2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of LOVE, and of a sound mind.
Oh Friends, it’s Friday, and showers of blessing are falling outside my window, which will make the trek to work this morning even more difficult than usual. But even then, I know plenty of us can’t wait to hear the bell strike five, or whatever time we’ll be set free this evening. The Caribana festivities are swinging into high gear in T.O this weekend, so please be careful with the partying; the drinking and driving, and the ignorance that so easily flares up at such times. Now remember to get some rest, and also to participate in some fellowship with other believers, so that your soul can be rejuvenated and your adrenalin rush ready for work on Monday morning. And I’m hearing the steupsing, the complaining that I’m talking about work on Monday, when Friday not even finish yet. (smile) But that’s only my concern and LOVE showing through there for you my people. I don’t want us to stray too far from the straight and narrow, and yuh know whenever there’s wine, women and song involved, that’s a distinct possibility. Hn, hn! And remember Friends, we dealing with LOVE today, although in these modern times the word’s been bandied about, thrown around so aimlessly and easily, that it’s true meaning has been lost to most of our society. Today it indicates a fleshly lust more than anything else. And even that fleshly lust is diminishing, steadily eroding under the busy, selfish, ungodly dictates of our society. No wonder Cousin Sol wisely declared long ago: ‘Better is a dinner of herbs (vegetables) where LOVE is, than a stalled ox (fatted calf) and hatred therewith.’ (Prov.15:17) And that’s so true mih people! It’s so much better to live a simple, uncomplicated life surrounded by genuine LOVE, than to live in wealth surrounded by anger and bitterness. I know some of you will still opt for the wealth, but Friends, that’s a fool’s wisdom, because as Cousin Sol says again: ‘Better is little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure and trouble therewith.’ (Prov.15-16) However, as the old people would say; ‘to each his own, but remember that however you make up your bed, that’s the same way you’ll have to lie down on it.’ Nuff said mih people. Many of us old fogies learned the hard way about true LOVE, both the romantic and spiritual kind, and hopefully, now we’ve figured it out enough so that we don’t make the naive and innocent mistakes we made in our younger days. I guess, as with most things in life, the older and more experienced we get, the better we understand the real meaning of the earth moving, heart beating and rending word LOVE. And as believers, our purpose, our mission on earth is to spread as much LOVE around as we possibly can. Why? Because LOVE is the very essence of our God. It’s what he’s all about. Hear the beloved disciple John, tell it. ‘Beloved, let us LOVE one another: for LOVE is of God; and every one that LOVETH is born of God, and knoweth God. He that LOVETH not knoweth not God; for God is LOVE.’ (1 John 4:7-8) Now that ‘s the living truth my people! If we claim to be followers of Jehovah God, then we must have LOVE, plenty of it, within our hearts and souls, else all our claims are false. Jesus said it thus: ‘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) Oh Friends, Jesus wasn’t asking us nuh, He was telling us that He wants His followers to be known by their LOVE for each other. That means we have to show LOVE in action, not just in talk. And the great thing about LOVE my brethren is that it empowers and encourages us. Both the giver and receiver of LOVE benefit a whole heap. As the writer of the song so truly said: ‘Love makes the world go round.’ It enlightens, inspires, educates, exhorts; all those uplifting and character building things that Bruh Paul talks about. Oh Friends, the very basis of our faith is LOVE! Why? Because God LOVED us so much, He sacrificed His only Son Jesus for us. And Jesus too showed us His immense LOVE by dying a horrific death on the cross to redeem our sins and reconcile us to the Father. He didn’t have to do it. He could have refused. Remember the blood He sweated the night before in the Garden of Gethsemane? But such was His LOVE for the Father and us, and knowing that He was the only one, since He was sinless, who could accomplish the Father’s great plan of LOVE, He went like an innocent lamb to the slaughter. Ah Friends, that one word LOVE, it’s so powerful, that over time it has caused more contention, anger, heartbreak, resentment and strife than even negative words like hate and evil. It’s the most powerful word and emotion in the universe because it’s a reflection of the most powerful Being in the universe, The Lord God Jehovah. And we’ll end with some of the most beautiful and divinely inspired words on the subject. ‘Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the LOVE that God hath to us. God is LOVE; and he that dwelleth (abides) in LOVE dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our LOVE made perfect (among us), that we may have boldness in the day of judgement: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in LOVE; but perfect LOVE casteth out fear: because fear hath (involves) torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in LOVE.’ (1 John 4:15-18) And right there Friends, we have the best antidote, the best conqueror of fear…LOVE! Yes, LOVE is so great that it casteth out fear! So let’s use it wisely and spread it abroad liberally so that our bruised, battered and very troubled world can begin the healing it so badly needs. If believers don’t do it, who else will eh? Certainly not Lucifer and his iniquity workers. I’m therefore imploring and pleading with us again Friends, that we let the true LOVE of Christ dwell richly in our hearts, our souls and minds, for it’s the only way we can successfully fulfill our calling here on earth as Christians. Much LOVE!…remember Bruh Paul’s words…and the greatest of these…is LOVE…
Oh Friends, it’s Friday, and showers of blessing are falling outside my window, which will make the trek to work this morning even more difficult than usual. But even then, I know plenty of us can’t wait to hear the bell strike five, or whatever time we’ll be set free this evening. The Caribana festivities are swinging into high gear in T.O this weekend, so please be careful with the partying; the drinking and driving, and the ignorance that so easily flares up at such times. Now remember to get some rest, and also to participate in some fellowship with other believers, so that your soul can be rejuvenated and your adrenalin rush ready for work on Monday morning. And I’m hearing the steupsing, the complaining that I’m talking about work on Monday, when Friday not even finish yet. (smile) But that’s only my concern and LOVE showing through there for you my people. I don’t want us to stray too far from the straight and narrow, and yuh know whenever there’s wine, women and song involved, that’s a distinct possibility. Hn, hn! And remember Friends, we dealing with LOVE today, although in these modern times the word’s been bandied about, thrown around so aimlessly and easily, that it’s true meaning has been lost to most of our society. Today it indicates a fleshly lust more than anything else. And even that fleshly lust is diminishing, steadily eroding under the busy, selfish, ungodly dictates of our society. No wonder Cousin Sol wisely declared long ago: ‘Better is a dinner of herbs (vegetables) where LOVE is, than a stalled ox (fatted calf) and hatred therewith.’ (Prov.15:17) And that’s so true mih people! It’s so much better to live a simple, uncomplicated life surrounded by genuine LOVE, than to live in wealth surrounded by anger and bitterness. I know some of you will still opt for the wealth, but Friends, that’s a fool’s wisdom, because as Cousin Sol says again: ‘Better is little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure and trouble therewith.’ (Prov.15-16) However, as the old people would say; ‘to each his own, but remember that however you make up your bed, that’s the same way you’ll have to lie down on it.’ Nuff said mih people. Many of us old fogies learned the hard way about true LOVE, both the romantic and spiritual kind, and hopefully, now we’ve figured it out enough so that we don’t make the naive and innocent mistakes we made in our younger days. I guess, as with most things in life, the older and more experienced we get, the better we understand the real meaning of the earth moving, heart beating and rending word LOVE. And as believers, our purpose, our mission on earth is to spread as much LOVE around as we possibly can. Why? Because LOVE is the very essence of our God. It’s what he’s all about. Hear the beloved disciple John, tell it. ‘Beloved, let us LOVE one another: for LOVE is of God; and every one that LOVETH is born of God, and knoweth God. He that LOVETH not knoweth not God; for God is LOVE.’ (1 John 4:7-8) Now that ‘s the living truth my people! If we claim to be followers of Jehovah God, then we must have LOVE, plenty of it, within our hearts and souls, else all our claims are false. Jesus said it thus: ‘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) Oh Friends, Jesus wasn’t asking us nuh, He was telling us that He wants His followers to be known by their LOVE for each other. That means we have to show LOVE in action, not just in talk. And the great thing about LOVE my brethren is that it empowers and encourages us. Both the giver and receiver of LOVE benefit a whole heap. As the writer of the song so truly said: ‘Love makes the world go round.’ It enlightens, inspires, educates, exhorts; all those uplifting and character building things that Bruh Paul talks about. Oh Friends, the very basis of our faith is LOVE! Why? Because God LOVED us so much, He sacrificed His only Son Jesus for us. And Jesus too showed us His immense LOVE by dying a horrific death on the cross to redeem our sins and reconcile us to the Father. He didn’t have to do it. He could have refused. Remember the blood He sweated the night before in the Garden of Gethsemane? But such was His LOVE for the Father and us, and knowing that He was the only one, since He was sinless, who could accomplish the Father’s great plan of LOVE, He went like an innocent lamb to the slaughter. Ah Friends, that one word LOVE, it’s so powerful, that over time it has caused more contention, anger, heartbreak, resentment and strife than even negative words like hate and evil. It’s the most powerful word and emotion in the universe because it’s a reflection of the most powerful Being in the universe, The Lord God Jehovah. And we’ll end with some of the most beautiful and divinely inspired words on the subject. ‘Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the LOVE that God hath to us. God is LOVE; and he that dwelleth (abides) in LOVE dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our LOVE made perfect (among us), that we may have boldness in the day of judgement: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in LOVE; but perfect LOVE casteth out fear: because fear hath (involves) torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in LOVE.’ (1 John 4:15-18) And right there Friends, we have the best antidote, the best conqueror of fear…LOVE! Yes, LOVE is so great that it casteth out fear! So let’s use it wisely and spread it abroad liberally so that our bruised, battered and very troubled world can begin the healing it so badly needs. If believers don’t do it, who else will eh? Certainly not Lucifer and his iniquity workers. I’m therefore imploring and pleading with us again Friends, that we let the true LOVE of Christ dwell richly in our hearts, our souls and minds, for it’s the only way we can successfully fulfill our calling here on earth as Christians. Much LOVE!…remember Bruh Paul’s words…and the greatest of these…is LOVE…
SCRIP-BITS 