SCRIP-BITS

Amos 5:24.    But let judgement run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
 
Ah mih Friends, another day has dawned, with more tough rows to hoe. But thankfully, once we live under the protective umbrella of the Most High God Jehovah, then there’s no need to be unduly worried. We must be concerned, but not anguished or fearful, for He’s faithfully promised to look after all those who sincerely turn to Him for sustenance. Oh thank you Lord for being so merciful and forgiving to the sinful, undeserving children of men! And here’s a quote that should get our energy flowing. It’s attributed to Joshua J. Marine, born Stephen Joshua Solarz, a former U.S. Congress Rep. from New York. It says: ‘Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.’ And if you have a 2010 Arthritis Soc. Calendar, when you turn to November, in a week’s time, you’ll see it very appropriately and symbolically printed above a challenging mountain range. But it is the truth Friends, for without challenges, life would be flat, uninteresting and boring. And the second half is particularly true, because when we overcome those challenges, especially the hard, impossible looking ones, we derive a great sense of achievement, of pride, of pleasure in having tackled a hard job and overcome it. And that’s exactly what our Bit today throws at us; a hard, impossible looking challenge: ‘But let judgement (justice) run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.’ But Friends, can you imagine that happening in the evil, greedy, selfish, violence prone place our world has now become? Doubtful…but not impossible, if we have the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob on our side, and we the believers are seriously ready to throw down the gauntlet to Lucifer and his iniquity workers, and solemnly declare: ‘Enough is enough! We’re not going to stand for this ungodly wickedness no more! We’re turning our society back to the Living God, from whence you turned it with your evil influence, lustful idols and worldly desires!’ Wow mih people! Now that would sure make Lucifer and his cronies sit up and take notice! But only if we carried out the promise with alacrity and steadfastness. Our Bit comes from the prophet Amos, calling his people, Israel, to repentance in one of their evil, idol worshipping, depraved spells. And it’s no different to our society now, except that we beat and outdo them in all areas of evil and depravity. Hn! But isn’t it strange Friends, how throughout the Good Book there are so many resemblances to our current society? It sure is. However, as they say, though things change, basically, they remain much the same. Israel’s unfaithfulness to the Lord is widely known, but my brethren, if we survive this catastrophic time we’re now experiencing, so will our unfaithfulness to the Most High God also be widely noised abroad. Oh my people, we’re in a very delicate, sensitive and crucial time, because the Lord is saying the same things to us that Amos and his fellow prophets said to Israel. Hear Jeremiah: ‘Thus saith the Lord; Execute ye judgement (dispense justice) and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled (plundered) out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place. for if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people. But if ye will not hear (obey) these words, I swear by myself, saith the Lord, that this house shall become a desolation.’ (Jer.22:3-5) Now listen to Ezekiel’s message: ‘Thus saith the Lord God; Let it suffice you (enough), O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil (plunder), and execute judgement and justice (justice and righteousness), take away your exactions from (stop dispossessing) my people, saith the Lord God. Ye shall have just balances, and a just epaph, and a just bath.’ (Ezek.45:9-10) And the prophet Hosea bewailed: ‘Oh Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness (faithfulness) is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets (hewn them in pieces); I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgements (the judgements on you) are as the light that goeth forth. For I desired mercy (faithfulness), and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. But they like men (like Adam) have transgressed the covenant: there they have dealt treacherously against me.’ (Hos.6:4-7) Oh Friends, the Lord’s calling out for us to stop dealing treacherously with Him like the old Jewish kingdoms were. He’s crying out for mercy, justice, truth, human rights and an end to the inhumane oppression and the sadistic evil that’s currently holding our world hostage. I’m sure we don’t want to go through the same destruction that the Israelites went through, because it won’t be very pleasant. The Lord is very LOVING and patient, but His wrath is as terrible in its intensity. Oh my people, please look at our disaster plagued world and understand there’s much more going on than meets the eye. Look at France right now, all in an uproar over increasing the retirement age from 60-62. They’re in the grip of strikes, walk outs and curtailed economic activity which isn’t going to prove anything, except dig them deeper in the debt from which they’re unsuccessfully trying to climb out. Unfortunately we all want numerous benefits but aren’t willing to pay for them. Just like so many of us individuals are way over our heads in debt, so are many nations, and as the individuals need to curtail their spending and become more productive to get out of that debt, the nations have to do the same. Oh Friends, the economic problems that we think have subsided or are over, might possibly have only begun because of the closely knit global economy. That means when one large economy is beset by disaster, it sends tremendous shock waves and repercussions across the whole spectrum, unlike it’s ever done before. But Friends, there’s a safe and sure way to fight the impending doom. Listen to Hosea’s message: ‘Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten (stricken), and he will bind (bandage) us up. After two days he will revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.’ (Hos.6:1-2) Yes Friends, turning back to our God is the only sure way to avoid much of the disaster that’s forecasted for us, if we continue along the same evil, idolatrous road that we’re now heading down. So let’s consider our options seriously and do something about them nuh, because it’s only we, the true believers who can make it happen. Till tomorrow, God willing, when we’ll continue this topic, go safely with God. Much LOVE!…only by putting God back into our world…can we avoid His wrath…