SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, it’s Monday! Now please don’t shoot the messenger, (smile) for I’m only doing my job to remind us that the workweek battle is about to begin again, and Jesus’ army needs to be up and preparing to engage the enemy in spiritual warfare. None of us really want to go out and battle, especially when it begins even before we get to work, on the terribly congested highways, but battle we must, if we are true followers of Jesus. So to get us into the right frame of mind for facing the predominantly evil, ungodly world, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with mucho gusto. 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!’ Now that should boost our spirits and have us just tugging at the reins, ready, willing and able to get out there and do battle for Christ. Oh Friends, I try to inject a touch of humour and levity into our Bits, because I know that staid, stone-faced scripture, clothed in hellfire and brimstone works on the basis of fear, and anything we’re frightened or forced into accepting can never last or be truly successful. Our leader, Jesus, was not, and is not a bully or a dictator. He wants us to come to Him on our own, willingly, with joyful acceptance, because we so desperately crave the good things He has to offer. That’s why our Bit is so important in the lives of true Christians. ‘But to do good and to communicate (share) forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.’ Oh my people, doing good and sharing are the two basic tenets of our faith. Jesus laid down the foundation of His ministry in one simple statement: LOVE God, and LOVE your neighbours as you LOVE yourselves. And the very basis of that word LOVE, which is of God, and in God, means to do good, and doing good means to help and share. Unfortunately we have not followed Jesus’ word, but foolishly listened to Lucifer and adopted the selfish, greedy, first person singular attitudes of the world. That’s one of the major reasons why our world is now in such a state of turmoil, why there are so many uprisings and serious protests in almost every country of the world, why the ‘Occupy and Arab Spring’ forces have received such global attention. Oh my brethren, the inequality in our wealthy world is mind-boggling. It’s very true that the upper echelon one percent has or control inordinately more than the remaining 99 percent put together. Even in the supposedly rich countries poverty is rampant because there is not sufficient sharing and thus doing good. Sadly, this sad state of affairs also exists in the lower echelons of society. How many of us believers, having said all our high-falutin prayers, beaten our chests, celebrated our own goodness, like the hypocrite Pharisees in Jesus’ time, then step out of our gates and immediately pass the beggar or hungry man on the street with an angry frown, thinking ourselves better than them, refusing in our haughty pride to even give them a few coins, conveniently thinking that they’ll only go and buy drugs or alcohol. And even if they do, that’s not for us to judge, that’s between them and Jesus. Jesus told us to help the poor, sick, hurting and destitute as best we can. My people, please remember Jesus’ warning at the end of the parable of the ten talents (Matt.25) and take it to heart. ‘Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily, I say unto you, In as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.’ (Matt.25:45-46) Please Friends, let’s not be penny wise and pound foolish and consequently lose the blessedness of eternal life with Jesus. Much LOVE!…man’s inhumanity to man…makes billions mourn…and will eventually lead many to eternal death and damnation…