SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, I don’t have a rousing introduction for today, but like our Bit, I have a quote that should have us all seriously thinking, searching our souls to see how much it applies to us. The quote is attributed to Thomas Fuller, and simply says: ‘Nothing sharpens our sight like envy.’ Now isn’t that gospel mih people? It surely is! For there’s nothing that makes us bright eyed and inquisitive, ‘farse and bold face’ like envy. Then we notice everything that’s going on around us; everything that everybody has, is wearing or doing. That’s just the nature of the beast called envy. It takes evil pleasure in us comparing ourselves to others; their looks, their dress, possessions, talents and gifts, be they material, physical or even spiritual. And don’t be surprised at spiritual envy, because it does exist, obviously in the church setting. Some of us are simply envious of those who have a spiritual gift that we don’t. Get over it Friends! We can’t all talk in tongues or do miracles, and doing some lowly sort of work in God’s name is nothing to be ashamed of, for we shall be well rewarded in the end. Ah my people, the enemy does some of his best work through that little word envy, encouraging us to go out and get what others have, live the same as them although we can’t afford it. That to a large extent, together with easy credit, has led to our current economic demise. The credit cards and mortgages with criminally inflated interest rates eventually took their toll, spawning numerous bankruptcies and foreclosures. Trying to keep up with the Jones, or when our eyes are larger than our pockets, will eventually bring disaster. It’s therefore advisable my people, to check ourselves on the envy thermometer, to see how hot or high we are and bring down our envy level as quickly as possible, before it gets us into more hot water than we’re already in. It’s like our Bit, which comes from Moses’ Song to the Israelites before his death, recounting their history with the Lord. ‘To me belongeth vengeance, and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.’ Oh Friends, that first part of the Bit, that revenge is the Lord’s has been hammered into our heads since Adam was a boy. Let’s highlight a few scriptures where it’s been echoed. We see it in the laying down of the Lord’s laws of holiness and justice, where Moses informed the Israelites: ‘Thou shalt not avenge (take vengeance), nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord thy God.’ (Lev.19:18) Then in Psalm 94, ‘How long shall the wicked triumph,’ the psalmist cries out: ‘O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, show thyself (shine forth) Lift up thyself (rise up), thou judge of the earth: render a reward (repay with punishment) to the proud.’ (Ps.94:1-2) In the first verse the psalmist was so moved that he had to say it twice. Isaiah also commented on it when talking of Israel’s restoration to Zion. ‘Say to them that are of a fearful heart, be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you.’ (Is.35:4)  Meanwhile, the prophet Nahum, in referring to God’s majesty in mercy and judgement, puts it thus: ‘God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; The Lord revengeth (avenges), and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.’ (Nah.1:2) Bruh Paul also wrote to the Romans on it. ‘Recompense (repay) to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. (Have regard for good things)…Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.’ (Rom.12:17,19) There he quotes Jesus on not returning evil for evil, and turning the other cheek, (Matt.5:39) as well as Lev.19:18 and our Bit. The author of Hebrews also quotes our Bit and verse 36, when he declares: ‘For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.’ (Heb.10:30) So my people, there’s no excuse for us not being familiar with the Lord’s edict of us not exacting vengeance and repaying wrongs because that is His department; His and His alone. But unfortunately what kind of world do we live in today? A world filled with violence, wars, anger, hatred, greed and all the negative things we can imagine. And sadly, a lot of it stems from our disobeying God’s command to not take vengeance in our own hands. Most of the strife in the Middle East, in Africa, Eastern Europe and South America is based on that small but very apocalyptic word, revenge. Some of these grudges and consequent strife have been ongoing for centuries, with no apparent end to them, because neither side is willing to compromise for the greater good of all concerned, but insist on holding on to the short-sighted mentality of retribution, when that only wreaks havoc and destruction on all concerned. Oh Friends, it’s a negative cocktail of greed, stupidity, selfishness, lust for power and worldly possessions, plus a severe lack of foresight, attitudes that are so prevalent now in the current, supposedly most enlightened age of mankind, that it boggles the imagination. My people, my people, when are we going to learn that war and strife and violence solve nothing, but only lead to further negative consequences? I certainly hope it’s very soon, else at the rate we’re going, we’ll quickly end up destroying the world and all therein. That means it’s time for all concerned to sit down and seriously consider the repercussions of our foolish, ungodly ways; what’s befallen us already, what is now taking place and what’s to come. Yes Friends, there’s only one way for it all to end if we continue along the negative path we’re travelling at breakneck speed; that’s total destruction of all we hold dear. Now that certainly isn’t something we want to happen, but if we don’t reign in the warmongers and the power hungry, then it’s inevitable. We can’t just sit back and allow it to happen, meaning we have to take some positive action, beginning in our homes and our own backyards. Oh Friends, it’s up to us believers to engineer peaceful, positive change, if it’s ever going to happen, because the current crop of leaders seem to have a different agenda, apparently one based on Lucifer’s values and not those of the Most High. So let’s start doing something concrete nuh, no matter how small it is. Remember the longest journey begins with the first step, and if we seriously throw off our lethargy and do God’s work, He’ll surely help us. Till tomorrow then, God willing, go safely in LOVE and peace. Much LOVE!…only a LOVE Revolution…can turn our sinful, ungodly world…back to God…