SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, it’s Monday…’We know that,’ comes the sour reply. ‘We know that the few of us who have jobs need to get up and go to them so we can survive. So please doh rub it in nuh.’ Hn, hn! Ah Friends, I’m not trying to rub it in, just reminding us that the workweek battle is about to begin again, so we need to be prepared. And to help us in that preparation, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with much gusto. Altogether 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!’ I surely hope that energized us, set us on the right path, steadfastly focused on God. And with the Lord’s mysterious but well planned workings, we even have a Bit that’s very appropriate for today, one that admirably matches the sentiments of our Battle Hymn: ‘For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.’ Now isn’t that the gospel truth? And in affirmative answer, all God’s people declared a loud and jubilant, ‘Glory Hallelujah! Indeed our Lord God is powerful and righteous, and most worthy to be praised!’ Without a doubt He is Friends. But let’s break down our Bit some. The first part refers to the Lord as ‘a sun.’ By definition ‘a sun’ is a bright, shining orb that provides light in dark places. Now since our forefathers sinned, our souls, our spiritual arenas have been shrouded in continual darkness and so have our physical abodes and surroundings. But hear what our ever-LOVING, merciful, gracious and forgiving God promises when the future glory of Zion is proclaimed: ‘The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. The sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. The people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.’ (Is.60:19-21) Wow people! In that day of glory, both our souls and our physical surroundings will forever be lit by the Lord’s Spirit! There will be no need for any artificial light whatsoever, because the Lord’s light will be more than sufficient. Now tell me, having received such a wonderful promise from the Lord God Jehovah, why would I foolishly embrace Lucifer, the fallen angel of darkness, when he has nothing even closely comparable to offer? No Friends, true wisdom declares for God, the Creator of the universe and all therein! More on this topic tomorrow, if that same God allows us to see the light of yet another day. Much LOVE!…why choose perpetual darkness…when perpetual light is available…