SCRIP-BITS

HAPPY  EASTER !

Oh Friends, oh Friends, it’s Easter Sunday Morning! That means Christ is risen! Yes he is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Glory Hallelujah! And that’s the best news a sad and sorrowful world can ever receive; that the crucified Messiah is now alive and kicking, having risen from the grave, thus defeating death and victoriously bringing us Salvation and Eternal Life! Wow! What excellent, life changing news! And all God’s children declared a sincere, heartfelt, ‘Thank You Jesus!’ And you’ll notice that I was guided to an offbeat scripture for today’s resurrection. I considered several, had even decided on one, but then saw this one and immediately felt the unequivocal pull of the Spirit. In fact the entire Bit looks like it will be offbeat, not getting in to all the usual scriptures and images of the resurrection, like visiting the tomb, etc. but more touching the fringes, trying to bring other insights to the normal ones we use every year. Read the gospels yourselves so you can get caught up on the good news. (smile)  Now let’s turn to our Bit: ‘For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s (big fish’s) belly, so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.’ Jesus was referring there to Jonah’s calamity when he disobeyed God. ‘Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.’ (Jon.1:17) And Jesus did fulfill those prophetic words of His on Easter Sunday, today. And seeing how prophecy is constantly fulfilled in the Good Book is one of the great joys of believers, which in turn leads us to confident trust and assurance in the Lord and His Word. Let’s slip in another prophetic scripture that was also satisfied today: It’s the prophet Hosea with God’s reply to Israel’s admonishment. ‘After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.’ (Hos.6:2)  What gospel truth! Oh my people, Easter Sunday is surely one of, if not the most important day in the Christian calendar, because it’s the day that truly brought us hope and assurance of a faithful God, who LOVES us with such a deep, abiding LOVE, that He was willing to forsake, to burden His Son with our sins, so that we could be set free from Beelzebub’s lethal grasp. For that we should be eternally grateful. It’s when the light really came shining through the darkness to proclaim that there was a better way; one filled with peace, LOVE, comfort and faithfulness. We no longer had to be troubled about our daily lives but could now rest in the assurance of the risen Lord and Saviour, the ONE and ONLY Jesus Christ to safely lead and guide us. Who, for His unswerving obedience to sacrifice His holy, sinless life for undeserving sinners, the Father honoured and exalted to the highest position in the kingdom, before whom all heads must now bow and all knees bend. (Phil.2:10)  Mark Jesus’ words to His disciples: ‘Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ (John 15:13) And that’s exactly what He did people: lay down His life for us, His friends. What selflessness! Unfortunately though my brethren, there are still lots of people who don’t even know that Jesus exists. They still haven’t heard about His unusual birth, His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, news that enriches our lives like nothing else can. Jesus is our Lord, Saviour, Protector, Guide, Advocate… in fact our Everything. And the Holy Spirit just reminded me that I’ve been saving the next episode of My Jesus is…Everything from Anne Graham Lotz’s book of the same name for today, because this one is so appropriate to the Easter Season. Pay attention now and behold the wonder that’s Jesus! (smile)  ‘My Jesus – His office is manifold, and His promise is sure. His life is matchless, and His goodness is limitless. His mercy is enough, and His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous, His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. He is indestructible. He is indescribable. He is incomprehensible. He is inescapable. He is invincible. He is irresistible. He is irrefutable. I can’t get Him out of my mind…And I can’t get Him out of my heart. I can’t outlive Him…And I can’t live without Him. The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but found they couldn’t stop Him. Satan tried to tempt Him, but found he couldn’t trip Him. Pilot examined Him on trial, but found he couldn’t fault Him. The Romans crucified Him, but found they couldn’t take His life. Death couldn’t handle Him, and the grave couldn’t hold Him. My Jesus…is Everything.’ Yes mih breddren, Jesus is all those things…and plenty plenty more. To be truthful, whatever you want Jesus to be, He can be. Your sincerely wanting it, with a clean heart and right spirit, will make it possible, provided it’s in tune with God’s will obviously. Ah Friends, with the wonder of Easter and Christ’s awesome resurrection bubbling joyfully in out hearts and souls, and being true and faithful disciples of Jesus, let’s do as He asks: ‘If any man will (desires to) come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.’ (Luke 9:23) That means going out and bearing our crosses without whining and complaining, just relying on Jesus, like He staunchly and steadfastly bore His, relying on His Father. And if we do, Jesus will raise us up and exalt us, the same way His Father raised Him up and exalted Him. Oh Friends, what a wonderful life is to be found worshipping Jesus as our Lord and Saviour! Let’s stop being selfish and spread the glorious news all over the world as He desires, so that all the world will come to know, LOVE, abide in and live for Him, thus furthering His LOVE Revolution and tremendously glorifying the Father! It’s the only wise way to live. Have a happy and joyful Easter Friends, including fellowship with other believers, because that’s very important to our staying strong and faithful. But remember, drunk or sober, mind yuh business, so that the evil Lucifer won’t intrude and cause us to go astray. Much LOVE!…oh, if all the world could only know and accept Jesus…what a truly wonderful world this would be…let’s work seriously on it nuh people…