SCRIP-BITS

Acts 4:12.    Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
 
Oh Friends, it’s shaping up to be a damp, miserable day in my neck of the woods, and since many of us tend to base our daily enthusiasm level on the state of the weather, many are liable to be downcast and unenergetic. But we can’t allow the vagaries of the weather to decide our daily potential or enthusiasm for life. So my people, whatever kind of day it turns out to be, wherever we are, please don’t let it affect our ardour and fervour for life, and consequently our work in Jesus’ name. We need to keep pressing on, each and every day, working towards His stated goal of converting the entire world to His kingdom. And here’s a little quote to help us keep doing just that. Elbert Hubbard tells us that: ‘There is no failure except in no longer trying.’ Now that’s the living truth my brethren! For the only time we truly fail is when we stop trying. Once we keep getting up after we stumble and fall, then we’re still on the road to success. Remember too that you can’t win or be successful at anything, unless you get up and do it, because success, though filled with many ups and downs, is always action oriented. And also don’t forget that giving up does not exist in the vocabulary of Jesus’ people. (smile) True believers are not supposed to ever give up; our faith is designed to always keep us buoyant and ever hopeful. Sincerely trusting in the Lord God Jehovah, always expecting His best, is what makes us different to the unbelievers. And how could we not worship and glorify the Father after He made that most heart rending but most awesome show of LOVE eh, sending His only Son Jesus to die for us? But let’s continue where we left off yesterday, with Isaiah’s prophecy pertaining to Christ’s coming: ‘I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of (to) the people, for a light of the Gentiles: To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.’ (Is.42:6-8) Yes Friends, the Messiah’s ministry is likened to a covenant to the Jews and a light to the Gentiles, bearing the promise that He would minister to and bring salvation to both sets of people. And how could the people not know that a Saviour would come to ease their spiritual burden when the entire Chapter 53 of Isaiah, is taken up with such vivid descriptions of His expected lot, namely the suffering servant. ‘For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no (stately) form nor comeliness (splendour); and when we shall see him, there is no beauty (appearance) that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of (forsaken by) men; a man of sorrows (pains), and acquainted with grief (sickness): and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs (sicknesses) and carried our sorrows (pains): yet we did esteem (reckon) him stricken, smitten of (struck down by) God, and afflicted. But he was wounded (pierced through) for our transgressions, he was bruised (crushed) for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes (wounds) we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.’ (Is.53:2-6) Ah Friends, I wasn’t planning to quote all of that, but there was no good way to paraphrase it and still retain the essential flavour. Besides, the Spirit said put it all in, since many people are not familiar with or appreciate the importance of the Old Testament and only pay attention to the New Testament. And like so many other things in life, where the old supports the new, the Old Testament is the foundation, the ‘groundings’ for the New Testament, and without it, Jesus’ ministry would have had no real context, and would not have been as powerful. Note too that throughout the New Testament there are numerous quotes from the Old, many by Jesus Himself, which gives it veracity and affirmation, a solid basis to build on. So Friends, please don’t ignore the Old Testament, because it’s the history upon which the New Testament is based, and if we don’t have a good grasp of the Old, we’ll always have problems understanding the New. As we tend to say, if we don’t where we’re coming from, we won’t know where we’re going to. And one of the stated purposes of the Bit is to make us familiar with the Scriptures, be they Old or New Testament based, so that we can have all and be all that our Creator meant us to be. And take my word Friends, though I’ve been writing the Bit for a few years now, everyday I still come across a new piece of scripture, which just heightens my appreciation for the Good Book. But unfortunately it’s time to end, and on a chuckling note too, because in the last part there, the Spirit, in its usual mysterious way, led me on a path that I had not planned. But since I’m obedient, I followed. (smile) That means we’ll continue this topic tomorrow, God willing, for there’s still much more to say on it. Till then, my faithful Friends in Christ, go safely and peacefully with the Lord. Much LOVE!…to know, know know Him…is to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Him…