SCRIP-BITS

A good Sunday morning to you all Friends! The world has successfully rotated on its axis and thus another day is born. Wow! What a showcase of God’s power and ingenuity! The earth does not stand still, neither does human life. As Everett M. Dirksen (1896-1969) U.S. Congressman and Senator, reputedly said: ‘Life is not a static thing.’ And that’s the living truth! Life indeed does not stand still. It is all about changes. The problem though is that man dislikes change. Slow, small changes we can accept, but the big, sudden ones are much more difficult to handle and we fight against them. That’s not surprising since it’s in our nature to resist change because it takes us out of our comfort zone and disrupts our normal, staid lives. Disruption is not something the human animal takes lightly. The essential fact though is that we can’t get away from change. And we’re not talking change just for the sake of change, but positive, useful, empowering change. So it will probably do us all a lot of good if we focus on the words of the Serenity Prayer, and ask the Lord to help us understand what things we can and cannot change, and grant us the wisdom to know the difference, otherwise change will create untold havoc in our lives. And having said all that, let’s tackle our Bit: ‘Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not (do not set your mind on) high things, but condescend to men of low estate (associate with the humble). Be not wise in your own deceits (estimation).’ Oh Friends, in this age of extreme ungodliness and numerous divisions within Christ’s Church, that statement of Bruh Paul could safely stand as a blazing, glaring testimony of too many believers. Please note in that simple passage Bruh Paul tells us three things we ought not to do, but unfortunately the church is rife with all of them. How sad eh. Now let’s look at each statement separately. The first says: ‘Be of the same mind one toward another.’ That means we ought to live in harmony with each other, which should not be too difficult to do since we’re all supposedly living and abiding under God’s will. But sadly it is one of the biggest problems the church faces, as we fight, argue, quarrel and divide over how the church and our individual lives should be run. Living in harmony was a subject that was very near and dear to Bruh Paul’s heart. Listen to him plead with the Philippians. ‘Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same LOVE, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem the other better than themselves.’ (Phil.2:2-3) And later on, he begs: ‘I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.’ (Phil.4:2) Obviously those two were in disagreement over some matter(s) which Bruh Paul thought should not be happening between believers. And sadly Friends, at a time when the church needs absolute cohesion to successfully fight the evil powers that are currently in ascendance, we are foolishly fighting amongst ourselves and separating like crazy, being easily divided and conquered by Lucifer and his buddies.  None of this augurs well for the livelihood and growth of the church, which brings us to the second aspect of our Bit. ‘Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.’ Personally, I believe that ‘condescend’ was the wrong word to use there because it carries an inherently negative connotation, the stigma of lowering oneself to those whom you consider inferior. Now unfortunately that kind of thinking is also too prevalent in the church; from an hierarchical point of view amongst the clergy, as well as amongst the lay people. Too many of us think we’re better than others, for whatever reason, and those negative thoughts and feelings only create disharmony, not the harmony Bruh Paul was seeking, and which we so desperately need in these troubled times. Now hear Jeremiah comment on this. ‘And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil (adversity) upon all flesh, saith the Lord: but thy life I will give unto thee for a prey (as a prize) in all places whither thou goest.’ (Jer.45:5) Oh my people, those words were meant for Baruch, the scribe who copied Jeremiah’s words in a book. According to the scholars, ‘Baruch’s lofty calling was simply to be a faithful minister, content with the Lord’s appointment. Faithfulness has its own reward.’ That’s gospel! So please Friends, I implore us to take heed of God’s words, for they do not change, and He faithfully keeps all His promises. More on this tomorrow, if we live to see it. Much LOVE!…a believer’s duty…to LOVE God…LIVE their Faith…and SPREAD God’s Word…