SCRIP-BITS

1 John 3: 17 – 18.

But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the LOVE of God in him? My little children, let us not LOVE in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and truth.

Sorry people, I really did not intend to continue the LOVE Theme today, but as we all know, he works in devious ways, and just as I was researching Today’s Bit, I happened to play a Beres Hammond CD, and the first words that shot out at me were, "What’s happening to the world today? It needs a LOVE Injection…" and the rest is history… I had no choice but to go back to 1 John, because that’s exactly what we need in our crazy, misguided, selfish, greedy, violence prone world of today…a LOVE INJECTION. So let’s inject, A VERY LARGE DOSE OF LOVE into our beautiful world, before we completely destroy it and us…God’s beautiful handiwork. As always…LOVE!

1 John 4: 20 – 21.

If a man say, I LOVE God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he LOVE God, whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him; That he who LOVETH God, LOVE his brother also.

O.k., ok. I know some of you are saying enough with this LOVE Theme, but it’s important that we get it right, and Today’s Bit is very apropos. We all talk about our LOVE for God, etc. etc. but then we go out and treat people with scant courtesy. Sometimes I think it is much easier to LOVE God, whom we have not seen – the mind can fantasize anything – than the brother we’ve seen, who uses and abuses us. That reality is often a bit hard to accept. But if we want to be his followers and do his will, we’ve got to LOVE our fellow man, not only in word, but also in deed. So, let’s be strong…let’s LOVE!

1 John 4: 18.

There is no fear in LOVE; but perfect LOVE casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in LOVE.

Still with the LOVE Theme. See how wonderful LOVE is: If we live in LOVE, we’re not afraid, therefore our spirit is calm and relaxed, and we do the work God set for us with much greater efficiency. So…Let’s live in LOVE!

1 John 4: 10-11.

Herein is LOVE, not that we LOVED God, but that he LOVED us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our suns. Beloved, if God so LOVED us, we ought also to LOVE one another.

Just figured we’d continue the LOVE Theme, because it’s what God is really all about. Everything that stems from him, stems from LOVE. And in our crazy, violent, Godless world of today, where death and destruction reigns supreme, I think it’s very important that we bring this beautiful world, that he so generously gave us, back from the brink of extinction, of Armageddon, because that’s where we’re definitely heading if we continue the way we’re currently going. And the only thing that can reverse the process is LOVE: LOVE for God and our fellow man. So let’s keep on practicing LOVE people!

1 John 4: 7-8.

Beloved, let us LOVE one another: for LOVE is of God; and everyone that LOVETH is born of God, and knoweth God. He that LOVETH not, knoweth not God; for God is LOVE.

That last phrase says it so simply and yet so eloquently; "…for God is LOVE." That’s all he’s about …LOVE. That’s all we need to do his will; a spirit of LOVE. And a great song and dance isn’t necessary either; just being pleasant and caring to one another is sufficient. That’s all he asks of us…to live in LOVE. Let’s do that for him nuh. It should be so easy, after all the LOVE he’s lavished on us.

Psalm 13: 5-6.

But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

Ezra 3: 11.

And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth forever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.

Another mysterious movement! Today I decided to consult my list first, my eyes fell on the one verse I had for Ezra. I did not remember what it was, so I decided to check it out. Lo and behold it seemed fitting: The people praising and giving thanks to the Lord! What could be better than that eh? The Israelites were singing about the physical foundation of the church, but we need to sing about the spiritual foundation, because although we have lots of physical churches, the spiritual part is sadly lacking in our violent, anti-God world today. So let’s work towards building his spiritual temple with much praise and thanksgiving…and LOVE!

Jonah 2: 6-10

I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me forever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God. When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto thee, unto thy holy temple. They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord. And the lord spoke unto the fish and it vomited out Jonah upon dry land.

Hn, hn! The Lord’s methods always amaze me. Although I have a list of possible Scrip-Bits, I still scan the Bible everyday looking for inspiration. Well, today I opened it right on Jonah, who wasn’t on my list, and I knew the search was over. Those verses seem to bear out the basic tenets of Christian life; obedience, prayer and mercy. But Jonah had to learn that the hard way. When he refused to do what God wanted him to do, he had the whale swallow him. But when he remembered his Creator and prayed with a repentant heart, the Lord in his great mercy, forgave him and rescued him from the innards of the whale. That’s what happens when we try to ignore his will, but he usually brings us to heel by some roundabout, zig zag method. And when we wake up and smell the roses, and ask for forgiveness, he is magnanimous enough to do just that, with fatherly love of course. So let’s try to learn from Jonah and save ourselves a lot of heartache. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Whew! What a lot of preachifying!  Smile!  And remember to always practice LOVE!  Happy Father’s Day to all you wonderful fathers out there. Had to make it smaller so it could fit.

James 2: 14, 17-18, 20.

What doth it profit, brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?   Even so, faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: Shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead.

It’s something we all are guilty of to some degree. We talk a very good talk, but we can’t back it up with our walk. But if we claim to be followers of J.C. then we’ve got to behave like him. And he was most definitely a doer. He certainly walked his talk. So let’s try and bring up our level of good works to our level of talking. It’s not easy, and J.C. said that it would not be. But he also said that if we trust in him, he will help us. And you know he ALWAYS keeps his promises. Much faith…Plenty good working…and as always…Lots of Love.

Daniel 10: 18-19.

Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me. And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee; be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my Lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.

This is one of my favourite sources of strength. It usually lifts me up whenever I read it. In fact I read it every day. Hope it can do something for you. Much Peace … with Plenty Love.