SCRIP-BITS

Luke 11:28.    But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
 
Oh Friends, life certainly is strange and amusing yes! Remember the Peter Morgan song, ‘I’m so lost,’ that I mentioned yesterday? Well I’ve been singing and humming it all day long, in particular, the line, ‘Without you in my world.’ It’s a nice song. I like it a lot, and though I’ve only heard it two or three times, it’s stuck with me. And those who know me, know that once I really like a song, I keep humming or singing it for sometime, even if it’s only one line. Oh Friends, there’s nothing that warms the cockles of the ole fella’s heart like a sweet piece of music, because that’s really the big dream the Lord’s placed in my heart; making sweet music in His honour. And there’s so much music that’s currently percolating in my mind, heart and soul, plus a whole lot simply sitting down in various stages of composition and production, but unfortunately none being released to His glory. And everyday I pass by my open studio door, without entering to do anything, I plead and cry out to Him: ‘Oh Lord, when is the music time going to come eh?’ But like the kind and understanding Father that He is, He just smiles and says: ‘Be patient son. Bide your time. When the time’s right, it will happen.’ And deep down I know that, but sometimes the music is bubbling so powerfully in me, that impatience involuntarily rises to the top. I guess now is the Bit’s time, so I’m concentrating on that, trying my best to practice what I preach; not only hearing the Word, but also doing it. Ah mih people, everyday I put pen to paper to write the Bit, I chuckle at how something or things happen that I never planned. Today it was the intro. As usual, when I sat down to write, I asked for guidance. I’d just been singing the ‘I’m so lost’ song, and it just flowed naturally. ‘Thank you Lord for guiding the ole fella! I surely could not do it without your help.’ Oh Friends, I don’t know if you all really realize how true that is nuh. But if I ever doubted the saying that the Lord never gives you more than you can handle, or doesn’t provide the wherewithal for whatever He asks us to do, now I’m certainly a big believer, and can testify to that truth with great confidence. So please my brethren, if the Lord ever calls you to do something, a task that undoubtedly comes from Him, please don’t doubt, just confidently and enthusiastically pipe up and say: ‘Yes Lord. I will!’ because He’ll surely enable and empower you to do His bidding. And if anybody can tell me how I got to this rambling, I’d be very happy to hear it. (smile) But it all falls into line with our Bit: ‘Yea rather (but more than that), blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.’ Many of us hear it, but only a relatively small portion actually keeps it. And here Jesus is sombrely pointing out that the most important part of it all is doing the Word. Remember Friends, Christianity is an action based movement; visit the sick, help the poor, welcome the stranger, take care of the widows and orphans, not a stand still, turgid set of written beliefs. Jesus came and taught us His way because He wanted us to put it into practice, not simply mouth it. And if you don’t believe me, then listen to Jesus, hopefully you’ll believe Him. Hear His reasoning on the seriousness of our Bit. ‘Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils (demons)? and in thy name done many wonderful works (miracles)? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.’ (Matt.7:21-24) Then He went on to tell the story which we all know about men building houses on stone and on sand, and when the rains came the one built on sand obviously was washed away because it didn’t have a solid foundation, wasn’t securely anchored. And if we hear His words and don’t do as He asks, then we’re likened to the fool who built his castle on the sinking sand. Now my brethren, would we want to be considered foolish by our Leader and Saviour? Of course not! So why then are we so reluctant to obey His will and do His work eh? I guess only the Lord knows for sure. But in the meanwhile, I’ll try to encourage us to change our wicked ways, with some wise and sensible words of help from James. ‘But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding (observing) his natural face in a glass (mirror): For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed (what he does).’ (James 2:22-25) Oh my people, truer words were never spoken! So please, let’s get up off our fat, lazy, comfortable rear ends and do what we’re supposed to do as believers nuh; walk the talk of God’s Word, further His kingdom through the way we live our lives, and not merely spout a whole setta words that don’t mean anything unless backed up by action. Remember, if we do the deed, then we’ll be blessed indeed. All I can do is try to encourage us Friends, the actual doing is up to each and every individual, to share what they truly feel in their hearts, which is where the Lord looks. Till tomorrow then, if the Lord so desires, please, let’s all go safely talking and doing the Lord’s work. Much LOVE!…we can only further Christ’s kingdom…if we sincerely…LOVE our God…LIVE our Faith…and SPREAD His Word…  P.S. As I got up from writing this, the first words out of my mouth were: ‘Without you in my world…’ (smile). Oh my people, let’s put the Lord FRONT and CENTRE in our world nuh, because as our Creator, our God, our Strong Provider and Protector, that’s His rightful place. Much LOVE!