SCRIP-BITS

Psalm 51:2.    Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
 
Well hello there all you beautiful people, believers in Jesus Christ and His wonderful Christian mission! Oh Friends, isn’t it good to be alive? It sure is! And isn’t it also great to be called a Christian? For sure! But please remember that being a Christian is also a great privilege that carries with it an awesome responsibility, for this mission, Christ’s Church, is no fly by night organization. It’s here to last until eternity! Through belief in Christ, we’re honoured, considered worthy to be called the children of God, and as such are entitled to come before Him in confidence and trust, since Christ’s precious blood paid our sin debt in full. But because of our inherent sinful nature, we still do wrong. However through this unbelievable connection to Almighty God, through His most faithful and obedient Son, Jesus, we have the privilege of going to God in prayer and asking for forgiveness of our sins. Our sins are not automatically forgiven because we’re believers. No, we have to come to God, with penitent hearts and ask for forgiveness. And throughout the Good Book, there’s nobody better than Bruh David in pleading for forgiveness for their sins. Hear him in our Bit, the second verse of his prayer for cleansing, when the prophet Nathan laid bare before him, his horrible transgression with Bathsheba. ‘Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.’  Ah Friends, all of us are human, thus liable to err, sometimes big, sometimes small, but err nevertheless, and when we do, we need to come before God, asap, repenting and asking forgiveness. ‘For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.’ (Ps.51:3) Yes my people, it’s also important that we admit to our wrongdoing, with humility and regret. And what’s so reassuring and wonderful about the whole process is that if we truly are sorry for our misdoings and come to God with a right heart and repentant attitude, He has promised, on several occasions, to cleanse us and forgive us our sins. And all God’s people joyfully shouted: ‘Hallelujah! For we serve such a mighty and magnanimous God!’ But please note Friends, it’s not supposed to be just a rote practice; you sin without care, then run to repent, then run to sin carelessly again. No! There is a responsibility to keep ourselves out of sin’s way. It’s not easy, but if we’re serious about it, and sincerely try to walk the right path, then God will help us do it. Now let’s hear some of those amazing promises He’s made to cleanse, heal and forgive us of our iniquity. We’ll start with the words of Jeremiah, talking about the glorious return promised to the Israelite captives: ‘And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.’ (Jer.33:8) What an awesome promise people! And Ezekiel adds this encouragement: ‘Thus saith the Lord God; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes (ruins) shall be builded.’ (Ezek.36:33) Meanwhile, the author of Hebrews, when comparing the benefits of animal sacrifices and that of Jesus, solemnly declares: ‘How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot (blemish) to God, purge (cleanse) your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?’ (Heb.9:14) Yes Friends, it’s the precious blood of Jesus, spilled on our behalf, that gives us access to God, meaning that only believers can take advantage of the wonderful cleansing opportunities available. John, the beloved disciple, puts it this way: ‘If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not (practice) the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin…If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ (1 John 1:6-7, 9) And all God’s people shouted a thankful ‘Amen!’ Yes my brethren, being a Christian, a true follower of Christ, is a wonderful privilege! But please remember that with all great privileges also come great responsibilities. So a believer’s position is not to be taken lightly, for come the judgement day, when we all have to stand before Jesus and give an account of our lives, we sure don’t want to be cowering and mewling and stuttering before Him, because we never took our responsibilities seriously. So please, let’s get our act together, RIGHT NOW, for Jesus can return at any time, like the proverbial thief in the night, and we certainly don’t want to be found wanting and not ready to meet and greet Him. Much LOVE!…remember…to him that’s granted much…much is expected and required… (Luke 12:48)