SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, we’re alive and kicking on what promises to be another beautiful autumn day. Wow! So let’s give our great God some thanks for that privilege and blessing nuh. It’s the least we can do to show our genuine appreciation. I’m currently reading a little booklet called the Keys to Happiness, written in the late 1800s, by whom it doesn’t say, but is it ever well written, with beautiful, somewhat old-fashioned language, but very insightful into the Word of God. I’ll have to start sharing some of those insights… Oh, here’s one right now dealing with prayer and thanks. ‘Let us not be always thinking of our wants, and never of the benefits we receive. We do not pray any too much, but we are too sparing of giving thanks. We are the constant recipients of God’s mercies, and yet how little gratitude we express, how little we praise Him for what He has done for us.’ Oh my people, if we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll readily admit that failing of not thanking God sufficiently for all that He’s done for us. But there’s no time like the present to make a change. So let’s faithfully promise ourselves to try and be much more thankful for the Lord’s blessings and mercies. And God’s biggest act of blessing and mercy is sending His only son Jesus to die for us on Calvary’s rugged cross, to wipe away our sins and reconcile us to Him. As the Keys to Happiness so poignantly declares: ‘How must God esteem the human race, since He gave His Son to die for them, and appoints His Spirit to be man’s teacher and continual guide.’ Yes Friends, our God must really LOVE us plenty and hold us in extraordinarily high esteem to offer His Son’s life as a sacrifice for us undeserving sinners. For that we should be everlastingly grateful and should embrace Him with abundant joy and thanksgiving, boldly accepting Christ as our Lord and Saviour and steadfastly affirming His words in our Bit: ‘I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.’ We believers know that as an awesome, infallible truth, and yet we don’t take it to heart as seriously as we should. And the sad fact is that long before Jesus came, the Lord was offering free mercy to all. Hear Isaiah tell it: ‘Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness (abundance). Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.’ (Is.55:1-3) What a wonderful and generous offer! And yet the majority of people refused to take Him up on it. Why eh? Are we so afraid of free stuff? I doubt it. We just don’t want to give up our freedom of choice and our sinful ways. But with the Lord as guide, our lives will be much better off than trying to be our own keeper. After Isaiah, Jesus came and made His proclamation. Sadly with the same result…a minority of takers. But Friends, this is the very basis, the very foundation of our eternal lives. There are only two options here yuh know; eternal death and darkness with Beelzebub, or eternal life and light with Jesus. What does the evil one promise eh? Nothing but death and damnation in the dark underworld of Hades. Now listen to Jesus’ promise. ‘Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on (strike) them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed (shepherd) them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears (every tear) from their eyes.’ (Rev.7:15-17) And all God’s people shouted in joyful gratitude: ‘All thanks and glory be to the Lamb that was slain for us! He is indeed worthy to be praised!’ Oh my brethren, our choice is as clear as day. Please, let’s grab it now, before it’s too late, then share it with others who have never heard the promises or refused to believe them before, because this is truly a life determining decision. We can’t afford to lose even one precious soul to Lucifer, for Jesus will be very displeased and disappointed in us. And we certainly don’t want to feel His displeasure. So let’s get moving nuh. Much LOVE!…as for me and mine…without hesitation…we will gladly accept the promises of Jesus…