SCRIP-BITS

Psalm 23:1.      The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 

So what’s happening this bright and colourful Tuesday morning eh friends? Hope all is well, but if by chance it isn’t, then I pray that you have placed your problems in God’s hands and are waiting in eager and expectant faith for a positive answer from Him, because that’s His desire when problems beset us. 

Regardless of how big or problematic our problems, (smile) the important thing is to NEVER lose hope in Almighty God for He is our Creator and Provider, who’s promised never to leave nor forsake us and work everything out eventually for our good. And with those two promises under our belts, earthly life is certainly worth living! Like Bruh David so marvellously declares in our ‘favouritest’ psalm. ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.’ (Ps. 23:1) 

Yes friends, when you are a member of the Lord’s fold, you will never lack anything you truly need! That’s because, ‘He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.’ (Ps. 23:2-3) 

Wow! What a marvellous shepherd! There’s none other like Him! None other who can do the amazing things He can do! That’s why we need to put out total trust in Him and not allow the enemy to bamboozle us into thinking that our godly shepherd is not interested or actively involved in our daily affairs, because that just isn’t true! Our God is interested in EVERYTHING that concerns us! 

But we have to believe it, have the hope and faith to let it resonate positively in our lives. We’ve got to come to the stage, where like Bruh David expounds in the psalm: ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.’ (Ps. 23: 4) 

Mama Mia! What outstanding faith and trust Bruh David had in the God of his forefathers. That’s why the Lord considered him a friend and a man after his own heart. Despite his many failings and wrongdoings, he never faltered in his faith, always looked towards God for answers, and tried to keep His word in his heart. 

As a shepherd himself, Bruh David was mostly alone out in the wilds with the sheep, and that’s where he learned the value, the great benefit of trusting God. And usually, when we’re alone, that’s also the time we truly learn the great potential of placing our faith in the One who so marvellously created us. It’s when we come to the end of ourselves, the end of our proverbial rope, that the Lord usually reaches down and lifts us up out of the mire we’re floundering in. 

As Bruh David says: ‘Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.’ (Ps. 23:5) Oh my fellow believers, there’s no one else in this universe who can do that for us when we are desperately down and out! Only the God who created this amazing universe and all therein has that awesome capability! 

So it makes sense, it’s totally logical for us to put our undying trust and faith in Him. Anything else is unwise, in fact rather foolish! And why is that, you ask? It’s simple mih people. Hear Bruh David: ‘Surely goodness and mercy (LOVING-kindness) shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.’ (Ps. 23:6) 

Glory be! Now, who wouldn’t want to live such a glorious life eh? The truth is that all of us desire to live such a blessed and prosperous life. But are we willing to put in the time, talent and effort it requires? Are we willing to put Almighty God first and foremost in every aspect of our lives? Are we willing to forsake friends and family, even to the sacrificing of our lives on His behalf? That’s the billion dollar question! 

But that’s what Bruh David did, and that’s why he prospered despite his human errors. Sadly though, too many of us are not willing to pay the price for the benefits involved…but we do want those benefits. Oh friends, unfortunately nothing is really free and gratis in this world. On the surface things might appear to be free, but they all have some price that you, or someone else, will eventually pay. As the man said, ‘you can pay me now, or pay me later, but pay me you will!’ 

Even God’s free gift of salvation requires a price; the price that you believe. Yes, it’s free, in the sense that you don’t have to work or pay for it, but if you don’t believe in Him, you’ll never receive it. It simply means that every action has a reaction, and every mistake has a consequence attached to it. 

That brings us to this most important point. If you believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, then that action will bring the positive reaction of you receiving salvation and eternal life. But the action of not believing in Christ Jesus will have the negative reaction of you being denied salvation and eternal life. Now, some of us might foolishly believe that’s no big deal, but believe me, it’s the biggest deal in every human being’s life! 

The question of where we will spend eternity is the most important one we will ever have to answer. And as most of us know, there are only two options: with Jesus in heaven, or with Satan in hell! The first one brings eternal life, while the latter provides nothing but eternal death and damnation! The choice though is there for every individual to make. 

Like Moses said to the Israelites a long, long time ago: ‘I call heaven and earth to record (to witness) this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.’ (Deut. 30:19) Oh my people, the same choice still stands before us today. And like Moses did, all I can do is advise us to choose life; life with Jesus, because it’s the best option going. 

Now, for those of us who have sincerely chosen that option and are doing our best to live it out properly, let’s go home declaring (chuhhh!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know to whom we belong lock, stock and barrel. As one voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’ 

And having made such a powerful statement, it now behooves us to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!

…some choices…like life and death…are irreversible…so please think wisely before you make them… 

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