SCRIP-BITS

1 John 2:15.    Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the LOVE of the Father is not in him.

Oh Friends, I hear and see you all jumping, singing and shouting: ‘TGIF, TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ But hang on a minute nuh, don’t get too carried away, for remember Friday is just starting, you still have to go out and labour today. (smile) However, to help us do that, let’s chant our Friday Chant with much verve and gusto. ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’ And hopefully the heavy snowfall promised for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) happens mostly on the weekend when there’s not that much traffic on the roads. But coming to think of it, that’s certainly not as true as it was just a few years ago. Now everyday, Saturday and Sunday included, the roads are jammed packed with traffic. Where’s everybody going? I don’t know. And the trouble is that they’re rushing around madly just like during the week. I guess this Christmas season will only intensify the mad rush, for a lot of it has to with our Bit: ‘Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the LOVE of the Father is not in him.’ Yes Friends, a lot of that weekend traffic consists of those who are foolishly in love with the world and its evil, deceptive things. That’s why they’re on the road; they’re going to indulge themselves in some worldly or fleshly lust. And as John continues after the Bit: ‘For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.’ (1 John 2:16-17) Oh Friends, those words are so true that they’re frightening! Pride, evil lusts and desires are so much a part of our world today that it boggles the imagination. Unfortunately my people, those ungodly things now rule our world, and and we all know that they should not. Where and why have we gone wrong? Bruh Paul wrote thus to the Galatians: ‘Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world (age), according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.’ (Gal.1:3-5) Oh my brethren, Christ died for us, sacrificed His Holy, Innocent, Righteous self for us on that infernal cross so that we could be free from sin. And two thousand years later, what are we doing? Wallowing with glee and pleasure in that same sin; like pigs wallow contentedly in mud! What a crying shame my people! Our sinful, ungodly behaviour is making a mockery of Jesus’ sacrificial death. If we’re content to wallow in the proud, sinful desires and lusts of this world, then Jesus might have been much better of staying in heaven where He belonged, and was surely much more appreciated. Our evil behaviour certainly doesn’t say much about the reverence, respect and LOVE that we have for Jesus and the Father, otherwise we wouldn’t be so involved in the wicked affairs of the world. Oh Friends, please listen closely to James as he tells us what is what. Like Bruh Paul, he doesn’t mince words here. In fact the times are so evil now, that they definitely are not conducive to mincing words. ‘Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of (with) the world is enmity with God? whoso- ever therefore will (wants to) be a friend of the world is the (makes himself an) enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy (yearns jealously)? But he giveth more grace. wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh (near) to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded. Be afflicted (lament), and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness (gloom). Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.’ (James 4:4-10) And all God’s people bowed their heads and said a quiet Amen. Why? Because they were ashamed. Their hearts and consciences had outed them, shown them up for what they truly were; lovers of the world and all it’s fleshly lusts and desires. Oh Friends, the only way to overcome this shameful behaviour is to repent before God, and ask Him to mercifully cleanse our hearts, souls and minds of any behaviour that’s unpleasing to Him, then help us to stay steadfast and strong on the true, but rather narrow path which leads to Him. My people, if we’re too in love with the world, then it’s time to stop RIGHT NOW! Hopefully we all know the state of our hearts and what evil lurks there. And if we’re not sure, please petition God to show us it immediately so that we can repent and change before it’s too late. My people, we’ll close with a verse of scripture that dates way back when, but which is still very applicable today. Our God is speaking through His servant Moses: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt LOVE the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.’ (Deut.6:4-5) Oh Friends, He didn’t say anything about loving the world with the passion we do today. It’s Him, our God, that we must LOVE passionately. Please, let’s stop loving the world and start LOVING our God instead nuh. Only then will we be set free from the fleshly lusts and emotions of this evil world.. Much LOVE!…remember…in this evil world…all that glitters is not gold…but is mostly brass plated…