SCRIP-BITS

Ah Friends, it’s another day in the life; the first day of October, drawing closer to winter in the northern climes. But it’s also like the Good Book says: ‘This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ (Ps.118:24) Yes my people, it’s imperative that we aspire to enjoy the days that God so LOVINGLY grants us on this planet earth! The journey is not an easy one, but if we lose ourselves in Christ and the things that pertain to Him, we can assuredly have peace of mind, and will enjoy our earthly journey though it be littered with trials and tribulations. Such is the strength and LOVE of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who overcame the world so that we can do likewise. (John 16:33) And our Bit today tells us what not to do, if we want to enjoy the fruits of success found in Jesus. ‘And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.’ Jesus was here rebuking the Jewish religious leaders for introducing man’s religious practices into the Word of God and thus polluting it, not obeying the true Word. Oh Friends, that’s also a monumental problem in our current society. Everybody seems to be coming up with their own interpretation of the Word, consequently confusion reigns and falsehood abounds. Unfortunately it’s been a problem from way back when, as Isaiah declared re the judgement of the earth. ‘The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty (proud) people of the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.’ (Is.24:4-5)  And Jeremiah echoed the same sentiments in talking about punishment for Judah’s rebellion: ‘But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you that it may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and the imagination (stubbornness) of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.’ (Jer.7:23-24) Oh mih people, that’s exactly what’s happening to us today! Because we have disobeyed the voice of God and instead walked in the evil ways of Lucifer, we are now paying a catastrophic price for our disobedience. We are going backward instead of forward. Just look at all the strife, dissension, oppression, greed, inequality, injustice, economic despair, fear, violence and unhappiness that’s predominant on earth today. I doubt the world has ever been in such bad shape. And it shouldn’t be, with all our scientific, technological, medical, and psychological advances, which are supposed to make us better off. And my brethren it’s all directly attributable to our foolish and selfish turning away from the ONE TRUE God; He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; our Creator, Provider and Protector. We’ve seen it happen to the Israelites several times, and in many other societies down through the ages. When they honour and obey God, they prosper, but when they don’t, they feel the wrath of His punishment. So why do we feel that our society is any different eh? We certainly are not! Sorry, we just might be more stupid, ignorant and stubborn than those gone before, because we have all the examples of history to learn from, but we’re making the same foolish mistakes. Oh Friends, I don’t know what else to say to get us back in tune with God nuh, because we’re so stubborn, rebellious and hard-headed. My mother called me ‘own way’. And that’s exactly what we’re currently doing; going our own way, removing God from our lives more and more each day. That brings to mind Wisdom speaking in Proverbs: ‘How long, ye simple (naïve) ones, will ye LOVE simplicity (naivety)? And the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought (disdained) all my counsel, and would (have) none of my reproof. I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock you when your fear (terror) cometh. When your fear (terror) cometh as desolation (a storm), and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early (diligently), but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.’ (Prov.1:22-29) That my Friends, is the lesson for today. It couldn’t be any clearer. Much LOVE!…he who has ears to hear…let him hear…or else he will certainly feel…