The essence of man’s purpose: praise and service to Almighty God!

03 Jul 2024 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 100:2.       Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

So it’s our mid-week work day, Wednesday, where we usually catch our second wind, but after all that partying this past long weekend, it will take more than a couple of days for us to catch our breath. We might need a whole week off to do that properly. (smile) But unless you take a week’s vacation, I’m afraid that won’t happen, so we’ve got to get it together under these tough circumstances. We should have thought about the tiredness and lack of sleep before we partied so heartily, and now we just have to stand our bounce. That’s what comes from not thinking ahead. (smile) 

Anyway, the Good Library just opened unto the Book of Psalms, and the first thing that came to my eyes was Psalm 100, a psalm talking about hearty service to the Lord, serving Him with gladness, with a voice of thanksgiving and praise. And that’s just what we need right now, so let’s read it with a sense of joy and gladness. 

‘Make a joyful noise (shout joyfully) unto the Lord, all ye lands (all the earth). Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.’ (Ps. 100: 1-5) 

Yes friends, that’s a very interesting psalm, and is reminiscent of Psalm 145, where Bruh David talks about ‘God’s Unsearchable Greatness.’ But the scholars do have an interesting explanation for this psalm. They say: ‘The word praise in the superscription is actually the word thanksgiving or, more specifically, thank-offering. It was one psalm that accompanied a “thank-offering” (Lev. 7:12) that one presented when God had especially answered a prayer or given a great deliverance. The psalm contains a command to serve (vs. 1-3) and a command to praise (vs. 4-5). 

Each section is in turn divided into three calls and three causes. There are three calls to serve, make a joyful noise (vs. 1), serve the Lord (vs. 2), and come before (vs. 2); and three causes for serving, the Lord is God, he hath made us, we are his people (vs. 3). Likewise,  there are three calls to praise, enter his gates, be thankful, bless his name (vs. 4), followed by three causes for praise, the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting, his truth endureth (vs.5).’ 

So you see my brethren, what we might previously have thought of as a short simple psalm, one to just read and pass over, is truly filled with great scriptural advice, with commands to both serve and praise the Lord. That’s why we cannot simply pass over anything found in the Lord’s word, for everything in there was placed there with a reason, and serves a particular purpose. We ignore stuff from the Bible at our own expense. 

And what I like about this psalm is its simple truths, simply put: praise the Lord and serve Him. And when we look at it in the real light of day, those are the only two things we’re truly required to do; praise the Lord and serve him. So, though the Bible is chocked full of all sorts of stuff, the true basics of it is mainly serving God and giving Him thanks for His goodness and mercy towards us underserving children of men. And sometimes we just need to break things down to their basic nature to really get at what they’re trying to tell us. 

Now that’s especially true in this modern information age, where so much information is available, and where social media, Artificial Intelligence and Satan are noising about so much stuff, filled with lies and deceptions. That’s why we need to stick to the truth. And what helps us to define and see the truth? The word of the Lord. For as Jesus said when praying for the disciples: ‘They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them (set them apart) through thy truth: thy word is truth.’ (John 17:16-17) 

And what does that mean? This excerpt from an article on the subject on the gotquestions.org website explains it thus: ‘In Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, (John 17) Jesus prays to His Father, saying, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth”. In this verse, Jesus communicates two important facts: God’s Word is truth—God’s Word equals truth—and it’s by that truth that God sanctifies us, or sets us apart for holy service to Himself.’ 

Therefore, if we want to know truth, then we have to look to God’s Word, for as Bruh Paul wrote to Timothy: ‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished (equipped) unto all good works.’ (2 Tim. 3:16-17) 

Yes my people, in these very deceptive, fraudulent, and days of outright lying, there are only two places we can look to for the truth; that’s God’s Word and to His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, who made it very clear when He proclaimed: ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father but by me.’ (John 14:6) 

So let’s see what we’ve learned today nuh, or merely refreshed our memories on. (smile) Our basic purpose is to serve and praise the Lord, and His Word is truth, as put forth by His Son Jesus who ought to know. But most important of all is that we can only get to the Father through the Son. Let’s never forget that, even as we go home today declaring (awright!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus! 

As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And having said all of that, here’s another truth: if we endure right to very end with Jesus, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine. So, in all wisdom and truth, let’s plan to meet right at the very end nuh! Much LOVE!

…the Lord created mankind to communicate with Him…through, praise, service and thanksgiving…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

The Mover and Shaker of our Christian Faith – The Holy Spirit!

26 Jun 2024 Leave a comment

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

Genesis 2:7.       And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

And it’s another warm, sunshiny but windy day in our neighbourhood. And I’m so sorry for the poor trees as they are forced to dance this continuous wind dance. (smile) But seriously though, for the last couple of years we’ve been having a lot of strong winds for no apparent reason, but this year it’s been the worst ever. Several days at a time the wind just keeps on tearing across the neighbourhood: sometimes hot, sometimes cool, but always in a hurry to go where no one knows. 

As Jesus so correctly said to Nicodemus, the Jewish leader when teaching him about being born again in the Holy Spirit. ‘The wind bloweth where it listeth (wishes), and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one born of the Spirit.’ (John 3:8) 

And if you’re wondering what that all means, what’s the symbolism of the wind in the Bible, then this commentary gives a good explanation. ‘Wind is a Biblical symbol of the Holy Spirit. Like the wind, the Holy Spirit comes in suddenly and from seemingly nowhere – He whirls about the atmosphere and changes everything. The Spirit, like the wind, moves wherever He wants and is, at times, unpredictable. Breath is also a Biblical symbol of the Holy Spirit.’ 

It’s like how the Bible says of the Creation: ‘In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon (hovered over) the face of the waters.’ (Gen. 1:1-2) 

So the Holy Spirit was there right at the beginning of creation, ready to perform whatever job was necessary. Likewise, it was the Holy Spirit that provided life in man. As the Bible tells it: ‘And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.’ (Gen. 2:7) 

Yes friends, like the proverbial potter, the Lord formed man’s body from the dust of the ground then breathed the breath of life or Spirit (Heb. ruach) into him, making him a living creature. So the Holy Spirit is indeed important and like the wind moves and grooves wherever it is needed, but most importantly, today it dwells within each believer to lead, guide and comfort us as we live the Christian life here on earth. And unless we pay close attention to the still, small voice that the Spirit usually speaks in, we will miss God’s amazing plan and purpose for our lives. 

That brings us to this prayer from the  Let Us Pray section of this month’s In Touch Devotional, which seems to jive rather well with what we’ve been speaking about, the mystery of God and His Holy Spirit. So please pray with me: ‘God, I know some things about You, but so much remains a mystery – and that often unsettles me. The mystery of You is like a midnight sky – so immense it could swallow me whole. But I know Your LOVE is vaster still. God, help me find beauty in the unknown, and to LOVE whatever I glimpse of You. In Jesus’ name, amen.’ 

Yes mih bredrin, our God is great and full of mystery, and we’ll never understand the half of what and who He is. But that’s why He is God! His omnipotence, omniscience, and omni-presence is way above the ability of our finite, puny minds to comprehend. And He’s informed us of that in His word, through the prophet Isaiah: ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ (Is. 55:8-9) 

That’s it in a nutshell my people! We can never understand all that our God is, we just have to believe and have faith, because we see and experience His goodness towards us. And if we get close enough to Him, every so often He will give us a glimpse of Himself; of His imperial majesty, of His miracle working power, of His comforting Spirit, and of His unconditional LOVE. 

But all of that is just window dressing, for He’s already given us the biggest and most important part of Himself, that’s His only Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, who came to earth and died as a propitiation, an appeasement for our sins. As one of my favourite Bible verses reminds us: ‘But God commendeth his LOVE (demonstrated his own LOVE) toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Rom. 5:8) 

Oh my fellow saints, there could never be a bigger, heartfelt, genuine showing of LOVE than that! The Lord LOVED us so much that He broke His own heart to save us from eternal damnation and hellfire. And now, that’s where our eyes must be focused – on the Lord Jesus Christ. Living the way He desires, doing the things He wants us to do, making sacrifices for others like He did for us, but above all…LOVING Him with all our hearts, souls, bodies and minds. 

And we’re talking about a true and genuine LOVE, not some wishy-washy, opportunistic, selfish emotion, because that’s exactly what He deserves after all the earthly ‘sufferation’ He endured for our sakes. Now, for those of us who are truly trying to live for Christ, let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful, enviable and incomparable situation in Christ Jesus. 

As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And if we truly endure to the very end with Christ, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine. So see you there! Much LOVE!

…but for the Lord’s greatest gift…His son Jesus Christ…we’d all be hell bound…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Living Successfully Through Christ: Lessons from Philippians 4:13

19 Jun 2024 Leave a comment

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

Philippians 4:13.        I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

And Wednesday, the middle day of our work week has opened like the last two, hot and humid, but somewhat cloudy. It might therefore be a tad difficult catching your second wind. (smile) But let’s remember, as staunch and steadfast believers in Jesus Christ, we can do any and everything that He desires of us. The scriptures themselves promise us that, where they say, very unequivocally: ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.’ (Phil. 4:13) 

And unless you sincerely believe that, and put it into action in your own life, you will be dreadfully shortchanging yourself and your Christian faith, for that’s one of the foundation pillars of our faith! However to properly understand that quote, one must first know why Bruh Paul said it. Immediately before those words, he had written these to the church at Philippi. 

‘But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last your care of (concern for) me hath flourished again (revived); wherein ye were also careful (though you surely did care), but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want (in regard of need): for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know how to be abased (live humbly), and I know how to abound (live in prosperity): every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.’ (Phil. 4:10-13) 

Now the gist of the story is that apparently the Philippians had earlier sent Bruh Paul some financial aid, and although they still cared very much for him, they never had the opportunity to do so again. And he’s  telling them that he knows they care, and although he was glad for any gifts they sent him, he had however LEARNED to live contentedly in any state in which he found himself, be it in poverty or prosperity. But the crux of the matter is that he’s only able to do it with Christ’s help. It’s Christ who strengthens him to live successfully in any situation. And I emphasized LEARNED because one doesn’t just acquire that skill. 

As the scholars explain: ‘The Greek here suggests that contentment is a lesson learned neither in a classroom or overnight, but through many practical life experiences.’ And that’s the gospel truth my people! We can’t learn to live sincerely and successfully for Jesus until and unless we go through a lot of eye opening and hair raising stuff and apply the tenets of our faith to help us get through them. 

And here’s another interesting explanation from the scholars, re Bruh Paul’s ability to live a contented life. ‘They say: ‘Paul has acquired the skill required for successful living with little and with much, the latter probably being harder: “For one man who can stand prosperity, there are a hundred that will stand adversity” (Thomas Carlyle -Scottish Essayist, Historian and Philosopher 1795-1881).’ Now isn’t that an interesting supposition – that it’s harder to live in prosperity than to go through adversity? For some that might be true, while for others it might not. But that’s another philosophical question for another time. (smile) 

And, for our further enlightenment, let’s look at the scholars’ explanation of Bruh Paul’s remark about being able to do all things through Christ who strengthens him.  According to them: ‘The apostle’s ability of knowing how to live skillfully on little or in prosperity does not mean that he is a spiritual superman. The reason he can live in such extremes is not owing to his own ability. Rather he can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth him, thus enabling him to adapt to his various situations, and God gives him the strength to be content in them all, trying and perplexing though they may be.’ 

That means my fellow believers that we can do the same thing; live like Bruh Paul, successfully in any state in which we find ourselves, because the ability to do so doesn’t come from us, but from the strengthening hands of our wonderful Lord and Saviour. And I can personally attest to that, because I’ve gone through some really tough times in my life, where I didn’t know whether I was coming or going. But the wonder is that in some of those early times of want, I was not into Christ as much as I now am, but somehow I was able to be contented in them. 

But what’s even more interesting is that in many of those tough times, after suffering for a while, some miraculous event always occurred to get me out of them. And I now realize that it was the Lord looking after me, although my faith was somewhat dormant. That’s why I can’t stop believing! 

Ah mih friends, the Bible says a lot of things, gives a lot of promises, but to access many of them we have to be actively involved, or we will lose out on plenty marvellous stuff. It’s never easy… sorry, let me rephrase that. Whenever it seems too easy, remember there will usually come a time when we will have to pay for it, and the longer the time of repayment, the more expensive it will be. As the man says: ‘You can pay me now or pay me later…but later will be greater…’ 

And that’s the gospel truth my brethren! So please, let’s wake up to the reality of the situation, let’s see that our world is quickly sinking into the mire of evil and ungodliness and make a solid and faithful promise to do our best to stop that terrible slide, and sincerely believe that we can do it, through Christ who strengthens us! And we can…if we truly believe and are willing to work at it. Now let’s go home declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. 

As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

Now, if we endure to the very end with Christ, then it’s been promised that that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine. so let’s be wise and plan to meet that every end nuh! Much LOVE!…

we believers can change the world through Christ…one sacrifice at a time…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit   12 June 2024 John 13:34.

12 Jun 2024 Leave a comment

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

John 13:34.         A new commandment I give unto you, That ye LOVE one another: as I have LOVED you, that ye also LOVE one another.

It’s Wednesday friends…the middle day of our work week! Can you believe it? I certainly can’t. (smile) The days seem to be going by so quickly, and I’m not getting even a half of the things I want to get done! But that’s life I guess. If you don’t get up and make hay while the sun shines, you’ll be left behind. And sadly, that’s what’s happening with our Christian church. We’re so busy fighting each other that we don’t have the time or energy to fight the enemy like we should be doing.  One good example of that is where I read recently that down in the U.S. an umbrella church group was planning to kick out any individual members that had women as pastors or high officials in their church. 

Now that’s a real kick in the teeth to female pastors and other female high-ups in the body of Christ, for today there are many women who play a large part in the running of churches. But that’s one of the things that just boggles my imagination. Is that important enough to create more strife in the church? I certainly don’t think so, especially when the world is going to hell in a hand basket and we Christians, the ones who are supposed to stop it from going there are doing nothing, or very little to prevent it. Instead we’re fighting amongst each other over relatively petty and unimportant stuff. I’m sure Jesus must be shaking His head in disbelief, the way I am. 

What were Jesus most important words to those who follow Him? ‘A new commandment I give unto you, That ye LOVE one another: as I have LOVED you, that ye also LOVE one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have LOVE one to another.’ (John 13:34-35) It’s only ONE commandment we have to follow friends; LOVE one another like Jesus LOVED us. But do you think we can, or are doing that? Certainly not! No wonder the unbelievers don’t pay much attention to the empty words we speak to them and the hypocritical actions we try to fool them with. 

We’re so selfish and self-centred that it’s become a joke amongst the heathen, so much so that when we go to them and tell them about the LOVE of Jesus and all that stuff, they simply laugh in our faces because they know the hypocrites that we truly are. If we can’t LOVE each other like Jesus desires, how can we claim to LOVE others not of the faith eh?  We are just like the Pharisees of Jesus’ time, whom He called out thus: ‘Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres (white-washed tombs), which indeed 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 (lawlessness).’ (Matt. 23:27-28) 

Yes friends, unfortunately too many of us supposed believers are exactly like that in these crazy and exasperating times. We look good on the outside, and we talk the kingdom talk, but inside we’re dirty and disgusting just like the religious leaders of Christ’s day were. As it’s so commonly known; we talk the talk, but don’t truly walk the walk. Remember were only supposed to be IN this world, but not OF it. As Jesus prayed to the Father on our behalf. ‘I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil (one). They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them (set them apart) through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they might be sanctified through the truth.’ (John 17:15-19) 

Oh my fellow believers, are we sanctified, set apart by the truth of God’s word. It certainly doesn’t seem so, with all the petty infighting that’s currently going on between the various denominations and cliques of Christ’s church, and consequently our lack of witnessing to the unbeliever. The truth of the matter is that we cannot make any substantial changes in the world without interacting with unbelievers, however we cannot theoretically get into bed with them, meaning that we can’t do all the things they do, we have to set a good Christ-like example. 

Unfortunately, too many of us are getting into bed with the unbelievers and thus making them change us, instead of us changing them. We all like the pretty, materialistic things of the world and are following the unbelievers too much in an ungodly attempt to get them. We’ve apparently forgotten the true meaning of discipleship, so let’s refresh our memories with Jesus’ explanation nuh. ‘And he said to them all, If any man will come (desires to) come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.’ (Luke 9:23) Note the important words there friends: ‘deny himself, and take up his cross daily.’ 

However, today, very few of us are willing to make any sacrifices in the cause of Jesus. And we’re certainly not picking up our crosses daily and following Him…perhaps once in a while, if we’re lucky. So how can we ever do anything worthwhile for Jesus in this world if we don’t follow the few directives He gives us eh? LOVE one another; that means no infighting. Do not be of this world. Don’t let the world change you, you’re supposed to change it. Deny yourself. Be prepared to make sacrifices on His behalf. Ah mih people, until we truly begin to follow the basics of Jesus’ teaching, we’ll continue to fail Him. and that’s truly sad, after all the sacrifices He’s made on our behalf. 

Anyway, for those of us trying to be faithful, let’s go home declaring (yesss!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And believe me, if we stick to Jesus until the very end, that future will be even more glorious than we can ask or imagine. So, see you there! Much LOVE!

…heaven is our home…not this world…so let’s start behaving heavenly nuh…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit   5 June 2024 Ephesians 6:11.

05 Jun 2024 Leave a comment

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

Ephesians 6:11.       Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (evil schemes) of the devil.

Well a good Wednesday morning to all you my Scrip-Bit friends and family out there in this crazy and turbulent world! And I do hope we all are handling our trials and tribulations in a calm and godly manner. Now, as Bruh Paul was won’t to greet the churches in his letters, and this particular one to those in Galatia: ‘Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world (age) according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.’ (Gal. 1:3-5) 

Yes friends, do we ever need the grace and peace of our Triune God if we’re to successfully navigate this evil and lawless world. And if Bruh Paul thought his time was bad and evil, he should be living now, when we’ve developed evil to a high science. And the only way to navigate this evil world successfully is as Bruh Paul writes to the Ephesians. ‘Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (evil schemes) of the devil.’ (Eph. 6:11) 

Oh my brethren, if we’re not fully clothed in the Lord’s armour, then we don’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell of rebuking the enemy. Let’s understand that from the get-go. ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world (age), against spiritual (hosts) of wickedness in high places.’ (Eph. 6:12) That means we’re not fighting a physical but spiritual battle, against forces of spiritual wickedness: ‘Wherefore take unto you (take up, put on) the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.’ (Eph. 6:13) 

Ah mih people, it’s a tough fight in which we’re involved, one to the death, for the enemy is not going to give any leeway, neither should we. And we can’t do that, we can’t stand our ground, without being fully clothed in God’s armour. The scholars explain that last verse thus: ‘Wherefore means “because of this,”  that is, because we face such a formidable foe, we must avail ourselves of God’s provision lest the enemy destroy our Christian witness and ministry.  The evil day refers to the periodic demonic onslaughts and Satanic assaults. Having done all includes both dressing oneself in God’s armour and resisting Satan. Having done all these, be ready, for the devil will attack again and again.’ 

That reminds us of this scripture from Luke after the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness. ‘And when the devil had ended all the temptation (testing), he departed from him for a season (until an opportune time.’ (Luke 4:13) Yes mih bredrin, the devil never quits. If you successfully resist for a time, then he will go away, but be sure that once you’re breathing God’s breath of life, he will surely come back at a later date, with more evil schemes to test you. That’s why we have to stay always dressed in that protective armour of God. And what’s this protective armour you ask? 

Well let’s refresh our memories. And to help us better understand Bruh Paul’s words, I have embedded some of the scholars’ explanations in the verses. He writes: ‘Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth; (or your waist girded with a knowledge of the truth of God’s word), and having on the breastplate of righteousness (that’s a holy character and moral conduct. Obedience to the “truth” known produces a godly life (righteousness). And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (that’s eagerness that comes from the gospel of peace, or a willingness to advance against the enemy and take the fight to him. The gospel gives peace to the believer freeing him from anxiety, though he advances against a powerful opponent). 

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked (one). (And that shield of (which is) faith means taking God at His word by believing His promises. Such trust will protect one from doubts induced by Satan.) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (This helmet is the hope of salvation, the certainty (assurance) of salvation. And the sword of the Spirit is God’s word, possibly referring not to the whole Word of God, but to certain portions or selected verses of scripture). Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for the saints.’ (Eph. 6:14-18) 

Oh my people, those first six parts of armour are important to keep us from the devil’s evil schemes, but they are of no use without the mammoth assistance of prayer. As the scholars say: ‘Without prayer God’s armour is inadequate to achieve victory. Prayer is indispensable. Always means on every occasion that Satan attacks. In the Spirit signifies that with the Spirit’s help such prayer for divine aid is to be made. Watching thereunto means “being vigilant in this very matter” of prayer. They are to pray not just for themselves but for all saints; spiritual combat is both an individual and corporate matter.’ 

Oh my fellow saints, let’s hope that that revision of how to protect ourselves from the evil schemes and temptations of Satan are timely, and that we renew our vigilance and understanding of God’s armour, of His provision for our protection, and that we faithfully put it on and stand. Yes, that we stand strong against the evil forces of this world of darkness. And for those of us who are sincerely trying to do that, let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. 

As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And if we endure with Christ to the very end, then it’s been promised that that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine. So please, let’s be wise and plan to meet at the very end and enjoy that more than glorious future nuh! Much LOVE!

…no soldier goes into battle without the proper protective armour…neither should Christians…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit   29 May 2024 Psalm 143:10.

29 May 2024 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 143:10.       Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

And then it was Wednesday…and the Bit is somewhat late, as usual. (smile) However, that should not happen for the next couple of months because my priest will be on a sabbatical and holidays for that time period. That means there will no Wednesday mid-morning church services to attend, and hopefully no errands to run afterward, so that I won’t have to come home tired from all my running around and have to nap before I can start writing the Bit. And all God’s people said a loud and grateful ‘Amen!’ (smile)

 Enough idle chatter though, let’s get down to the Lord’s business. And today we’ll check out an interesting poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin, titled ‘Three Discoveries.’ And this one I am sure I’ve shared before, but I believe it’s very necessary to share it again in these trying and troubled times. So please read with me: ‘I have made three overwhelming discoveries regarding God’s reliable faithfulness: The first: God will NEVER let us go – NEVER! We may fall flat on our faces. We may resist until we feel exhausted, but nothing can separate us from His matchless LOVE. 

The second: God will NEVER let us down – NEVER! He is forever faithful, even when we are faithless. He cannot deny Himself. He will NEVER leave us nor forsake us. The third: He will NEVER let us off – NEVER! Whenever we give in to temptation, when we determine to have our own way – He says with all the LOVE of His Father-heart, “I LOVE you too much to excuse disobedience.” Whom He LOVES, He chastens. God is determined to bless us. He is eager to show us His kindness. He is glad to teach us the proper paths; but He MUST have access to our hearts. He will allow guilt to become a burden until conviction comes, then confession, and finally renewed commitment! May David’s prayer be our prayer:’ 

And what you ask was David’s prayer. ‘Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.’ Or as the New Living translation puts it at the end: ‘May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.’ (Ps. 143:10) Yes friends, that’s the prayer of Bruh David our poem is referring to, and it’s the Bible verse associated with it. By the way, all the bold capitalizations are mine, done to provide a li’l more emphasis (smile) 

And what do we learn from the poem? Three basic things. The first is that once we surrender our lives to God, He will NEVER let us go! No NEVER! Even if we resist till we’re blue in the face. The Bible greatly reassures us of that through Bruh Paul’s words to the Romans. ‘For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the LOVE of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ (Rom. 8:38-39) Oh my people, it could not be any clearer or more reassuring than that! 

And the second thing we learn from the poem is that God will NEVER let us down! And that’s the gospel truth my brethren! Our God is everlastingly faithful! As the poem says, He is faithful and cannot deny Himself. And Bruh Paul wrote that exact thing to Timithy in his second letter. ‘If we believe not (are faithless), yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.’ (2 Tim. 2:13) And you ask, what does cannot deny himself mean? This commentary explains it quite nicely. 

‘God cannot go contrary to his word; that would be to act contrary to his nature and perfections, and would be a denying of himself, which is not possible; wherefore his faithfulness will never fail, even though, the faith of his people does, as to the exercise of it.’ So although we might fail and fall and become faithless, our great God will NEVER fall to such depths, will NEVER be faithless. We can count on it with all our heart, minds, bodies and souls. And if that doesn’t reassure you, then listen to the scripture from Hebrews. 

The author writes: ‘Let your conversation (conduct) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he (God) hath said, I will NEVER leave thee, nor forsake thee.’ (Heb. 13:5) And if that still does’nt satisfy you, then try this other scripture from Hebrews. ‘Let us hold fast the profession (confession) of our faith (hope) without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)’ (Heb. 10:23) And if all of those scriptures don’t reassure you of God’s faithfulness, then I don’t know what else to say, but that you will have to learn it through hard experience in your own life. (smile) 

And the third lesson we’ve learned from our poem is that God will NEVER let us off. No. He will NEVER let us get away with sin and rebellious behaviour, because He LOVES us too much to see us go down the wide path that leads to destruction and allow us to continue down it unimpeded. No. He will be like a dog constantly nipping at our heels, reminding us of our inappropriate behaviour, until we finally confess, repent and turn away from that sinful activity. And why is that eh? Simply because of His great LOVE for His prized human creation. 

And you can find scripture that attests to that in Proverbs 3, where Cousin Sol writes: ‘My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of (detest not) his correction: for whom the Lord LOVETH he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.’ (Prov. 3:11-12) And the Lord is simply behaving like our earthly father’s do; correct us when we go astray. If He didn’t do that, He would not be the LOVING and caring God He claims to be. Now, the author of Hebrews also has some invaluable words on the topic of the Lord’s chastening, but we don’t have time to go through it, so please read it for yourselves in Hebrews 12:5-11, and hopefully you’ll understand it better. Let’s remember though that the Lord’s chastening is ALWAYS FOR OUR BENEFIT!’ 

Now, let’s go home declaring (steups!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And if we endure to the very end, then it’s been promised that the future will be even more glorious than we can ask or imagine. So let’s be wise and plan to meet there nuh! Much LOVE!

…our God is exactly whom the Bible says He is…a faithful, LOVING, kind, caring and compassionate God…

Hear our podcast at  https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit   22 May 2024   1 John 4:11.

22 May 2024 Leave a comment

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

I John 4:11.       Beloved, if God so LOVED us, we ought also to LOVE one another.

Summer time, summer time, glorious summer time! That wonderful time of year when we don’t have to dress up in several layers of clothing just go and put out the garbage! And even better, I can now sit on my porch in shorts and T-shirt and watch the many people going for walks, catching up on the exercise they missed during the winter. The only sad part of that is that more of those people are walking dogs rather than children. But if dogs are the new children, then who am I to say otherwise.(smile) But yuh better believe in this day and age, dogs are much more expensive to raise and keep than children. 

Anyway, it’s too beautiful a day to harbour any ill feelings, so let’s get down to brass tacks with this prayer from the ‘Let Us Pray’ Section of this month’s In Touch Devotional. Please pray with me. ‘Father, how can your LOVE be boundless, without beginning, and for all creation? It’s beyond my understanding, but the fact remains – You are LOVE. LOVE is You. Make me a vessel, God. Remove the boundaries I’ve put between myself and others, and let Your LOVE flow through me – to my family, friends, and neighbours, to people on the margins and those in power, to strangers and enemies. In Jesus’ name, amen.’ 

Ah friends, what an interesting prayer! Our minds are too small to comprehend the height, depth, length and width of God’s LOVE for us. But we’re still ever so sure that He LOVES us, His greatest creation, with an unfailing and everlasting LOVE, despite our overwhelming disobedience and sinfulness. That’s why, as Bruh Paul writes to the Romans: ‘But God commendeth (demonstrated) his LOVE toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Rom. 5:8) 

It could not be put any clearer than that my people. Although John in his epistle tries to do so, where he writes: ‘Beloved, let us LOVE one another; for LOVE is of God; and every one that LOVETH is born of God. He that LOVETH not knoweth not God; for God is LOVE. In this was manifested the LOVE of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is LOVE, not that we LOVED God, but that He LOVED us, and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so LOVED us, we ought also to LOVE one another.’ (1 John 4:7-11) 

And that’s the plain and simple truth my brethren! If God LOVED us despite our sinfulness and ungodliness, we ought to also LOVE one another. And Jesus also made that very clear to the disciples and to us who decide to follow Him later on: ‘A new commandment I give unto you, That ye LOVE one another; as I have LOVED you, that ye also LOVE one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have LOVE one to another.’ (John 13:34-35) 

What part of that don’t we understand eh my fellow believers? Why then are the numerous denominations which make up Christ’s church so intensely resentful and even hateful to each other eh? No wonder the heathen don’t consider us true disciples of Jesus! If we can’t LOVE those who supposedly preach the same gospel and live in the same kingdom, under the same Sovereign Ruler, how can we LOVE others who live outside of that spiritual realm eh? No way! That means that despite all our talk about Jesus and all the hoopla we create, we’re not really doing very much to forward His kingdom here on earth because of all the ill will between us, His followers. 

And that’s why I like it when the prayer above asks: ‘Make me a vessel, God. remove the boundaries I’ve put between myself and others, and let Your LOVE flow through me – to my family, friends, and neighbours, to people on the margins and those in power, to strangers and enemies…’  

Yes friends, that’s exactly what we need in today’s ungodly and selfish world. And it reminds me of what we call the Prayer of St. Francis, or the Peace Prayer, which says: ‘Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow LOVE; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be LOVED as to LOVE. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.’ 

Now my fellow saints, that is what we call a comprehensive prayer; one that includes a little of everything. And it’s what we believers need to be doing consciously and constructively; LOVING, comforting and forgiving others like we are LOVED, comforted and forgiven by our heavenly Father. Anything less than that is disobedience and rebellion, and thus sin. So let’s wake up and smell the stench in our world nuh and set ourselves as followers of Christ to do a much better job than we’ve hitherto done! 

Now, for those of us who are serious and sincere about living for Christ, let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Wednesday Wail letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And the promise is that if we endure right to the very end with Jesus, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ask or imagine. So let’s plan to meet there nuh…right at the very end! Much LOVE!

…LOVE is all the world needs to set it right…

 Hear our podcast at  https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit   15 May 2024 Revelation 21:5a.

15 May 2024 Leave a comment

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

Revelation 21:5a.       And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new:

And the days move along like there was no today, only tomorrow. Yes, that’s how fast one day is becoming another. Can you imagine that we were just worrying about Monday, and now it’s already Wednesday. (smile) Oh friends, we can no longer afford to simply sit on our laurels and just allow the world to speed by around us. No! We have to get up and get ourselves together and do something worthwhile in our lives, preferably work that Jesus has commissioned us to do. And even if you don’t believe in Jesus, there’s so much necessary work to be done, helping others in worse situations than ourselves, that there are no excuses for not doing something worthwhile in our lives. 

Now that applies even more to believers in Christ Jesus who is depending on us to fulfill His Great Commission of spreading the good news of His gospel and kingdom all over Mother Earth! And to prove that very point, the Lord led me to this interesting poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin, titled ‘Only Goodness.’ Now, I’m pretty sure I’ve never shared this poem before because I would surely have remembered it. (smile) 

So please read with me: ‘What glorious words of wonder Come from the Apostle Peter. He wrote, “But we are looking forward To God’s promise of new heavens and a new earth afterwards Where there will be only goodness.”  O dear God “Where there will be only goodness.” After centuries of war, greed, and lust After indulgences shamefully practiced After hatred, hostility Jealousy and abuse. Murder and martyrdom Crime and cruelty Curses and rebellion. After whimpering cries from starving children After tragedy and catastrophe Loneliness and despair At last…at long last  “There will be only goodness.”  O dear Lord Your promise is Your guarantee But please hurry a little!’ 

Ah friends that poem is full of so much truth it isn’t funny. And all the things it talks about seem to be getting worse with each passing day. Our world’s gone mad my brethren! And only we believers, with the help of Almighty God, can slow it down until the Lord is ready to do His thing where “there is only goodness.” But we do need Him to hurry up and bring that promise to pass because things are so bad they’re shameful. Man’s inhumanity to man has reached heights we never dreamed possible. Hunger, poverty and sickness are rampant in a world of plenty. That ought not to be so. But the overwhelming greed of the haves prevent them from sharing with the have nots, thus there’s strife and every evil thing possible happening in our world. 

Now some of us will be wondering where Peter spoke of “there will be only goodness.’ He writes in his second epistle: ‘But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of person ought ye to be in all holy conversation (conduct) and godliness. Looking for and hasting (hastening) unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.’ (2 Pet. 3:10-14) 

Yes my fellow believers, at some stage of the game the world and all therein will go up in flames, in fervent heat, which could even mean a nuclear holocaust, which, right now, is a very present possibility, with threats of nuclear engagement being made every day by world leaders. However, be that as it may, we Christians are expected to be diligent and worthy in Christ’s employ until He comes back in the day of judgement, not the Rapture. That’s why Peter urges his readers, that includes us, ‘to look beyond  this present world to the new heavens and a new earth.’ 

But although I don’t know how much we can do to stop the constant flow of evil and inhumanity, we do need to make a glowing and positive effort to at least slow it down. For it’s our initial lack of purpose and effort that has caused it to reach this astonishing level. And what Peter was talking about, John did write in Revelation: ‘And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 

And I heard a great voice saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be anymore pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new: and he said unto me, Write for these words are true and faithful.’ (Rev. 21: 1-5) 

There we have it my people, the time when there will be only goodness and no evil whatsoever! And by the way, verses 3-4 above are the Bible verses on which our poem ‘Only Goodness,’ was based. Now for those of us who are doing our best to stay righteous and do good, let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Wednesday Wail letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. 

As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And it’s been also promised that if we endure with Jesus right down to the very end, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ask or imagine. So, see you there! Much LOVE!

…while looking forward to the second coming of Christ…we should be busy doing His work…

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   8 May 2024 Mark 9:35.

08 May 2024 Leave a comment

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

Mark 9:35.         If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last.

And it’s another beautiful sunny, summer-like day, though a rather windy one. But you can’t always have it exactly like you want it, so we’ll take the blue skies and the warmth of God’s great light on this early Wednesday in May, as we try to catch our second wind and finish this work week in good shape. As they say, two out of three ain’t bad. (smile) And today, the Good Library opened at an interesting scripture, to a problem that’s bedeviled mankind since the beginning of time. The disciples of Jesus experienced it, and we also do to a great extent in these greedy, selfish and self-seeking days. 

Mark writes of it in his gospel thus: ‘And he (Jesus) came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it ye disputed (discussed) among yourselves by the way (along the road)? But they held their peace (kept silent): for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who would be the greatest. And he (Jesus) sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last.’ (Mark 9:33-35) Yes friends, Jesus knew exactly what they had been arguing about along the way. And it’s the very same problem that raises it’s ugly head in almost every organization or group today. Everybody wants to be Number One, El Numero Uno. 

But everybody cannot be first, only one can be first, meaning that figuratively speaking, the others will have to be last. But according to God’s kingdom rules, the first one must also be the last. In other words, to be first, you must be willing to be last. Or to be the boss, you must also be willing to be a servant to the rest of your group or organization. It’s the example of Jesus, who being Number One in heaven, gave up His privileges and came to earth to be a servant to man. Unfortunately though, mankind has a problem with that situation because of our overwhelming pride, figuring that if we are leaders, we are too good or big to do certain lowly tasks. 

And as Cousin Sol so rightly says in Proverbs: ‘Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.’ (Prov. 16:18) That simply means that those of us who are too proud and arrogant usually fall. When we are too proud and confident in our abilities, circumstances usually happen to bring us back down to earth, to reality, however in a shameful and destructive manner. And sadly, we see that happening quite regularly; for almost every day, some proud celebrity or wealthy person is brought to earth by their foolish pride and entitled behaviour. 

But do we learn from it? No way! Many of us are still clamouring unashamedly for material wealth and celebrity status, because this is the age of celebrity worship. And also very sadly, when you look at the supposed celebrities, the people whom we worship, who are influencing our lives, or as they call them the influencers… Steups! They don’t have a clue about real life, because most of them haven’t even experienced three decades of life yet, haven’t seen any real ups and downs, and consequently shouldn’t be even influencing themselves, much less this blind, mindless, gone astray society, for they will only take it further down into the mire of evil and foolishness. 

Enough of my rant though. But let’s remember that one of the six, or seven things that the Lord considers an abomination is ‘a proud look,’ meaning pride. (Prov. 6:16-17) And pride in itself is not a bad thing, because we all need it to encourage ourselves and so do good work. However, when that pride gets away from us and becomes arrogance, conceit, egotism and overwhelming selfishness, then we need to worry and take a good look at ourselves. And you can see that in the numerous dictators, and would-be dictators currently holding or seeking power in our world. 

However, their overwhelming pride and ego has stopped them learning about other power hungry men, who have eventually fallen amid shameful and disgraceful circumstances. No. They consider themselves much too big, bright and powerful to have anything like that happen to them. They forget, or simply don’t know who sits on the ultimate throne; the throne of heaven. That’s Almighty God, the Creator and Controller of the universe, who controls all that happens to them. First, He allows them to get power, and then He destroys them when the time is right. 

And these words from Asaph the psalmist, re The Righteous Judge , explains it quite clearly. Asaph writes: ‘I said unto the fools (boastful), Deal not foolishly (boastfully): and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn (don’t raise your head proudly like a horned animal): Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck (insolent pride). For promotion (exaltation) cometh neither form the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteh down one, and setteth (exalts) another.’ (Ps. 75:4-7) 

Oh my friends, we ought to know this since it’s been shown to be true so often in the Good Library. We see it in Saul’s overthrow by the Lord and the raising up of Bruh David to the throne of Israel. Also in the demise and return of Nebuchadnezzar, one of the Persian kings during Daniel’s time. Listen to a couple of scriptures which confirm the Lord’s power. The prophet Samuel’s mother says in her prayer of gratitude for a child: ‘The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world on them.’ (1 Sam 2:6-8) 

Yes my fellow saints, Samuel’s mother knew the Lord’s awesome power, as she had seen it work in her life. Likewise Daniel, after receiving the answer to the king’s vision, blessed the Lord of heaven with these words. ‘Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his. And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up (raises up) kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding. He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.’ (Dan. 2:20-21) 

Ah mih people, let’s understand and accept all that we’ve read today nuh, for if we do, it will keep us from being too swell-headed and rebellious, which will only bring God’s wrath upon us. End of Sermon! Now let’s declare (yesss!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And now, we’ve also been promised that if we endure with Christ to the end, then that future will even be brighter and more glorious than we ask or imagine. So, hoping to see you there at the very end! Much LOVE!

…it’s foolish for a created being…to ignore the awesome power of its Creator…

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   1 May 2024   1 Timothy 6:10a.

01 May 2024 Leave a comment

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

1 Timothy 6:10a.       For the LOVE of money is the root of all (all kinds of) evil:

So it’s a fairly warm and sunshiny Wednesday in my neighbourhood, though with a bit of cloud cover as the merry month of May opens in this crazy year of 2024. Yes friends, the year is only one third done, and it’s already showing some very unstable and mentally challenged tendencies. But let’s hope as we catch our second wind for this work week that we will be able to hold our own, and even gain some ground in this mentally challenged and spiritually evil world, through the ever present auspices of Jesus Christ in our lives, that’s His guidance and endorsement through the working of the Holy Spirit. For without it, we will all surely go mad, seeing and experiencing the craziness that’s currently going on in our world. 

And all God’s people said, a loud and grateful: ‘Thank God for Jesus yes! Otherwise we’d all be lost in the sea of craziness and evil that’s overtaken the earth.’ Now, today, we’re going to read a poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin that hopefully will help us to curb one tendency in the mental madness of the world. The poem is simply but very explicitly titled ‘Seek First.’ And as always, I don’t know if I have shared this poem before, but if so, then it’s definitely worth sharing again. (smile)  

So please read with me: ‘O Lord How futile, how foolish To attempt to keep up with the Joneses On the gold-studded ladder of success. Even if we make it (Setting high, competitive  goals) We awake one dismal morning To discover the Smiths have bypassed the Joneses So it starts again – the goading competition. God, our objective is far more rewarding. You want us to “keep up” with Your plan For our individual lives. “Seek first  the Kingdom of God” Is Your shining word to us. Forgive us for moments and days (Even months)  when our LOVE of money Has exceeded our LOVE for You. Please, God Be our financial Advisor and deliver us from a thousand “if onlys.” May we never be defeated By the lack of money Or captivated by the lure of it.’ 

Wow mih bredrin, what awesomely accurate words for something that bedevils so many of us in this greedy and sinful world. And all of us, at some stage in life, have felt the agonizing heartache that the lack of money brings, and most likely have promised ourselves never to let that happen to us again. However, whether through our fault or unfortunate circumstances, we’ve been through it again and again, and that’s no sin, unless we waste whatever we have on stuff that we don’t truly need. Then as the times get tougher and harder, money becomes even more difficult to make and keep. 

But what’s an even bigger problem is the LOVE of money that so many of us have, and with that the very foolish idea of running some competition with other foolish folks about who can have the most money or the most material possessions. But most of us should, and would know better if we would only read and put the words of the Bible into action. For instance, listen to this passage from Bruh Paul’s first letter to Timothy re the Root of All Evil, and from which the Bible Promise for our poem is taken. 

‘But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment (clothing) let us be therewith content. But they that will (desire to) to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful (harmful) lusts, which drown men in destruction (in ruin) and perdition. For the LOVE of money is the root of all (all kinds of) evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows, (for which some in their greediness have strayed from the faith and ended up in a sorrowful state).’  (1 Tim. 6:6-10) 

Oh friends, it could not be any more explicit than that. And we all know people, even possibly ourselves, who have fallen into such sorrow because of greed and competitive folly. But let’s hope that at this mature stage of our lives we have gotten past the devilish LOVE of money, that can cause all kinds of evils and problems in our lives. And please note, it’s not the money itself that causes the real problem, but our great desire and LOVE for it, that causes us to do anything to get it! 

Then there’s this next scripture that deals with comparing ourselves to each other, contained in Bruh Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, which explicitly says: ‘For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.’ (2 Cor. 10:12) There it is in black and white in the Lord’s word, my fellow believers! But yet we still persist in the foolish games of comparing ourselves, or as the poem puts it, ‘keeping up with the Joneses.’ 

And why is comparing ourselves to others, especially on money and material possessions, not good? Listen to these two commentaries that answer the question. The first one, in talking about the dangers of comparing ourselves to other believers says: ‘Comparison can drive us to sinful competition with other believers. We might find sinful motivations in our heart for serving at church or studying our Bible. If we can do more and do it better than them, we’d get the praise and recognition we “deserve.” 

Then the second one says this about the sin of comparison: ‘When you compare yourself to others, you either feel better or worse about yourself. There is no in-between. This sense of pride or insecurity can open the door to a lot of negativity. It makes you vulnerable to sin, and can breed insecurities, pride, envy and jealously; everything that God is against.’ And that’s the indisputable truth friends, as we can see from all the different cliques and groups in the church fighting for superiority, but only causing strife and further division of an already greatly divided church.  

And sadly, it’s the greed and strife, the anger and hatred, the evil doing and ungodly actions that the world is currently revolving around, rather than the LOVE, joy, peace, harmony ,unity and togetherness that ought to be uppermost. And we have no one else to blame but ourselves, for not doing what the Lord taught us: to seek first the kingdom of God and all the things we need would be given to us, and also the be the salty and bright shining Christians who go around spreading the good news of His gospel. And until we begin to seriously do those things, our world will continue to be thoroughly corrupt and evil! End of sermon. 

Now for those of us who are sincerely trying to be good disciples, let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of or wonderful position in Jesus Christ! As one voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And we’ve been promised that if we stay connected to Christ to the very end, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ask or imagine! So please, let’s be wise and plan to meet there at the very end nuh! Much LOVE!

…to be a true believer…your life must show the actions of true belief…

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