SCRIP-BITS

Job 40:4.    Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.’
 
Oh Friends, It’s Monday once again! The bugle’s blowing Reveille, warning us to get up and put on our spiritual battle gear for another strenuous week of battle in the trenches of work, on Jesus’ behalf. And though some of us, like Buju Banton, are still battered and bruised, still nursing wounds from last week’s encounter, it’s imperative that we answer today’s call regardless of our state. But thankfully, because of our God’s great mercies, which are new and abundant each morning, our spiritual self will enable us to weather the storm. So let’s now ask the Father for strength, courage and guidance in these calamitous times, by loudly and proudly singing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. All together now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together. We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’ Yes mih people, that ought to boost our spirits and empower us to go out into the evil world with confidence to fight the good fight of faith. But please note that though we may feel strong and powerful, we must always remember to be humble. It’s extremely important that we humble ourselves before Almighty God, or else He will bring us to our knees, and not easily, but painfully, like He did Job. Oh Job was decent enough in his daily dealings, but after his misfortune and the acid words his supposed friends hurl at him, he gets a bit self-righteous in his replies until the Lord takes him to task, and asks him this all-important question: ‘Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? He that reproveth (rebukes) God, let him answer it?’ (Job 40:2) My brethren, that’s also a question that we should ponder, considering the haughty and prideful behaviour of our world in general, and in particular of so many supposed believers. And like Job, in the words of our Bit, we ought to humbly declare: ‘Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.’ Ah Friends, in the face of the omnipotent, omniscient and always around God, what else could Job say eh? And it should serve as a reminder to us to always consider our personal situations before forming opinions and passing harsh judgement on others, since we don’t know what’s truly going on in their lives, how God is dealing with or using them. Unfortunately, in this ungodly society, that’s become the norm. This brings us to the prophet Ezra’s confession when the Israelites were trying to get things together in Babylon to go and rebuild Jerusalem. ‘And at the evening sacrifice I arose from my heaviness (fasting); and having rent (torn) my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God. And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass (guilt) is grown up unto the heavens.’ (Ezra 9:5-6) Oh my people, our time is certainly a reflection of Ezra’s. If possible, it’s even more blatantly sinful and ungodly, and it would do all of us a world of good to fall on our knees and confess our vile and sinful state to Almighty God. It’s the only way out of the stink, stagnant morass in which our world’s currently mired. More tomorrow on this topic, our God willing. Till then, please walk and talk the LOVE of the Father. Much LOVE!…by definition…a godly heart…is a humble heart…