SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, oh Friends, it’s Monday! That wonderful day we all tend to dislike has rolled around once again! Now please don’t shoot the messenger. (smile) I’m only doing my duty, keeping you abreast of the days as they pass by. And besides, if you shoot me, who’s going to bring you those truly delectable, life-giving words of Jesus eh; those words that cause us to be filled with the free grace of God, which ultimately lead to the most wonderful gifts of salvation and eternal life? So let’s not take a fit, throw a tantrum when we realize that we have to get up and go to work today. Instead, let’s all joyfully sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn that will pick us up, get our adrenaline flowing, and enable us to serve Christ with compassion and fortitude. All together now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together. We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’ And now that our battle juices are flowing my people, let’s turn to our Bit, which will solidify our desire to go forth and soldier on in Christ’s name. ‘Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.’ And all God’s people joyfully approved by shouting ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ Ah mih breddren, our God is indeed a faithful and avenging Deity as the prophet Habakkuk proclaims in Chapter 3, his prayer recounting the Lord’s deliverance of His people Israel in the time of the Exodus and eventually leading them to the Promised Land. ‘Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh (trample) the heathen (nations) in anger. Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst (you struck) the head out of (from) the house of the wicked, by discovering (laying bare from) the foundation unto the neck. Selah.’ (Hab.3:12-13) Obviously fear filled Habakkuk’s soul when he recounted the Lord’s sweeping destruction, for the same fate would befall him in wickedness, but it did not turn his heart away. Listen to his words: ‘Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat (food); the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.’ (Hab.3:17-18) That’s the product of great faith my people! It’s a faith of such great magnitude that we should all seek and diligently work towards. One that says in spite of any calamity we face, yet we’ll continue to serve and worship the ONE TRUE God; He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It‘s not an easy task Friends, but with the help of the Holy Spirit and our due diligence we can surely accomplish it, and eventually declare our undying allegiance to the Lord, like Isaiah did. ‘I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels.’ (Is.61:10) Oh my people, no other deity can do those wonderful things for us, so let us be wise and stand strong and steadfast in the faith, hope and LOVE of Jesus Christ, who paid the ultimate sacrifice with His sinless life for our disgusting sins. It’s the least we do in gratitude for His unselfish LOVE. Selah. Much LOVE!…though he slay me…yet will I trust in him… (Job 13:15)…that’s true faith…