Today’s Scrip-Bit 16 March 2021 Romans 15:5.

16 Mar 2021 Leave a comment

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

Romans 15:5.     Now the God of patience and consolation (comfort) grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:​

Well, at last, and I breathe a sigh of relief, after all sorts of interruptions and annoyances – none really detrimental, we can finally get down to business with the Lord’s work! (smile) And it’s a cold, cloudy morning in my area, but the ole fella’s heart and spirit are bright and warm with the amazing LOVE of Jesus Christ flowing through it! 

Wow! I just hope that all of you out there are experiencing the same joy and fire that I’m experiencing, for that’s the only thing that will successfully get us through these turbulent and destructive times! Oh friends, our world badly needs Christ and all that He has to offer and all that He is, if we hope to solve our current problems. 

And today, I want us to look at something that’s oh so important to all of us, something called ‘unity in Christ.’ That simply means accepting Christ as Lord and Saviour, then behaving in the manner He desires, walking together, in brotherly LOVE, not in dissension and disunity. But let’s hear how Bruh Paul said it to the church at Rome nuh, he puts it much better than I can. (smile) 

Read with me: ‘We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities (weaknesses) of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification (to being built up). For even Christ pleased not himself; but as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.’ (Rom. 15:1-3) 

And the scholars explain those verses thus: ‘15:1-3. Strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak: The strong brother is morally obligated to take the initiative and bear with the weak brother in those things that bother him. The stronger brother must forego his liberty for the good of the weaker, so he is not offended or impaired in his spiritual life. The best example is Christ, who took our sins upon himself.’ 

And I can hear some steupsing and grumbling from some of us because we don’t agree that we should be our brother’s keeper, and should not allow his weakness to affect our lives. But look at this way nuh friends: What did Christ do for us eh? As our strong, big brother, He took the weight of all of our sins on His sinless shoulders so that we could be reconciled to the Father and gain salvation rather than eternal damnation! 

Now wouldn’t you say that’s going a whole lot further than any of us are expected to go in helping the spiritual growth of our fellow man? It certainly is! And yes, it’s not always easy to subjugate our feelings, our emotions and actions to those of our weaker brothers and sisters in Christ, but that’s what is expected of us, and it’s what we must strive to do. I know we won’t always be successful in doing it, but the important thing is that we have to try, have to get our hearts with the right motives, though our actions might be a bit off kilter. 

And these words of Christ ought to inspire and remind us of our great privilege and responsibility. That night in the Garden of Gethsemane, before His crucifixion, when He went to pray. He said to His disciples: ‘My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.’ (Matt. 26:38-39) 

Oh my people, do you think Jesus really wanted to face the painful and oh so agonizing death on the cross? Obviously not! But because the Father desired it on our behalf, He ceded His will to the Father’s! Now, if we can’t cede our will sometimes, in much less difficult circumstance for our fellow brethren in Christ, then we don’t deserve to be called Christians! 

What could ever be a better example of unity and brotherhood and LOVE, than ‘the Righteous One dying a substitutionary death for guilty mankind?’ And the simple but impeccable, faultless and perfect answer is NOTHING!’ So let’s look to getting rid of our selfish and petty scruples when it comes to helping our fellow brethren in Christ nuh. 

And as Bruh Paul continues to the Roman church: ‘For whatsoever things were written aforetime (beforehand) were written for our learning, that we through patience (perseverance) and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.’ (Rom. 15:4) Yuh see that friends! The scriptures were written so that we could have hope and comfort and cultivate faith and patience through perseverance and endurance. 

Oh my fellow saints, the entire Christian faith and belief is based on endurance and perseverance, because it’s not an easy life to lead, especially in this evil world ruled by the prince of darkness, Satan himself! Jesus didn’t have it easy, and He assured us that we wouldn’t have it easy either, but with true grit and firm, faithful belief in Him, we could do it. 

Listen as He reassures us: ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) And that’s the gospel truth my brethren! Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has overcome the world by defeating hell, death and the grave and wresting the keys of death from Satan through His awesome resurrection on that first Easter morn. So there’s nothing left to fear from the toothless tiger, the devil only has power when we give it to him. 

And Bruh Paul ends his li’l speech with these most important words. ‘Now the God of patience and consolation (comfort) grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (Rom. 15:5-6) And that’s how it ought to be friends; living in unity, glorifying our heavenly Father, for that’s His number one purpose in creating us. 

Now for those of us who have accepted that role, let’s go home declaring (steupsss!) our Tuesday Mantra, proudly and loudly letting the whole world know who and whose we are. Altogether now: ‘In God’s eyes, 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!’ 

So then, what we waiting for eh? Let’s get a move on, let’s start sharing that awesome LOVE of our trusted friend Jesus! Much LOVE!

…the number one stumbling block in today’s church…selfish, petty dissension and disunity… 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 27 September 2019 Romans 15:5.

27 Sep 2019 Leave a comment

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

Romans 15:5.    ​Now the God of patience and consolation (comfort) grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
 

Welcome to another glorious day on God’s great earth my people! And it just happens to be Friday, the day that so many of us look forward to, because it heralds the death knell of our workweek and the arrival of the weekend! And this week has indeed been a rough one for the ole fella; being sick, going into the city several times to see medics, as well as losing my cell phone. 

Yesterday the bus was full to overflowing, had to stand up all the way into T.O. Never saw it so filled before. And to make matters worse, a problem cropped up with some sensor in the bus, so that the driver had to pull over and stop several times until the sensor quieted down. 

Then my appointment with the ‘dragon lady’ my ophthalmologist, slated for three o’clock, was never fulfilled until six. But they warn you it’s usually a long wait to see her. (smile) So I never left the hospital until minutes to seven, and the train took another fifty minutes to get to my stop. So you see why, like the ordinary workingman, I’m glad to see Friday too. (smile) 

Listen to his spiel today: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday oui! Brother, can’t wait for the day to finish nuh! It’s been so busy around here this week…and the boss man just smiling a big, broad smile because business good and we working we tail off for the few dollars he paying us. But that’s life, I suppose! Once yuh doing an honest day’s labour, though not for an honest day’s pay, I guess yuh on the right track. 

And it looks like it going to be another warm, summerish weekend, so yuh better believe I’m going to take full advantage of it! Drinks and party and whatever else have you! Need to relax after all the slave work I put in this week yes! Thank God for Fridays and weekends! Don’t know how I’d manage without them nuh!’ 

And I’m sure many of us believers feel the same way…though I hope we don’t go down the same troubled and disastrous road that the ordinary workingman has chosen. As believers we can’t afford to get that far out on the limb, because then we’re liable to fall of right into the waiting hands of the ole devil, our certified enemy. So let’s chant our Friday Chant, which echoes most of the same sentiments of the ordinary workingman’s but is somewhat more cautious and sensible. 

All together now, like we really mean it: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen!’ 

Yeh, we too can have fun and frolic, but not to the extent that the workingman craves, we have to be on our p’s and q’s, always keeping a watchful eye out for the enemy. And the word for today friends is ‘UNITY!’ Unity amongst friends and families, but more so amongst church brethren, amongst believers in Jesus Christ! And it’s sad, very sad, that there is so much disunity and unpleasant division betwixt and between the supposed believers in Christ. 

And yuh know mih people, once we’re not united, the enemy has won the first round in the battle, because then it’s very easy to conquer us once we’re as divided as we currently are. Yuh know how many supposed friends and family don’t talk to each other because they belong to competing religions? Competing religions eh! Steups! But Christ didn’t die for us to have religion, but relationships, salvation and eternal life in good fellowship with Him and with each other! 

So please listen, and listen good, and let’s put into action, these fateful and oh so important words of Bruh Paul to the church at Rome on the subject of unity in Christ. ‘We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities (weaknesses) of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification (being built up). For even Christ pleased not himself; but as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. 

For whatsoever things were written aforetime (beforehand) were written for our learning, that we through patience (perseverance) and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation (comfort) grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore ye receive one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.’ (Rom.15:1-7) 

Oh my fellow believers in Christ, we all talk about been involved in a battle with the enemy, but yet we are divided amongst ourselves, warring amongst ourselves, and oftimes over petty, foolish stuff. How can we win anything if we’re not unified eh? We’d be so much further ahead in the battle against Satan and his evil minions if we would just put away our supposed differences and focus on our plentiful similarities. And I’m sure it breaks Jesus’ heart to see the nonsense, the trivial, petty jealousies and power struggles going on within His church! 

Listen to the scholars as they explain. ‘15:1-3. Strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak: The strong brother is morally obligated to take the initiative and bear with the weak brother in those things that bother him. The stronger brother must forego his liberty for the good of the weaker, so he is not offended or impaired in his spiritual life. The best example is Christ who took our sins upon Himself.’  

Ah friends, Jesus is ALWAYS our best example in all we do. We all talk a good talk, calling His name a lot, but we certainly don’t emulate Him as much as we should. Please, let’s change that nuh. Possibly stop calling His name as much, and instead emulate Him more, put His words and actions into action, rather than just talk about them. 

And above all, for heaven’s sake, let’s STOP fighting amongst ourselves over trivial, unimportant stuff nuh. We’d certainly be much further ahead in the battle against evil and wickedness than we are right now. Much LOVE!

…divided…as we are right now…we will be conquered…united…as we should be…we will be the conquerors…