Today’s Scrip-Bit 13 October 2018 Matthew 5:13a & 14a.

13 Oct 2018 Leave a comment

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

Matthew 5:13a & 14a.     ​Ye are the salt of the earth… Ye are the light of the world…
 
And Saturday has dawned somewhat cloudy, chilly and damp from early evening drizzle. And in Mother Nature’s eccentric way, a lot of the trees that only two days ago I said were surprisingly still green, are now almost all golden yellow. She’s delivered the final message; it’s time to buckle down for the cold winter months ahead. And we, people of God, should also be heeding Mother Nature’s missive, because I believe we’ll be in for some rather tough times in the near future. 

And talking about tough times, I was negligent in mentioning Hurricane Michael that devastated parts of Florida a couple days ago. It came up suddenly, did, it’s dirty work and was gone again. Please let’s pray for those unfortunate people, and do whatever else we can to help them. But that might just be the pattern of natural disasters, or really any kind of disaster that might soon befall us. 

You’ll notice how disasters of all kinds have happened all over the world this year with surprising regularity. I don’t want to read too much into it, but friends, if we are wise, we will at least suspect the hand of our omnipotent God somewhere about in them, sending us a warning, to repent from our sinful ways. 

I don’t know if the world has ever been this evil, adding to the fact that we’re trying so desperately to oust God from our society. Do you think He’ll just sit quietly by and let it happen? I doubt it. But that’s just a word of warning to the wise. 

And since today is Saturday, let’s look at some of the quotes that our friend Anselm sent us this week, as he aspires to inspire us for a better tomorrow. And first up is this: ‘All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.’ I’m not so sure about that nuh. 

Yes, life is indeed experimental; you have to try stuff to see if it works for you. But I truly wonder if the more experiments we try, the merrier, or better off we are? I think at some stage, when we find our true calling, that the experimenting must either cease or slow down. 

Then there is this: ‘A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life.’ Now that’s basically true, but some will need a definition of wasting time before they agree, since to them doing nothing, is not always a waste of time, sometimes it can be a means of refreshing and renewing oneself. But generally speaking, just letting time fly by, and it does fly by, without doing positive and productive stuff, even if it’s simply regenerating oneself, isn’t a wise way to use it. 

Now hear this quote: ‘All of life is peaks and valleys. Don’t let the peaks get too high and the valleys too low.’ That makes sense. We can’t afford to be moving too often from top to bottom, because that just saps the energy and spirit of our souls. We need to try and establish a nice balance between the good times and the rough times, plus don’t stay down too long, or fly too high before we develop wings. (smile) 

And the last quote says: ‘My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.’ 

Now that is gospel truth my brethren! We were not placed down here to merely survive, to go about like ‘poor me ones,’ but to be salt and light and magnificent examples to the unbeliever: in other words to be excellent ambassadors of Christ. As Jesus so adamantly stated in His famous Sermon on the Mount: ‘Ye are the salt of the earth… Ye are the light of the world…’ 

Yes friends, that’s what Christ’s followers are expected to be; full of vim and vigour, showing their excellence in all matters, leading the parade in His name! Now are we leading the parade in Jesus’ name, my fellow believers? I don’t think so nuh, otherwise the evil-doers would not be having the upper hand in the world today, and we’d not be trying like hell to kick Christ out of our society. 

That just shows we’re not on top of things. We seem to be more like how Christ described flavourless salt: ‘but if the salt has lost his savour (flavour), wherewith (by what) shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden underfoot of men’ (Matt.5:13b) Likewise: ‘A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle (lamp), and put it under a bushel (basket); and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.’ (Matt.5:14b-15)  

Now if those two negative situations Jesus describes are true of us in these trying times, then it doesn’t speak well of us my believing brethren. And sadly, there is a whole lot of truth to it! Our efforts for Christ are simply not up to scratch; there are too many divisions, too much petty resentment and feuding between so-called believers, plus too much compromise with the heathen, and too much of just sitting on our laurels and figuring everything will just work itself out for good. 

No friends, winning souls for Christ, and the world for His LOVE Revolution WILL not happen without our saltiness and light blaring forth, dazzling the entire world! 

Now listen to Jesus final words on the subject. ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt.5:16) 

Yes friends, that’s how true believers ought to be behaving, so that God can be glorified! Remember that’s our chief mission here on earth! So let’s pull up our socks and go out and do better for Jesus nuh mih breddren! Don’t you feel bad that we’re letting the world blaspheme His holy name and kick Him around like a bloody football, after all He’s done for us? We ought to! Much LOVE!

…if you’re not flavouring the world with your saltiness…and dazzling them with your light…then you’re a poor ambassador for Christ…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 5 February 2014 Ephesians 1:3

05 Feb 2014 Leave a comment

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

Ephesians 1:3.   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.  

‘One more morning, One more day!’ Yes Friends, that’s all the ole fella has left of this glorious vacation on Robinson Crusoe’s beautiful Isle! What a pity! It’s sad, but it’s the reality of life and this particular situation.

And I really can’t complain, because just as the Lord had something good waiting down here for me, I know He also has something good waiting for me in the North Country, just under different physical conditions, although, sea, sun and sand, are certainly preferable to freezing cold, snow and ice. (smile)
 
But Friends, it’s the memories… the memories! And we certainly made a grand one yesterday, for around 11.30, my half-brother Haymer, picked up the Duchess and I, and took us for a sightseeing tour of the Northern side of the island. We passed through several, quaint, picturesque and colourful towns and villages, some I hadn’t been to in ages, and a few that I had never been to.
 
There were places like Government Hall, Mason Hall, Moriah, Runnymede, Castara, Parlatouvier and Bloody Bay. Now it’s hill country, with narrow, winding roads, which haven’t changed much since my boyhood days, and the majority of the buildings are perched on the hills, on either side of the road, not leaving much room for any road expansion.
 
But Friends, in some places, the scenery is so beautiful that it simply takes your breath away and makes you go ‘Wow!’ At those points, we just had to stop and take some pictures to add to the kaleidoscope of the holiday. (smile)
 
The non-stop conversation was healthy, punctuated with all sorts of reminiscences, as well as new stuff. It ‘s strange, but true, that my brother and I hadn’t shared this kind of time together in many, many years, possibly since school days. But as he rightly said, ‘nothing happens before its time.’ And that’s undeniable truth my people!
 
We had a dip in the cold, but refreshing and invigorating water of Parlatouvier, which, according to my brother, is much less polluted and contaminated than the sea around the bigger towns and built up areas, for much less human effluent flows into it up there. 
 
We got back home around 4 o’clock, rested for a short spell, then hit the road again to purchase some stuff the wife needed, including dinner. We ended up in Scarborough, buying Chinese food, which was okay, but didn’t really thrill me. The Duchess was happy with it though, and was the most important thing, for once the Duchess is happy, my life’s at peace. (smile)
 
After eating, we just sat around, reading and playing computer games till bed time, for it had been quite a busy and eventful day. And that’s the good stuff I put away in my memory bank from yesterday, the eve of my penultimate day in Paradise!
 
And that segues nicely into our Bit, as Bruh Paul so wisely enlightens the Ephesians and us, as to the goodness of our wonderful God: ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.’ 
 
No doubt the good times I’ve been experiencing here in Tobago, are some of the spiritual blessings the Lord had stored up for me, and is now sharing them a few at a time, as I need them. And there’s so much truth in Bruh Paul’s simple statement, that we can talk about it forever, and still not cover everything.
 
So we’ll continue looking at how he explained to the Ephesians, the spiritual blessings received through Christ. Now yesterday, we saw where God, having set His plan for redemption in motion, finally revealed the mystery of the plan to mankind, through His divine efforts and guidance, all for His good pleasure and mighty purpose.
 
We left off at verse 9, yesterday, so let’s continue from verse 10. ‘That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on the earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained and inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Jesus.’ (Eph.1:10-12)
 
Ah Friends, we see here God relating, through Bruh Paul, more and more of the mystery of His awesome plan for the redemption and reconciliation of mankind, through His Son Jesus Christ.
 
Now listen to the scholars’: ‘1:10. This verse refers back to God’s “good pleasure” (v.9). Verse 10 is made more plain by the paraphrase, “for the purpose of executing it (i.e., God’s good pleasure) in the fullness of times, and His good pleasure is to head up all things in Christ, things in heaven, and things on earth.”
 
In the near future, when the time is ripe, God will put His purpose into effect and carry it out. And His “good pleasure” or intention is the restoration of original universal unity, when all things are brought back into harmony with Himself and under the headship of Christ.’
 
Now, as per ‘1:11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance may be read, “by whom we were also made an inheritance.” That is, believers are God’s treasure. Why would Paul regard this as a blessing? As God’s treasure Christians are the apple of His eye, the special objects of His LOVE. He is then determined to provide and care for His people who are His heritage.’
 
And re ‘1:12. The purpose of being made God’s “inheritance” and having been “predestinated” (v.11) is that we should be to the praise of his glory, that is, that we should glorify God. Who first trusted in Christ refers to Jewish believers.’
 
There we have it Friends, God’s mysterious but awesome plan being revealed, bit by bit to humans, all under the leadership of Jesus Christ. So why then are we still reluctant and sometimes downright ornery to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour eh?
 
It just boggles my imagination, what with all the scripture we have, it’s faithful fulfillment and the wonderful works of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, all in consort and concert with the Father!
 
All I can do is to advise us to think carefully, ponder our individual situations, and with God’s always available help, to make the wise and right decision, for if we don’t make the right one, then crapaud smoke we pipe – things will turn out real bad for us. Much LOVE!
 
…opting to be in Jesus’ army…under His protective wings…that’s the smartest and wisest option available to man…