Psalm 95:6. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.
Oh Friends, it’s shaping up to be a rainy day Easter Tuesday in my neck of the woods. But who’s perturbed eh? Regardless of the kind of day it turns out to be, especially with the recent Easter celebrations of salvation and resurrection, all believers should be chocked full of unceasing joy, praise, hope and faith because our God is alive and in control, and every day He brings out a brand new batch of mercies and blessings for His followers. And all God’s people, with one accord, delightedly shouted: ‘Praise the Holy Name of the Lord, for He is most worthy to be praised!’ Yes Friends, of that there is no doubt. But our Bit today, taken from the psalm of praise to a great God, is suggesting, encouraging us to take our feelings of praise and thanksgiving just one step further: ‘O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.’ And for those of us, like me, who can’t do much or any kneeling, that is no excuse for not bowing down and worshipping. The Lord will take two out of three anytime. (smile) No doubt some are wondering why we ought to bow down and worship the Lord? Well the answer to that is very simple my brethren. The psalmist states it quite clearly: ‘For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand (under his care).’ (Ps.95:7) ‘Elementary, my dear Watson!’ as the inimitable Sherlock Holmes would declare. And furthermore, by definition, praise and worship are what followers of a deity do, since they believe that deity does good things for them, helps them to live safe, successful and prosperous lives here on earth. So logically speaking, if we consider the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to be our God, then it’s obviously incumbent on us to offer praise and thanks, because He DOES keep us Christians safe, secure, prosperous and successful down here on Mother Earth. As the verse above so rightly says: ‘we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.’ Oh my brethren, we are indeed the sheep of God’s fold, we’re under His care and control, and like the kind, merciful and LOVING shepherd He is, He looks after us with tender, LOVING care, takes care of all our needs. Wow! There’s nothing too big or too small for Him to handle. But then the sheep need to reciprocate this LOVING care by being obedient and thankful, by listening to the Shepherd’s voice and doing as He instructs them. Unfortunately though, today too many of God’s supposed sheep are proud, greedy, arrogant, disobedient and ungrateful, which spoils it for the rest of the flock, the gladly sharing, obedient and everlastingly grateful portion. Now this difference in behaviour obviously causes arguments, dissensions, strife, anger, confusion and all manner of negative emotions and actions amongst what should be a unified group of believers. And sadly Friends, that’s the state of our world today, because too many of us refuse to listen to God’s voice, refuse to hearken to His call to: ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me; for I am meek and lowly in heart (gentle and humble): and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt.11:28-30) And that’s the gospel truth my people! So please, let’s accept His truly amazing offer, and not do like the Israelites and wander around aimlessly for forty years in the wilderness because of arrogance, foolish pride and disobedience, until a whole offending generation dies off, before we enter our promised land. That’s so infantile and silly. So my brethren, I’m imploring us that, ‘Today, if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation (rebellion), and as in the day of temptation (trial or testing) in the wilderness. When your father’s tempted (tried) me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved (was I disgusted) with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err (go astray) in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.’ (Ps.95:7-11) And as we all know, true to God’s declaration, that disobedient generation never set foot in the Promised Land. Oh Friends, I don’t know about you all nuh, but I certainly want to enter into God’s rest, so I will do my best to be obedient, bow down, worship and praise Him, for He is indeed worthy to receive all our praise and thanksgiving. Just look around at all the material comforts you posses and enjoy, and then consider the peace and calm in your spirit. Where do you think it all comes from eh? From none other than the Lord God Jehovah! So please think on all this, then have the right reaction. It will do wonders for you. Much LOVE!…as for me and mine…no ifs and buts…we will definitely be serving the Lord…
Oh Friends, it’s shaping up to be a rainy day Easter Tuesday in my neck of the woods. But who’s perturbed eh? Regardless of the kind of day it turns out to be, especially with the recent Easter celebrations of salvation and resurrection, all believers should be chocked full of unceasing joy, praise, hope and faith because our God is alive and in control, and every day He brings out a brand new batch of mercies and blessings for His followers. And all God’s people, with one accord, delightedly shouted: ‘Praise the Holy Name of the Lord, for He is most worthy to be praised!’ Yes Friends, of that there is no doubt. But our Bit today, taken from the psalm of praise to a great God, is suggesting, encouraging us to take our feelings of praise and thanksgiving just one step further: ‘O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.’ And for those of us, like me, who can’t do much or any kneeling, that is no excuse for not bowing down and worshipping. The Lord will take two out of three anytime. (smile) No doubt some are wondering why we ought to bow down and worship the Lord? Well the answer to that is very simple my brethren. The psalmist states it quite clearly: ‘For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand (under his care).’ (Ps.95:7) ‘Elementary, my dear Watson!’ as the inimitable Sherlock Holmes would declare. And furthermore, by definition, praise and worship are what followers of a deity do, since they believe that deity does good things for them, helps them to live safe, successful and prosperous lives here on earth. So logically speaking, if we consider the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to be our God, then it’s obviously incumbent on us to offer praise and thanks, because He DOES keep us Christians safe, secure, prosperous and successful down here on Mother Earth. As the verse above so rightly says: ‘we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.’ Oh my brethren, we are indeed the sheep of God’s fold, we’re under His care and control, and like the kind, merciful and LOVING shepherd He is, He looks after us with tender, LOVING care, takes care of all our needs. Wow! There’s nothing too big or too small for Him to handle. But then the sheep need to reciprocate this LOVING care by being obedient and thankful, by listening to the Shepherd’s voice and doing as He instructs them. Unfortunately though, today too many of God’s supposed sheep are proud, greedy, arrogant, disobedient and ungrateful, which spoils it for the rest of the flock, the gladly sharing, obedient and everlastingly grateful portion. Now this difference in behaviour obviously causes arguments, dissensions, strife, anger, confusion and all manner of negative emotions and actions amongst what should be a unified group of believers. And sadly Friends, that’s the state of our world today, because too many of us refuse to listen to God’s voice, refuse to hearken to His call to: ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me; for I am meek and lowly in heart (gentle and humble): and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt.11:28-30) And that’s the gospel truth my people! So please, let’s accept His truly amazing offer, and not do like the Israelites and wander around aimlessly for forty years in the wilderness because of arrogance, foolish pride and disobedience, until a whole offending generation dies off, before we enter our promised land. That’s so infantile and silly. So my brethren, I’m imploring us that, ‘Today, if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation (rebellion), and as in the day of temptation (trial or testing) in the wilderness. When your father’s tempted (tried) me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved (was I disgusted) with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err (go astray) in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.’ (Ps.95:7-11) And as we all know, true to God’s declaration, that disobedient generation never set foot in the Promised Land. Oh Friends, I don’t know about you all nuh, but I certainly want to enter into God’s rest, so I will do my best to be obedient, bow down, worship and praise Him, for He is indeed worthy to receive all our praise and thanksgiving. Just look around at all the material comforts you posses and enjoy, and then consider the peace and calm in your spirit. Where do you think it all comes from eh? From none other than the Lord God Jehovah! So please think on all this, then have the right reaction. It will do wonders for you. Much LOVE!…as for me and mine…no ifs and buts…we will definitely be serving the Lord…
SCRIP-BITS 