SCRIP-BITS

Mark 5:20.    And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
 
Oh Friends, it’s Friday, the end of the work week! And all God’s people shouted: ‘Thank God it’s Friday!’ Now let’s give some thanks and praise to our God for guiding us through it, by chanting our Friday Chant: ‘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.’ Yes my people, the Lord got us through this rough week, and He’ll also rejuvenate us over the weekend, but the important question is what’s our attitude to all He does for us? The man our Bit refers to, whom Jesus healed of the demon, wanted to stay and walk with him, but Jesus told him: ‘Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.’ (Mark 5:19) This fellow was very grateful and took Jesus’ advice to heart, as our Bit shows. ‘And he departed, and began to publish (proclaim) in Decapolis (the ten cities) how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.’ A couple things to note here per the scholars: ‘Decapolis was the area southeast of the Sea of Galilee, containing many Gentile settlers. Jesus seems to have been more willing to make His deeds and identity known in a non-Jewish context. In the Capernaum area, by contrast, He felt the need to maintain a lower profile. The man tells what Jesus has done, although Jesus told him to speak of ‘the Lord,’ the God of Israel.’ So Jesus wasn’t against spreading His Word amongst the Gentiles, but He was also wary enough not to raise too high a profile amongst His own Jewish people, until His time was come, knowing that they were constantly seeking a way to get rid of Him. Anyway Friends, back to our question; how many of us are really thankful for what God has done, is doing and will do for us in the future? And if we’re so grateful, how many of us actually make it our duty to tell others; to believers to encourage them in their walk with God, and to unbelievers, to make them see the light, the inestimable benefits of walking with God, both here on earth and in heaven? I feel that not enough of us testify to what Christ has done in our lives. We’re either not proud enough or still too timid and scared to let others know the great life we’re living in Jesus, the wonderful things He’s done for us; the compassion, the mercy, the LOVE, the forgiveness, not forgetting the greatest gifts of all, salvation and eternal life. My people, we don’t have to be garrulous or so talkative that it turns others off, but there are many opportunities everyday for us to either live our testimony or tell it to someone since we’re constantly interacting with other humans. As Bruh Paul asks in Romans, re righteousness through faith in Christ: ‘How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!’  (Rom.10:14-15) Yes Friends, people need to hear the gospel before they can accept it, and telling others about it is one of our most important jobs here on earth. By the way, in the last part of that scripture, Bruh Paul is quoting Isaiah 52:7. The same argument is also found in Nahum 1:15. So my brethren, what have we got to say for ourselves eh, re proclaiming the good news of Jesus in our lives? Are we as jubilant and expressive as Moses in his song? ‘The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him a habitation (praise him); my father’s God, and I will exalt him.’ (Ex.15:2) Or are we proclaiming like the psalmist? ‘Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled (praised) with my tongue.’ (Ps.66:16-17) Now that’s how we need to be my people; ever ready to talk of what God has done for us, about the good things He’s wrought in our lives, and give Him endless thanks and praise for them. Remember others won’t know how God’s interacting with us unless we both tell and show them. Remember too that examples work much better than precepts, so our personal testimony is always more moving and thought provoking when witnessing to others. So let’s start talking up ‘bigging up’ our God some more from our personal experience nuh mih people. It’s the best way to spread the Word. More tomorrow on this, God in favour. Till then, please walk safely with the Lord and talk proudly of Him. Much LOVE!…our earthly duties are…to LOVE our God…LIVE our Faith…and SPREAD His Word…