SCRIP-BITS

Luke 24:11     And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

Oh Friends, this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! And here’s a quote from Grenville Kleiser, (1868-1935) a Toronto born but North American famed author of success and positive thinking material, that will help us to fulfill that desire. ‘Today is the day in which to express your noblest qualities of mind and heart, to do at least one worthy thing which you have long postponed.’ Those certainly are words of wisdom my people, for there’s no better way to further God’s kingdom than by doing some good deed. It uplifts us, uplifts the recipient, and also boosts the credibility of the Word through our worthy actions. And I know that we all have some good things in mind, but just never get around to doing them. Well today’s the day that we break out of that procrastinating mould. Let’s try and do at least one of those good things today nuh mih people! And hereafter, one every day. (smile) Can you imagine if all Christians would do just one good deed everyday, what a resounding improvement it would have in our world! Oh Friends, that good deed could be anything, to anybody, including ourselves, for many of us ignore our own needs for whatever reason, but please remember, if we’re not good for ourselves, we can’t be truly good for others. The good deed could be giving of your time and talents in volunteering or donating money to some needy cause, as well as cleaning up our own lives, taking inventory and throwing out the useless stuff. But seriously mih breddren, let’s try and do something worthwhile today, and everyday, that will please our Leader Jesus, because it’s Him to whom we look for acceptance and verification, not man. Now let’s turn to our Bit. ‘And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.’ Oh Friends, that was the negative response garnered from the disciples and the other believers by the women folk who had been to Jesus’ tomb and told them that He was alive and kicking. Now doesn’t that sound sort of strange and unbelievable; all those people, especially the disciples, walking so closely with Jesus during His ministry, hearing His words, seeing His miraculous deeds, and still not believing? The women who found the empty grave were greeted by two angels, who asked why they looked so sad, and ‘Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words. And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.’ (Luke 24:6-9) But sadly, they were met with doubt and scepticism, despite Jesus fulfilling the other two works, of being arrested and crucified. In one respect this response is good, because it shows that the early Christians were not just naive, simple-minded, gullible religious people, ready and willing to believe every and anything, but tough, cynical folks who saw and heard of Jesus’ death, and weren’t about to believe such fanciful tales like rising from the dead unless they had empirical evidence, proof positive. ‘Then arose Peter and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.’ (Luke 24:12) I like the scholars’ take on Peter’s action; that he doesn’t necessarily believe in the Resurrection as yet. His mind has simply moved along the continuum, from positive sceptic to bewildered, and ‘sometimes profound uncertainty precedes live-changing faith.’ This is all very true, but it still detracts somewhat from the faith and belief they all claimed when Jesus was alive and well in their midst. Unfortunately Friends, the same thing is happening today, two thousand years later. Despite all the evidence to the contrary, there are still too many sceptics and unbelievers. And sometimes our embellishment of the story, plus our natural enthusiasm makes it come over like a fairy-tale, hard to believe. Now if the close followers of Jesus found it hard to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead on that first Easter morn, how could they, or how can we expect others to believe it eh? Yes, too many people today still find it hard to believe. But as we said yesterday, truth is stranger than fiction and more contrary than any fairy tale. And this truth of Jesus’ Resurrection is possibly the biggest stumbling block in getting others to come to the faith. They can accept His crucifixion, but not resurrection, for it sounds too much like a fairy tale. However, if we don’t believe that, then the whole Christianity thing is a farce, for without Christ’s Resurrection, there can be no salvation or eternal life, since His conquering death is what gives us the hope and faith that we too can and will conquer it one day when our physical body dies. Without the Resurrection Friends, there’s no spiritual being, no heavenly kingdom, just mere physical death and nothing thereafter. But let’s stop here for today, and think seriously, contemplate and cogitate on those things that we’ve said, for if we continue with all I’ve got to say, it will end up being too long for one Bit. And contrary to what some of you might think, I don’t set out or want to make it long. I personally would like to keep it short, but somehow or the other, whatever is planted in me by the Spirit seems to take up a lot of space and time. (smile) Anyway, tomorrow, God willing, we’ll continue that Resurrection trend of thought. And remember to do that one good deed today. Much LOVE!…He was alive…He died…He rose again…He ascended…and so shall we…if we believe…