SCRIP-BITS

James 1:12.    Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that LOVE Him.
 
Oh Friends, the new day’s dawned bright with promise! That means the Lord’s still in control! Praise Him! I’ve even seen a couple of trees starting to sprout green buds, meaning spring is finally, literally here, and our winter weary souls should also be experiencing a rejuvenation of sorts. Praise the Lord! It certainly has been a long and confusing winter, but it’s all over now, bar the shouting. And we’ll certainly hear the shouting in the next week or so, when hopefully the temperature will stay steady in the teens, and summer madness will take over the land. Be careful though Friends, in all the euphoria celebrating winter’s end, please don’t lose focus of what’s truly important; God’s purpose, and not the world’s ungodly leanings and leadings. Thankfully, our Bit helps to remind us of that essential fact. ‘Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried (has been proven), he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that LOVE Him.’ Yesterday we talked about temptation’s purpose, but let me add one more scripture on the subject. The Good Book says, re the Israelites journey to the Promised land: ‘(The Lord) Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove (test) thee, to do thee good at thy latter end.’ (Deut.8:16) Yes Friends, we’re placed in temptation’s path, or vice versa, to test our spiritual mettle. And what happens when we’ve passed the test with flying colours? ‘…for when he is tried (has been proven), he shall receive the crown of life…’ And all God’s people shouted: ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ Yes my fellow believers, for our steadfast faithfulness we’re rewarded by our God with a crown of eternal life. Rewards are added to our heavenly account. And who knows, in the Lord’s wisdom and LOVING-kindness, we might even receive some earthly benefits too. But the biggest and best will be stored for when we go home to Him. Now hear Bruh Paul on the matter: ‘And every man that striveth for the mastery (competes for the prize) is temperate (has self-control) in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible (perishable) crown; but we an incorruptible (imperishable).’ (1 Cor.9:25) Oh my brethren, please remember that our lives on earth are only temporary. We’ve been placed here to be tried and tested, to see if we can be trusted with the guardianship of God’s Word and His material possessions. The earth is just a staging point, a trial run, to weed out the sheep from the goats, a dress rehearsal for the real McCoy in our eternal home. Now here’s a pertinent reminder from Bruh Paul’ second letter to the Corinthians, which I think we all desperately need in these confusing, fast moving, evil and ungodly times. ‘For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound (abound) to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not (do not lose heart): but though our outward man perish (is perishing), yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.’ (2 Cor.4:15-18) Oh Friends, please, I beg of us to take those words to heart, to write them indelibly in our souls, so that we’ll stop looking at the worldly stuff with lustful and envious eyes, and concentrate instead on our heavenly purpose, that eventually ‘we can receive the crown of life, which God hath promised to them that LOVE Him.’ A promise that Jesus confirmed when He declared: ‘And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.’ (Matt.10:22) Oh my Friends in Christ, God’s done His part, it’s now time for us to do ours. Let’s not be found wanting. Much LOVE!…a word to the wise is sufficient… P.S. While I’m editing this a soulful rendition of The Lord’s Prayer is guiding me along. ‘Our Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done. On earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory. For ever…and ever. Amen.’ And would you believe they just  played another soulful version? Wow! A most appropriate way to begin or end our days Friends! For it’s all about Jesus! Much LOVE!