Psalm 139:1. O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Oh Friends, oh Friends, we’re alive and kicking! Wow! The Lord has granted us another day on this beautiful earth! Praise and bless His Holy Name, for He’s so good to us, His undeserving children! And on this Wednesday morning, with all the exuberance and enthusiasm for Almighty God coursing through our hearts, bodies and minds, let’s take the bull by the horns and get out into the evil and ungodly world and win some souls for Him nuh. Let’s show a disbelieving world the true character of Jesus in all our doings today. Instead of showing resentment, anger, hate and strife, let’s advance, put forward LOVE, peace, joy, and togetherness to all whom we come into contact with today! I think that just as the Lord fills us with new mercies and blessings everyday, in the same manner, we should go out everyday with a new, or at least improved attitude, using those same new gifts of grace to improve on our Christian walk of the day before. That means everyday our walk should be more Christ-like. It would be so refreshing and rejuvenating if we Christians could just adopt the kind, friendly attitude of Jesus in most of our daily dealings. We don’t have to let others run over us, or beat us down, but neither do we have to fuss, fume and fight over the many petty things that disturb our souls. And we don’t have to worry either about not being up to scratch, as Jesus-like as we ought to be. The Lord knows our frailties, for as Bruh David says in our Bit: ‘O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.’ Oh yes Friends, the Lord knows all about us, but He wants us to come to Him and acknowledge those frailties and weaknesses, come confidently, but humbly before the throne of grace and ask for His help. And believe me, when we do that, He will look favourably upon us. Remember we can fool others and ourselves, but we can’t fool God, so it’s best just to come clean with Him, tell Him all that’s troubling our hearts. And once we do that, we’ll be pleasantly surprised by the peace that will flow through us. Oh my people, there’s no better way of obtaining peace than by baring our souls to Almighty God! And with those words of wisdom, let’s get back to our Bit, before I get too carried away. (smile) Today I want to share some more scriptures that pertain to it. The psalmist in Psalm 66, the great works of God, states: ‘For thou, O God, hast proved (tested) us: thou hast tried (refined) us, as silver is tried. Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy (an abundant) place.’ (Ps.66:10-12) Yes mih breddren, the Lord’s testing can be rough, but there is always the surety that if we bear up under it, He will bring us out better than before. That’s the beauty of living for and working with Jehovah God! Meanwhile, the prophet Zechariah declares, re the cleansing of Jerusalem: ‘And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and I will try (test) them as gold is tried (tested): they shall call on my name, and I will hear (answer) them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.’ (Zec.13:8-9) Now Friends, that sounds pretty rough, but remember the Lord always helps us go through our trials. Listen to Peter now, who makes it sound a trifle easier. ‘Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness (distressed) through manifold temptations: That the trial (genuineness) of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried (tested) with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing (revelation) of Jesus Christ. Whom having not seen, ye LOVE; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.’ (1 Pet.1:6-9) Yes mih people, our faith will be tried a lot on this earth, but if it’s true faith, then it will not be destroyed even when it passes through the testing by fire. And then, when Jesus comes again, this time in glory, we will certainly be looked upon with praise and honour. Oh Friends, the glory of heaven is definitely worth the hell we often experience here on earth, so please don’t give up, don’t let the temporary afflictions of this life kill your spirit and your faith in Jesus. It’s not always easy to do, but with Jesus’ help we can surely accomplish it. When times get rough, pleas turn to Jesus; cry out to Him for assistance. You’ll be surprised at the help you’ll receive. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed. Remember Jesus knows all about us and our earthly troubles, because he experienced them too. It would surely be wonderful though, if we could all say like Bruh David: ‘Thou hast proved (tested) mine heart; thou hast visited me (searched me out) in the night; thou hast tried (tested) me, and shalt find nothing (evil): I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.’ (Ps.17:3) Friends, I think that’s a worthy goal to work towards. So let’s start today, right now nuh. It could only help our faith successfully go through the fire of testing, and would greatly please our Lord and Saviour, Jesus. Much LOVE!…oh that all believers…could have a faith…that’s successfully refined…through the fires of temptation…
SCRIP-BITS 