08 Sep 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a doer of the work, a hearer of the word and not a doer, a joyful day, all sinned and disobeyed your word, alleviate our problems, altruistic service, balance in our christian walk, be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, beholds himself, blame everyone else for our problems, blame ourselves, breathe the breath of life, bridleth not his tongue, Christians talk a good talk, clean outside but dirty inside, compromises, controlled speech, deceiveth his own heart, deceiving yourselves, divine aid, don't walk the talk, don't walk the walk, faith, forgets what kind of man he was, frees from the principles of sin and death, God's unadulterated Word, holy spirit, humble servants, hypocrites, if any be a hearer of the word, if you think you're religious, ill prepared, in their affliction, increasing our knowledge of God's Word, inefficiency, Jehovah Rapha, Jesus Christ, keep himself unspotted from the world, lack of responsibility, lack of true Christian attitudes, like unto a man that beholdeth his face in a glass, look in the mirror, LOVE, mass confusion, mercy, negative situations, not a forgetful hearer, pray, problems are escalating, promise to prosper us, protect the victory that Jesus won, pure religion, rebukes mere doing, rebukes mere listening, salvation, separation from the world, sincerely seek God's face, spiritual metaphor, stress, taken advantage of it, the death and resurrection Of Jesus, the God who heals, the Mosaic Law, the perfect law of liberty, the royal law, the stress of our busy society, the teachings of Christ, the throne of grace, this is the day which the Lord hath made, this man shall be blessed, this man's religion is vain, to visit the fatherless and widows, too much leeway, truth, turn from our evil ways, undefiled before God, we will rejoice and be glad in it, whited sepulchres, whitewashed tombs, whoso looketh into, wisdom, wise guidance
James 1:22. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Monday, oh Monday! What a joyful day it is! And some people will begin thinking that I’m crazy for exalting Monday. And they might just be right, who knows. (smile) But every day aren’t we supposed to mouth the encouraging scripture which says; ‘This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it?’ (Ps. 118:24) Of course! So then, why isn’t Monday a joyful day, and one in which we ought to rejoice eh?
Because we are often so ill prepared to meet it, and we try to take it out on the day, rather than our own inefficiency and lack of responsibility. And yes, it’s often tough getting up and going back to work on a Monday morning after sleeping in for a couple of days, to once again face all the stress and frustration inherent in our busy society. But that’s what life is all about, and we’ve been doing it for donkeys’ years now, so why does the problem of rejoicing and being glad in Monday still exist eh?
Because we like to blame everyone and everything else for our problems, rather than look in the mirror and blame the one who’s staring back at us. That’s certainly reminiscent of the way James uses it as a spiritual metaphor, when he talks about hearers and doers of the word. ‘But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding (observing) his natural face in a glass (mirror): For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what kind of man he was.’ (James 1:22-24)
Ah friends, far too many of us supposed believers fall into that category, where we talk a good talk but don’t walk the relevant walk. That’s why the world considers us to be nothing but a bunch of religious hypocrites or as Jesus called the Pharisees ‘whited sepulchres (whitewashed tombs), clean outside, but dirty inside. (Matt. 23:27) And they’re quite right, considering the compromises and lack of true Christian attitudes we so regularly display.
However, according to James, this is the attitude that the true Christian ought to be displaying. ‘But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed (what he does).’ (James 1:25)
And the scholars offer these explanations on that verse. ‘The perfect law of liberty probably refers to the teachings of Christ and His apostles. This law is perfect, since Christ brought to completion the teachings and work of the Mosaic Law (cf. Matt. 5:17-20; Rom. 10:4). It is a law of liberty because it frees from the principles of sin and death (Rom. 8:2-3; Gal. 5:1, 13). James also describes it as the royal law (2:8) for it is the law of the messianic King (cf. Gal. 6:2)
Now there are plenty of references for you to look up, so please check them out, because they greatly benefit us by increasing our knowledge and understanding of God’s Word. And James isn’t finished with his admonition. He continues: ‘If any man among you seem to be (thinks he’s) religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain (useless). Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.’ (James 1:26-27)
And the scholars explain those verses thus: ‘In verses 22-25 James has rebuked mere listening – by the hearer who does not do. In verses 26-27 he rebukes mere doing – by the doer who leaves his inner life unchanged. James offers not a formal definition but three key aspects of pure religion: controlled speech, altruistic service, and separation from the world.’
Again, if we use those explanations as a sounding board, too many supposed believers are guilty of those unchristian attitudes. We talk but we don’t do; we do, but our lives stay the same and our motives are often wrong! And yes, it’s hard to find a good balance in our Christian Walk, with all the evil and ungodly things going on around us, but that’s why we have the Bible, God’s unadulterated, infallible and ever wise Word to read, meditate upon and put into action, as well as His Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in making wise decisions.
Unfortunately though, we don’t utilize all the tools we have at our disposal, therefore the enemy has gained a large foothold in the world, and we now must come from behind, in second place, to recover what we’ve lost and thus protect the victory that Jesus so sacrificially won through His death, resurrection and ascension. But we can do it, if we put our whole hearts, souls, bodies and minds to the grindstone, for the enemy is not more powerful than us, we’ve just given him too much leeway, which he’s taken advantage of.
And the first move for retaking our heritage is going to the throne of grace through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn seeking divine guidance. Altogether: ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise Your Holy Name and thank You this Monday morning for life and strong faith in Christ, despite the mass confusion in our world. Heavenly Father, You are the ONLY ONE with the power to solve our many problems.
Yes, we have all sinned and seriously disobeyed Your Word, but You are a merciful, forgiving and gracious God, who has faithfully promised to hear and answer our prayers when we humble ourselves, pray, and sincerely seek Your face. So, we come to You now, with sincere repentance in our hearts, pleading for wise guidance and direction to alleviate our problems.
Oh Father, please ease the pain of the many suffering from negative situations, show them Your awesome grace and mercy. And faithfully keep Your promise to prosper us if we turn from our evil ways. Show this evil world that You are indeed Jehovah Rapha; the God who heals! We pray this in the holy and blessed name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen! And again, we say: Amen!’
And the answer to our problems lies right within our prayer: humble ourselves, pray, sincerely seek God’s face, and turn from our evil ways. Then and only then will divine aid be forthcoming! Much LOVE!
…every day the Lord allows us to breathe His breath of life…is one He expects us to enjoy…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
28 Jul 2024
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a song of repentance, aboilshed in his flesh the enmity, acces by one Spirit unto the Father, all one in Christ, an IOUa certificate of debt, being dead in your sins, Bible, blotting out the handwriting of ordinances, broken down the middle wall of partition, christianity, contrary to us, dressed in its Sunday best, experience the hope of your salvation, faith, fellowship, For christ is our peace, forgiven you of all trespasses, Gentiles, gift of salvation through grace, I come to the cross, in one body by the cross, indebted to God, into the presenece of the King of Kings, into your strength, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jews, looking like riff raff, LOVE, mercy, nailing it to the cross, one new man, open our hearts and souls, out of my weakness, paid the price for my guilt, preached peace, quickened together with him, reconcile both unto God, remember me, salvation, seeking mercy and grace, show some respect to the Lord's sovereignty, spiritual life, sweet sacrifices of praise, tears in my heart, the Mosaic Law, the uncircumcision of your flesh, the wonder of Christ's crucifixion, to make in himself of twain, to them that were nigh, to you whcih were afar, today thou shalt be with me in paradise, took it out of the way, truth, when thou comest into thy kingdom, wisdom, you call me by name, you died in my place, you welcome this child that was lost, your arms are open
Colossians 2:14. Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.
Here comes Sunday, here comes Sunday, dressed in its Sunday best! Ah friends, remember the days when going to church was a fashion show? Everybody dressed in the clothes they only wore on Sundays…and the ladies with their fantastic hats. No lady would go to church without a hat! Now that might have been a bit much, because many of us just went to church to see what our friends and neighbours were wearing and to gossip about their ensemble later on.
But today things have turned right around, people go to church looking any ole how. And technically speaking, we’re not going to church for the clothes, because the Lord will accept us anyhow, once our hearts are sincere. But with the Lord’s sovereignty we should still show some respect by going into the Lord’s house looking decent. We don’t go into the presence of earthly kings looking untidy and unkempt, so why go into the presence of the King of Kings looking like riff raff eh?
Anyway, enough of my spiel, let’s talk about our opening song. It’s a song written in 2003 by Bob Somma and Bill Batstone, and very wisely titled ‘I come to the Cross.’ It’s basically a song of repentance and salvation, of where our strength lies, where the foundation of our faith is laid – in the cross of Jesus. So, let’s offer up sweet sacrifices of praise, in a soulful, heartfelt version. And as we sing the poignant, touching words, let’s imagine ourselves at the foot of Jesus’ cross, offering repentance for our sins, and receiving His offer of salvation through grace.
Like one of the two criminals crucified with Christ, who confessed his sin, and said unto Jesus: ‘Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.’ (Luke 23:42-43) And before we get into the song, let me share this commentary on that scripture:
“Today, you will be with me in paradise.” Let that soak in, that for all who trust in who Jesus is, and what Jesus has done on the cross, in the moment you die on this earth, that day, that moment, you will be with Jesus in paradise, in heaven. You will experience the hope of your salvation.’ It couldn’t get any better than that friends!
So let’s sing: ‘I come to the cross seeking mercy and grace, I come to the cross where You died in my place. Out of my weakness and into Your strength, Humbly, I come to the cross. I come to the cross seeking mercy and grace, I come to the cross where You died in my place. Out of my weakness and into Your strength, Jesus, I come to the cross. Your arms are open, You call me by name, You welcome this child that was lost. You paid the price for my guilt and my shame,
Jesus, I come, Jesus I come, Jesus, I come to the cross. I come to the cross seeking mercy and grace, I come to the cross where You died in my place. Out of my weakness and into Your strength, Jesus, I come to the cross. Jesus, I come, Jesus I come, Jesus, I come to the cross Your arms are open, You call me by name, You welcome this child that was lost. You paid the price for my guilt and my shame, Jesus, I come, Jesus I come, Jesus, I come to the cross Jesus, I come to the cross…Jesus, I come to the cross….’
Oh my people, the words of that song ring so true that there can be no doubt about them. And to show how powerful they can be, please read this comment on the song from an impressed listener. She writes: ‘Praise the Lord. Thank you for the wonderful song “I Come To The Cross.” When I first heard this song, I was so touched by it and found tears in my heart because He died on the cross for my sins and this song really opened my eyes and my whole being to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior for as long as He allows me to live. So again, thank you for your wonderful ministry. May God bless you and may your ministry touch someone else the same way it touched me. Your sister in Christ, Salaia.’
Yes friends, that’s the way the words of the song ought to touch us; to open our hearts and souls to the wonder of Jesus crucifixion on the cross of Calvary and what it accomplished on our behalf. Then to bring us to our knees before our Lord and Saviour, admitting that we’re helpless without Him, and offering much thanks and praise for His selfless work in our ungodly and sinful lives.
And this scripture from Bruh Paul to the Colossians admirably explains the song, or vice versa, the song explains the scripture. (smile) ‘And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened (made alive) together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. (Col. 2:13-14)
And the scholars offer this explanation of those scriptures. ‘2:13. As per You … hath he quickened: God gave them new spiritual life. 2:14. The handwriting of ordinances: They say, in secular literature, this “handwriting” was an IOU signed by the debtor. Here it might be paraphrased “a certificate of debt consisting of decrees.” This refers to the Mosaic Law, which the Jews had contracted to obey, and to which Gentiles by conscience were obligated. Owing to man’s inability to fulfill this obligation of obedience, he was therefore indebted to God. But through Christ this debt was graciously blotted out.’
Making it the most wonderful gift of God ever! Now, listen to this scripture from Bruh Paul to the Ephesians, on ‘Christ Our Peace,’ which also helps us understand the selfless and magnificent job that Christ has done on our behalf. ‘For he (Christ himself) is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition (division) between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make (create) in himself of twain (the two) one new man, so making peace.
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain (put to death) the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.’ (Eph. 2:14-18)
Oh my fellow believers, that’s indeed a wonderful scripture! For, Christ’s coming to earth and dying an atoning death in our stead and with His philosophy of peace and LOVE, had turned the two antagonistic groups of Jews and Gentiles into one single new group, the Christian church.
The scholars tell us, ‘He did this by removing the middle wall of partition, that is, the Mosaic Law. The law was meant to protect Jews from pagan corruptions; but by misconstruing the purpose of the law, the Jews felt superior to Gentiles, who were incensed at this arrogance. So Jesus abolished this enmity (hatred), caused by an abuse of the law, by making the law invalid for His church. Christian Jews and Christian Gentiles now compose this “one new man” or Christian church.’
Oh friends, what a Master Builder was our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Only He could have broken down those walls of enmity and hatred and brought us all into one group, His church. Therefore, considering that magnificent work, shouldn’t we be more LOVING and tolerant of each other, members of the same organization, who all found our salvation at the cross of Christ? Of course! So please, let’s spend some time today pondering the many divisions and dissensions in Christ’s church, and how we can reduce them. Much LOVE!
…through Christ…we are all one…and one for all…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
14 Mar 2022
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a judgement of separation, as a shepherd divideth the sheep from the goats, divine help, for the Lord is our judge, forgiving and gracious God, hath committed all judgement to the Son, in uprightness, Jehovah Rapha, LOVE, minister judgement to the people, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, sincerely seek your face, strong faith in Christ, the Father judgeth no man, the God who heals, the Great tribulation, the Lord is our king, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord will save us, the Mosaic Law, the rapture of the church, the shall judge the world in righteousness, the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, the spiritual intention of the law, the Ten Commandments, the Torah, the ultimate fulfillment of, this day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears, wise guidance and direction
Isaiah 33:22. For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.
Once again Monday has rolled around, not only with all its inherent problems but also with the joy and peace it brings as a believer in Christ Jesus! Glory be! And the most important question, as always, is, like the song asks, what’s on our minds this morning or afternoon (smile) eh mih bredrin? Hopefully it’s Jesus. Yes friends, Jesus front and centre! And if that’s so, then we’ve already had a li’l talk with Him about how our day will go, ascertaining that something good is going to happen to us today, and something good will also happen through us this fateful Monday in the middle of March 2022.
And per the Lord’s desire, (smile) I opened the Good Book unto a rather interesting scripture this morning, one that seems to cover most, if not all the things that our God is to us. Listen to how the prophet Isaiah puts it as he talks to his people about the salvation awaiting those who trust in God, when Christ will rule the millennial kingdom in peace. ‘For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.’ (Is. 33:22) Mama Mia! What an amazing, powerful and all-encompassing Deity we worship! Who else is like, or can even compare unto Him eh? NONE whatsoever!
Unfortunately though, since our God is all things to us, it also means that we have a great responsibility to ensure that we live and follow His edicts and dictates. And that’s because earlier on in that same chapter, as the scholars explain, Isaiah had ‘pictured God’s judgement as a devouring fire, which is so awesome that only the righteous will be spared.’ But before that awesome day of peace will be one of immense sorrow and sadness, the Great Tribulation, when God will pour out all His wrath on the wicked and unsaved. Thankfully though, the righteous and saved, Christ’s church, would have already been raptured, taken out of the world to meet Him in the skies. (1 Thess. 4:13-18)
Anyway, today I just want to look at a few scriptures that reinforce Isaiah’s declaration. As per God being our Judge, in Psalm 9 titled – Praise for God’s justice – Bruh David said: ‘For the Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgement. And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgement to the people in uprightness.’ (Ps. 9:7-8) Meanwhile, Jesus, in speaking of His relationship with the Father said it thus: ‘For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgement unto the Son…And hath given him authority to execute judgement also, because he is the Son of man.’ (John 5:22, 27))
He also proclaimed in the parable of the talents. ‘When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.’ (Matt. 25:31-32) That’s the judgement of the nations, those living through the Great Tribulation on earth at the time of Christ’s return. Technically speaking it’s a judgement of separation; that of the sheep (the saved) from the goats (the unsaved).
Then we have Peter’s statement when he preached to the Gentiles, where he declares. ‘And he (Jesus) commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick (living) and dead.’ (Acts 10:42) And Bruh Paul, preaching on Mars’ Hill in Athens said it thus. ‘Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.’ (Acts 17:31)
And per the Lord as our Lawgiver, it all begins right at the very beginning with the Lord’s pronouncement to Adam in the Garden of Eden. ‘And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree in the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest of thereof thou shalt surely die.’ (Gen. 2:16-17) And we all know the disastrous consequences the disobedience of that law caused; sin and death.
Then there were instructions to Noah, to Abraham, mostly oral law, passed down by word of mouth from generation to generation until Moses final wrote it down, that’s the Torah, the first five books of the Bible which outlined God’s law for the conduct of His people Israel, ‘And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it into the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and unto all the elders of Israel.’ (Deut. 31:9) That law also included the famous Ten Commandments, the moral law of God, written on two tablets of stone, which still require obedience in these modern times. (Ex. 19, 20:1-20)
But Jesus in His awesome majesty finally brought it all together when He said, ‘Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.’ And the scholars explain: ‘That is, the New Testament gospel is not contradictory to the Old Testament Law, rather, it is the ultimate fulfillment of the spiritual intention of the law. Where the law had degenerated into legalism among the Pharisees, Jesus now takes the law beyond mere outward observance to the inner spiritual intention of God.’
Yes friends, the Old Testament was a foreshadowing of Jesus coming with His New Testament gospel. As declared in the synagogue in Nazareth, His hometown, when He read the promise of the Messiah from the words of Isaiah 61:1-2. ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to teach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised (oppressed). To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.’ (Luke 4:18-19)
And after He closed the book and returned it to the minister, and sat down, all eyes were upon him. ‘And he begun to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears (hearing).’ (Luke 4:21) Oh friends, don’t you just LOVE how Jesus doesn’t mince words! Unfortunately though we are forced to stop here today, because time and space have run out on us. Tomorrow however, if God spares life, we will continue looking at the other aspects of His majestic and perfect rule.
Now, let’s go to God in prayer with some of our many problems, through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. As one confident but humble 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, my fellow saints, let’s set about keeping our promises, if we expect God to keep His. Much LOVE!
…to God the Father…be all the glory…through Jesus Christ…God the Son…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
11 Nov 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: and there shall be one fold and one shepherd, broken down the middle wall of partition, circumcision in the flesh made by hands, compassionate heart, curse, faith, favour, from the power of Satan unto God, Gentiles, goads, God moves in ways His wonders to perform, good health, headed straight for Hades, I am the good shepherd, I know my sheep and are known of mine, I lay down my life for the sheep, it is hard to kick against the pricks, Jesus' life-saving sacrifice, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, LOVE, negative word, no cloud cover, of twain one man, on the cross at Calvary, prosper and succeed, Saul Saul why oersecutest thou me, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, the beauty of Jesus and His Holy Spirit, the christian Church, the covenants of promise, the Mosaic Law, the Prince of Peace, they only bring sunshine, they shall hear my voice, Thursday Blessings, to make in himself, to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, uncircumcision
John 10:14. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and are known of mine.
Then Thursday opened somewhat cloudy in my area – but still with great promise, meaning it can go one way or the other; that’s rain or shine…or even just stay cloudy. (smile) However, the beauty of Jesus and His Holy Spirit that dwells within us, is that they only, and always bring sunshine, no cloud cover whatsoever! Therefore, we can always have some sunshine in our lives when we have Jesus as our reigning Lord and Saviour! Give Him some thanks and praise my people for His wonderful goodness to the children of men!
Without His life-saving sacrifice on the cross at Calvary, we Gentiles would have been headed straight for Hades. But His sacrificial death and resurrection were life-giving instruments to us; that means we were also given the option of eternal life in heaven, and not that of hell alone. As He said so compassionately in His famous soliloquy on His role as a shepherd. ‘I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and are known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also must I bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold (flock), and one shepherd.’ (John 10:14-16)
That other sheep, the other fold, means us, my brethren, who would be given the option of salvation later on, through the zealous work of Bruh Paul’s preaching of the gospel to the Gentile world. Ah friends, Bruh Paul, formerly known as Saul, was very instrumental in persecuting the early Christians, until his journey to Damascus to continue that persecution. On the road, Jesus accosted him and miraculously changed his outlook on life. Listen to the story of his conversion as he told it to King Agrippa.
‘At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue (language), Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard to kick against the pricks (goads – a sharp stick used to prod cattle to move, so Jesus was telling him it was foolish to resist). And I said, Who art thou Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear (reveal) unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I now send thee. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified (set apart) by faith that is in me.’ (Acts 26:13-18)
Wow! What a faithful Saviour we have my brethren! Remember He promised to bring us, His other flock unto Him and make one fold. But who ever thought He would set it in motion so miraculously and through Saul, the most feared persecutor of the early brethren? But that’s the way our great God moves – in mysterious ways His wondrous works to perform, to open man’s eyes and bring light to their darkness.
And the wonderful thing about Bruh Paul is that after his conversion, he was just as zealous in saving Christians, as he was in persecuting them before he saw the light. Oh, how I wish that some of his zeal would rob off on some of us modern day believers, for with it, we could turn this evil and ungodly world upside down.
Now hear these marvellous words Bruh Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus concerning the unity of all believers, which we spoke of earlier on, that’s the joining together of both the Jewish and Gentile believers under Christ’s august leadership. He writes: ‘Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands.’ (Eph. 2:11) And the scholars explain: ‘Uncircumcision was a derogatory term used by the Jews regarding Gentiles because the latter were uncircumcised. Jews called themselves the Circumcision since they were circumcised.’
And Bruh Paul continues: ‘That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.’ (Eph. 2:12) That basically means that before they became Christians, the Gentiles were aliens from the Jewish nation, who were God’s people, so they had no part in the promises of God, like salvation and all the other godly goodies the Jews had been promised.
‘But now,’ Bruh Paul writes, ‘in Christ Jesus ye who were sometimes (once) far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ ( able to have a proper relationship with Him). For he (Jesus Himself) is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition (separation) between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances for to make (create) in himself of twain (the two) one new man, so making peace. And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain (put to death) the enmity thereby. And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.’ (Eph. 2:13-17)
Wow! What powerful scriptures my fellow saints. And what does it all mean? Listen to the scholars: ‘2:14-15.Who hath made both one: Jesus has formed the two antagonistic groups of Jew and Gentile into a single new party, the Christian church. He did this by removing the middle wall of partition, that is the Mosaic Law. The law was meant to protect Jews from pagan corruptions; but by misconstruing the purpose of the law, the Jews felt superior to Gentiles, who were incensed at this arrogance. So Jesus abolished this enmity (hatred), caused by an abuse of the law, by making the law invalid for His church. Of twain one new man: As above, Christian Jews and Christian Gentiles now compass this “one new man” or Christian church.’
Yes friends, that’s basically how the Christian church, became one body, from two flocks. And we need to give much thanks and praise for Jesus being compassionate enough to include us Gentiles in His church. And that compassion isn’t only talk, but also action, as we discover through our Thursday Blessings, that He’s so generously bestowed on us to do His earthly work. And since a blessing isn’t a blessing until it’s spoken out loud, let’s declare them now nuh, in loud, proud and grateful voice.
‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
Our job now is to go out and share those blessings with others just as generously as Jesus shared them with us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him, like we do! Much LOVE!
…the only ONE who can bring unity and LOVE to all…Jesus…the Prince of Peace…Lord of Lords…and King of Kings…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
15 Jul 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a better tomorrow, a positive attitude, Anselm, challenges, Christian, common to man, decision making, deliver us from evil, different results, difficult times, discover, do what you want to do, dream, emotional distress, endurance, endures temptation, energy, evil, explore, for ever, fruition, glorify God's name, God is faithful, grocery shopping, grow, guidelines, hanging out with Jesus, heart's desires, household chores, humble thee, in your sails, joy, lazing around, lead us not into temptation, learning experiences, mature, money, opportunities, pleasure, problems, put your best foot forward, running from difficulties, safe harbour, Saturday, stop signs, taking in the sightd, temptation, the crown of life, the glory, the Mosaic Law, the power, them that love him, thine is the kingdom, this is the day the Lord has made, throw off the bowlines, thy latter end, time, trade winds, victory, we shall rejoice and be glad in it, wisdom, work clothes
Matthew 6:13. 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.
Saturday, O Saturday! What have you got in store for me today eh? Will it be an easy day, just lazing around the house or going out and taking in the sights? Or will it be pure drudgery, like household chores and grocery shopping?
Whatever kind of day you turn out to be though Saturday, I’m sure of this one thing; I’ll constantly have the company of Jesus with me, always by my side to provide a healthy chuckle or lend a helping hand when times get difficult. And we’re going to have good time, because this is the day the Lord has made, therefore we shall rejoice and be glad in it. Glory be, mih breddren!
What a joy and a pleasure it is to have Jesus hanging out with us. Chuh! It couldn’t get any better than that nuh! And though I could go on singing the praises of Jesus all day, He requires me to look at some of the quotes that our friend Anselm blessed us with this week, as he aspires to inspire us to a better tomorrow.
And this first quote is something many of us believers need to put into practice. ‘If you have a positive attitude and constantly strive to give your best effort, eventually you will overcome your immediate problems and find you are ready for greater challenges.’ Remember friends, it’s a good, Christian attitude and always putting your best foot forward that eventually brighten your way.
This next quote should be obvious. ‘We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.’ Doing the same thing, or thinking the same way, won’t get different results.
Now these next two, which I’ve made one, are certainly interesting. ‘Problems are only opportunities in work clothes. Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines.’ And there’s lots of truth in them both, for problems usually show us opportunities, as well as guide us in sound decision making.
And this last quote is a definite winner! ‘Do what you want to do. Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.’
Gospel truth that friends! But we need to do our do with a modicum of circumspection and with God always predominant in the mix. And I can give a personal testimony to that, because over the years I’ve gone out on a limb – am still doing it (smile) – and done some of my heart’s desires.
Now they were expensive in terms of time, energy, money and emotional distress, but the Lord allowed me to experience them, and I don’t regret them, because they were all learning experiences. But I have to chuckle when I remember how the Lord eased me out of them all, when He considered it time to seriously get into His Word and write His Bit. God gives us dreams, my brethren, so that we can go after them and bring them to fruition and glorify His holy name.
Okay, enough rambling, let’s turn to our Bit, everlasting words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus, as He taught the disciples, and by extension, us, how to pray. ‘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.’
Now yesterday we saw from the scholars’ explanation that God doesn’t tempt us, though He allows some to come against us to test our faithfulness. James gives us this talk on the subject. ‘Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them the LOVE him.’ (James 1:12)
And the scholars have some interesting opinions on that verse which give us better understanding. ‘1:12. Mankind understandably may look on tragedy as the curse of God, as Job’s friends did. Trials are, however, the means through which God’s blessings can come. One’s endurance in and victory over trials bring God’s blessings. Christians, therefore, are not instructed to seek avenues of escape.
God desires that they mature in the situation rather than move from it. (cf. Rom.5:3-5; 1 Pet. 1:6-7). He does, however, promise to provide an escape if the testing becomes unbearable (1 Cor.10:13). God’s people need to meditate more on James 1:12 than 1 Cor.10:13. The reason for this, and why God allows trials in the lives of His people is revealed in the Mosaic Law: “That he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end” (Deut. 8:16).’
Ah mih people, I know that doesn’t sit well with some of us, since we’d prefer to escape all the trials and tests. But then how will we ever grow in faith eh, if we keep running from difficulties, because it’s in difficult times that we grow and mature?
And we’ll end with the verse from Bruh Paul to the Corinthians which the scholars believe makes us too soft and sappy. ‘There hath no temptation taken (overtaken) you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear (endure) it.’ (1 Cor.10:13)
And please note friends, the scholars tell us that the Greek term used in that verse refers more to a safe landing place for a ship, than for an actual escape. So the Lord’s plan is not for us to entirely escape the temptation, but help us to endure it and come out safely on the other side.
Let’s therefore stop thinking about only escaping temptation, but more about fighting through them and coming out victorious on the other side, with God’s help of course. That’s wisdom of eternal proportions! Much LOVE!
…only by fighting through trials…rather than escaping them…can a believer grow in faith…
21 Apr 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a child of God, a compassionate heart, a doer of the work, a forgetful hearer, a great family, a positive outlook on life, abundance, blessed, clear direction for my life, conviction, courage, creativity, curse, degenerated, divine protection, enthusiasm, eternal life, everything I do will succeed, faith, favour, foundation, friends, fulfillment, Glory be, God's Law, God's supernatural wisdom, good friends, good health, in concert, in the name of Jesus, legalism, LOVE, man-made rules, neck of the woods, negative word, New Testament, obedience, Old Testament, Pharisees, promotion, prosper, salvation, self-control, self-disicpline, sincerity, spiritual intention, strong will, success, succour, supernatural strength, talent, the Beatitudes, the error of their ways, the Good News of Jesus' Gospel, the Jewish faith, the Mosaic Law, the perfect law of liberty, the saving grace, the spiritual side of our faith, this man shall be blessed, Thursday Blessing, to destroy the law, to fulfill, true portrait of christ, wisdom
James 1:25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed (in what he does.
And then it was Thursday friends! Wow! This week has certainly rushed by quickly, and I’ve just been too busy for my liking. Hn! But the saving grace is that in my neck of the woods, all the days this week were just beautiful! Glory be! No rain, sleet nor snow, just bright sunshine and warm temps.
And here this nuh, yesterday I was up in the northern part of the city, getting some repairs done to my car stereo, and around 4 pm, while sitting in the passenger seat with the door open, my legs hanging out, I felt the urge to pull up the sleeves of my sweater to feel the sunshine…
Hn! But five minutes later I had to pull them back down because the sun was burning my arm. Brother! Meanwhile the gentleman repairing the stereo just had a thin vest covering his upper body. And he was white at that, which meant that my extra melanin wasn’t so great after all. (smile)
I believe though that the sunshiny weather might give way to rain some time today. But that’s okay, at least we had some wonderful consecutive days, and once it’s not the white stuff, I can handle it. Now let’s declare our Thursday Blessings with enthusiasm, sincerity and true conviction.
‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline!
I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life!
I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and everyday! Amen!’
Oh all praise and thanks and glory be to our awesome God my brethren! For He is indeed the ONE who makes all those blessings we just declared over our lives possible! And yet so many foolish people still refuse to believe in Him. Steups!
Ah really sorry for them yes. But all we as believers can do is tell them the Good News of Jesus’ Gospel and live our lives in concert and obedience to His holy will. Hopefully, before it’s too late, they will recognize the error of their ways and come to Him for succour, for salvation and eternal life. And I’m done preaching now. (smile)
Let’s turn to our Bit. ‘But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed (in what he does).’
Yeh friends, we reviewed that verse in the last couple days and in the scholars’ explanation, they quoted some verses of scripture that were relevant to it. Now I asked us to check out those relevant scriptures, but since our lives are oh so busy, I’m sure not many, if any of us did so, I decided to lay them out today.
And we’ll go through the scholars’ explanation once more and highlight the verses as we go. ‘1:25. The perfect law of liberty probably refers to the teachings of Christ and His apostles. This law is perfect, since Christ brought to completion the teachings and work of the Mosaic Law…’
And here the scholars refer to Matthew 5, Christ’s take on the law. ‘Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfill.’ (Matt.5:17)
Yuh know something friends, this is going to take much longer than I expected yes, because the scholars have some good explanations for every verse here. But that’s the whole point of the matter; to learn and understand as much as possible of the scriptures.
So here goes the scholars’ explanation for that verse. ‘5:17. Having laid the foundation of the message in the summary statements of the Beatitudes, Jesus now proceeds to show the superiority of His message to that of the law of Moses.
He makes it clear that He had not…come to destroy the law. That is, the New Testament Gospel is not contradictory to the Old Testament Law; rather it is the ultimate fulfillment of the spiritual intention of the law. Where the law had degenerated into legalism among the Pharisees, Jesus now takes the law beyond mere outward observance to the inner spiritual intention of God.’
Ah my people, I hope that resonates soundly with us all, because the same thing is happening today. Legalism, the man-made rules and regulations of our denominations are killing the spiritual side of our faith.
Like in the days of Jesus, where the Pharisees, the leaders of the faith, were full of outward show but little inner conviction, we are today hearing plenty talk and seeing much legalistic outward show, but there’s little true spiritual obedience to God’s Law.
Now friends, as supposed believers in Christ, we definitely have to do better than that. No wonder so many unbelievers consider us hypocrites, as Christ did the Pharisees and the other leaders of the Jewish faith.
We need to paint a true portrait of Christ to the unbelieving and ungodly world. And we can only do that when we are comfortable in our own skins, and have a true conviction of our faith, which leads us to both hear the word and do it. So today, let’s ponder how that reflects in our individual lives nuh, for it’s the only wisdom that’s appropriate for a child of God. Much LOVE!
…Christians are blessed…when they both hear and do…according to God’s Law …and not to man’s…
19 Apr 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a forgetful hearer, a man beholding his natural face in a mirror, abnormal temp, all praise and glory to God, and not a doer, Beelzebeub, benefits, Bernard S. Raskas, blessed, Bobby Schuler, catching some rays, Christian faith, Christian walk, circumspection, decisions, doers of the Word, earthly pilgrimage, eternal life, friends of Jesus, gaze intently, guide us wisely, hold my breath, hold the mirror to our own soul, hope, Hour of Power, I am the beloved of god, I can trust my friend Jesus, I don't have to hurry, I don't have to worry, I'm not what I do, I'm not what I have, I'm not what people say about me, if any be a hearer of the word, inner principles, live in hope, may the Lord bless and keep us, outer man, persona, plural society, Prayer of the Beloved, principles, progress, reactions, salvation, self-confident, self-discipline, share His love with the world, tan, the individual, the Messianic King, the Mosaic Law, the natural course of life, the perfect law of liberty, the pull of the flesh, the tangled world of emotions, the teachings of Christ, traps, Tuesday Mantra, vitamin D
James 1:23. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding (observing) his natural face in a glass (mirror).
Oh friends and neighbours, would you believe that yesterday afternoon, around 5 o’clock, the ole fella was outside catching some rays, working on my tan, making some natural vitamin D! Oh all praise and glory be to our wonderful God!
It was actually around an abnormal 23 Celsius yesterday, although with a strong wind. We haven’t seen temps like that in the northern climes in over six months. Hn! And truthfully, I don’t believe we’ll see them for another couple months yet on a regular basis.
Today however, has also dawned bright and sunshiny, but with eventual temps only around 15 or so. But that’s more like normal, and much better than the cold wintry stuff we’ve been experiencing so far. So you can come and check out my tan anytime…and there are no tan lines. (smile)
Now let’s check out our Tuesday Mantra or the Prayer of the Beloved. Let’s declare it loudly and sincerely. ‘I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen.’
Oh my fellow believers that’s indeed who we are – the beloved of God and friends of Jesus!
And I heard a testimony on that recently from Cousin Bobby (Bobby Schuller – Robert Schuller 111) grandson of Gramps Schuller (Robert H Schuller), who now runs the Hour of Power T.V. Programme. He said that when he began saying that prayer everyday, he began to become more secure and self-confident in his Christian walk.
So if it could help him, it can surely help many of us who just don’t feel that confident in who we are and whom we belong to. So it might indeed be worthwhile to pray it everyday.
And now I want to share a quote from the well-known American Rabbi, Bernard S Raskas (1924-2010). He is reputed to have said these interesting words: ‘Any real progress in the tangled world of emotions must be made by the individual. Each of us must hold the mirror to our own soul and gaze intently at what we see there.’
And that’s oh so true, my brothers and sisters in Christ, especially in our Christian faith, because it all begins with an individual relationship with Christ. The church, the body of Christ is made up of individual believers, who look to Him for salvation and eternal life.
But unless, and until, you have made that individual decision to follow the Lord and Saviour of mankind, you’re simply not a part of His flock and won’t have any of the benefits provided therein.
And it’s not only in our Christian walk that we need to check ourselves in the mirror, but also as a normal human being. There are decisions to be made, and reactions to be framed, whether positive or negative, and in the natural course of life, a lot of this is based on our individual approach.
So though we live in a plural society, much of that plurality is based on individual thoughts, feelings and sentiments. Consequently, whatever we do or think or feel, will have a substantial bearing on our lives and the lives of those around us.
That’s why it’s ever so important for us to make wise, Christian based decisions, controlling our natural emotions with self-discipline and circumspection.
That brings us to our Bit, which reflects what we’ve been talking about. Let’s listen to it in its full context. James solemnly declares: ‘But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding (observing) his natural face in a glass (mirror). For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.’ (James 1:22-24)
Yes my people, that’s oh so true of many of us. And it’s not that hard to do either, when we are wrapped up in the things of the world, as so many of us are.
We can either look at ourselves in a real mirror and consider the good and kind person that we are, or think of our wonderful Christian persona, then shortly thereafter forget it all and go out and behave unwisely and against all our Christian principles.
Friends, the pull of the flesh in this evil and ungodly world is great, and we have to be ever so careful of falling into the traps that Beelzebub designs and lays before us.
That’s why James continues: ‘But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed (in what he does).’ (James 1:25)
And the scholars offer this explanation of that verse. ‘1:25. The perfect law of liberty probably refers to the teachings of Christ and His apostles. This law is perfect since Christ brought to completion the teachings and work of the Mosaic Law (c.f. Matt.5:17-20; Rom.10:4).
It is a law of liberty because it frees from the principles of sin and death (Rom.8:2-3); Gal.5:1,13). James also describes it as the royal law (2:8) for it is the law of the Messianic King (c.f. Gal.6:2).’
Ah mih breddren, it would be real nice and comforting if you’d check out all those references. I just did and found them all quite interesting and they helped me to better understand what we’re talking about.
Now I’m not going to hold my breath thinking or expecting that that’s going to happen, (smile) but one can surely live in hope, which our faith so greatly and wisely espouses.
And on that note of hope, we’ll end today. (smile) Now may the Lord bless and keep us all my people, and guide us wisely and safely along our earthly pilgrimage, until we come to finally rest in Him, on that wonderful day! Much LOVE!
…our outer man ought to reflect…the true Christian principles of our inner man…
25 Aug 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a grave injustice, all power and glory to God, amabssadors of Christ, anger, anxieties, appear outward beautiful, assurance of God's guidance, Beautiful Things Happen, changing circumstances, clorify, confidence, dead men's bones, dependent on God, discovering hidden treasures, edification, encouragement, enjoy the fruits of God's goodness, every tongue that rises against you, friends, frustrations, give thanks, gladness for the upright of heart, glory hallelujah, glory to God, God delivers out of the hand of the wicked, God's promises, gospel truth, great is God's name, hate evil, hypocrisy, I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, indisputable truth, iniquity, inner wholeness, Jehovah's children, light is sown for the righteous, LOVE, Love the Lord, may He reign forever, mock and scorn our faith, my eyes may be full of tears, my heart is full of joy, no weapon formed against you shall prosper, One Year Book of Bible promises, overcome our fears, put our best foot forward, quietness, Rejoice in the Lord, responsive to God, Ruth Harms Calkin, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, the Lord has a plan for us, the Lord preserves the souls of his saints, the Mosaic Law, the remembrance of God's holy name, thou hast put gladness in my heart, thou Lord only makest me dwell in safety, treasured by God, trust, truth, Tuesday morning, uncleanness, we surrender our lives to God, whispered secrets, white tombs, whited sepulchres, wisdom, wishy-washy, with help from Jehovah God, wonderful words, wondrous works of God, words of eternal wisdom, words of truth and wisdom, worship
Psalm 4:7-8. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn (grain) and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.
Well Friends, it’s Tuesday morning, somewhat cloudy in my area, but expected to get bright and sunshiny as the day progresses. And you know what that means? It means that we’ve made it safely through Monday… Glory Hallelujah!
And the Lord still has a plan in mind for us today. Yes my brethren, we made it safely through the evil world; overcame our fears, anxieties, frustrations and anger, obviously with help from our most wonderful Jehovah God.
And all Jehovah’s children loudly and proudly and sincerely declared. ‘All power and glory to our great and gracious God on High, in whom we place our entire trust! We surrender our lives completely to Him. Great is His Name…and may He reign forever! Amen.’
Ah mih people, such wonderful words of truth and wisdom! Our God is indeed great and powerful, glorious and gracious… And He WILL reign FOREVER! There’s absolutely no doubt about that.
And to show how that all pans out for good in our lives, listen to these wonderful words from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. It’s aptly titled ‘Beautiful Things Happen.’
Please declare with me: ‘O God Such beautiful things happen When I meet You day by day In quietness and confidence. There is a deep inner wholeness And the assurance of Your guidance. I am not so easily disturbed By changing circumstances. I am less dependent on others And more dependent on You.
My eyes may be full of tears But my heart is full of joy. In discovering your hidden treasures I learn how deeply I am treasured by You. When day by day I am responsive To Your whispered secrets You do more for me in one day Than I could do for myself in a lifetime.’
And Friends, if you are a true believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, then that is the absolute and indisputable truth! Because that is exactly how He operates in the lives of true believers. Oh glory to God my people, for the wondrous works He performs in our lives!
And the promise detailed for that awesome poem is also our Bit for today. ‘Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn (grain) and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.’ More words of gospel truth my brethren!
Yes Friends, when we have Almighty God as our guide and safe-keeper then we don’t have to fret and worry about our earthly demise, because He is the ultimate in power and control, and He will let no undue harm come to us. Remember His most awesome and faithful promise as declared by His trusted servant Isaiah.
‘No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of (from) me, saith the Lord.’ (Is.54:17)
Oh my fellow believers, how great and wonderful and magnanimous is our God! Yuh see the heritage He so generously provides for us? How can we then not LOVE and worship and glorify and thank Him eh? If we claim to be believers and don’t do that, then we are indeed like the Pharisees, as Jesus said to them.
‘Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchers (whitewashed tombs), which appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.’ (Matt.23:27-28)
And the scholars offer an explanation on the above verses. ’23:27-33. Whited sepulchers: Since contact with a dead body rendered a person unclean according to the Mosaic Law, graves were customarily painted white to make them conspicuous and give the opportunity of avoiding contact with them.’
Unfortunately though, too many of us supposed Christians are actually like those Pharisees of old, and that is why a lot of unbelievers don’t take our beliefs or us seriously, and tend to mock and scorn our faith. Ah Friends, we are ambassadors of Christ, which means that we are expected to show a good and right image of Him and all that He stands for.
If we are wishy washy in our faith and our behaviour, then that is the image the unbelievers will get of Him. And nobody wants to belong to, or worship some wishy-washy faith. Therefore, if we don’t put our best foot, our best efforts forward, then we are in fact doing Jesus and His Holy Name a grave injustice.
So please, today, let us all consider the image that we are projecting to the outside world, and make sure that it is the right and proper one; one that lifts up Jesus and his Holy Name, and not one that disgraces it. Now let’s go home with some wonderful words of encouragement and edification from Psalm 97 – The Lord is far above all gods.
‘Ye that LOVE the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hands of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright of heart. Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance (for the memory) of his holiness (His holy name).’ (Ps.97:11-12)
Oh Friends, what words of eternal wisdom and truth! Please let’s do as it says, so that we can be blessed and enjoy the fruits of God’s goodness. Much LOVE!…God’s promises are faithful and true…but they are of no use…unless and until…we accept them into the depths of our hearts…and make them ours…
P.S. Please excuse the lateness of the Bit, the ole fella just was not up to scratch this morning. (smile) Much LOVE!
09 May 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a doer of the work, a fool's wisdom, a forgetful hearer, a man of action, a sense of balance, a tight rein, added unto you, all winter long, an unquenchable fire, anxieties, be ye doers of the word, belief, blessed, but seek ye first the kingdom of God, changes, Christians, cloistered up, come to faith in jesus, comfort, common sense, cross at Calvary, darkness, deceiving, deliverer, evil, faith, faithfully, for the better, forces of nature, fortress, founded on a rock, fractured souls, frustrations, God willing, good news, good weather, heareth my sayings and doeth them, high tower, Higher Power, hope, horn of my salvation, impregnable rock that's jesus, Jesus Christ, laid the foundation on a rock, liberating effect, LOVE, material things, my buckler, my god, my strength, not hearers only, observing his natural face in a mirror, our Lord and Saviour, peace, pent up anticipation, positive, rearranges, redeem, regenerating quality, renewed strength, righteousness., Robert Venniga, rocket science, rough economic times, salvation, Sermon on the Mount, shield, sick, sinful souls, spiritual beliefs, steadfastness, stirs up, strong foundation, stronghold, subastantial structure, the Good Book, the Mosaic Law, the perfect law of liberty, the royal law, the ruin, the solid rock that's Jesus, the teachings of Christ, to bounce back, to kill our faith, torrential mode, tranquility, troubled, trust, truth, understanding, ungodly world, uplifting, when the dust settles, whosoever cometh to me, wisdom
Luke 6:47. Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like.
Well Friends, a good Saturday morning to all of you fine believers! It looks like it’s going to be another fine day in my area, and there’s a sense of pent up anticipation all ready to burst forth with the approach of the good weather. And how can you blame us after being cloistered up in clammy houses all winter long eh? All the pent up frustrations and anxieties are now being obviously let loose like a horse that’s been held on a tight rein for a long time.
That leads me to a comparison of good weather to faith. In particular this quote by Robert Venniga from my One More Day Daily Meditations for People with Chronic Illness, which I shared with you some time aback. It says: ‘Faith has a powerful effect in helping people recover a sense of balance, tranquility and hope.’
And isn’t that the absolute truth Friends! Just like good weather has a positive and uplifting and liberating effect on our spirits, so does faith bring peace, steadfastness and hope to our fractured souls.
You know we tend to lose faith in rough economic times, when we’re sick, or troubled about some problem we just can’t seem to solve. But the good news Friends, is that after a while, when the dust settles, we usually tend to bounce back with a renewed strength in our spiritual beliefs.
As the Daily Meditations say: ‘My belief in my Higher Power may have diminished for a while, but I take comfort in knowing that belief is always there.’ More glorious truth my people!
Once we believe, once we have that strong foundation in Jesus Christ, it’s very difficult to lose it. It might dim for a while, but it will never go out, because it has a regenerating quality built into it. And Jesus explains the quality we’re talking about, after prefacing it with our Bit. ‘Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like.’
Ah mih people, what a great day in our life, possibly the greatest, when we come to faith in Jesus, and truly acknowledge Him as our Lord and Saviour. I don’t think there is any other feeling that compares to it, because it just stirs up, rearranges, changes everything for the better in our lives.
Now hear Jesus describe the person that believes in Him. ‘He is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded on a rock.’ (Luke 6:48)
Oh my people, my people, yuh see what faith in Jesus does for us. Though the forces of evil and darkness come against us, and though they threaten to kill our faith, they cannot, because our faith in Jesus is an unquenchable fire! Once it’s lit, it cannot go out. And that’s what happens when we build the foundation of our lives on the solid rock that’s Jesus!
Bruh David joyfully declared: ‘The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength (my rock), in whom I will trust; my buckler (shield), and the horn (strength) of my salvation, and my high tower (stronghold).’ (Ps.18:2) Now Friends, that is exactly what Jesus is to those who sincerely follow Him. And when you join those glorious ranks, you show your wisdom and common sense.
Unlike the other character Jesus talks about ‘But he that heareth , and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built a house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.’ (Luke 6:49)
Ah mih breddren, it’s so sad that so many people in today’s evil and ungodly world choose to build their lives on a foundation of mere earth and not on the impregnable rock that’s Jesus! That’s as the Good Book says, a fool’s wisdom! How can we build any substantial structure without a strong foundation eh? It must fall sooner or later when the forces of nature come against it in torrential mode.
And that’s all the material things of the world have to offer; a foundationless life. And yuh know mih people, it’s not like Jesus doesn’t provide the material things of the world that we need, because He clearly says in the Sermon on the Mount. ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt.6:33)
So why do we refuse to listen to Him eh? And it’s not like there aren’t many wealthy Christians in the world. So I don’t know why we find it so difficult to put our trust and faith in the One who died on the Cross at Calvary to redeem our sinful souls. Steups! Ah Lord eh!
And we’ll end with some spirited words on the subject from James. ‘But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding (observing) his natural face in a glass (mirror): For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed (in what he does).’ (James 1:22-25) It’s all plain and straightforward my brethren, no rocket science involved. Just hear the word and faithfully do it.
And the scholars have this to say about that last verse. ‘1:25. The perfect law of liberty probably refers to the teachings of Christ and His apostles. This law is perfect, since Christ brought to completion the teachings and work of the Mosaic Law (cf. Matt.5:17-20; Rom.10:4). It is a law of liberty because it frees from the principles of sin and death (Rom.8:2-3; Gal.5:1, 13). James also describes it as the royal law (2:8) for it is the law of the messianic King (cf. Gal.6:2).’
And it would do us all good to check out those references, since they will increase our understanding of the scriptures. I just did, and they do verify the scholars’ contentions. Well Friends, until tomorrow, God willing, please walk in peace and LOVE with Almighty God. Much LOVE!
…to be a true follower of Jesus…one must first hear His Word…then put it into action…for above all else…Jesus is indeed a man of action…
SCRIP-BITS 