SCRIP-BITS

Psalm 6:1      O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
 
Oh Friends, rejoice, for it’s a new day filled with abundant, uplifting, new mercies from our wonderful God! In appreciation, let’s say a word of thanks nuh. ‘Thank you heavenly Father for all you’re doing on our behalf. We praise your Holy Name, and humbly ask that you continue to guide, protect and provide for your faithful servants. We LOVE you, and will endeavour to walk worthy of you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.’ Yes Friends, the day is new and so are the blessings, but what kind of ‘funny-curious’ weather will I get in my area today? On the weekend it sank to single digits, then rose to the high teens. Yesterday it was twenty something and windy. So it’s a toss up as to what today will bring? And as to the term ‘funny-curious’, which I haven’t heard in a long while, it just means zigzag, inconsistent, unpredictable, no rhyme or reason to it. And here’s an interesting quote for the Northerners from Sister Mary Kraemer. ‘…Summer coming to an end. So we all try to keep it awake and stretch it out by squeezing in all the boating, picnicking, swimming. Sun, I crave all year.’ And that’s a fact Friends, for with the leaves changing colour and the weather getting colder, everybody’s trying to get in some last minute summertime activities. You Friends who have summer year round, please appreciate and give much thanks for it, because you don’t know how lucky you are, in many ways. Enough with the preamble though, let’s get down to chastening. (smile) Many of us could use some right now, what with the ungodly activities in which we’re engaged. But know one thing mih people, the Lord will deal with us in His own way and time. As Jeremiah reports: ‘For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure (justice), and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.’ (Jer.30:11) We won’t get away scot-free, but we will receive justice, for that’s our Lord’s modus operandi. Earlier on, Jeremiah pleaded the same thing: ‘O Lord, correct me, but with judgement (justice); not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.’ (Jer.10:24) It’s funny that when we’re doing wrong, and know it, we don’t stop to consider the consequences of those actions. However, when it blows up in our faces, we always quick to turn around and beg for mercy. And luckily for us, the Lord is merciful, as many wrong doers can attest to. But there’s also another side to the coin. Listen to the psalmist: ‘Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest (instructeth), O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law.’ (Ps.94:12) Yes my brethren, we are surely blessed when the Lord chastens us, and leads us back to the right path. And that wisest of all men, Cousin Sol, puts it marvellously: ‘My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of (detest) his correction: For whom the Lord LOVETH he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.’ (Prov.3:11-12) And all God’s people echoed a resounding: ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ Why? It reflects the same relationship we have with our children; we punish them because we LOVE them, and want to see them walk the straight and narrow. And unlike our children, we’d better be happy to be chastened; otherwise it means that He doesn’t care about us. Some of us are thinking that we have no need for chastening, but don’t fool yuh fat Friends, we all do stuff that calls for some sort of retribution. Now no human likes to be chastened or disciplined because it’s often painful. However, due to our innate sinful, rebellious, disobedient nature, it’s often necessary, and we ought to stand up and take it like real men; truly stand our bounce. And that covers the entire sphere of action; from the relationships between children, parents and society in general, to that between all of us and God. Hear the author of Hebrews explain it. ‘Now no chastening (discipline) for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby (trained).’ (Heb.12:11) Yes mih breddren, the chastening isn’t fun when it’s happening, but later on we do appreciate the discipline meted out, for it makes us better servants of the Most High God Jehovah. It brings us more like Jesus, which is the Lord’s overall and eventual desire. So let’s be wise, diligent and faithful, not giving God too many reasons or opportunities to chasten us. (smile) So till we meet again tomorrow, God willing, when we’ll wrap up the chastening story, walk safe and steadfast. And remember to: LOVE Your GOD, LIVE Your FAITH, and SPREAD His WORD! Much LOVE mih people!…don’t forget…prevention is always better than cure…