Psalm 34:12 What man is he that desireth life, and LOVETH many days, that he may see good?
Yes my Friends, we have been granted one more day of life, and therefore hope, on planet earth. Some of us have no hope and detest life, doing our best to end it, or run and hide from it. But Friends, life, like our great God, is one of those things we cannot run from or hide. I know we all desire an easy life, one without any problems, no trials and tribulations. Unfortunately though, life by definition is one fraught with problems and overwhelming trials, and anything else is only a dream, a fantasy, a utopian ideal. As Harold Russell says: ‘There is no formula for easy living. Anyone who says he has one is either joking or lying.’ And that my people, is true, true gospel! No one has an easy life per se. In comparison to that of others it might appear easy, but we all face our ups and downs, joy and sadness, and whatever else we’re called on to experience. Life is like a tumbling tumbleweed that just keeps rolling along, regardless of our efforts to stop it, or direct its course. Consequently, we only have a minor amount of control over our lives and those of others near and dear to us. We don’t decide what fate, time and chance will bring us. However, there are some things we can do to improve our chances and keep ourselves encouraged, aware and energized enough to enjoy whatever kind of life is meted out to us. In Today’s Bit, Bruh David asks the age-old question: ‘What man is he that desireth life, and LOVETH many days, that he may see good?’ Oh my people, I’m sure all of us would raise our hands in the affirmative there, cause we all LOVE life and want to live as long as possible, plus do and see good. Fortunately, there is a way to enhance our chances, if we take it seriously. It’s borne out in the words of Bruh David, in Psalm 34, written after he changed his behaviour in front of Abimelech, who then helped him escape Saul’s murderous clutches. (1 Sam.21:10-15) It’s titled, ‘The Lord hears the righteous.’ And the prescription for seeing long life and good days? We all know it but don’t practice it consistently. So here’s a refresher course. The first thing is to ‘Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile (deceit).’ (Ps.34: 13) Oh my people, that is ever so important in our lives, whether we be Christian or heathen, for the power of the spoken word or gesture is inestimable. Remember yesterday we said that God spoke the world into existence. Well it’s that same kind of power that our words have on fellow humans. We can’t talk things into existence, but we certainly can affect their lives either positively or negatively with our words and gestures. Bruh Paul is his usual straightforward self when he warns the Ephesians: ‘Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place (opportunity) to the devil.’ (Eph.4:25-27) Yes my people, we need to choose our words and gestures very carefully. Idle gossip and innuendo should not be listed amongst our traits, and we should get rid of our anger as quickly as possible. Some of you might laugh when I talk about gestures, but they can be inappropriate too. Just this past week, the owner of the New England Patriots football team was fined something like a quarter million dollars for making obscene gestures to the fans of the Buffalo Bills team. Note, he didn’t say anything, but flipping them the bird on three occasions cost him a pretty penny. So it’s not our words alone we need to control, but also our gestures, mannerisms and body language, for they all can send powerful negative or positive messages. Then another aspect of bringing some enjoyment to our lives is to ‘Depart from evil and do good.’ (Ps.34:14) Bruh Paul touched on that when he said not to give Lucifer any opportunity to lead us astray. Meanwhile, Isaiah, in his call to repentance, put it this way: ‘Wash you make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgement (justice), relieve the oppressed, (reprove the oppressor), judge (vindicate, or defend) the fatherless, plead for the widow.’ (Isa.1:16-17) Ah Friends, the things we’re called on to do as believers, and hopefully to enjoy long life and good days, are not easy, especially when we we’re living in a predominantly sinful and ungodly world. But that’s the very beauty of our faith; that though life is not easy, we can overcome whatever obstacles are placed in our paths, if we follow the dictates of the Lord and work hand in hand with His Holy Spirit that dwells within us as our guide and guardian. And the last thing we need to do Friends to enjoy long life and good days is to ‘seek peace and pursue it.’ (Ps.34:15) Wow! What a beautiful sentiment, but one that’s awfully hard to bring to pass in our world since it seems that more people are interested in war and all its negative connotations; hatred, anger, violence, destruction, rather than in following a path of peace. But my people, it’s our job as believers to spread peace and LOVE to all the world! That’s was Jesus’ command. That’s also why a part of our spiritual armour are the sandals of peace, so that wherever we go, peace and tranquility will follow us. Bruh Paul strongly advised: ‘Let us therefore follow after things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify (teach, build up) another.’ (Rom. 14:19) And the author of Hebrews puts it in plain, simple language. ‘Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see God.’ (Heb.12:14) And that my Friends is another gospel truth! If we don’t follow those precepts, we’ll never see the face of the Most High God Jehovah, but instead will be cast out, banished to eternal darkness and damnation with Lucifer and his other ungodly cronies. And I can assure us that that will not be a very nice place to spend eternity. So there we have it; a refresher of the tips that will enable us to see long life and good days. Let’s write them solidly in our hearts, then go and practice them diligently. Much LOVE!…though rough His earthly life…Jesus made the most of it…by walking in peace and LOVE…
Yes my Friends, we have been granted one more day of life, and therefore hope, on planet earth. Some of us have no hope and detest life, doing our best to end it, or run and hide from it. But Friends, life, like our great God, is one of those things we cannot run from or hide. I know we all desire an easy life, one without any problems, no trials and tribulations. Unfortunately though, life by definition is one fraught with problems and overwhelming trials, and anything else is only a dream, a fantasy, a utopian ideal. As Harold Russell says: ‘There is no formula for easy living. Anyone who says he has one is either joking or lying.’ And that my people, is true, true gospel! No one has an easy life per se. In comparison to that of others it might appear easy, but we all face our ups and downs, joy and sadness, and whatever else we’re called on to experience. Life is like a tumbling tumbleweed that just keeps rolling along, regardless of our efforts to stop it, or direct its course. Consequently, we only have a minor amount of control over our lives and those of others near and dear to us. We don’t decide what fate, time and chance will bring us. However, there are some things we can do to improve our chances and keep ourselves encouraged, aware and energized enough to enjoy whatever kind of life is meted out to us. In Today’s Bit, Bruh David asks the age-old question: ‘What man is he that desireth life, and LOVETH many days, that he may see good?’ Oh my people, I’m sure all of us would raise our hands in the affirmative there, cause we all LOVE life and want to live as long as possible, plus do and see good. Fortunately, there is a way to enhance our chances, if we take it seriously. It’s borne out in the words of Bruh David, in Psalm 34, written after he changed his behaviour in front of Abimelech, who then helped him escape Saul’s murderous clutches. (1 Sam.21:10-15) It’s titled, ‘The Lord hears the righteous.’ And the prescription for seeing long life and good days? We all know it but don’t practice it consistently. So here’s a refresher course. The first thing is to ‘Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile (deceit).’ (Ps.34: 13) Oh my people, that is ever so important in our lives, whether we be Christian or heathen, for the power of the spoken word or gesture is inestimable. Remember yesterday we said that God spoke the world into existence. Well it’s that same kind of power that our words have on fellow humans. We can’t talk things into existence, but we certainly can affect their lives either positively or negatively with our words and gestures. Bruh Paul is his usual straightforward self when he warns the Ephesians: ‘Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place (opportunity) to the devil.’ (Eph.4:25-27) Yes my people, we need to choose our words and gestures very carefully. Idle gossip and innuendo should not be listed amongst our traits, and we should get rid of our anger as quickly as possible. Some of you might laugh when I talk about gestures, but they can be inappropriate too. Just this past week, the owner of the New England Patriots football team was fined something like a quarter million dollars for making obscene gestures to the fans of the Buffalo Bills team. Note, he didn’t say anything, but flipping them the bird on three occasions cost him a pretty penny. So it’s not our words alone we need to control, but also our gestures, mannerisms and body language, for they all can send powerful negative or positive messages. Then another aspect of bringing some enjoyment to our lives is to ‘Depart from evil and do good.’ (Ps.34:14) Bruh Paul touched on that when he said not to give Lucifer any opportunity to lead us astray. Meanwhile, Isaiah, in his call to repentance, put it this way: ‘Wash you make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgement (justice), relieve the oppressed, (reprove the oppressor), judge (vindicate, or defend) the fatherless, plead for the widow.’ (Isa.1:16-17) Ah Friends, the things we’re called on to do as believers, and hopefully to enjoy long life and good days, are not easy, especially when we we’re living in a predominantly sinful and ungodly world. But that’s the very beauty of our faith; that though life is not easy, we can overcome whatever obstacles are placed in our paths, if we follow the dictates of the Lord and work hand in hand with His Holy Spirit that dwells within us as our guide and guardian. And the last thing we need to do Friends to enjoy long life and good days is to ‘seek peace and pursue it.’ (Ps.34:15) Wow! What a beautiful sentiment, but one that’s awfully hard to bring to pass in our world since it seems that more people are interested in war and all its negative connotations; hatred, anger, violence, destruction, rather than in following a path of peace. But my people, it’s our job as believers to spread peace and LOVE to all the world! That’s was Jesus’ command. That’s also why a part of our spiritual armour are the sandals of peace, so that wherever we go, peace and tranquility will follow us. Bruh Paul strongly advised: ‘Let us therefore follow after things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify (teach, build up) another.’ (Rom. 14:19) And the author of Hebrews puts it in plain, simple language. ‘Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see God.’ (Heb.12:14) And that my Friends is another gospel truth! If we don’t follow those precepts, we’ll never see the face of the Most High God Jehovah, but instead will be cast out, banished to eternal darkness and damnation with Lucifer and his other ungodly cronies. And I can assure us that that will not be a very nice place to spend eternity. So there we have it; a refresher of the tips that will enable us to see long life and good days. Let’s write them solidly in our hearts, then go and practice them diligently. Much LOVE!…though rough His earthly life…Jesus made the most of it…by walking in peace and LOVE…
SCRIP-BITS 