SCRIP-BITS

Alas Friends, it’s Monday! Unfortunately, that means another round of serious confrontation with Lucifer and his evil cohorts in the ensuing titanic workweek struggle. (smile)  However, since our Leader, Jesus is a general of unparalleled genius with scores of victories to His Name, the eventual outcome of this long running war is not in doubt. The forces of Christ will prevail if we stand shoulder to shoulder and fight the good fight of faith under His most excellent guidance and direction. He’s laid out the rules of engagement, and if, like good, trusty foot soldiers, we follow them, then victory is guaranteed. And to help us get ready for this week’s initial encounter, let’s all sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with great gusto and much confidence. All together now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together. We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know that we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’ And Jesus, having inspected His army, and finding it exceptional, raised His mighty sword, the Good Book, pointed it towards the enemy and cried out: ‘Charge!’ And all God’s people went forward in orderly droves, shoulder to shoulder, fully dressed in spiritual armour, filled with confidence, to confront the ungodly hordes. Yes Friends, that’s how we ought to go out everyday to meet the enemy; armed, armoured, confident and dangerous! But we can only do that if we believe the psalmist’s words in our Bit: ‘But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.’ And that’s the gospel truth my people! Many people have staked their character, reputation, integrity and even their lives upon the steadfast, unchangeable nature of our God. Hear the psalmist earlier on: ‘My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass. But thou, O Lord, shall endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.’ (Ps.102:11-12) Now listen to that great man of vision and faith, Isaiah, re the final restoration of Israel: ‘Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he.’ (Is..41:4) Isaiah was so adamant about that fact that later on, in talking about the Lord, the only redeemer, he again reminds his people: ‘Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.’ (Is.43:10-11)  Yes Friends, please remember that: there is no other being in existence worthy of the name God, but the Lord God Jehovah; the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Any others claiming deity are all pretenders, with no might, power, wisdom, mercy, forgiveness and unconditional LOVE like our God. He spoke the heavens, the earth and the seas into existence. Is there any other being capable of such awesome works? Or is there any who can mould man from the dust of the earth, then breathe life and a soul into him? Certainly not my brethren! Only our God can do those miraculous things! Now hear some interesting words from the prophet Malachi, when talking of the coming day of judgement and the paying of tithes: ‘For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.’ (Mal..3:6) Oh my people, only because our God doesn’t change, in that He LOVED the people back then, and He still LOVES us, that we all have not been completely destroyed for our continual iniquity. The author of Hebrews, whoever he was, also understood that truth when he declared: ‘Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.’ (Heb.13:8) Meanwhile, James puts it thus: ‘Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness (variation) neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.’ (James 1:17-18) And all God’s people joyfully shouted: ‘Thank you Lord! We LOVE You and praise Your Holy Name!’ Yes Friends, that sure is encouraging, for all us redeemed are the ‘firstfruits’ of God, in that we are the first step in God’s redemption of all His creation. Now that is surely something to be thankful for! And re the scholars; since all changes are for better or worse, God is unchanging because He is perfect and cannot get better or become worse. Furthermore, only an omnipotent, all-knowing, unchangeable God could lay out such a long term plan to bring His sinful, disobedient children back under His protective, ever-LOVING wings. And since we like to close with some definitive words of Jesus on our topics whenever possible, listen up. He couldn’t get any more definitive than when He proudly proclaims: ‘I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.’ (Rev.22:13) Please Friends, let’s read those words carefully and inwardly digest them. They will serve as a secure foundation for our faith. Till next time, God in favour, go safely with Him. Much LOVE!…our great God…yesterday…today…forever the same…unchanging…thus reliable and dependable…