let me tell you people, if you don’t know the LOVE of Jesus from firsthand experience, then you’re missing the best times(s) of your life! For when you know His LOVE, EVERYTHING changes in your life; you’re peaceful, confident, filled with faith, hope and joy, bubbling over with the excitement that comes from knowing you’re saved, salvation has come, and a wonderful sense of anticipation of eternal life envelops your soul! 

Wow! It couldn’t get any better than that my brethren! But enough philosophical discourse, let’s turn to the reality of the situations, that the song was apparently based on. The first story comes after Jesus fed the five thousand men, beside women and children, with five loaves of bread and two fishes. (Matt. 14:13-21) He then enjoined the disciples to get into a boat and go over to the other side while He sent away the crowd, then went up into the mountain for some quiet prayer time with His Father. 

Later on that night, the disciples found themselves in a difficult position in the middle of the sea, tossed with waves and a contrary wind. ‘And in the fourth watch of the night (between 3and 6 a.m.) Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer (take courage), It is I; be not afraid.’ (Matt. 14:25-27) Oh my fellow believers, that’s one of the winning characteristics of Jesus; He never leaves His people in the lurch. He will always come to you at your lowest moment, when all your hope and faith seems to have evaporated. 

Then, as was so often the case, Peter spoke up, saying: ‘Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee in the water. And He (Jesus) said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.’ (Matt. 14:28-29) Good ole Peter, always in the forefront, willing to try anything. This time though he met his match.  The gospel says: ‘But when he saw the wind boisterous (violent), he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?’ (Matt. 14:30 31) 

Ah friends, unfortunately doubt is also our downfall. We claim to believe, but when the rubber really hits the road, all our doubts surface and we get scared despite our good intentions and faith in Christ. No, it’s not always easy to face those fearful situations, but we need to come up over our fears, if our witness is to amount to anything. Now listen to this last part of the story. ‘And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth, thou art the Son of God.’ (Matt. 14:32-33) Yes, when the living is easy, we have all sorts of fancy, faithful talk, until the next time our world crumbles around us. (smile) 

And the next incident is one we looked at just a couple of days ago, when Jesus was on the boat with the disciples and a terrible storm arose so that the boat began taking in water. But Jesus was comfortably asleep in the stern of the boat without a care. Mark tells us that the disciples awoke Jesus, saying: ‘Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, (who is this) that even the wind and the sea obey him?’ (Mark 4:38-41) 

Oh my fellow saints, that is the man who created both the wind and the sea and all therein on planet earth! That’s why His creations obey Him…all that is except His most wonderful and the dearest to His heart. That’s mankind. And here’s an interesting comment to end our Bit today. It says: ‘Rowe’s hymn masterfully incorporates both stories, using sinking or being swamped into the sea as an illustration for “sinking deep in sin…sinking to rise no more.” Jesus, “Master of the sea,” hears our pleas for help, reaches out to us in LOVE, and lifts us up into the well-being of grace.’ 

And that’s certainly the gospel truth! Jesus is always reaching out to us when we lose our way, lifting us back up to a place of care and comfort in His merciful arms. So, if we feel lost today, let’s seek out Jesus nuh, call out to Him for help, and believe that He will offer it! Much LOVE!

… clinging to Jesus is undoubtedly…a win, win situation…  

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