SCRIP-BITS

Proverbs 28:1.    The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
 
Oh Friends, another Friday has rolled around, and with it the loud, joyful exclamations of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ But please beware, too much exuberance at the thought of the upcoming weekend is dangerous and can thwart God’s plans for our lives, the most important aspects of a believer’s earthly journey. So to temper that exuberance, to curtail our ‘enthusiasm with a modicum of circumspection,’ as Jeeves – the P.G Wodehouse character – was won’t to say, let’s chant 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.’ Now here’s one of Cousin Sol’s many wise sayings, for us to ponder in our Bit. ‘The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.’ And all God’s people sang, ‘Glory Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!’ That’s because the righteous have a strong foundation of faith built on the bedrock of Jesus Christ, who faithfully promised: ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) He also said: ‘Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.’ (Luke 12:33) So we don’t need to fear anything in this world. But the wicked, they have no such foundation or promise from their evil leader, Lucifer, because he doesn’t have the wherewithal to promise them things like safety, sanctity or salvation. And knowing that their deeds are evil, and there’s no real protection for them, the wicked get scared and run at the slightest disturbance. All their faith is built on earthly, perishable stuff that offers little or no protection from the troubles of this world. Meanwhile, listen to this verse from Psalm 53, the foolishness of men, when Bruh David talks about the safety and security of the righteous in God’s great universe. ‘There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.’ (Ps.53:5) Yes Friends, even the righteous fear sometimes when there’s no cause, but that’s just normal human nature. However, when we stand strong in faith, the Lord God Almighty will embolden us, give us the fearless heart of the lion, the mighty king of beasts. There are many animals bigger than a lion, but none have his fearless heart, that’s why he’s the king. But on the flip side of the coin, if we disobey God, in fact become wicked, there will be serious penalties to pay. Listen to Moses: ‘And I will set my face against you (oppose you), and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you. And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me (obey me), then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.’ (Lev.26:17-18) Ah mih people, as usual, the Lord’s words are simple and straightforward, they leave no room for misunderstanding. Now hear Moses later on, on the same subject: ”And upon them that are left alive of you, I will send a faintness into their hearts (make them fearful) in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.’ (Lev.26:36) Doesn’t that bring chills to you my brethren, because that’s the way our world is headed? Wickedness and evil are currently the dominant players in our society, and they have bred a real tangible feeling of fear amongst us, where we’re afraid to walk the streets late at night, are even scared in our tightly locked, barred and gated homes. The cowardly, evil act of terrorism has also upped the ante, increased the fear factor, till now we’re afraid to talk to our neighbours who look, talk and dress differently from us, and we keep looking around fearfully, even when there’s no sign of danger. Oh Friends, all I can do is keep hammering home the truth, that Jehovah God is our only hope, and the sooner we repent of our evil ways and turn back to Him, the sooner our world will improve. And for those of us who truly embrace Christ, then it’s imperative that we get out into the world and show that we LOVE our God, by LIVING our Faith and SPREADING His Word, so that others can believe, repent and become children of God, safely dwelling under His mighty umbrella of protection. Much LOVE!…he who hath ears to hear…let him hear…