SCRIP-BITS

Oh my beautiful Friends in Christ, I hope this missive finds you all in good health and spirits this Sunday morning. But if it doesn’t, then let me offer heartfelt prayers on the health side of your problem, and proclaim that by the time you’re finished reading this, your spirits will have soared right to heaven on high! (smile) Ah Friends, the ole fella’s feeling a bit chilly in the flesh and bones department himself, although I am in warm confines, and thus I’m forced to cry out for the umpteenth time: ‘How long O Lord, how long before you answer my aching plea for saltwater and sunshine?’ However, the answer is the same as always: ‘In good time my child, in good time.’ But fortunately, though my flesh is cold and disappointed, my spirit is in fine form, especially now that I’ve asked the Most High to lead and guide me in writing this Bit. And I saw an interesting quote today that I must share, particularly with my fellow sojourners in the cold climes. Pietro Aretino has this advice for us: ‘Let us LOVE winter, for it is the spring of genius.’ Hn! Good for Pietro yes! Theoretically speaking, he might have a point, because after the cold, dreary, dead time of winter, with the arrival of spring, everything suddenly returns to a life full of colour and splendour. So reminiscent of Jesus’ death and resurrection: one day He lies dead and lifeless in a cold stone tomb, but the next He is arisen, full of new life and eternal glory! And all God’s people shouted an appreciative, ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ Now any other year Pietro might have talked me into LOVING winter, but definitely not this one, which uncharacteristically has me singing the winter blahs, not to mention the extremely cold spell we’re currently experiencing. Most of the readers in the winter areas will think Pietro mad, or at least having one card less than a full pack. Unlike Bruh David, who, in the psalm from which our Bit is taken is pleading for protection from Almighty God against evildoers. ‘Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my meditation (groaning). Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell (sojourn) with thee. The foolish (boastful) shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.’ (Ps.5:1-5) And isn’t that the gospel truth my people! The Lord cannot abide sin, or those who take pleasure in it. As Bruh David continues: ‘Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing (falsehood): the Lord will abhor the bloody (bloodthirsty) and deceitful man.’ (Ps.5:6) Yes Friends, that’s the kind of God we worship. But then we also have the prophet Habakkuk’s query: ‘Thou art purer of eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity (wickedness): wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?’ (Hab.1:13) Ah my brethren, that is a question many of us ask today too as the wicked suppress, oppress and persecute the righteous for no just cause. Beelzebub’s cronies are currently having a field day amongst the righteous, with little or no sign of any ease in the situation. But as believers, we have to abide by the Lord’s Word that the righteous will be blessed and the wicked receive their full comeuppance eventually. As the psalmist says of the righteous in Psalm 1: ‘And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.’ (Ps.1:3-6) The road is indeed rough my people, but we believe in the omnipotent, faithful and true God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who promised to never leave or forsake us, thus we have to suffer whatever comes our way with His promises in mind. Remember Jesus didn’t have it easy here on earth either, and He constantly looked to the Father for help and guidance, but when the time of reckoning came, His crucifixion, He obediently bowed to the Father’s will. ‘O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.’ (Matt.26:39) Yes Friends, that’s the same obedient attitude we need to adopt and display even when times are rough for no good reason. If Jesus could do it, under much heavier stress and strain than we’ll ever encounter, then so can we. It’s what our faith is all about: Jesus dying to redeem us, to give us salvation and eternal life, if only we believe. Note, that’s the only criterion we need: belief in Him; that He is who He says He is, and has done the things He’s done, and will do those He promised to do in the future. Nothing else really matters when we have that awesome truth indelibly written in our hearts, minds and souls. Though life comes hard against us, we ought to let nothing shake our belief in Jesus, for He is undoubtedly the Way, the Truth and the Life, and if we stand strong and steadfast in that knowledge, then we will be fine, we will overcome. Lucifer and his iniquity workers won’t conquer our spirits, for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will impart the necessary strength to us through His Holy Spirit, which is stronger and wiser than anything the powers of darkness can throw at us. In conclusion Friends, let’s keep looking on the bright side, the side that believes Jesus when He says: ‘I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’ (John 10:10) So stand strong my people, walk obediently before the Lord and He will surely make your paths straight. Much LOVE!…only believe…all things are possible…only believe…