The Necessity for Christians to Understand the Great Importance of Their Role in the Carrying out the Great Commission!

26 Aug 2026 Leave a comment

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   26 August 2026   2 Timothy 2:3.

2 Timothy 2:3.        Thou therefore endure hardness (hardship) as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

And all the people joyfully shouted: ‘Let the Lord be praised for allowing us to see another beautiful summer’s day on His marvelous planet Earth!’ Yes friends, this last Wednesday in August is turning out to be another glorious day. And since we don’t know how many more of them we might have, because the days sure are slipping by quickly, it’s imperative that we make good use of today, by catching our second wind and continuing to do good work for Jesus. It’s like Bruh Paul admonished Timothy in his second letter about preaching the word.

‘I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick (living) and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant (ready) in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.’ (2 Tim. 4:1-4)

And what does all of that mean? The scholars explain it thus: As per ‘Preach the word: Preaching is the God-ordained means to prevent defection from the truth. Teachers who appeal to itching ears tell people what they WANT to hear, not what they NEED to hear. Thus both shall be turned unto fables (myths or legends).’ And all of that is very prevalent today my brethren. People don’t want to hear about turning away from their sinful behaviour, but instead want to white wash it, and unfortunately there are a lot of preachers who are quite willing to do that, if it will increase their congregation and their finances.

Unfortunately, in today’s new world, the main focus behind many churches is increasing the congregation and thus their finances, rather than the true preaching and spreading of God’s Word. That’s why Bruh Paul further admonished Timothy: ‘But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.’ (2 Tim. 4:5) And the scholars tell us, as per ‘Do the work of an evangelist: Paul commands Timothy to fully discharge his evangelistic ministry by preaching the gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ. Evangelism is viewed by the New Testament writers as an essential task of the New Testament church.’

And so it ought to be, because that’s what Jesus decreed in the Great Commission. ‘All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach (make disciples of) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ (Matt. 28:18-20)

And I like how the scholars describe that passage. ‘The Great Commission brings the first Gospel to its grand finale. Christianity is not represented here as the mere reverential devotion of disappointed men who honour their martyred leader. Here is a far different scene. The triumphant, living Lord sends forth His ambassadors to proclaim His gospel throughout all the world. The Great Commission is not just an order but a pronouncement of victory by the risen Saviour through His disciples. All power or authority is now in the hands of Christ, in heaven and on earth. On the basis of that authority and power the Christian disciple is to carry out the Great Commission of the church.’

Wow! Yes mih bredrin, the Great Commission is not merely a simple order, but a pronouncement. And what’s a pronouncement? This overview explains it thus: ‘A pronouncement is a formal, official, or authoritative statement made by someone in charge. It is an explicit declaration that often carries a sense of finality, judgment, or expert opinion.’ So that pronouncement of the Great Commission is an authoritative declaration, decree or edict, of the All Powerful Lord and Living Saviour, Jesus Christ! Therefore it must be carried out in good time, with diligence, excellence and perseverance.

That’s why Bruh Paul earlier exhorted Timothy: ‘Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness (hardship) as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries (competes in athletics), yet is he not crowned, except he strive (competes) lawfully. The husbandman (farmer) that laboureth must be the first partaker of the fruits (crops). Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.’ (2 Tim. 2:1-7)

And do we all ever need God to give us understanding in all things, especially in these trying and unpredictable times! (smile) But here’s what the scholars say about that passage. ‘Paul warns Timothy of the difficulties of the ministry and urges him to be strong, in contrast to those who defected. Faithful men were to be selected and trained to be leaders and teachers. Thus, personal discipleship was to be avital part of Timothy’s leadership. Endure hardness (suffer affliction): Paul illustrates this truth by a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer, all of whom suffer privation (loss of basic necessities) in order to be rewarded. Strive lawfully means to play by the rules.’  

And unfortunately all of that stuff up there also applies to every Christian, not only preachers, because each of us has a ministry, in which we must stay faithful, sacrifice and endure tough times, while playing by the rules. Let me tell you, that’s easier said than done, but as true disciples of Christ, who are seriously and sincerely interested in spreading His Good News gospel, we will step up to the plate and make the effort! Praise the Lord! Now let’s go home declaring 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 we will experience such a glorious future, one that our minds cannot imagine or comprehend! So let’s be wise and endure to the end nuh, so that we can enjoy that more than glorious future together! Much LOVE!

…in these desperate and ungodly times…Jesus needs greater sincere involvement from His people…

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   12 February 2022 Proverbs 12:22.

12 Feb 2022 Leave a comment

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

Proverbs 12:22.       Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly (truthfully) are his delight. 

Anyone for a morning skate? Yes, my immediate neighbourhood looks like a skating rink because it’s covered in a layer of ice. Not snow, but ice. And that’s the worst and most dangerous part of the winter situation, for the ice is a real killer. You have to be very, very careful when you are dealing with it. Driving can be hazardous, but walking is even more critical because one false step or move and the results can be unimaginable. So many people have had their lives totally changed by experiencing a fall on ice, since broken bones don’t always heal when and how we desire, especially when we are in the upper echelons of age. (smile) 

And although earlier on I saw a man out jogging, wisdom dictates that if you don’t have to go out then please don’t. And to make matters worse, I just heard that a winter warning has been issued for the Greater Toronto Area, meaning that temperatures can drop even lower than they currently are. But we won’t fear, just be careful and keep Jesus near as always, for He is bigger than any problems or fears we might have. 

Now, let’s turn to our usual Saturday experience, that of checking out the quotes our friend Anselm sent us this past week, as he aspires to inspire us for a better tomorrow. And the first one says: ‘Who lies for you will lie against you.’ And is that the awful truth, or is it? It certainly is! You cannot trust someone who lies, even if it’s in your favour, because as time goes by, you will have doubts as to whether any of their words are true. For, as they say, a leopard can’t change its spots. 

And though we might think that li’l white lies don’t really matter, the truth is that they all add up in the end. So, Cousin Sol tells it like it is in Proverbs: ‘Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly (truthfully) are his delight.’ (Prov. 12:22) Thus, it’s always better not to have someone lie for you, since that also gives them power over you, puts more ammunition in their arsenal that they can later use against you. 

And like Anselm is on an integrity kick this new year because all the remaining quotes deal with it. Hear this one: ‘Don’t assume, ask. Be kind. Tell the truth. Don’t say anything you can’t stand behind fully. Have integrity. Tell people how you feel.’ Now that certainly contains all the Christian values, although in this day and age, telling people how we truly feel is not always the wisest thing to do, since we have become so thin-skinned, that the slightest negative assertion causes us to rear up in anger. 

Our society has become so entitled, aggressive and testy that we no longer are able to handle the truth, even when it stares us in the face. We tend to seek false compliments and what we want to hear rather than the truth about our situations. Bruh Paul’s words to Timothy from way back when, have definitely come true today in these perilous times. ‘For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables.’ (2 Tim. 4:3-4) 

And that’s exactly what’s happening today. People are turning away from the truth of the gospel because they feel it incapacitates their God-given freedom, and are turning to stuff that’s not true, but which seems to give them the freedom they want to do whatever they want. And the sad part is that there are preachers who have come down to that level and are teaching what people want to hear, not what they need to hear. No wonder our world is in so much confusion with so many different truths on the same subject. 

But moving on, we come to this most interesting quote: ‘Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.’ And there ought to be no controversy or dissension over that, because it comes straight from the Good Book. Another one of Cousin Sol’s wise sayings. ‘Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse (non-conformist, deviant) in his lips, and is a fool.’ (Prov. 19:1) Yes friends, Cousin Sol doesn’t mince words there at all! 

And furthermore, he repeats it in a slightly different manner in a later chapter. This time, he says: ‘Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness (integrity), than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.’ (Prov. 28:6) That’s why integrity is ever so important in a believer’s life, although it’s at a rather low ebb in our world these days. Many people can’t even tell you what it means, much less abide or live by it. And all integrity means is basically being honest and having good and decent moral principles to live by. 

And I definitely like this last quote: ‘Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you.’ Now that is an earth-shattering quote. And it’s something we should all take a moment to ask ourselves and truthfully consider if we are living a life of integrity and fairness, so that when our children hear or think of those words, we are the first persons to flit into their minds. 

Ah mih people, unfortunately, a lot of us won’t flash into the heads of our children when they hear those words, because so many of us are so intent on living the dog-eat-dog style of living that our current world encourages. And that certainly doesn’t include fairness or integrity, but it’s more a get whatever you can, by whatever means you can lifestyle, which is certainly not consistent with true Christian beliefs. 

In answer to that last quote, I don’t know if I will flash up into my children’s mind, although I hope so. (smile) But this I do know, that whenever I’ve done wrong, I’ve always stood my bounce, in other words stood whatever consequences came my way. And that’s also a lesson our world needs to badly learn today, because we like to cast blame, and not take responsibility for our actions and then face the resultant consequences. 

But my fellow saints, until we learn to live with integrity and take responsibility for our actions, our world will continue to be the cesspool that it currently is, and will only get worse. So please, let’s try and do better than we’re doing nuh…for our children’s sake. Much LOVE!

…living a Christian life in the devil’s playground is not always easy…but remember…with Christ on our side…we can do anything… 

P.S. Just noticed that on February 12, 22, we are teaching on Proverbs 12:22. Is that a God-thing or what? (smile) Much LOVE!

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