SCRIP-BITS

Ah Friends, it’s another day in the life, and whether it’s good, bad, indifferent, boring exciting or bitter-sweet, please remember two things; our God is a good God, and He’s still alive and kicking, in full control of our lives and all that happens in the entire universe. At this moment my life is somewhat amusing because I couldn’t figure out an intro for this Bit, so I petitioned the Lord for one, and that’s the message He guided me to. Just another instance of God’s LOVING-kindness, which brings us to the greatest outpouring of LOVE ever; the sacrificing of God’s only Son Jesus for our abominable sins. I don’t know about you all Friends, but I’d find it extremely difficult, if not impossible to sacrifice my only son for a bunch of ungrateful sinners. But the Lord did it! And all God’s people gratefully declared: ‘Thank you Lord! Worthy is the Lamb that was crucified to save us!’ And what came out of those thirty three years that God’s only Son spent amongst us? The Gospel of Jesus, my people! The Good News of Salvation and Everlasting Life that He assured through His Death, Resurrection and Ascension! Wow! The best news ever heard on this earth mih Friends! And for anyone who’s ever had even minimal contact with that wonderful news of Christ’s Gospel, they are left confounded and dumbfounded by the awesome power it exudes. And what better example can we get of that amazing power than Bruh Paul’s dramatic and sudden transformation; from being one of the gospel’s biggest detractors, to being its biggest and most zealous advocate! Only Christ’s saving grace is strong enough to strike us down as one personality, and then raise us up with a completely different or opposite one. Bruh Paul was so taken with the gospel, that he endured hell and high water, both literally and figuratively, here on earth to spread it as far and wide as he could. And that’s also why he could make the monumental declaration he did in our Bit: ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.’ Oh Friends, how many of us believers today could courageously stand up before a somewhat hostile crowd and boldly make such a stirring declaration eh? My guess is a rather small proportion, because though we claim to believe in Jesus, we’re still ashamed, for whatever reason, to shout it from the rooftops. We’re more concerned with what others, in particular non-Christian friends and associates will think of us. But please remember what Jesus said: ‘But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt.10:33) So please be careful if you’re one of those who value or consider the opinions and approval of men more important than that of your God, because it will eventually backfire on you. Oh my brethren, the apostles and ordinary people of the early church weren’t ashamed of the gospel. They might have been afraid because of the persecution the Christian label brought you, but they certainly weren’t ashamed. Now hear Bruh David tell us how we should react as true believers: ‘I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. I have preached righteousness (proclaimed the good news of righteousness) in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained (restrained) my lips, O Lord, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy LOVING-kindness and thy truth from the great congregation.’ (Ps.40:8-10) Yes my people, that’s how we ought to behave as true believers; delight in obedience to His will which is indelibly written in our hearts, mind and souls, then speak it, share the good news of Christ to all and sundry, far and wide, without shame or embarrassment, but with zeal and enthusiasm. Now I’m not advocating that we be all loudmouths or get so aggressive that we turn people off, for aggression often does that, actually doing more harm than good. And if there’s one thing we can’t say about our Saviour is that He was aggressive. He was persevering, assertive and sometimes forceful, but never truly aggressive. And we should adopt the same kind of attitude; preach the gospel with zeal and enthusiasm, persevering with our lifeblood if necessary, but not be too loud, aggressive or anything else that will bring disrepute to the Word of God. Oh Friends, time and space have run out, so we’ll have to continue this Bit tomorrow, God willing, but let’s close with a couple scriptures that drive the point home. ‘Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions (share with me in the sufferings) of the gospel according to the power of God… For which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against (until) that day.’ (2 Tim.1:8,12) That was Bruh Paul to Timothy. Hear John: ‘And now, little children, abide in him; that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.’ (1 John 2:28) Please my people, let’s take those words of the apostles to heart and start glorifying God in public, amongst our unbelieving friends, families and neighbours instead of being ashamed of Him nuh. It will all be worth it in the end. Go in peace and safety to LOVE and serve the Lord. Much LOVE!…to him that is ashamed of Christ…he might receive no answer when he knocks at heaven’s door…His heavenly home might just be closed to him…