Today’s Scrip-Bit 30 November 2014 Matthew 6:24

30 Nov 2014 Leave a comment

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

Matthew 6:24.    No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and LOVE the other; or else he will hold to (be loyal to) the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (riches).

Oh Friends and Neighbours, I give you the first, as well as the best day of the week; Sunday, the Lord’s Day, the Sabbath!

And all of God’s people declared a humble but proud and grateful ‘Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!’
 
Yes my brethren, Sunday is the day we’re supposed to spend more time in peace and quiet with God, when we’re supposed to fellowship, worship, praise, give thanks and glorify Him, because it’s His day.
 
That doesn’t preclude us from doing those things on the other days, but on Sunday they ought to be done, since it’s special. God sanctified it, made it holy after He created the universe.
 
So today, let’s put aside the worldly cares that are bedeviling us and concentrate our concentration (smile) on our heavenly Father nuh. Let’s consider the good and wonderful things He’s done for us in the past, what He’s doing right now, and what He has promised to do in the future.
 
Our prayers should run something like this poem from the One Year Book of Bible Promises, titled ‘Dead Giveaway.’ ‘O dear God My heart overflows With proclamations of joy! You are so good So faithful Your LOVING-kindness is so great. I long for my continual gratitude To be a dead giveaway Of my deepening LOVE for You.’
 
Yes my fellow believers, on words like those, truthful ones now, should our communication with the Father be built
 
And the promise listed for that prayer is: ‘I will thank you Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvellous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.’ (Ps.9:1-2 NLT) And today’s a most excellent day to do all of that my people!
 
Now let’s turn to our Bit. ‘No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and LOVE the other; or else he will hold to (be loyal to) the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (riches).’
 
And as we noted yesterday, that’s not only perfect logic, but also gospel truth! Now let’s look at a couple of scriptures which emphasize the fact that we cannot serve Jehovah God and material wealth at the same time.
 
And we’ll begin with Bruh Paul writing to the Galatians, where he’s making the point that there’s no other gospel but that of Jesus Christ. (Gal.1:6-9)  And he ends that section thus: ‘For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.’ (Gal.1:10)
 
Now hear this explanation from the scholars: ‘1:10. For explains the harsh language of verses 3-9. If Paul were to persuade men (i.e, court their favour) or seek to please them by preaching a false gospel they want to hear, he should not be the servant of Christ.’ 
 
That’s oh so true Friends! If we preach anything that’s merely to get man’s favour, we aren’t being true servants of Jesus, but curry favourers of men. Then there are Bruh Paul’s direct instructions to Timothy on the matter.
 
‘Charge (command) them that are rich in this world (present age), that they be not highminded (haughty), nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.
 
That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute (give), willing to communicate (share); Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.’ (1 Tim.7:17-19)
 
And the scholars break down those verses thus: ‘6:17-18. Paul charges wealthy believers (1) not be proud and look down on those who are not rich, (2) to confide in God rather than in unstable riches, (3) to be rich in good works by generously sharing their surplus of financial resources with the needy. To be ready to distribute is to be generous in sharing. To be willing to communicate is to be liberal in giving.’
 
‘6:19. When wealthy believers generously share (v.18), they secure an assurance (laying up in store for themselves a good foundation) that in the future (against the time to come) they will indeed enter heaven (lay hold on eternal life).
 
Salvation is not purchased by the giving of money, but generosity demonstrates the reality of one’s faith. Since the believer trusts God and not money, he gives. This giving shows where his heart is and that he views his wealth in the light of eternity.’
 
Ah mih breddren, if only more of the wealthy would think like that eh! Then there would not be as much poverty, homelessness and all the other negative things that are currently threatening our way of life and our world. But for one reason or another, those with wealth today seem to hold on to it tighter than a whatever. You supply the figurative word or words. (smile)
 
Please note though Friends, that advice of Bruh Paul’s isn’t only for the filthy rich, but also for the fairly well-off like us. We all have to give generously according to our means. Remember Jesus’ admonition to the disciples.
 
‘And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites (small copper coins), which make a farthing (a roman coin). And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury.
 
For all they did cast in of their abundance (surplus); but she of her want (out of her poverty) did cast in all that she had, even all her living (her whole livelihood).’ (Mark 13:42-44)
 
And to show how small was her contribution, the scholars explain: ’12:42. The mite (Heb. lepton) was worth something like one-eight of a cent. It was so small that its stamp was barely legible.’
 
But it wasn’t the actual amount that was so important, but the act of giving, even to her last coins.
 
And per ‘12:43-44. God does not measure giving by conventional human standards.’
 
That’s ever so true! In fact, He doesn’t do anything by conventional human standards, because His ways and thoughts are much higher than ours.
 
Anyway Friends, having pleaded my case on behalf of Almighty God, I hope that we will all make today one of praise, thanksgiving, fellowship, worship and quiet communication with the Father. That’s our bounden duty, as well as heavenly wisdom. Much LOVE!
 
…one can’t properly prepare for Monday…unless one spends precious time with God on Sunday…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 23 November 2014 Psalm 16:9

23 Nov 2014 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 16:9.  Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest (dwell securely) in hope.

Well a good Sunday morning to all you Friends and Neighbours within the scope of my writing – and that means the whole wide world, now that we have the Internet. Wow! What an opportunity to spread God’s Word my brethren!
 
As you’ve no doubt noticed, (smile) it’s the Lord’s Day once again, so let’s remember to keep it holy with worship, praise fellowship and thanksgiving. A visit to His sanctuary is also a must if you are able to, even in my state this morning, where I’m dragging myself around. (smile)
 
If you ask Him sincerely for the wherewithal to get up and get out to worship, He will give it to you. So there are no excuses if you are of fairly sound body and mind.
 
And today we will revisit a subject that all of us believers, in fact the entire world needs to embrace. That subject is HOPE, which we remember Gramps Schuller (Dr. Robert H. Schuller) defining as ‘HOLDING ON PRAYING EXPECTANTLY.’
 
And to add to that, we’re going to pray his  ‘Prayer for Hope,’ found in his Hour of Power Devotional. Please pray with me. ‘I have a strong, serene feeling that God is planning something good for me today. I cannot explain it, but I have a deep feeling that wonderful things are in store for me.
 
I am expecting God to surprise me with His tender mercy. He will turn my hurts into halos. He is guiding my life in such a way that whatever happens to me will prove to be a beautiful blessing. Thank you, Lord. Amen.’
 
Yes Friends, we have to feel that way, have that optimism that whatever we ask God for in faith, we will receive it. But you know that if we don’t first have hope, we can’t have faith, we can’t believe.
 
That’s because hope is what gives us that mindset which enables us to believe, where we hang on with great expectations. It is the basic foundation of faith and belief!
 
And that’s why the author of Hebrews, who I strongly believe was Bruh Paul, declares: ‘Now faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for, the evidence (conviction) of things not seen.’ (Heb.11:1)
 
Faith is definitely based on hope. And all I intend to do today is bombard us with scriptures on hope. Most, if not all of them, we ought to know already, but every so often we need a refresher course.
 
And we’ll begin with our Bit, as Bruh David boldly declares: ‘I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest (dwell securely) in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell (the abode of the dead): neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.’ (Ps.16:8-10)
 
And the Lord indeed did not suffer His ‘Holy One’ – Jesus Christ – to see corruption or languish in hell!
 
Ah mih people, Bruh David truly had lots of hope and faith in the God of his fathers! Listen to some of his passionate pronouncements.
 
From Psalm 22 – A cry of anguish and song of praise, he declares: ‘But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope (caused me to trust) when I was upon my mother’s breast. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly.’ (Ps.22:9-10)
 
That’s gospel truth Friends! From the very moment of our conception we belonged to Jehovah God, because He is the one who formed us in our mother’s womb and gave us life.
 
Now hear these words of wisdom, truth and encouragement from Psalm 31 – ‘In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust.  ‘Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.’ (Ps.31:24)
 
Words to live by my fellow believers! And that’s the beauty and relevance of Bruh David; he didn’t only mouth those words and sentiments, he lived by them to the best of his ability!
 
And this last scripture from Bruh David, from Psalm 39 – A prayer for understanding, is oh so true and so inspirational. ‘And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee.’ (Ps.31:7) Short, sweet and to the point my people!
 
Ah mih breddren, there are so many scriptures on hope in the Good Book, that finding them, made the Bit even later than it was already going to be. (smile) Now listen up, as Jeremiah tells us flatly: ‘Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.’ (Jer.17:7) No ifs, ands, or buts, about that my people! 
 
And in Romans 4, Bruh Paul, while talking about Abraham declares: ‘Who against (contrary to) hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.’ (Rom.4:18)
 
The reality of the situation seemed impossible in the physical realm, re Abraham and Sara’s age, but Abraham developed that strong spirit of hope in the spiritual realm, which led to faith in Almighty God.
And again in Romans 8, Bruh Paul proclaims: ‘For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience (perseverance) (eagerly) wait for it’ (Rom.8:24-25)
 
That’s just the reality of life Friends. You don’t have to hope for something that you can see, but when you can’t see it then you persevere in the Word of God and wait with eager expectation for it.
 
And we’ll close with these words from Bruh Paul to the Thessalonians. ‘Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God even our Father, which hath LOVED us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.’ (2 Thess.2:16-17)
 
And all God’s people declared a loud and grateful ‘Praise the Lord! Amen!’
 
Yes Friends, it all starts with hope, that tingling feeling that stirs our souls. So let’s go out and manifest that hope which we received from Jesus Christ, in our own words and deeds today nuh, for it’s our bounden duty, as well as the ultimate in wisdom! Much LOVE!
 
… to hope…to hope…and yet to hope in Jesus Christ…is the Christian’s duty…also his stronghold…his place of refuge… 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 9 November 2014 Exodus 20:8

09 Nov 2014 Leave a comment

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

Exodus 20:8.  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

And then it was Sunday…the Sabbath Day – the Day of the Lord – a special day set aside for fellowship, to give and receive encouragement from fellow believers, wherein our faith in Jehovah God is renewed, hope is engendered, and thus the strength of our spiritual man is increased!
 
Yes Friends, the Sabbath Day is very important in the life of the believer. So let’s take it from the beginning nuh, from that time when the Lord handed down the Ten Commandments to the children of Israel, through Moses, at the foot of Mt. Sinai (Horeb).
 
And the Lord considered the Sabbath Day so important that He included it in those Ten Commandments, as stated so simply but rather directly in our Bit. ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.’ A simple, but no nonsense statement my people!
 
And to further testify to the high esteem the Sabbath day held in God’s eyes, He went on to explain in this addendum. ‘Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
 
For in six days the Lord made the heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.’ (Ex.20:9-12)
 
There can therefore be no argument about the observation of the Lord’s Day my brethren! We might argue –as we so foolishly do – as to exactly which day, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, is the seventh day, and the real Sabbath. But the undeniable fact of the matter is that whichever day we choose to celebrate it, we must seriously reverence the Lord in it.
 
And it’s interesting to note that as the Israelites made their pilgrimage through the wilderness, as the Lord gave Moses directions and instructions on how His chosen people were to live, the celebration of the Sabbath was raised several times. Let’s spend the rest of the Bit looking at some of them.
 
In Exodus 23, in the section on ‘Judgements concluded,’ Moses throws in this timely reminder. ‘Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.’ (Ex.23:12)
 
There you have it Friends, in black and white, from the mouth of the Lord through Moses; the Sabbath day, besides being blessed, hallowed and holy, is a day for refreshing both body and soul!
 
And moving right along, we come to Exodus 31, where the Sabbath is highlighted as a sign. Listen to the Good Book tell it: ‘And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you (set you apart).
 
Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth (profanes) it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul (person) shall be cut off (by death) from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord; whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
 
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.’ (Ex.32:12-17)
 
Yuh see mih breddren, the Lord’s Day was considered so important that if you breached it, death was to be the punishment!
 
Luckily for us though, we don’t go to those drastic lengths today, since Jesus came and declared: ‘The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath. Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.’ (Mark 2:27-28)
 
And the scholars explain that thus: ‘2:27-28. Jesus’ reasoning is that divine intuitions on earth are to have a God-honouring, noble, and liberating function. Sabbath laws had for some degenerated into a mockery of God’s intent. Jesus, the Son of man and Lord…of the sabbath, having power to forgive sin, can also teach rightly regarding proper observance of the Jewish Sabbath. Jesus here touches a raw nerve, as the next incident shows.’ That’s His healing of a lame man on the Sabbath day. (Mark 3:1-6)
 
However Friends, it still behoves us to keep the Sabbath day holy, and fellowship with each other, because that is exactly what Jesus did. Wherever He was on the Sabbath day, He made sure that He attended the synagogue to fellowship and hear the Word.
 
Then in Leviticus 19, re the laws of holiness and justice, this little tidbit on the Sabbath is thrown in. ‘Ye shall keep (observe) my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.’ (Lev.19:30) And the same thing is thrown in again on the chapter on Idolatry. (Lev.26:2)
 
Then in Deuteronomy 5, when Moses reminds them of the covenant at Mt. Sinai (Horeb), he goes through the Ten Commandments again, including: ‘Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it (keep it holy), as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee.’ (Deut.5:12)
 
And we’ll close with a word from Isaiah on the observance of the Sabbath. ‘If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
 
Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places (hills) of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.’ (Is.58:13-14)
 
Yes Friends, if we truly honour the Lord on the Sabbath, then we will surely be blessed! That’s God’s promise. And we know He never breaks them, so let’s go out and honour Him today nuh, on His special day, and keep it as holy and restful as we can. That’s the wisdom of heaven! Much LOVE!
 
…if the Creator of the universe could rest from His labour for one day…why can’t His greatest creation faithfully do the same eh…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 November 2014 Psalm 4:1

02 Nov 2014 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 4:1.   Hear me when I call , O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged (relieved) me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me (be gracious to me), and hear my prayer.
 
Oh my Friends, it’s Sunday; the Sabbath Day, that blessed day of the Lord, when He rested from all His workweek labour! Oh Glory be! Let’s try and follow His example and do the same today nuh, as much as we can, or allowed to do in this 24/7 society.
 
And that includes fellowshipping with other believers at His sanctuary, where we can increase our faith, hope and trust in Almighty God through communal praise and worship. Yes my people, gathering together to magnify our mighty and magnanimous God is filled with all sorts of rewards.
 
And talking about rewards, here is a poem from that new to me, but old in actual age Devotional – The One Year Book of Bible Promises. The poem is titled ‘Enormous Rewards’ and says: ‘O dear God  Thank you for teaching me  The enormous rewards of walking obediently with You: There is joy without guilt  Freedom without fear  Satisfaction without sordidness  Purpose without confusion Friendship without compromise  Forgiveness without penance  Fulfilment without disappointment.’
 
And the scripture reading that comes with it is: ‘Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;’ (Eph.5:20) Not a bad idea at all my people, in fact a rather wise and advisable one for ALL believers, from the many that Bruh Paul declared.  
 
Now let’s turn to our Bit, where Bruh David is calling out for help through prayer, to the God of his fathers. ‘Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged (relieved) me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me (be gracious to me), and hear my prayer.’
 
Ah mih breddren, that is indeed a most worthy plea, but are our hearts in sync with God’s Word? That’s the big question? As our poem above talks about, are we walking obediently with Him? Hopefully the answer is a vigorous and truthful ‘Yes!’
 
And Bruh David continues thus with his evening prayer of trust in God: ‘O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye LOVE vanity (worthlessness), and seek after leasing (falsehood)?  Selah.
 
But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call upon him. Stand in awe (tremble, be agitated), and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.  Selah. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.’ (Ps.4:2-5)
 
Oh Friends, we couldn’t get any better advice than that!  Put your trust in God and talk to Him in prayer!
 
And Jesus is our poster boy, our most worthy example of that. Check out the night before His crucifixion, when He went up to the Garden of Gethsemane, and said to the disciples ‘Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder (over there) And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful (grieved) and very heavy (deeply distressed).
 
Then said he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry (stay) ye here and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
 
And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is week.
 
He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except (unless) I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.’ (Matt.26:36-44)
 
Oh Friends, what more do we need to make us believe in the necessity for prayer eh? There we have the Son of God, in His passion, beseeching His heavenly Father for mercy and help to endure His upcoming tribulations. Note too though, that regardless of all His pleas, one thing remained constant; He always acknowledged, it was the Father’s will that would be done.
 
And our prayers ought always to have that same acknowledgement my people. Regardless of what we desire, we must always be prepared to do the Lord’s bidding, to endure His will, because His will is paramount over everything. If Jesus recognized that, then as His followers, we should be wise enough to do so too.  
 
Now let’s look at one more example of the power of prayer: this when Herod kills James and imprisons Peter, having him personally watched by a squad of four soldiers, intending to put him on trial after the Passover. The Good Book relates: ‘Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.’  (Just as Bruh Paul advises in 1 Thess.17)
 
‘And when Herod would have brought (was about to bring) him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers (guards) before the door kept the prison. And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him (stood by), and he smote Peter on the side, and raise him up saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
 
And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist (knew) not that it was true (real) which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
 
When they were past the first and second ward (guard posts), they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
 
And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety (for certain), that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.’ (Acts 12:5-11)
 
Yes Friends, that’s the awesome power of sincere prayer! Please let it reassure and encourage us in all our worldly dealings. We do have an omnipotent and merciful God to call upon in times of need. Let’s make full use of that wonderful option, for it is indeed the wisdom of the ages! Much LOVE!
 
…prayer is our number one source of communication with our Creator…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 October 2014 Amos 4:6B

19 Oct 2014 Leave a comment

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

Amos 4:6B.         …yet ye have not returned unto me, saith the Lord.

Well my Friends, brothers, sisters, neighbours, kinsfolk and strangers, it’s Sunday; the Lord’s Day, the Sabbath Day, a day we are supposed to keep holy and magnify the Lord therein!
 
Yes my brethren, it’s calling for the gathering of all and sundry to worship and praise our esteemed Creator, Father God, and our wonderful Deliverer, Jesus Christ, the Name above every other name, to which all knees must bow and all tongues declare that He is Lord indeed!
 
So today, please let the sanctuaries be full of new creations in Jesus, all avidly singing and praising the wondrous name of the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!
 
And remember that it doesn’t really matter how many are gathered together, though it would be nice to have all creation, (smile) for Jesus promised that ‘where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.’ (Matt.18:20) So don’t be cowed by a lack of numbers, because it’s not the outward show He’s interested in, but the true state of our hearts.
 
Ah mih people, our God is such a wonderful Deity that it truly amazes me when folks refuse to worship Him! And none more so than the Israelites of old. Imagine it nuh Friends, after He brought them out of dire bondage in Egypt, gave them the Promised Land and prosperity they didn’t work for or even deserve, they had the gall, the ‘boldfaceness’ to turn away from Him! Steups!
 
And even His punishment for their dreadful disobedience didn’t seem to faze them. As the Good Book relates: ‘I have smitten (stricken) you with blasting (blight) and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm (locusts) destroyed them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.’ (Amos 4:9)
 
How foolish and insensitive my brethren! And the Good Book continues: ‘I have sent among you the pestilence (a plague) after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses (along with your captive horses); and I have made the stink (stench) of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.’ (Amos 4:10)
 
Ah Lord eh! One would think that by then they would have gotten the message. But they obviously did not. And the Good Book continues: ‘I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.’ (Amos 4:11)
 
What fools mih breddren! But in reality we can’t judge the Israelites of old too harshly, because we are doing the same foolish thing in our modern society. The Lord raised us up as great nations, but then, when prosperity set in, we behaved as though we did it all in our strength. Chuh! How foolish!
 
And I like how Amos describes it later on. ‘Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought (over nothing), which say, Have we not taken to us horns (a symbol of strength) by our own strength.’ (Amos 6:13)
 
So Friends, we in this modern technological age are just as ignorant, stupid and guilty as the Israelites were in their simple agrarian days. We are hearing the same warnings my people, with all sorts of disasters suddenly raining down on us all over the globe. Old diseases which we thought we had eradicated are coming back – polio, malaria – with new ones ever on the horizon, think of Ebola and Chikungunya.
 
Even our super drugs, antibiotics are no longer as useful, because superbugs are developing that resist them. Poverty, hunger and homelessness are widespread in a world of plenty. Greed and selfishness predominate. Economic fallout is widespread… And everyday we’re moving further and further away from God with our overly sinful, doh-care behaviour.  
 
Oh Friends, you don’t need me to point out the inequities, the shameful and disgraceful aspects of our society, because we are all touched and afflicted by them to some degree.
 
And as I contemplate our current disgusting situation, I’ve come to the conclusion that something is drastically wrong with our brains, because as children we were taught, it was drilled into us, that disobedience brought punishment. And we most certainly experienced it when we were foolish enough to disobey the authority in our lives, whether they were our parents, school teachers, the law, or even strangers!
 
So how now that we’re adults, when we should be wiser, we have turned against our wonderful, ever-LOVING and magnanimous God, Creator and Provider eh?
 
No wonder Jesus compared those fit for the kingdom of heaven to little children. ‘Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’ (Matt.18:3-4)
 
Obviously Friends, from our proud and disgusting behaviour, it’s obvious that we’re not humbling ourselves as little children, which means that our place in heaven is somewhat dicey.
 
And as the Lord eventually said to His chosen people: ‘Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind (or spirit), and declareth unto man what is his (God’s) thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The Lord, the God of hosts, is his name.’ (Amos 4:12-13)
 
That’s a powerful warning my people! As the scholars declare: ‘4:12-13. Prepare to meet thy God warns that God is not going to visit Israel with salvation, but rather with inevitable and complete judgement.’  
 
And unfortunately my people, He’s established the same destruction for us, if we continue in our evil, ungodly ways down the path of disobedience that we have so unwisely chosen to tread.
 
Please remember that He is our Creator and Controller, His thoughts and ways are much higher than ours, and He doesn’t play the silly mind games that we play. His patience is long, and He gives more than enough rope to hang ourselves. So let’s consider ourselves warned, and be wise and return to the Lord. That is the ultimate in wisdom! Much LOVE!
 
…continual .disobedience to God’s Law breeds only one thing…eventual punishment of death and destruction…but true repentance…oh my my… it joyfully  brings forgiveness and salvation…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 14 September 2014 Psalm 67:1

14 Sep 2014 Leave a comment

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

 Psalm 67:1.  God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us;   Selah. 

Well Friends, it’s the Lord’s Day, the Sabbath! The day on which He rested and rejuvenated Himself after creating the universe and all therein. Now it’s time for us to do the same. So let’s get ourselves to the Lord’s sanctuary today and fellowship with other believers; sing His praises, worship Him in sincerity and truth, giving Him the thanks and gratitude He so richly deserves.
 
Let there be joy and gladness in our hearts as we come together as one body in Christ Jesus, to glorify and magnify the Most High God Jehovah and receive His blessings, mercies, forgiveness, comfort, healing and strength to carry on in faith in this ungodly, strife-filled and evil world!
 
And as we celebrate this first day of the week with our focus on Almighty God, remember that the other days of the week will fall into easy lock-step with it, and enable us to have a better week than we would have had without that rejuvenation of Christ’s Spirit within us. The first day sets the tone for those that follow.
 
That brings us to our Bit: ‘God be merciful unto us; and cause his face to shine upon us;   Selah.’
 
Now yesterday we looked at what Psalm 67, the national psalm of thanksgiving itself said, today we’ll look at some other scriptures that invoke the same kind of blessed attitude.
 
And we’ll begin with the heartfelt words of Bruh David from Psalm 31, superscripted – In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust. ‘But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake.’ (Ps. 31:14-16)
 
Words of true faith my people! Then in Psalm 80, a prayer for restoration, the psalmist Asaph feels so strongly about his belief that he repeats it three times in the psalm. ‘Turn us again (restore us), O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.’ (Ps.80:3, 7, 19)
 
And that is exactly what happens when our omnipotent and LOVING God causes His face to shine upon us my brethren…we are saved! No ifs, ands, or buts about it!
 
And from that great expose on God’s word, Psalm 119, comes these words: ‘Deliver (direct) me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. Rivers of waters run down mine yes, because they (men) keep not thy law.’ (Ps.119:134-136)
 
Ah mih people, more entreaty for the Lord of hosts to shine His wonderful countenance upon His humble servants! That means there must be something sacred and powerful when the Lord shines His face upon His human creation. For even that mighty man of God, Daniel, invoked that in his prayer when he prayed for his people Israel, during the time of their captivity in Babylon.
 
‘Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause (be gracious) thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary (temple) that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.’ (Dan.9:17) Words to live by my fellow believers, words to certainly live by!
 
And here is where it all began, from the Aaronic benediction; that decreed by the Lord Himself, way back when the Israelites were making their way through the wilderness from slavery in Egypt to prosperity in the Promised Land.
 
‘And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
 
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee (look on you with favour), and give thee peace. And they shall put (invoke) my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.’ (Num.6:22-27)
 
There we have it my people; the Lord’s blessing upon His people Israel, and subsequently, with the coming of Jesus, for all those who believe in Him and honour Him as their Lord and Saviour.
 
There’s not much more to be said nuh Friends, except to advise us to go out and fellowship with other believers, get encouraged, rejuvenated and have the Lord’s countenance, His favour shine on us. That’s wisdom of the highest order! Much LOVE!
 
…to be blessed…to have the Lord’s radiance shine on us…oh what a privilege…oh what a joy…
 
P.S. No complaints today Friends, because it short and sweet! (smile) Much LOVE!

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 17 August 2014 Jeremiah 6:16

17 Aug 2014 Leave a comment

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

Jeremiah 16:6.     Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
 

Oh Friends, neighbours and fellow believers, it’s the best day of the week – Sunday, the Lord’s Day! So let’s celebrate appropriately by going to His sanctuary and worshipping, singing praises and giving thanks with other believers!
 
Wow! What a blessed day! And if you are too sick or frail to get out, then turn on the tube or the radio and celebrate with others that way. And if by chance you can’t do any of those things, then simply get your Bible out and read it and sing whatever hymns you know and worship with the Holy Spirit and Jesus as your companions.
 
The important thing is to get some celebratory face time with the Father on this restful day. (smile) But please don’t let the joy and singing and pleasure disappear when you come out of the sanctuary or turn off the TV and radio, because that is when our real work for Christ ought to begin.
 
Going to the sanctuary, in fact worshipping is also a means to rejuvenate our spirits, gladden our hearts, so that we can spread the joy and good news of Jesus to others. That’s where we’re supposed to get the energy, enthusiasm and whatever else we need to be good witnesses, good ambassadors for Christ.
 
And as we’ve been saying, it’s also the best way to prepare for that awesome first day of the workweek, Monday. Once you do right, make good preparations on Sunday, Monday will go off like a dream. (smile) And if you don’t believe me, then just try it nuh.
 
Now let’s continue with our Bit of the last couple days: ‘Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.’
 
Ah Friends, that is such an important scripture that we do ourselves a great injustice by not paying proper attention to it. History is littered with nations and individuals who refused to pay it the attention it deserved. Please don’t let us and our society be numbered amongst that unfortunate lot nuh.
 
We all know that when Western society truly had God at the forefront of their lives, it prospered like never before. But now that we’ve foolishly removed God from so many parts of Western life, everything is now on the downslide.
 
There’s very little peace and LOVE, but lots of hate and strife, while the economic situation is terrible and the standard of living is continually falling. But yet we refuse to return to the godly ways of our forefathers.
 
Oh my brethren, in the ways of God there’s peace and prosperity, and rest for your souls. Listen to Jesus’ great invitation: ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me; for I am meek (gentle) and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt.11:28-30)  
 
Oh my people, how could we ever turn down such a wonderful invitation eh?  It’s the epitome of foolishness! But unfortunately, there is a very large number of fools in this evil, ungodly world who refuse to walk with God and accept Jesus’ most awesome invitation. I’m sorry for them, but they’ve made their choice.
 
This brings us to a scripture in Luke 16, where Jesus is telling the parable of the rich man and the poor beggar Lazarus covered with sores that the dogs licked as he sat at the rich man’s gate, eating the crumbs from the rich man’s table, where a sumptuous meal was laid out every day.
 
But as the Lord would have it, the rich man died and went to sojourn with Lucifer in Hades, while Lazarus was transported to heaven where he enjoyed Abraham’s company in a messianic feast. We all know the story, where the rich man in severe torment, lifts up his eyes to heaven, sees Lazarus hanging with Abraham.
 
‘And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
 
And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
 
Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.’ (Luke 16:24-31)
 
Ah mih people, yuh see how life turns around on the other side, and how those in the nether parts of the world are suffering severe torment? That alone should be enough to make us serious believers. But sadly it doesn’t. As Abraham says, if we won’t listen to Moses and the prophets and Jesus, as I’ll show you in a moment, why would we listen to one coming from the dead eh?
 
In fact Jesus came from the dead and told us both before and after His resurrection, yet we didn’t believe and refused to walk in the godly paths. Now hear Jesus while talking about His relationship with the Father. ‘Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And (but) ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.’ (John 5:39-40)
 
Ah mih people, two thousand years later, mankind is still stupidly refusing to come to Jesus so that they might have life! But we believers are still expected to work at bringing the heathen to our wonderful Lord and Saviour, so let’s not get weary and tired, though the task seems difficult:
 
‘And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ.’ (Col.3:23-24) 
 
That’s wisdom of the highest order my brethren! So please let’s practice it nuh. Much LOVE!
 
…there is a way which seemeth right unto a man…but the end thereof are the ways of death… (Prov.14:12)

 

 

 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 10 August 2014 Deuteronomy 33:27

10 Aug 2014 Leave a comment

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

Deuteronomy 33:27.    The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and he shall say, Destroy them.

Aye mih people, fellow believers in Jesus Christ, once again the week has come full circle – Sunday to Sunday. Yeh, it’s time to begin another new week on the Lord’s Day.

And I was guided by the person of the Holy Spirit to remind us of two unassailable, irreversible truths. The first is that the Bible is God’s Word to us, and remains fresh through all the ages. And if we read it, we will find God’s wisdom embedded in its pages.

And the second truth is that ONE truth from the Bible is worth more than all the wisdom of man.

Oh Friends, please let’s spend a quiet moment and contemplate on those two statements, while writing them indelibly in our hearts and souls, for they will certainly help to guide us along the straight and narrow path that we need to adhere to, to successfully follow our wonderful Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

And now having reminded us of those two glorious truths, (smile) let’s also remind us that the Lord’s Day is the day we generally get together with other believers in His sanctuary to sing and praise, worship, glorify and magnify our heavenly Father, Jehovah God! So please, let’s get ourselves together and find ourselves in a place of worship sometime today.

And the great thing about getting together to worship, is not only that it magnifies and glorifies God, but it also raises our spirits, puts a positive spin on our doings, brings joy to our souls and readies us for the coming Monday, the first day of the work week!

Yes Friends, having participated in joyful praise and worship on Sunday, undoubtedly enables us to face the daunting Monday without fear. In fact we are enabled to face it with complete assurance, joy and the oodles of positive opportunities that will be available to help us spread the good news of Jesus and His wonderful doings! In other words, to face Monday fearlessly and positively, we have to start getting ready on Sunday by worshipping.

And today we’ll continue with the message of our Bit from yesterday. ‘The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.’

Yes Friends, that’s our great God! We have already seen how He is the safest and most wonderful refuge we can ever have, how He gathers us under His protective and comforting wings like the hens gather their chickens under their wings, and how He provides awesome comfort to all who believe and come to Him for succour.

Now let’s look at the second half of the Bit: ‘…and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.’  

And my brethren, that is exactly what the Lord said to the Israelites through Moses, at the beginning of their Exodus from bondage in Egypt. Listen to what Moses told them way back in chapter 9 of Deuteronomy.

‘Hear, O Israel: Thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go into possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced (fortified) up to heaven, A people great and tall, the children of the Anakim, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, who can stand before the children of Anak!

Understand therefore this day, that the Lord thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the Lord hath said unto thee.

Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the Lord thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For (because of) my righteousness the Lord hath brought me to possess this land: but for (because) the wickedness of these nations the Lord doth drive them out from before thee.

Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform (fulfill) the word which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ (Deut.9:1-5)  

Yes Friends, the Lord made it abundantly clear that they would inherit the Promised Land, not because of their righteousness, since they were already a stubborn, disobedient and stiff-necked people, but because of His will and the wickedness of the people then inhabiting the Land.  Above all, it would fulfill His promise to their fathers to give the land to their descendants.

But even with God’s assurance of victory, the Israelites were afraid, and showed that fear and stubbornness by refusing to cross over the Jordan and take the land. And it’s not like they hadn’t experienced the wonders, goodness and miracles of God during their exodus from Egypt.

That’s why the Lord allowed them to wander in the wilderness for forty more years, until all the people who had come out of Egypt had died. It simply showed a lack of true faith and trust in the God of their fathers, in spite of all He had done for them. That, to the Lord was definitely not acceptable.

Ah mih people, how many of us today behave the same way eh? How many of us have God assuring us of victory in some area(s) of our lives, but because of fear or some other negative emotion, we refuse to take the next step, that leap of faith that will solidify our trust in His LOVE and faithfulness?  How many of us have missed out, or are missing out on God’s blessings like the stubborn and fearful Israelites eh?

Oh Friends, that is not the way Jesus expects His followers to live. We can’t say we trust and believe and surrender, then don’t do what He asks or guides us to do! That just makes our faith a total lie!

So please, for today’s ‘ponderation’ (smile), let’s take serious stock of our actual level of faith nuh, not the one we believe we have, but the real nitty gritty one, and see where we are falling down in the things that Jesus asks and expects of us, and then,  with sincere prayer, ask Him to help us improve.

Now that is what is termed absolute wisdom! For He WILL NEVER refuse our requests in that area. Much LOVE!

…if God has been faithful to us in the past…why would we ever doubt Him in the present and the future…

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 August 2014 Psalm 26:12

03 Aug 2014 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 26:12.    My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the Lord.
 

Oh Friends, it’s Sunday – the Lord’s Day! That means it’s time for all true believers to gather in His sanctuary and fellowship; sing, praise, worship, give thanks, magnify and glorify God’s Holy Name!
 
And all God’s people said a loud, grateful and sincere. ‘Praise the Lord! Let His light so shine before us that we may walk worthy of Him! Amen.’
 
Ah mih people, Sunday used to be such a blessed day; a day for family and worship, but as in so many other areas of life, the world has stretched its evil tentacles into Sunday too. Now the family and worship have been seriously fractured by work.
 
So many more places of business are now open on Sundays, it makes it difficult for many of us to have time for family gatherings, or time to go to church. And the sad part is that it’s getting worse!
 
Sunday is no longer a revered or special day. It’s now become just another ordinary day, another day for doing business. Steups!
 
Ah Lord eh! My people, we have to stand strong and push back some. The Lord said there should be at least one day of rest from toil and labour every week, but if we don’t look sharp, we won’t even have the little we now have. Lucifer and his evil felons are just trying to draw us away from Jehovah God in any which way they can.
 
They don’t care what it is, it could be life or death, once it separates or keeps us away from God, they’re happy. We can’t allow that to happen my brethren.
 
So please, let’s get up and go out and worship Almighty God in droves, let’s take it to the limit, and let the evil one and his foolish minions know that we will not be intimidated, we will not be railroaded into giving up our Sunday privileges, or stop worshipping our most wonderful God on His special day!
 
And all the children of God gave a mighty shout of ‘Amen! So let it be!’
 
Oh my fellow believers, we need to call upon the Lord as Bruh David did in our Bit, when he was falsely accused. ‘But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the Lord.’ (Ps.26:11-12)
 
Yes my Friends, a Christian’s cloak is his integrity, and we ought not to fear acknowledging and publicly blessing and praising the Lord for His goodness to us. And I know these days it’s easier than ever to be wrongly accused, with the great amount of false information that’s swirling around in our information age.
 
And the sad part is that once the allegations are made, they stick in people’s minds, even though we may be eventually found to be innocent of them. Unfortunately, that is just the nature of the beast, of the unforgiving society in which we currently live.
 
But Friends, regardless of what comes against us, we always need to stand strong and steadfast with the Lord, especially when we are falsely accused. Don’t allow the enemy to browbeat us into wrongly admitting guilt.
 
Hear how Bruh David opens Psalm 26, from which out Bit is taken. ‘Judge (vindicate) me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide (slip).
 
Examine me, O Lord, and prove (try) me; try my reins (test my mind) and my heart. For thy LOVING-kindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.’ (Ps.26:1-3)
 
Oh my people, if we can truthfully say those words, then there’s no need to worry. Our gracious God will certainly hear our innocent cry and justify us before men.
 
Listen again to Bruh David as he offers praise for answered prayer in Psalm 40. ‘I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings (steps).
 
And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.’ (Ps.40:1-4)
 
Oh my fellow believers, truer words were never spoken! If we make the Lord our faithful strong tower, and walk in integrity according to His dictates, we have nothing to fear. The Lord will address our needs and our grievances in His own time; we just need to wait patiently on Him.
 
Now that’s not always such an easy thing to do, especially when the waters of discontent, injustice and/or malice are swirling madly around us. But it’s what we need to do as true believers, for remember that the Lord has designated vengeance and justice as His domain. Ours is not to reason why, just to trust in Him; His tender mercy, grace and forgiveness, that He administers with unconditional LOVE.
 
Oh Friends, our heavenly Father is the most powerful force in the universe! No other being can thwart His pronouncements unless He allows it. So please let us stand strong, faithful and true in our belief in Him.
 
And this Sunday morning, I believe it’s ever so appropriate that we end with the memorable words that our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ taught us.
 
Please pray with me: ‘Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.’ (Matt.6:9-13)
 
That says it all my brethren! Please have a blessed day as you walk sincerely with our Father in heaven. Much LOVE!
 
…to know, know, know Him…is to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Him…for ALL the time…Jesus is mine…

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 20 July 2014 Mark 5:36b

20 Jul 2014 Leave a comment

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

Mark 5:36b.      Be not afraid, only believe.
 

Oh Friends, it’s Sunday; the Lord’s Day, so let’s be up and rejoicing nuh, giving thanks that we’ve been blessed to see it! And hopefully too, we are all getting ready to go out and worship Him in the sanctuary with other believers, singing songs of praise and thanksgiving for all His LOVING- kindness to us, because it is mete and right to do so.
 
And glorifying God not only warms the cockles of His heart, but it also invigorates us, strengthens our faith, as we exhort and encourage each other to keep on keeping on despite the trials and tribulations in our individual circumstances.
 
And I’m going to keep the preamble short because I want to get in a lot of scripture, so that I can finish the messages on this Bit today. But there’s no guarantee on that, since who knows where the Holy Spirit will lead me. (smile)
 
But as Jesus says: ‘Be not afraid, only believe.’
 
Anyway, we left off yesterday where Martha, Lazarus’ sister declared her unswerving belief that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. (John 11:27) Now later on, when they had taken Jesus to Lazarus’ tomb, and He told them to roll away the stone from the tomb’s entrance, Martha was aghast and ’saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
 
Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldst believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I know that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.’ (John 11:39-42)
 
Yes my brethren, Jesus was doing all that stuff so that the people could believe. Why? Because mankind is so unstable, doubting and fearful that we tend to believe more readily when we actually see physical evidence of what is being proposed to us. Unlike our physical sight, our eyes of faith don’t come automatically, they have to be developed through experience and understanding.
 
And we see that Jesus’ strategy worked, because after He called forth Lazarus from the opened tomb, and he came out alive and kicking, the Good Book declares: ‘Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.’ (John 11:45)
 
Glory Hallelujah, my people! But as we just said, man’s fear is usually his downfall. For as the Good Book continues: ‘But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.
 
Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we (shall we do)? For this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone (alone like this), all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.’ (John 11:46-48)
 
Ah Friends, the Jewish rulers were sore afraid that if Jesus was left to His own devices, the people would believe that He was indeed the Messiah, and the Romans would come in to halt the LOVE Revolution that He’d set in motion, and they would lose their positions of power and influence.
 
Now here is some interesting info from the scholars. ’11:45-48. The Pharisees had tried to kill Jesus on several occasions, always by the orthodox Jewish method of stoning. The Sadducees were willing to accomplish it through their political union with the Roman power. Thus prophecy was fulfilled (Ps.22:1-18).
 
Of course the Sadducees were particularly agitated by Lazarus’ resurrection, since they did not believe in the resurrection. However, their main concern with Jesus was that He might cause a messianic uprising (v.48). Unlike the Pharisees, their interests were political, not theological: blasphemy or healing on the Sabbath did not particularly disturb them.’
 
So both power-broking groups of Jews had a lot to lose if Jesus was allowed to freely continue His ministry. Ah Friends, belief is truly the nemesis of fear yes; for fear cringes in the presence of belief, as we can see from the behaviour of the ruling Jewish classes.
 
And we’ll close with one more passage of scripture from Jesus, a rather significant passage, this when He was teaching a group of Greeks who had come up to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast.
 
At one stage He told them about the Son of man being lifted up: ‘This he said, signifying what death he should die. The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?
 
Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knowest not whither he goeth. While ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children (sons) of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.’ (John 12:33-36)
 
I don’t give Jesus wrong at all for getting away from them nuh, because listen to the next verse. ‘But though he had done so many miracles (signs) before them, yet they believed not on him. (John 12:37)
 
Oh Friends, what is wrong with us eh, why are we so hardhearted and refuse to believe despite all that Jesus has done and is still doing for us?
 
Anyway, my brethren, let us not be like those people of old nuh, we have many more facts and figures than they had, so please let us believe. For it is the wisdom of heaven! Much LOVE!
 
…just like light covers and consumes darkness…so too does belief strangle and kill fear…it’s therefore wise to walk in light and belief…

 

 

 

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