SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, seeing that today is Sunday, which the majority of Christians celebrate as the Lord’s Day, the Sabbath, I went looking for something uplifting and encouraging to share, instead of the doom and gloom scenario we’ve been recently talking about, with our world in such an ungodly, confused and crazy state. After much searching, I was finally led to Psalm 92, a psalm or song for the Sabbath day, wherein the psalmist praises the Lord for His goodness. Please say our Bit with me: ‘It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High.’ That’s the gospel truth my people! Because the Lord God Jehovah has been so good to us, we ought to sing His praises, especially on the Sabbath, in fellowship with other believers. We need ‘To show forth (declare) thy LOVING-kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery (lute or lyre); upon the harp with a solemn (harmonious or melodic) sound. For thou, Lord, hast made me glad though thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.’ (Ps.92:2-4)  Yes Friends, the Lord has been very good to us, He’s gladdened our hearts through the triumphant work of His hands, thus we should show appropriate gratitude and joy with worship, praise and thanksgiving. As the title of Psalm 147 rightly declares; ‘Great is our God and of great power,’ therefore: ‘Praise ye the Lord (shout Hallelujah!): for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely (beautiful).’ (Ps.147:1) And isn’t that an indelible fact! When we praise our God, an indescribable feeling of joy and beauty rises up within our hearts, souls, bodies and minds and causes such an outpouring of LOVE for our Creator, Guide, Protector and Provider, that our simple human sensibilities are overwhelmed. Sometimes we get so carried away, so lost in praise that we faint or end up in a trance-like state. That’s the awesome power of our wonderful God working in us! Oh my brethren, nothing touches our souls like the LOVING-kindness of our magnanimous God! And when we respond in kind to God and our fellow man, our characterization in Jesus is fulfilled. That’s when the character of Jesus shines in and out of us like a bright light, telling the world in no uncertain terms, that we are His servants, His people, His children, the salt of the earth! We’re bright and flavourful like Jesus! Wow! And there’s no greater joy in this entire world than to be considered, both in word and deed, a true disciple of Christ! Friends, it’s the ultimate accolade a believer can ever receive on this earth! There is such blessedness in trusting the Lord, that it moved the psalmist to joyfully proclaim: ‘Praise ye the Lord (shout Hallelujah). Praise the Lord, O my soul. While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.’ (Ps.146:1-2) That’s because we cannot put our trust in deceitful, treacherous and mortal man, who has no control over his life or his circumstances. However: ‘Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God: which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever.’ (Ps.146:5-6) Oh my people, how can we dispute that when we are living proof of His wonderful care, kindness and unconditional LOVE? We can’t! For ‘Thou art good, and doest good: teach me thy statutes.’ (Ps.119:68) Yes my fellow soldiers in Christ’s growing army, our God is the best! And here’s more proof: ‘The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat (plump) and flourishing (green): To show that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.’ (Ps.92:12-15)  And all God’s people broke out into songs of praise and worship: ‘Praise Him, Praise Him, Glory Hallelujah! He is LOVE! YES! He is LOVE!’ That’s the living truth! Oh Friends, I surely hope that this short exercise in praise to our most merciful and forgiving God has raised our spirits and encouraged us to keep looking towards Him for all that we hope for and desire, to stay strong and steadfast in faith, regardless of whatever comes against us, and finally to give Him much thanks and praise, glorify Him, for all that He’s done, is doing and will do for the undeserving children of men. Till next time, God willing, let’s keep living those two great commandments; LOVING our God, and LOVING our neighbour as ourselves. That’s the stated wish of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Much LOVE!…sincere thanks and praise…can only flow…from a heart filled with LOVE and gratitude…