SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, it seems like it’s going to be another warm, beautiful autumn day in my neck of the woods. Praise the Lord! And to honour the season of autumn, here’s a quote attributed to American naturalist and essayist, John Burroughs (1837-1921) It says: ‘How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and colour are their last days.’ And isn’t that the truth Friends! Leaves gradually lose their green, chlorophyll-generated colour as the tree roots find it ever more difficult to get food and water in the growing cold ground. The green fades until the leaves become red, gold, russet, brown or some such colour. And oftimes they look much more beautiful than when clothed in austere green. Then they die and fall gracefully to the earth. Oh my people, would that our human lives would pass so gracefully and beautifully into old age, then death! But instead, most of us get grumpy and miserable in our autumn years, possibly because of our many physical aches and pains, and/or because we fear the death that comes with the approach of our winter days. As believers though, we ought to be getting more mellow, thoughtful and quiet of spirit from having experienced and survived life’s ups and downs, plus being more mature in the Word of God and faith in Jesus Christ. At that advanced stage of maturity, we should be able to declare with supreme confidence, as the psalmist does in our Bit: ‘The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles (coastlands) be glad thereof.’  Yes Friends, the Lord God Jehovah does indeed reign over all the earth! He is far above all the other supposed Gods! There is none else like Him, therefore we, His amazing creation, should rejoice and be glad. Now hear the body of evidence on which the psalmist bases His awesome proclamation: ‘Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgement are the habitation (foundation) of his throne. A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. The hills (mountains) melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. Confounded be all they that (Let all be put to shame who) serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.’ (Ps.97:2-7) Ah mih people, what other deity can match the might and power, the omnipotence of the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob eh? NONE whatsoever! Thus we should be worshipping and praising Him much more than we do. Instead of bowing to man made idols and giving in to fleshly lusts so avidly promoted by Lucifer and his evil cronies, we ought to do as the psalmist advises: ‘Give (ascribe) unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear (tremble) before him, all the earth. Say among the heathen (nations, gentiles) that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be (is firmly) established that it shall not be moved (shaken): he shall judge the people righteously.’ (Ps.96:8-10) Oh my Friends, if we were ever to do that on the grand scale the Lord both desires and deserves, what a truly wonderful place our world would be, instead of the evil, ungodly earth we now inhabit. And here’s an insight into that problem from the booklet ‘Keys to Happiness’ that I mentioned yesterday. ‘If Christians would associate together, speaking to each other of the LOVE of God, and of the precious truths of redemption, their own hearts would be refreshed, and they would refresh one another. We may be daily learning more of our heavenly Father, gaining a fresh experience of His grace; then we shall desire to speak of His LOVE; and as we do this, our own hearts will be warmed and encouraged. If we thought and talked more of Jesus, and less of self, we should have far more of His presence. If we would but think of God as often as we have evidence of His care for us, we should keep Him ever in our thoughts, and should delight to talk of Him and to praise Him.’ And that’s the gospel truth my brethren. If believers would think and talk more about God and the things of heaven than the temporal, earthly, unimportant stuff we concern ourselves with, then we’d find ourselves in much greater and beneficial communion with our wonderful, LOVING, kind and generous Maker. Fellow believers, all I can say in closing, is ‘Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance (for the memory) of his holiness (His holy name). (Ps.97:12) That’s our bounden duty! Much LOVE!…LOVE the Lord…with all thy heart, mind, body and soul…that is the first commandment…