SCRIP-BITS

Oh my wonderful associates in the body of Christ, unfortunately I’m the bearer of bad tidings. I’m here to tell you that it’s Monday morning. That means you have to get up and face the music; once again go out and slave for massa for another few pennies this week. Please don’t harm the messenger. (smile) Yes Friends, sadly, it is Monday and I decided to try the soft soap approach to day rather than the regimental sergeant-major style of bluster and bluff. I doubt it will work any better though, because we’ve become such a lazy, ‘unindustrious’ comfort-stricken society that unless we’re forcefully prodded, like sheep, we find it extremely difficult to get up off of our over-padded fannies and be productive of our own accord. Anyway, the important thing is that Jesus is calling us out to do battle on His behalf, so please let’s get a move on for the enemy’s already forming ranks. And to help unleash the necessary flow of adrenaline and faith, let’s ardently sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. In loud unison 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!’ Ah mih people, it’s not easy following Jesus when this evil, ungodly world holds Him in such contempt and ridicule, and thus His followers too, but let’s be brave, be wise, and realize that the battle is the Lord’s not ours. Whatever evil the iniquity workers set to come against us, if we stand steadfast in faith, the Lord will turn it around for our good. That’s the basic story behind our Bit: ‘Folly is set in great dignity (exalted positions), and the rich sit in low (a lowly) place.’ And isn’t that so often the truth, as we can see by the recent undoing of so many foolish, arrogant leaders – and there are yet many more to fall. The verses immediately before and after our Bit subtly declare: ‘There is an evil which I have seen under the sun as an error which proceedeth from the ruler…I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth (ground).’ (Eccl.10:5,7)  Yes Friends, it happens all the time. The scholars aptly describe it as; ‘Many unnatural reversals are the experience of life.’ And isn’t that the sad truth. When we set ourselves up as something or someone we’re not, and don’t deal righteously with our fellow man, we almost always end up paying a substantial price. One of the best examples of our Bit in the Good Book is the story of Haman in the Book of Esther. During the days of the Jewish captivity in Babylon, Mordecai, Queen Esther’s uncle, discovered a plot to kill the king and the plotters were subsequently hanged.  Now ‘After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman…and advanced him, and set his seat (rank) above all the princes that were with him…but Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.’ (Esth.3:1-2) Right there Friends the problem arose: Haman was elevated to a status that he was not competent to fill because of his pride and arrogance, and when everybody but Mordecai bowed to him, he got annoyed and devised a plot to destroy Mordecai and all his fellow Jews. However he did not know that Queen Esther was also Jewish, because she’d kept her true background secret. And as the Preacher so wisely states: ‘He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh (breaks through) a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.’ (Eccl.10:8) And that’s exactly what happened to Haman. In this case the plot to destroy the Jews backfired, and they ended up getting the upper hand. Moreover the gallows he presumptuously built to hang Mordecai, turned out to be his. ‘So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified (subsided).’ (Esth.7:10) They eventually hanged Haman’s ten sons too. (Esth.9:14)  As the old people would say; turn about is certainly fair play! Oh my brethren, that’s what is possible when we fervently serve and worship the Lord God Jehovah. Though others are out to harm us, He turns it into success for His children. If you don’t know the full story of Haman, please read it in the Book of Esther, And I further implore us to learn well from it, for it is very relevant to today’s society, where greed, arrogance, pride, lack of trust and integrity rule the roost. Let those things not be numbered amongst the traits of God’s people. Much LOVE!…it all comes right back to the basic tenet of God’s law…what you sow…you will eventually reap…and oftimes in greater quantity…so be careful what you sow…