Today’s Scrip-Bit   19 June 2023 Acts 1:4.

19 Jun 2023 Leave a comment

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

Acts 1:4.       but wait for the promise of the Father, which saith he, ye have heard of me….

Here we go round the merry-go-round, the merry-go-round, the merry-go-round. Here we go round the merry-go-round, on a Monday morning! Yes friends, the work week has made its way back around again and grabbed us by our proverbial whatever (smile) as it has the inhumane and obstinate habit of doing every week without fail. We simply cannot get away from it because that’s the way our wise and wonderful God planned it.

 So what’s the answer then? Just grin and bear it! Get used to it, learn to enjoy it and use it to enhance your life and lead you to your God-given destiny. That’s what the Lord desires of us. And none of us like the recurring work weeks over a number of years, but you might as well embrace it because it’s not going to change, and even when we return to the dust from whence we came, it will keep coming back every seven days. 

We need to learn and accept that life is mostly the same old, same old, a mostly mundane and unexciting existence, with only a few exciting periods in it. It cannot be exciting every day, though it can be interesting, especially if you’re walking with Jesus, as your Guide and Leader. Then I can assure you that interesting things will happen, but not necessarily every day. 

We have grown so used to the pseudo excitement of the world with all its celebrities and stars and superstars and influencers and social media and all the other foolishness and foolish people who claim to lead such exciting lives, which in many cases is nothing but a blatant lie, as fostered on us by the enemy, trying to make us believe that we too can live that exciting life the rich and famous supposedly enjoy. But it’s all hogwash my people, for nobody can live a life of continual excitement, on the go all the time, else it will kill you before your best due date. 

Did we ever see Jesus rushing all over the place like crazy, like we’re doing these days? No. He took His time in going where He needed to go and in doing what He had to do, and still accomplished a lot more than some of us do, rushing about like there’s a bee under our bonnet. And remember that Jesus had to walk almost every place He went. And that was desert-like territory, with the hot sun blazing down mercilessly on you. 

Can you imagine us doing that now? Of course not! Although with all the road closures and congested roadways, oftentimes we can get to where we want quicker by walking. How many of us are embroiled in traffic jams morning and evening, five days a week eh? Too many of us. But that’s the modern society…and we call it progress. 

Now don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t want to be walking all those distances that Jesus did, although as a young boy going back and fro to school, my regular method of travel was usually by P2 (my two legs). Nowadays, most of us walk for exercise, not as a means of getting from one place to another. One of the reasons why our society is so obese and unhealthy. 

I wish I could show you a map of Jesus’ travels, from Jerusalem in Judea, the south of the country to places like Capernaum in Galilee to the distant north, about 78 miles, all travelled on foot. Just walking from Jerusalem to Jericho, both in Judea, in Jesus’ day was a 15 mile journey. And from Cana to Capernaum, both in Galilee was about twenty miles distance, possibly a day’s journey. So it wasn’t an easy life. But Jesus persevered and did what He had to do to spread His ministry all over the area. 

However, in these modern times, with the advent of technology, many of us don’t even have to leave home to do that, yet we still find it difficult to spread the good news of the gospel and the wonderful kingdom of heaven with eternal life that awaits believers. Just look at the distance Abraham travelled from his original home in Padan Aram when the Lord told him to pack up and leave his father’s house and He would lead him to a land that He would show him. That was from way up in the northern part of the country, right down south to lands bordering Egypt. 

And what about the several missionary journeys Bruh Paul took that carried him all over Europe and Asia, a lot of it on foot. And without those people in the days of the early church, having the faith to expend that energy and willingness to share the gospel, we would never have heard about it, and not gotten the chance to accept it and thus receive salvation and eternal life. 

So please, let’s not complain about the relatively easy time we have today in spreading the gospel. Instead, we should think it a wonderful privilege and be ever so joyful about sharing it. Though one roadblock still exists today like it did back in the early days: we still need the equipping and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. We still can’t do it in our own fleshly selves. 

Note what Jesus said to the disciples re the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. ‘Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself (on his own authority); but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.’ (John 16:13) 

And likewise, before ascending back to heaven, Jesus told them not depart from Jerusalem, ‘but wait for the promise of the Father, which saith he, ye have heard of me….But ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.’ (Acts 1:4, 6) It just goes to show that though things change, they still remain the same. (smile) We still need the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to successfully share the good news of the gospel. 

Now let’s go to God, through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, seeking solace and alleviation of our many problems. Altogether: ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise Your Holy Name and thank You this Monday morning for life and strong faith in Christ, despite the mass confusion in our world. We desperately need Your divine help, for You are the ONLY ONE with the power to solve our many problems. 

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

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

Now, let’s keep those promises we just made, if we want to receive divine help. Much LOVE!

…to truly serve God…sacrifices are necessary… 

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   16 May 2022 Luke 21:34.

16 May 2022 Leave a comment

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

Luke 21:34.       And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged (weighed down) with surfeiting (carousing), and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

And a voice cried out: ‘Woe is me. It’s Monday!’ And I asked, ‘Why is that?’ And the voice cried out: ‘Because I am not ready to face Monday.’ And again, I asked, ‘Why is that?’ And the voice answered: ‘Because I am sick and tired from all the partying I did this weekend.’ ‘Now that wasn’t very wise, was it?’ I commented. ‘I guess not,’ the voice replied. ‘But now, on a rainy Monday morning to boot, I have to get up and face the stupid traffic to get to a lousy job that I don’t even like.’

 ‘Well then find another one you like,’ I advised. ‘No, that won’t do,’ the voice declared. ‘Why not?’ was my question. ‘Because it pays good and it’s an easy job to do.’ ‘Then you should say praise the Lord and be happy that you even have a job, much less an easy one that pays well,’ I admonished. ‘Millions of people out there don’t even have a job, and don’t know when they’ll get one. Meanwhile, you’re sniffling like a spoiled brat, when you have it so good!’ 

‘And just for your information, if you’ll cut down on the foolish partying on the weekend, go to church on Sundays, so that you can get your spirit renewed and revitalized, and have fellowship with your fellow believers, then you’ll be able to face Monday with a gung-ho attitude, instead of this whiffling one you now have. End of story!’ 

Oh friends, the first step in success of any kind is proper preparation! If you’re not prepared as best you can for a situation, you’ll never be able to face it properly, much less overcome it. Granted, in some cases you can only prepare so much, but we always need to put in as much prep time as possible in whatever we do. Case in point, the voice above there that didn’t prepare to meet Monday. And I daresay that many of us are like that, we dread Mondays because we are not well prepared to meet it. We don’t get enough rest and revitalization of soul and spirit, so we can be confident and meet the day with a good attitude. 

Too many of us are rushing on Monday mornings to get things done that could have been easily and unhurriedly done on Sunday evening, but for whatever reason, we leave them for the last minute, and then wonder why our lives are so rushed and frustrated. And there are many scriptures which warn us of preparedness. So, let’s look at a few nuh. 

These first two come directly from Jesus. After telling the disciples about His coming again, the exact time that only the Father knows, He tells them to watch and pray. ‘And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged (weighed down) with surfeiting (carousing), and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.’ (Luke 21:34) 

And unfortunately, that is what many of us are doing; being too taken up with the things of this world and not preparing ourselves for Christ’s imminent return. Remember, it’s going to come like a thief in the night, and if we’re not prepared for it, then hellfire and damnation, here we come. Then, as was Jesus’ style, He told the parable of the ten virgins invited to the bridegroom’s feast. (Matt. 25:1-13) 

Five of them were wise and took extra oil for their lamps, just in case the bridegroom was tardy and did not show up on time. But the other foolish five did not take extra oil. And the truth be known, the bridegroom was late and the last five ran out of oil and had to go then and buy more. However, by the time they returned, the doors were locked and they could not get in. That’s what will happen to those of us who don’t accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour before he comes back; we’ll be locked out of heaven. 

Jesus said: ‘Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.’ (Matt. 25:13) And that’s the gospel truth friends! We don’t know exactly when Christ will return, but return He must, and thus we must be prepared for it to happen at any time. 

And Bruh Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, also warned about being prepared, but this time for temptation. ‘Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (evil schemes) of the devil…. Wherefore take unto you (take up) the whole armour of God, that ye might be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.’ (Eph.6:10, 12) 

Oh my people, the only way we can fight successfully in the spiritual battle the enemy is waging against us, is to be prepared, by having on the spiritual armour of God. And we all know that entails: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is God’s Word. Then you wrap all of that up with prayer and supplication. Only if we are thus prepared can we stand strong and steadfast against the enemy, my fellow saints! 

And I like this last warning about preparation from Cousin Sol in Proverbs, where he wisely advises. ‘Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise: which having no guide (leader) overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat (food) in the summer, and gathereth her food to harvest. How long wilt thou sleep (lie down), O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that traveleth (a prowler), and thy want (need) as an armed man.’  (Prov. 6:6-11) 

Ah friends, truer words were never spoken. The sluggard or the habitually lazy person will suffer want eventually, if he doesn’t; get up and get busy, like the ants, who have no ruler or leader but have enough common sense to gather food in the summer and store it for the winter, when there’s little, or none available. It’s all about being prepared for circumstances as best we can friends, be they predictable or unpredictable, like Christ’s Second coming, temptation, poverty, and starvation. 

And the first step in it all is prayer. So, through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, let’s go right now to the throne room of grace in confidence, and ask for heavenly help. As one voice: ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise Your Holy Name and thank You this Monday morning for life and strong faith in Christ, despite the mass confusion in our world. We desperately need Your divine help, for You are the ONLY ONE with the power to solve our many problems. 

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

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

Now let’s not forget that our God doesn’t suffer fools kindly, so if we make a promise, we had better keep it. Much LOVE!

…wisdom dictates…be always as ready as you can be… 

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

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