SCRIP-BITS

1 Corinthians 9:24.    Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
 
Oh Friends, it seems like the heat wave will continue across a lot of North America today, sans rain too, for bright sunshine has already lit up the darkness of the receding night. Unfortunately that promise of rain yesterday never materialized. Within a couple hours of the skies turning dark, they cleared up and it was bright sunshine and heat for the rest of the day. Ah Lord eh! When is not feast is famine yes! And talking about famine, it seems like Somalia is in the terrible grip of a devastating one right now, with people leaving, in their thousands, walking many miles and days to Kenya and Ethiopia, to find refuge in already overflowing refugee camps. Apparently many are dying by the roadside too, from malnutrition and hunger, especially the children. Yuh know I can’t even look at some of the pictures of the malnourished, emaciated children, they show on the news and the outreach programmes. It just breaks my heart and sickens me to see the sad state of those unfortunate, innocent children, their sorrowful plight brought about in great part by the ignorance, greed, hatred, hunger for power, strife and anger of adults. Friends, please, let’s pray diligently for them, and help in any physical or monetary way we can, for that’s what our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ expects from us, His sincere followers. And it’s all tied up in our Bit: ‘Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.’ Yes my people, helping others is an essential part of the race of life that we’re running here on earth, and we’ll win no prize(s) unless we put our whole heart, body and soul into our efforts. That’s the standard our God’s looking for to decide whether we deserve rewards or not. Believe me, half hearted efforts will not be rewarded! So if we truly are desirous of rewards, both in this life and the next, then we’ve got to ramp up our efforts, starting today, RIGHT NOW, out of a genuine heart, overflowing with true LOVE for our God and our fellow man. I really don’t understand how some of us can see our fellow man suffering and not feel moved, not feel compassion, and an urgent need to help them, even if it’s only by praying for them. It ought to be an automatic reaction, for that’s what Christianity is all about. As Jesus said: ‘For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.’ (Matt.18:11) And also: ‘They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’  (Mark 2:17) Therein lies our duty as believers, my brethren! Anyway, as promised, let’s continue looking at some instances where Bruh Paul talks about our earthly journey in terms of running a race. Writing to the Philippians, he admonishes them to be shining lights in a perverse world; ‘Holding forth (fast to) the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.’ (Phil.2:16) That admonishment still applies to us today my fellow believers. We even need to shine brighter these days because our world is bigger and even more perverse and evil than in Bruh Paul’s time. And we’ll end today with the memorable words of Bruh Paul to the same church at Philippi: ‘Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.’ (Phil.3:13-14) Oh Friends, we all have heard those words many, many times, but how we’ve responded to them is anyone’s guess. However, today, RIGHT NOW, let’s write them deep in our hearts, souls and minds nuh, then put them into practice. Let’s forget about all the bad things of the past, and instead look forward expectantly and enthusiastically to the future, to all the beautiful things and situations our great, LOVING and magnanimous God has in store for us. Let’s drive, thrust and exert ourselves as we ought to, joyously reaching towards the goal set for us by Jesus Christ. That’s the real mark, in fact the only avenue open for a true believer! Much LOVE!…to run, to strive…and not to faint…that’s our calling…  P.S. It’s late, but it’s sweet…and true too. (smile)