SCRIP-BITS

Jeremiah 13:16.    Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.
 
Oh Friends, it’s Friday! Yes, the most important Friday of this year, because it begins the most important weekend of the year. It’s the eve of Christmas Eve! Yes Friends, only two more days till we celebrate the most auspicious birth ever; that of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Saviour, Redeemer, Advocate, Prince of Peace, etc.etc. Wow! And can you imagine the amount of praise and music, of all varieties, in all kinds of languages, that’s rising from all over the earth up to heaven. Brother! The party in heaven must also be gathering steam because they know that many lost souls will be saved this upcoming weekend. But as usual my brethren, though the celebration is important, we still need to be circumspect in our dealings and don’t give the enemy any leeway to infiltrate our godly souls. To that end, let’s chant our Friday Chant, in one, loud, unified, sincere voice: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’ Hopefully that will keep us on an even keel, a decent rein, though I doubt it, when the food, drinks, music and good times with friends and family hit the high water mark. (smile) But just don’t forget the reason for the season, Jesus’ Birth, not shopping, and spend some time ruminating on Him and His unsurpassable goodness to us sinful children of men. And for sure, this is a time to do what our Bit so faithfully declares: ‘Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.’ Yes Friends, this is definitely one particular time that we don’t want the Lord to rain on our parade. For as Malachi rebuked Israel in their unfaithfulness, by saying to the priests: ‘If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay (take) it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.’ (Mal.2:2) Now this doesn’t apply only to the priests nuh people, but to all of us who disobey and don’t take the Lord’s Word, His Honour and Glory seriously to heart. Neither do we want this judgement of woe on the faithless to befall us. ‘And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow (distress), and the light is darkened (by the clouds) in the heavens thereof.’ (Is.5:30) Ah mih people, this is the season of light, that’s what Jesus came to bring, therefore let’s do what will enable light to come to our distressed and misguided world nuh. And that’s as the psalmist proclaims in his call for praise to our great and most worthy God. ‘Give (ascribe) unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength. 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 (unbelieving nations) 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. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof (all that is in it). Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice Before the Lord: for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.’ (Ps.96:7-13) Yes mih people, that’s the attitude, the colour, the prominent behaviour we want to see this season, for the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was, and still is the first step in the Lord coming to judge us with righteousness and truth, so that those of us who believe can bypass death and destruction and instead receive salvation and eternal life. Please, let’s show our appreciation of God’s great and generous gifts this Christmas season and thus avoid the death and darkness of sin. Much LOVE!…there’s much joy in light…but only sorrow and heartache in darkness…so choose light…that ye may live…