Today’s Scrip-Bit 9 November 2019 1 John 2:17.

09 Nov 2019 Leave a comment

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

1 John 2:17.    ​And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.
 

Ah Lord eh people! The devil surely knows how to interrupt our day and cause us to get into an unholy tiff! I was down here fairly early to write the Bit, even opened the internet access and checked some emails, and replied to a couple. Next thing I know, the computer’s telling me there’s no internet access, so they couldn’t be sent. On checking, there seems to be some problem with my internet provider, the great Bell Canada, so right now I have no internet or TV access. Steups! I was having problems with the old computer, so I bought a new one, now I’m having problems with the internet provider. 

Then, I was planning to come and write the Bit on Word so it could be easily sent out whenever the situation is rectified, but today is Saturday, time for our friend Anselm’s quotes, but I can’t even get to them because they are in my internet mailbox. So everything will just have to wait! Glory Be! What else can I say eh? I’m chuckling here, because there’s nothing much I can do. You can’t even get through to Bell on the phone; the line’s busy. Oh, the duchess just told me that everything is back, except the internet…Whoopee dee! 

You know I’m even surprised that I have such a good attitude. I expected to be quite annoyed…and guess I was, because earlier on it gave me a headache. That good attitude must be the Lord’s doing yes, because I certainly can’t remember pressing the good attitude button. (smile) So that’s it until the internet comes back. (9.16 a.m.) Yuh know what, I can’t even save this, because it has to go through the server!  Chuh! What a way we’ve become beholden, de facto slaves, to electronic technology! 

Yeaaah! It’s come back at 922! So we can go right into our friend Anselm’s quotes and see how he aspired to inspire us this week. Here is the first one: ‘You do not find the happy life. You make it.’ And that’s oh so true! Unfortunately too many of us seem to think that a happy life comes naturally, especially believers who have just hooked up to Jesus. But that’s one of the devil’s many lies. If you want to have a happy life, even with Jesus, you have to do your part to make it so. And the best route to happiness is obviously the one that runs through Jesus! Praise His holy name! 

And the second quote advises us to ‘Limit your “always” and your “nevers”.’ Now that’s not bad advice because life is so contrary, that one moment you’ll say you’ll never do something, then the next find yourself having to do it. I can speak to that from personal experience. There have been so many things I claimed I’d never do, but eventually ended up doing them because of life and its contrary circumstances. So let’s not make too may extreme statements, because life just finds pleasure in making us eat our words. 

Moving on to the next quote: ‘When you are through changing, you are through.’ Now that leaves me somewhat confused because I don’t really understand what it means. (smile) Taken exactly as it’s written, it makes sense; when you’re done changing, you can’t change anymore. Unless it means that when you are finished changing, you have come through the changes, like coming through a tunnel or something. But let’s not forget that one of the few certainties we have in life is that it’s always changing, which means we too are always in the process of change. 

And we all know the verity of this next quote: ‘Nothing is impossible. The word itself says “I’m possible!” Yeh friends and fellow believers in Jesus Christ, we know that for a fact, as the angel Gabriel told Mary, Jesus’ mother when he informed her that she was going to bear a child without knowing a man. (Luke 1:26-35) Wow! ‘For with God nothing shall be impossible.’ (Luke 1:37) And so it should be my people! The creator of our great universe can do any and everything! And that benefits us oh so much, that I don’t understand why so many people are turning away from Him, rather than running into His ever ready, waiting and LOVING arms! 

But hopefully this last quote will help us see the wisdom of turning to God, through Christ Jesus. It says: ‘Everything comes to pass, nothing comes to stay.’ And that’s gospel truth my brethren! And we’ll look at a few scriptures that support that statement, starting with Bruh Paul’s contention to the Corinthians: ‘Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.’ (2 Cor.5:17) Yes friends, the first step in becoming righteous means a passing away of one’s old life and all the ungodly things that existed in it. 

And then too friends, our earthly and mortal bodies will pass away. But, per Bruh Paul: ‘Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.’ (1 Cor. 15:51) Our bodies will go back to the dust from whence they came, but our spirits will live on forever with our Triune God, all thanks to Jesus Christ, who gives us that eventual victory! 

Now hear John in his first epistle. ‘For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.’ (1 John 2:16) Ah mih people, sin and our evil desires are so much a natural part of our human existence it’s difficult to run away from them, but we ought to, since as John continues: ‘And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.’ It could not be any plainer or straightforward than that my brethren! 

And John seals it all with this vision in his Revelations. ‘And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.’ (Rev.21:1) Yeh friends, just like Isaiah predicted in Is. 65:17 and 66:22, a new world will eventually replace this old one, a world cleansed of sin and all negativity! Wow! Am I ever looking forward to that time! But one word of warning; we’ll only be able to enjoy that sinless world if we have stood strong and steadfast with Jesus during our earthly lives. Any other lifestyle will lead to death and eternal damnation, eternal separation from Jesus! And that’s the worst thing that can happen to a spiritual being!  Much LOVE!

…what passes doesn’t matter…when you’re in league with Jesus…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 April 2015 Psalm 22:9 ‏‏‏‏‏‏

28 Apr 2015 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 22:9.     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.

Aye Friends, welcome to a terrific Tuesday! And some of you grouchily ask, what’s so terrific about it eh? We still have the same trials and tribulations to endure? But Friends, that’s a shortsighted approach to the situation from a negative position.

Think about it this way nuh. The breath of life is still coursing purposely through our finite bodies. That means the Lord still has use for us down here on earth.

And then think about all the new blessings, mercies, forgiveness, compassion and grace that He’s earmarked specially for today, to bountifully shower down on us, so that we can do His bidding successfully. Now if that doesn’t make it a terrific Tuesday, then I don’t know what does! (smile)

Oh my people, we all know that life was never meant to be a bed of roses, there will be struggles and serious difficulties, but remember when we walk sincerely with Jesus Christ, we will be empowered to face all the negativity with a smile and steadfast faith, and also come through it with glowing report cards, much more Christ-like than when it all began. Wow! What a wonderful God we serve and worship my brethren!

Oh Friends, the Lord has done His part, providing all that wonderful stuff for us. The problem though is that we now need to do our part, which is to gratefully and joyously receive His magnanimous offerings. We can be given lots of stuff, but until we accept and receive them, it’s all a wasted effort.

So today, please let’s look on the bright side of life and accept and receive with thanksgiving all that the Lord has offered us. That will certainly make it a terrific Tuesday!

And it also brings us to our Bit. ‘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.’

Oh Friends, what an encouraging scripture verse! From our very first breath, our Creator placed a little thing, sorry, a mighty emotion called HOPE in our souls. Yes my brethren, from the very beginning, God made sure that we had something strong and versatile to carry us through the rough times that we would most certainly endure in this earthly life.

So much so, that as Sister Joyce (Joyce Meyer) likes to say, we’ve become ‘prisoners of HOPE’! And that’s a rather apt description of Christians, for if we don’t hold on tightly to HOPE in Jesus, then crapaud smoke we pipe!

The term itself comes from Zechariah, when he talks about Zion’s future king: ‘Turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of HOPE: even today do I declare that I will render (restore) double unto thee.’ (Zech.9:12)

Yes my fellow believers, each and every day we need to turn to the stronghold of the Most High God, Jehovah, to replenish the HOPE in our souls! For without that HOPE, we don’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell, against Lucifer and his evil minions.

Now Friends, here is some scripture that corroborates all that we’ve been saying. I never planned to include it all, but realized that just pulling a couple verses out of context would not be really helpful. So here goes.

The author of Hebrews is here talking about an anchor of the soul. ‘For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could sware by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men verily sware by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife (dispute). Wherein God, willing more abundantly (determining) to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability (unchangeableness) of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

That by two immutable (unchangeable) things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the HOPE set before us: which HOPE we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil (the Presence behind the veil).

Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made (having become) a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.’ (Heb.6:13-20)

Oh my people, I know that’s a somewhat convoluted and thus difficult section of scripture to understand, so here is some info from the scholars to help us do so. ‘6:13-18. God’s covenant with Abraham, which involves salvation (Gal.3:15-25), is secure, being based on two immutable things, that is, elements that cannot change.

First, God’s promise is based on His own unchanging Word. He cannot lie, nor will He allow His Word to fail (Matt.5:18; John 10:35; 17:17). Further, His Word was confirmed by an oath. And since He can swear by none greater, He swears by Himself. He rests His Word on His holy character.’

And the scholars continue to explain: ‘6:19-20. Starting at the end of verse 18, the author uses three pictures to demonstrate the security of being in Christ. First, it is described as a safe retreat for the believer, as were the six cities of refuge in the Old Testament to those allowed their protection. (Num.35:6-32).

Second, our HOPE is sure and steadfast as is a well-placed, unbending anchor. Our anchor is not located in the deepest sea but in the highest heaven. The third figure is that of a forerunner. Though the figure changes, the location does not. Our forerunner is likewise positioned in the sanctuary of heaven.

As our forerunner, Jesus is far different from the Old Testament priests. In the sanctuary they could intercede for the people, but they could not lead the people in themselves. As our forerunner, Jesus has opened the way before us, that eventually (and certainly) we might enter in with Him.’

Oh Friends, I know that’s a lot to digest, but I do hope that we take it seriously, and that it brings us all to a greater understanding of God’s Word, for that’s our avowed purpose. Please stay strong and steadfast in Christ; continue to be a prisoner of HOPE. Much LOVE!

…HOPE…it is the heavenly anchor of our souls…and that’s the Lord’s intentional doing…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 10 March 2015 1 Corinthians 3:11‏‏

10 Mar 2015 Leave a comment

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

1 Corinthians 3:11.  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Well my wonderful Friends and neighbours, a good Tuesday morning to you all! I hope that these words meet or find you in a state of good health, peace and happiness. But if they don’t, then I hope that they will help to bring you to that place where you can access the comfort and joy of our healing, peace-giving and ever-LOVING God.

And with that, I must say that this Daylight Saving Time thing is not thrilling me at all, for it’s playing games with my mind. I wake up and see it that it’s still pretty dark and think it is yet the middle of the night, when it is already far gone into the morning.

And this is no excuse for the Bit being late. (smile) I was just tired and didn’t feel like getting up early. But as so many things we can’t do anything about, we just have to grin and bear it and work it into our schedules, as best we can.

And today we’re going to check out a most interesting quote attributed to an old-time politician. His name was Aneurin Bevan (1897-1960). He was the Minister of Health in the post-war Attlee government in Britain, also a social reformer and the chief architect of the British National Health Service.

Now Mr. Bevan is reputed to have said that ‘The purpose of getting power is to be able to give it away.’ Wow!

When I read that on the February page of the almanac, I was certainly taken aback. What! A politician talking about giving away power! Hn! It just doesn’t jive with the actions of today’s politicians, where they all want to cling forever to all the power they can get.

And it certainly doesn’t line up with the sentiments of another British politician, Lord Acton (1834-1902), who reputedly said that ‘Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are always bad men.’

Now that sounds more like what a lot of us tend to believe from the actions of our politicians and power-brokers. But in my research I found one journal also stating an interesting fact on the matter, that ‘The part of the truth Lord Acton did not realize when stating “power corrupts” is that the corrupted seek power.’

And that’s absolutely true, because if you want to be a successful corrupted person or entity, then you must have the power to both do your corrupt deeds and then have the power or wherewithal to hide them.

But who knows what really goes on in the minds of corrupt and power-hungry people eh? For example, which leads the other eh? It’s like the conundrum of the chicken and the egg; which one came first?

Anyway Friends, if there is one thing we can be sure of, is that the modern day politicians, or those in any other walk of life today, are NOT seeking power to be able to give it away, but to cling to it for dear life.

And my kind regards to Mr. Bevan for thinking that, and I’m not being cynical, for I wish it were really true, but I’ve yet to see it in action. But enough about man’s thirst and struggle for power and their subsequent abuse of it.

Let’s turn to our Bit, which tells us of where the true power in the universe lies. ‘For other foundation can no man lay that that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.’  

Yes my people, as Christians, we know that’s where the true power in this world lies; in Jesus Christ our wonderful Lord and Saviour, who sacrificed His holy and sinless life for us, was crucified, died and was buried, then on the third day rose triumphantly from the grave, thus defeating hell and death, and ascended into heaven, where He’s now advocating to the Father on our behalf!

Mama Mia! Can any mortal man, regardless of how much earthly power he possesses, do that? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

So please let’s not be too worried or concerned about the power of men, for as Jesus said: ‘And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.’ (Matt.10:28)

And yes my brethren, I know it’s very easy to quote all these wonderful scriptures, but actually living them, or putting them into action is not simple or easy.

However, we do have to try and live by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit that indwells us, if we want to have a successful earthly journey with Christ, that eventually leads to eternal life in heaven with Him.

And per our Bit, listen to these fateful words of Jesus, as He spoke the parables of the two sons and wicked husbandmen, re obedience, to the Pharisees and chief priests. ‘Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner (chief cornerstone):

This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whosoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.’ (Matt.21:42-44)

Ah mih breddren, that’s what the unfaithful have to look forward to – be crushed like powder! And the Jewish elders realized that Jesus was referring to them, in their refusal to accept Him as the Messiah. But they were afraid to touch Him, because the crowd revered Him as a prophet.

And we’ll end to day with these explanations from the scholars. ’21:44-46. The warning The kingdom of God shall be taken from you (v.43) was fulfilled at Pentecost when the kingdom was mediatorily (like in mediation) transferred to the church. Yet, within this warning of judgement, Jesus offers mercy to those falling on this stone, meaning, falling upon Him in repentance and faith. But His falling upon man in judgement will grind him to powder.’

Oh my people, what more can I say to encourage us to fall on Jesus through sincere faith and repentance eh? Not much, because Jesus Himself spelled it out in clear and simple terms. It’s now left up to us, as individuals, whether or not we’re going to accept His free offer of grace and mercy that lead to salvation.

For all our sakes though, I’d strongly recommend that we grab it as fast and as quickly as we can, because He’s not going to offer it again. When He returns in all His glory and majesty, which can be anytime, all the wonderful offers will then be made null and void.

So please, I implore us to let wisdom reign, and let us grasp the hand of Jesus, hold it tightly, and walk in obedience and LOVE with Him, for that’s what our Creator and heavenly Father desires of us. That’s why He sacrificed Jesus on the cross at Calvary. Much LOVE!

…he who has ears to hear…let him hear…else he will pay a grave price for his disobedience…eternal separation from God…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 21 September 2013 Matthew 16:18

21 Sep 2013 Leave a comment

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

Matthew 16:18.    And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter (a stone) and upon this rock (large rock) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Oh Friends, it’s one more morning, one more day! And though it looks like it might be a rainy day in my area, it certainly won’t stop the outpouring of new mercies, blessings, manna and forgiveness from heaven above. Don’t you just LOVE the faithfulness and LOVING-kindness of our wonderful God? Nothing stops His daily benevolence to His children, although we most often don’t deserve it.
 
And all God’s people declared a loud and joyful shout of, “Praise the Lord God Jehovah for His unceasing goodness to the children of sinful men!’ And that’s certainly how it ought to be my brethren!
 
Anyway, I want to clear up something that I said yesterday, which was, and is liable to cause some confusion. In the last scripture I spoke of getting some wise words ‘from the Rock – Petros, Peter.’ Thankfully one of my readers pointed out the problem, that some people would take it to mean that Peter was the ‘Rock’ on which Christ intended to build His church.
 
And this would be totally plausible after reading our Bit. ‘And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter (a stone) and upon this rock (large rock) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’ 
 
Now let’s get some background on it. This scripture came up after Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was. And the ever bright and feisty Simon chirped up: ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona (son of Jonah): for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt.16:16-17)
 
Jesus was saying there that Simon had achieved that conclusion through spiritual insight. Then He launched into our Bit.
 
I believe the problem comes from the translation of the Greek words used in the original; ‘Petros and Petra.’ The first, ‘Petros’ which we translate as Peter, apparently means a small stone, while ‘Petra,’ means a large rock. The distinction has obviously gotten lost in the English translation. And though Jesus’ next words tend to convey the ‘Rock’ meaning, we’ll see differently afterwards.
 
After our Bit, Jesus tells Peter: ‘And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: And whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’ (Matt.16:19)
 
But Jesus says the same words to all the apostles later on when talking about lost sheep. ‘Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’ (Matt.18:18)
 
Now hear the scholars take on the subject. ’16:18. The Greek word used for rock (petra) is played against the name Peter (Gr. Petros). Some use this passage to teach that Peter was the foundation stone of the church, that he had a primacy among the apostles, and that he became Bishop of Rome. The verse will scarcely bear the first of these propositions, and certainly none of the others.
 
Peter may be meant by the rock, but he is not the exclusive foundation. For the twelvefold foundation of the apostles of the church, see Ephesians 2:20 and Revelation 21:14. This seems borne out by the fact that the same words are spoken to all the disciples in Matthew 18:18 as are spoken to Simon Peter in 16:19. Therefore the rock or foundation of the church is the confession (ultimately, the doctrine) of the apostles, which became normative for the true church.’
 
Oh Friends, I surely hope that clears up any confusion my words may have caused yesterday. And to make life easier for us all, (smile) I’ll quote two of the other appropriate scriptures the scholars referenced, beginning with the one from Revelation. Here John is talking about the New Jerusalem which an angel spiritually carried him away to see. ‘And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in (on) them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.’ (Rev.21:14)
 
Obviously Peter was not the only foundation stone of the church, though he played a large part in its creation and continuation. Now turning to the Ephesians scripture. Bruh Paul is here telling them about the unity of all believers.
 
‘Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed (being joined) together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord.’ (Eph.2:19-21)
 
Yes my brethren, Jesus came and tore down all the barriers between Jews and Gentiles, ripped down the veil of the old temple and laid the foundation of His church on the work of the apostles and prophets, with Him being the corner stone.
 
As Jesus said when relating the parable of the wicked husbandmen: ‘Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner (cornerstone): this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?’  (Matt.21:42)
 
There Jesus is quoting the words of the psalmist, (Ps.118:22-23) words that were written long before He came to earth in human form, thus again proving the importance of the Old Testament as a foreshadowing of the New.
 
Ah mih people, I do hope that today’s message will bring some clear or even clearer insight into the rock situation with Peter. He was important in the foundation of Christ’s church, but not the rock, or even the chief stone. Much LOVE!
 
…the Church’s ONE foundation…is Jesus Christ her Lord…She is His new creation…by water and the Word…