Acts 4:12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Oh Friends, it’s shaping up to be a damp, miserable day in my neck of the woods, and since many of us tend to base our daily enthusiasm level on the state of the weather, many are liable to be downcast and unenergetic. But we can’t allow the vagaries of the weather to decide our daily potential or enthusiasm for life. So my people, whatever kind of day it turns out to be, wherever we are, please don’t let it affect our ardour and fervour for life, and consequently our work in Jesus’ name. We need to keep pressing on, each and every day, working towards His stated goal of converting the entire world to His kingdom. And here’s a little quote to help us keep doing just that. Elbert Hubbard tells us that: ‘There is no failure except in no longer trying.’ Now that’s the living truth my brethren! For the only time we truly fail is when we stop trying. Once we keep getting up after we stumble and fall, then we’re still on the road to success. Remember too that you can’t win or be successful at anything, unless you get up and do it, because success, though filled with many ups and downs, is always action oriented. And also don’t forget that giving up does not exist in the vocabulary of Jesus’ people. (smile) True believers are not supposed to ever give up; our faith is designed to always keep us buoyant and ever hopeful. Sincerely trusting in the Lord God Jehovah, always expecting His best, is what makes us different to the unbelievers. And how could we not worship and glorify the Father after He made that most heart rending but most awesome show of LOVE eh, sending His only Son Jesus to die for us? But let’s continue where we left off yesterday, with Isaiah’s prophecy pertaining to Christ’s coming: ‘I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of (to) the people, for a light of the Gentiles: To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.’ (Is.42:6-8) Yes Friends, the Messiah’s ministry is likened to a covenant to the Jews and a light to the Gentiles, bearing the promise that He would minister to and bring salvation to both sets of people. And how could the people not know that a Saviour would come to ease their spiritual burden when the entire Chapter 53 of Isaiah, is taken up with such vivid descriptions of His expected lot, namely the suffering servant. ‘For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no (stately) form nor comeliness (splendour); and when we shall see him, there is no beauty (appearance) that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of (forsaken by) men; a man of sorrows (pains), and acquainted with grief (sickness): and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs (sicknesses) and carried our sorrows (pains): yet we did esteem (reckon) him stricken, smitten of (struck down by) God, and afflicted. But he was wounded (pierced through) for our transgressions, he was bruised (crushed) for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes (wounds) we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.’ (Is.53:2-6) Ah Friends, I wasn’t planning to quote all of that, but there was no good way to paraphrase it and still retain the essential flavour. Besides, the Spirit said put it all in, since many people are not familiar with or appreciate the importance of the Old Testament and only pay attention to the New Testament. And like so many other things in life, where the old supports the new, the Old Testament is the foundation, the ‘groundings’ for the New Testament, and without it, Jesus’ ministry would have had no real context, and would not have been as powerful. Note too that throughout the New Testament there are numerous quotes from the Old, many by Jesus Himself, which gives it veracity and affirmation, a solid basis to build on. So Friends, please don’t ignore the Old Testament, because it’s the history upon which the New Testament is based, and if we don’t have a good grasp of the Old, we’ll always have problems understanding the New. As we tend to say, if we don’t where we’re coming from, we won’t know where we’re going to. And one of the stated purposes of the Bit is to make us familiar with the Scriptures, be they Old or New Testament based, so that we can have all and be all that our Creator meant us to be. And take my word Friends, though I’ve been writing the Bit for a few years now, everyday I still come across a new piece of scripture, which just heightens my appreciation for the Good Book. But unfortunately it’s time to end, and on a chuckling note too, because in the last part there, the Spirit, in its usual mysterious way, led me on a path that I had not planned. But since I’m obedient, I followed. (smile) That means we’ll continue this topic tomorrow, God willing, for there’s still much more to say on it. Till then, my faithful Friends in Christ, go safely and peacefully with the Lord. Much LOVE!…to know, know know Him…is to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Him…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 5 October 2010 Acts 4:12
05 Oct 2010 Leave a comment
Today’s Scrip-Bit 4 October 2010 Acts 4:12
04 Oct 2010 Leave a comment
Acts 4:12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Oh my strong and steadfast Friends in Christ, it’s Monday! Unfortunately that means time to don our spiritual battle armour and proclaim our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. So altogether 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 that we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once your powerful, protective aura hovers over us. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that your 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!’ What a powerful energizer my people! And with all aspects of our armour on, our sturdy shield and trusted sword in hand, we’re now ready to join the fray, confidently letting Beelzebub know just who is BOSS; the crucified, risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ! Oh Friends, if we could only convince the many naysayers out there of that irrefutable fact eh! But trying to do that is like pulling teeth; where everybody knows that their teeth are bad and thus causes them unnecessary pain, but yet they refuse to go and get them extracted, either through fear of dentists, lack of money, lack of time, or just plain stubbornness. The point being that the bad teeth just don’t go away unless we do something serious and sensible about the situation. The same goes for our unsaved, endangered, sick souls my brethren. If we don’t do something to ensure their well-being, then they’ll end up lost for all eternity, which certainly isn’t a pleasant contemplation of our eternal lives. And the ONLY WAY to avoid that is to accept, believe in and surrender our lives to Jesus; the only conduit to the Father of all creation. Now though we quoted this scripture yesterday, it’s important enough to be also included today. It’s Jesus talking to His disciple Thomas, telling him, and us too, what is what. ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.’ (John 14:6) Yes Friends, if we don’t believe in Jesus, the Son, then we cannot get an audience with God the Father. It’s as simple and straightforward as that! The Father, our Creator, chose that method to save our sinful, rebellious souls, and instead of being eternally grateful, saying, ‘Thank you Lord,’ and trying to live obedient to His dictates, we foolish, stubborn humans continue to rebel and try the Spirit of the Living God. And it’s not that we weren’t given plenty of signs and warnings that this is how it would all end up. For many centuries, long before Christ was born, the prophets were promising a Saviour, a Messiah to the Jewish people, but Isaiah was the one who saw it most clearly as he spoke of the Lord’s servant: ‘Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect (my chosen one), in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgement (justice) to the Gentiles. He shall not cry (cry out), nor lift up (raise his voice), nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking (dimly burning) flax shall he not quench (extinguish): he shall bring forth judgement unto (justice for) truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgement in the earth: and the isles (coastlands) shall wait for his law.’ (Is.42:1-4) Oh my people, there’s no doubt that this prophecy pertained to Jesus. (Matt.12:18-21) The problem though, possibly because of their long years of oppression and slavery, the Jews got the mistaken idea that their Saviour would be a mighty warrior king, who would come with chariots drawn by snorting horses, and fighting men with flaming arrows and flashing swords to relieve them of the physical oppression. Thus, when Jesus came preaching Peace and LOVE and spiritual enlightenment, His words more or less fell on deaf ears. But nowhere in Isaiah’s prophecy that we just looked at, does it speak of a warrior, but a gentle man of peace; no rabble-rouser or street crier, He wouldn’t even break off a bruised reed or put out a burning bit of flax. So where they got that idea about the warrior king, I don’t know. And one of the most important points that they failed to notice, and that we today also pass over, is that Isaiah says He will not fail or be discouraged until He’s established justice and His kingdom throughout the world. Oh Friends, that has a lot to do with us today, for we, Jesus’ cadre of believers, His Church, are expected to help establish that just kingdom here on earth, by obeying His rules and bringing other souls to salvation. So let’s all go out and sincerely try to do that nuh mih people. Let’s sincerely LOVE our GOD, LIVE our FAITH, and SPREAD His WORD. Till tomorrow then, when we’ll continue this topic, God willing of course, go in peace with God. Much LOVE!…without salvation through Christ…we’re in for a long, uncomfortable, dark and damned eternity…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 October 2010 Acts 4:12
03 Oct 2010 Leave a comment
Acts 4:12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Ah Friends, yesterday I declared that autumn was the most beautiful season, one of God’s finest expositions. Today I’ve found someone that agrees with me. Hear Grace Noll’s take on it. ‘God wrote His loveliest poem on the day He made the first tall, poplar tree, And set it high upon a pale-gold hill. For all the now enchanted earth to see.’ Unfortunately all the earth isn’t enchanted with God’s majesty. However, Grace’s statement is a simple but wonderful appreciation of God’s handiwork, something we should all cultivate. We’re not to just accept Jesus and relegate all God’s other creations to the dung heap, but to accept the entire wealth of His creations, for it was meant to enlighten and brighten our mortal coil. For some though it’s much easier to accept the beauty of nature than to accept Jesus’ supremacy. Unfortunately for those doubters, but fortunately for us believers, that’s the way it is! Peter proclaims it in our Bit, loud and clear: ‘Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.’ And that’s the gospel truth; both literally and figuratively my people! Literally, because Jesus actually died a sacrificial death and was resurrected so that our sinful souls could be redeemed, that we’d have an escape hatch from sin back to the Father’s righteous fold. And figuratively, as Peter said, Jesus is the only one through whom salvation can be attained. Because He was raised from the dead, we too have hope of eternal spiritual life. And if you don’t believe Peter, then listen to Jesus Himself, speaking to Thomas: ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’ (John 14:6) Oh Friends, that’s what the whole earth needs to hear, accept, and with joyful faith live by. Jesus is our only hope in this sinful, ungodly world! But just like we’re having trouble conveying the good news message of the gospel today, so did Peter and the other believers encounter many difficulties and hardship when they endeavoured to do the same in the early days of Christ’s Church. Our Bit emanates from a time when Peter and John were imprisoned for preaching Christ’s gospel. A few things obviously rubbed the Jewish leaders wrong; namely the apostles presumptuous behaviour in teaching the people, like they were recognized rabbis, and worse, teaching the resurrection which those Sadducees denied. Then to further complicate matters, the Good Book says that some five thousand lost souls believed John and Peter’s words just before their arrest. Now when they were brought before Caiaphas, the high priest, his family and Annas the patriarch, they were asked: ‘By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of (are judged for) the good deed done to the impotent (helpless) man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of (rejected by) you builders, which is become the head of the corner (the chief cornerstone).’ (Acts 4:7-11) Yes my brethren, Peter, enabled and strengthened by the Holy Spirit, stood up strong and steadfast and proclaimed Jesus’ Name to the arrogant, hypocritical leaders, reminding them that they were the same ones who instigated the rabble to call for Jesus’ crucifixion. But who, by God’s saving grace was resurrected and made the number one man in both heaven and earth, the only way to the Father’s inner sanctum. Now Friends, are we as brave and bold as Peter to stand before others and unflinchingly testify that we believe in Jesus, are we ready to suffer whatever consequences that may result? That is the million dollar question, my people! Many of us claim to believe, but deep down we’re either ashamed, afraid, or not totally convinced, so we hem and haw and avoid any serious confrontation re our Saviour. But mih breddren that’s basically denying Christ, and remember He specifically said that anyone who denies Him, He will also deny. We must not go looking for confrontation, but we shouldn’t run from it either. Just like Peter, we believers have the immense power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us; guiding, protecting and enabling us, so we can do just like the early Church members; stand strong and steadfast and proclaim Jesus to the whole world. And luckily, unlike Peter and them, we don’t have to be afraid of serious persecution for our beliefs, though unfortunately in many other parts of the world, believers are still being hounded and persecuted and not allowed to freely worship their Saviour. We need to constantly pray for them my people. And I just got a little insight into a part of our problem; we have life a little too easy, meaning the ability to worship whoever, whenever and wherever we please, has made us placid and uninspired. There’s no fire, not enough passion, no urgency in our spiritual lives, because we don’t have to hide or meet in secret to worship, or be always on the lookout for the religious police or some informant ready, willing and able to betray us. Now I’m not calling for us to be persecuted, but we just seem to have that unappreciative, lackadaisical attitude when we’re not been pressured. Oh Friends, it’s imperative that we stand up strong and give voice to our faith and hope in Jesus, if we believe in Him. Any other action as a believer is tantamount to denying Him. But we’ll talk more on this subject tomorrow, God willing. Till then my brethren, please go safely and peacefully, exalting and glorifying the Lord through our Saviour Jesus Christ, for that’s our bounden duty. Much LOVE!…we’re either for Christ…or against Him…we can’t just sit on the fence…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 October 2010 Psalm 8:4
02 Oct 2010 Leave a comment
Psalm 8:4. What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Ah Friends, fall definitely seems to be upon us! Though it isn’t too cold, the Lord’s certainly broken out His seasonal canvas and has begun another autumn masterpiece; splashing the various hues of gold, red, brown, and yellow in varying combinations upon the trees. Soon, nothing will be green but the evergreens. (smile) As per colour and variety, fall is the most beautiful of the seasons. No other compares to it in terms of visual appeal, but yet there are many who don’t appreciate its beauty; in other words, don’t appreciate one of God’s most beautiful gifts to man. They will pay millions of dollars for a two by four canvas with insipid, unintelligible splashes of colour, oohing and ahhing over it, talking crappy jargon about depth and breadth and use of colour etc, but won’t spend a moment to enjoy God’s handiwork, to which no mortal‘s work can ever compare. But I guess that’s the nature of the beast; more interested in his egotistical, small mentality creation than the Lord God Jehovah’s magnificent exposition. Anyway Friends, today I’ve been led to use the scriptures I disregarded yesterday, and I’m glad because they are all great passages that tell something of how man thinks of himself and his mortal coil. Let’s begin with Job’s view: ‘Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble (turmoil). He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down (fades away): he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.’ (Job 14:1-2) Yes Friends, that’s definitely true; our days are short and turmoil filled. Like a flower, we burst upon the scene with joy and great expectations, but just like a flower, we either fade away or are cut down, and cease to exist. This leads Bruh David to question: ‘Lord what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! Or the son of man, that thou makest account (thinketh) of him! Man is like to vanity (a breath): his days are as a shadow that passeth away.’ (Psalm 144:3-4) And we’ll find the idea, the theme of shadows, breaths and vapour used throughout the Good Book to describe man’s brief earthly journey. Bildad, Job’s friend, in affirming God’s justice, says it thus: ‘(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow.’ (Job 8:9) Meanwhile James, in dealing with unchristian conduct, solemnly declares: ‘Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.’ (James 4:14) Oh my brethren, our mortal lives are surely short, easily snuffed out, and in the large scheme of things aren’t nearly as important as we like to think. And in Psalm 102, a cry in distress, the psalmist sadly intones: ‘Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up (exalted me), and cast me down. My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.’ (Ps.102:10-11) Yes my people, if we get on the Lord’s wrong side, He can quickly abase us, having not too long before exalted us. Both our earthly power and life can be short as the grass or flower that blooms gloriously in the early morning dew, then wilts and withers in the noonday sun. And in Psalm 39, Bruh David, praying for self-understanding and awareness, also decries man’s frail and fragile earthly state to God. ‘When thou with rebukes dost correct a man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume (melt) away like a moth: surely every man is vanity (vapour). Selah.’ (Ps.39:11) Now listen to the Preacher: ‘For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain (futile) life which he spendeth as a shadow? For who can tell a man what shall be (happen) after him under the sun?’ (Eccl.6:12) No man can do that my brethren, because our minds and knowledge are not that highly developed. And we’ll end with an appropriate warning from Isaiah: ‘Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of (wherein is he to be esteemed).’ (Is.2:22) Oh Friends, from all that we’ve said yesterday and today, it’s very clear that man’s life is like a grain of sand on the shores of time; small and insignificant. His mortal state can move from rich to poor, from the top to the bottom, from full of breath to devoid of life in the twinkling of an eye, because that’s the way our Creator made us. And unless we understand our fragility and weakness before the Lord, we’ll suffer endless misfortunes. It will serve us all well to remember that He is the omnipotent, omniscient creator, not us. We are mere pawns on His chess- board. He is the King. And as I heard a preacher say recently: ‘The King always has one more move!’ Remember that Friends. So, till me meet again, whenever and wherever that might be, go in peace with the Lord. Much LOVE!…until man learns that he’s not the ruler of the universe…but a mere steward of Almighty God…his life will always be in turmoil…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 1 October 2010 Psalm 8:4
01 Oct 2010 Leave a comment
Oh Friends, it’s October! Friday the first to boot! And I can hear you all rejoicing, with heads, hands and hearts raised heavenward, gladly declaring: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday! That means it’s time for our Friday Chant. So please keep those heads, hands and hearts looking to heaven, as we gratefully pray: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.’ Oh Friends, we have an interesting Bit today, not that they all aren’t interesting, but this one pays special attention to man; what he is and why the Lord God Jehovah, Creator and Ruler of the universe pays attention to, or cares for him as much as He does. Now there’s plenty stuff all through the Good Book dealing with the subject, but because of time and space constraints we can only highlight a few. And the best place to start is usually at the beginning; how man came about. On the sixth day of creation: ‘And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.’ (Gen.1:26-27) Friends, that’s the first part of our creation, and possibly the most important part because we were created in both the image and likeness of God. That means we were made similar looking to God, with all His basic attributes. Now the second part is how God actually formed man. ‘And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.’ (Gen.2:7) So in the planning stages, God decided to make man like Him, in His image and likeness. Possibly that’s why some of us behave like demi-gods. When it came time to actually begin the production process, He formed the outer shell, the body, from the dirt of the ground, then breathed life into Adam, which gave him a soul, the spiritual characteristic of God. And Friends, that breath of life, that soul, is what makes us different to all other things and creatures that God created. With that important difference, He also gave us dominion over the whole earth and all therein. Wow! That’s why Bruh David describes us thus: ‘For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.’ (Ps.8:5-6) So in effect we are reflections of God, but on a lower scale. In layman’s terms, God is the top of the line model, and we’re somewhere down the middle. Unfortunately though, when man fell, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s directive, we retained an impaired image of God, but the likeness, the internal characteristics suffered with the introduction of sin into our lives, causing us to veer away from God. Then all our problems began. For though we might still look like our Creator on the outside, if we’re not in sync with Him on the inside, then we’re lost. It’s the same with our mortal leaders; if you’re not toeing their line, then you’re bypassed or left out. And when our fore parents disobeyed, God had no choice but to punish them. We have to remember people, that our Creator is a God of righteousness and justice, and He made it clear from the start that disobedience will not be tolerated. Adam and Eve didn’t listen, so they paid the hefty price. Bruh Paul puts it very clearly to the Romans: ‘For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (Rom.6:23) Oh my people, that is a scripture we should always keep uppermost in our minds, for it describes our circumstances in a nutshell. If we disobey, we die; both physically and spiritually. However, since we’re all born in sin, our bodies are destined to die at some stage anyway, but our spirits have a choice. Oh Friends, a few moments ago I was confused, not knowing what to write, because I had so much info at hand. But thankfully I’m chuckling now, for the Lord just threw me a lifeline. ‘Oh praise His most Holy Name!’ He told me to disregard all the scripture that I had earmarked, because there was one simple, but true answer to His care and concern: that’s LOVE! Yes my people, just like our children whom we teach the right way but cannot control their behaviour. But do we turn them away when they make mistakes? No. Not unless they are real serious. And even then, we often don’t, because they are the fruit of our loins, we made them and still LOVE them dearly though they continually break our hearts. It’s the same with our God: We’re His most marvellous creation, and with freedom of choice are liable to go astray. But just like our mortal fathers, the Lord brings us back to the straight and narrow through some form of punishment or justice. The big difference being that we might occasionally turn away our children when they come seeking help, but the Lord will NEVER turn away any of His children who come to Him for solace. Look at how much nonsense He withstood from Israel, His chosen people. He punished them severely many times, but He never completely destroyed them. And then to prove His undying LOVE even further, He sent His only Son Jesus to die a horrible, innocent, sacrificial death, so that His other sinful, disobedient children could regain His spiritual likeness. Wow! Now if that isn’t real, true LOVE, then Friends, I don’t know what is. So the answer to Bruh David’s questions is simply that He LOVES and wants the best for us. And as our Creator, Heavenly Father, God, Provider and Protector, what else can we expect eh? We’re no different with our children. But we need to remember that the Lord is the top of the line model, while we’re some ways down the totem pole. The Lord is the head honcho, which means He calls the shots and we’re supposed to obediently follow. And all He’s really trying to do is bring us as close as He can to His perfect Son Jesus. Now there’s no crime in that. So let’s smarten up and pay attention, that we don’t die a spiritual death too. Much LOVE!…it’s only…LOVE…LOVE…LOVE…yes…it’only…LOVE…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 30 September 2010 Isaiah 29:13
30 Sep 2010 Leave a comment
Isaiah 29:13. Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.
Oh Friends, like several locations in our hemisphere were not as lucky as us in the recent heavy rainfall, for there have been serious mudslides in Colombia, plus floods in Jamaica and the Vancouver area. Oh my people, when will it end eh? Sadly we have no control over that kind of stuff, neither do we have the economic wherewithal to help all those unfortunate folk, but we can certainly offer up prayers for them. Let’s offer one now nuh mih Friends. ‘Oh Lord God Jehovah, your people know and accept your sovereignty and awesome power, that’s why we’re crying out to you for help for those unfortunate persons involved in the latest round of natural disasters to occur in our evil, ungodly world. We don’t know the reasons for them, but we’re sure that only you can alleviate the distress to any great degree. And since you’ve promised never to leave or forsake us, we pray Father, that you’ll reach out a helping hand to all those in need, as quickly as possible. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.’ My people, we should also offer individual prayers, for remember if the prayer of one righteous person is considered important by our Father, can you imagine what the prayers of many righteous will command. And again I have to wonder and chuckle at the mysterious movements of our Lord, in guiding me towards a Bit today, because it coincides so closely with what we’ve just been talking about, prayer. Oh Friends, in many cases that’s all we have to offer others, and though it’s a very powerful medium, we also have to ask, how sincere are our prayers? Are we just mouthing words with no heartfelt feeling, or are we truly genuine in our requests? Such was the problem Isaiah faced with his people Israel. ‘Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.’ Yes Friends, at that time Israel was blind to God’s Word. They mouthed godly platitudes, but their hearts were really far from God. Much like it is with so many of us today; where so many of us talk up a godly storm, but in actual fact, that’s all it is, mere talk. Our words lack substance because our hearts are not really set on God, but on some different wavelength and agenda, though it sure looks and sounds good to spout off about God. And Asaph, the psalmist, surely hit the nail on the head in Psalm 78, a reminder of God’s goodness to Israel, when, after being punished, Israel turned back to God. ‘And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right (steadfast) with him, neither were they steadfast (faithful) in his covenant.’ (Ps.78:35-37) Yes my people, it’s very easy to talk God, but it’s a different story when we have to walk that talk. The Israelites, though under heavy manners from God, were foolishly only pretending to be contrite, for deep down they still lusted for their old, sinful ways. Unfortunately, as they say, things change, but yet remain the same, for Jesus experienced the same problem with the leaders of his day, the Pharisees, and quoted our Bit to them: ‘Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth night unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.’ (Mat.15:7-9) Today our leaders do the very same thing my brethren. They lead us along many dubious paths set out by men and not God. They pay lip service to all things godly, but in their hearts it’s evil that really lurks. And we, the ordinary people, follow them like lost sheep all the way to the slaughter. Oh Friends, we have to wake up and pay serious attention to what’s happening in our world, our individual nations, and also our immediate communities because the ungodliness currently being propagated will eventually draw the Lord’s ire, just as it did with Israel, if it hasn’t already. My people, the Good Book, the infallible Word of God, is our undisputed, indispensable guide on this earthly journey, and we need to make sure that what we’re hearing, seeing or being taught is in accordance with its principles. And if it’s not, then we don’t follow it! It’s not always easy to do because we have a lot of smart, astute wolves out there in sheep’s clothing trying to sway us to their way of thinking for their own good. However, the only way we can counteract their iniquity is by studying the Good Book regularly. And I’m talking about each and every single believer on planet earth. Reading the Scrip-Bit and all the other numerous publications out there is fine, but definitely not enough. You cannot resist Beelzebub and his evildoers unless you personally know what the Word says. So though I’m glad, in fact overwhelmed that millions of people are reading the Bit all over the world – you gotta dream big- (smile) it’s still imperative that we all read the Word for ourselves, or get someone we trust to read it to us. Now I may know a little more than some folks, but what little I do know, I didn’t acquire by osmosis, but by reading and studying the Word along with other scriptural material. And I can only write this Bit every day by reading and studying the Word. Please remember Friends: THE WORD MUST ALWAYS COME FIRST! Without it written deep in our hearts and souls, we’re only capable of outward show. Please, let’s not become, anymore than we already are, like the people Ezekiel talks about. ‘And they come unto thee as the people cometh (as people do), and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much LOVE, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.’ (Ezek.33:31-32) Oh my people, I implore us to honour our God not only with our mouths and lips but also with our hearts, and to fear, reverence Him because of who and what He truly is, not because of what we’re taught by evil, unscrupulous, unrighteous men. That’s the only way to truly draw close to Him. So till we meet again tomorrow, God willing, go in peace, to sincerely LOVE Your GOD, LIVE Your FAITH, and SPREAD His WORD. Much LOVE!…God’s song…though beautiful…is meaningless…unless we act on it…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 September 2010 Luke 17:26
29 Sep 2010 Leave a comment
Luke 17:26. And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
Oh Friends, the rain’s finally stopped in my area. Thank the Lord! I hope it’s stopped in yours too, if it was also raining there the past two days. And let’s hope it stops long enough for the earth to at least absorb all that moisture recently deposited. I had to go into Toronto yesterday afternoon, during rush hour in the pouring rain, and several times questioned my sanity for being out in such horrible conditions at that time of day. But I had faithfully promised to attend a function, so with the Lord leading and guiding, I banned my belly and made the journey. (smile) And truthfully, the function turned out to be quite interesting, and the rain had ceased by the time I headed home. But yuh know Friends, in Noah’s time that rain lasted forty days and the ensuing flood a hundred and fifty. Now, per the coming of His kingdom, Jesus said: ‘And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.’ Jesus likens His return to that of the earth’s destruction in Noah’s time. ‘They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.’ (Luke 17:27-30) Oh Friends, how much plainer can Jesus put it eh? Genesis 6 clearly states: ‘And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart (intent or thought) was only evil continually (all day). And it repented the Lord (He was sorry) that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me (I’m sorry) that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.’ (Gen.6:5-8) Now let me ask a foolish question mih breddren. What do you think the Lord sees when He looks down on the earth now? The same so and so thing mih people; wickedness everlasting! And multiplied numerous times to boot! That’s because the wickedness practiced back in Noah’s day was like kindergarten to now. Today we have our Master’s in wickedness, working towards our Ph.D; so rampant and destructive are the tentacles of Lucifer and his evil cronies. They’ve come up with evil doings that would make the evildoers of Noah and Jesus’ time cringe with fear. That’s how bad it is in our world today. Furthermore, the iniquity workers are avidly seeking new and more evil schemes every day, hence my saying we only have the M.A in evil right now. Yes Friends, our world’s getting more evil every day instead of more righteous, and we have only ourselves to blame by not standing up strong and steadfast enough against the workers of evil. But my people, the basic but ever so important point that Jesus is trying to make here is that despite umpteen warnings from Noah and those faithful around Sodom and Gomorrah, life went on just as wickedly as before; the warnings were blatantly spurned and disregarded. Hn! Until judgement was eventually rendered. But then it was too late for the majority of the populace. As Matthew puts it: ‘And (they) knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.’ (Mat.24:39) Now Friends, remember I’m no prophet, but that doesn’t mean I can’t glean a little sense from nonsense. (smile) And if we claim to believe in Jesus and the Word, then isn’t it logical to expect that if the Lord destroyed the entire earth and many evil civilizations during the course of time, plus Jesus promises that His next coming will be apocalyptic, then shouldn’t we be very concerned about the current state of our world and the possible repercussions for our evil bent? Remember all the other civilizations had some sort of warning which they never took seriously. Oh my people, let’s not be as foolish nuh! So it’s been two thousand years since Jesus warned us of the end to come, but note too He said that it could come at any time. Even He, the Son of God, didn’t know when. Only the Father knows. So let’s smarten up nuh Friends. Let’s take the coming again seriously and set our houses in order, for it could come today, tomorrow or another thousand years from now. But we need to be prepared, just in case it does come tomorrow, or even today. For if it comes and we’re not ready, then crapaud smoke we pipe yes people! We’ll be then condemned to eternal death and damnation in Lucifer’s evil company. No siree! I don’t know about you nuh Friends, but I certainly want to avoid that most repulsive conclusion at all costs. Therefore, me and mine will worship and serve the Lord God Jehovah and thereby avoid that disastrous result. My people, all we’re dealing with here is a little common sense and simple logic: The world has been evil before, the people were warned but did not listen, and they were eventually destroyed. Now luckily, the Son of God forewarned us about more destruction to come, so why are we that reluctant to accept His warning eh? Anyway, I sincerely pray that by the time it does happen, we, the fortunate and caring believers, would have spread the LOVE Revolution across the entire world, so that no unfortunate souls would be lost to Lucifer; the way our Leader, Jesus, desperately wants it. We’ll end with a simple but subtle and powerful reminder from Jesus: ‘Remember Lot’s wife.’ (Luke 17:32) And if you don’t know the story, or you need to refresh your memory, check out Genesis 19:24-39. Much LOVE mih people!…it’s not a matter of if…but when…retribution will be administered…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 September 2010 Luke 16:15
28 Sep 2010 Leave a comment
Luke 16:15. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Oh Friends, it’s been seriously raining in many parts of the world, let’s hope and pray that it was all mere showers of blessing to nurture Mother Earth and not harbingers of disaster. But whatever it turns out to be, and however our own lives play out, Jesus’ people can’t afford to give up or get caught in any skulduggery or corrupt behaviour that will tarnish His Holy Name and cause our heavenly Father to admonish us. Sadly though, our world is chock full of crooked and devious behaviour, much more so than when Jesus admonished the Pharisees: ‘Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.’ Ah my brethren, that’s so true, I’m sure every day God must shake his head in sad wonder and disgust at the sinful behaviour of His children. And it’s getting worse every day. Yuh know Friends, if we’d just put a half, or even a quarter of the energy and effort that we expend on sinful behaviour into righteous and godly activities, our world would be a completely different and much improved place. But such is the proclivity of man to sin that it’s very difficult to drag us away from it. I have to laugh here yes, because that word ‘proclivity’, for some unknown reason, ran through my mind a couple hours ago, but I dismissed it as being too big and bumptious to use in the Bit, and some readers might not know the meaning (tendency to, habit, action). So you can imagine my amusement when it just popped up conveniently. Oh doesn’t our Lord surely move in mysterious ways! And here’s one example of His mysterious movements long ago, that falls under the umbrella of our Bit. We’re talking of when the Lord sent Samuel to Jesse’s house to anoint a king. Samuel’s focus was on the outward appearance of Jesse’s sons: ‘But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused (rejected) him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.’ (1 Sam.16:7) Yes Friends, from early on the Lord made it very clear that His major interest wasn’t in our out appearance or deeds, but what was hidden in the very depths of our souls. And though He knew Bruh David would make some serious mistakes, He saw that deep down, his heart was more attuned to Him than Lucifer. My people that’s all God asks of us; to stay tuned to Him, rather than that rogue Lucifer. He knows that every so often we’ll be tempted to change the dial and hear what’s playing on SIN 101 because that’s our natural temperament. However, He doesn’t expect us to spend much time there, but to turn back to RIGHTEOUSNESS 100 asap, for if we spend too much time listening to Lucifer, our souls, bodies and minds will soon get corrupted by his evil, sinful offerings. Now check out the kind of actions to which you’ll be led, if you listen too long to SIN 101 as described by the psalmist in Psalm 10, a prayer for the overthrow of the wicked. ‘The wicked in his pride doth persecute (hotly pursues) the poor: Let them be taken in the devices (plots) that they have imagined (devised). For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous (greedy), whom the Lord abhorreth (and renounces the Lord). The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.’ (Ps.10:2-4) Oh my people, we certainly don’t want to be involved in that evil stuff and thereby lose the wonderful blessings our God has to offer on RIGHTEOUSNESS 100, for as Cousin Sol so rightly proclaims: ‘A man’s heart deviseth (plans) his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.’ (Prov.16:9) Yes Friends, the Lord’s direction is what we need, not Lucifer’s evil machinations and abominations. And talking about abominations, let’s hear from Cousin Sol again, for from his wide and excellent research, he drew this exquisite, correct conclusion, re the seven deadly sins: ‘These six things doth the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto him (unto his soul): A proud (haughty) look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood. A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations (devises wicked plans), feet that be swift in running to mischief (evil), A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.’ (Prov.6:16-19) There we have it my brethren; seven basic things that the Lord abhors. And unfortunately from those, many others flow. Oh my Friends, well- intentioned persons can only offer us advice, in the end, we have to make our own decisions. And I certainly hope that eventually, the entire world will recognize and accept Jesus’ hegemony (rule, leadership) Hn! What a way we using big words today sah! (smile) And our job is to make that happen, by diligently spreading His Word and living it faithfully. Now to end this series of Bits on justifying ourselves before men and not God, let’s listen to Jeremiah again, as he proclaims the Lord’s stand on the matter. ‘I the Lord search the heart, I try (test) the reins (mind), even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings (deeds).’ (Jer.17:10) There’s no more to say Friends, except: ‘He that hath an ear, let him hear…’ Much LOVE my people!…and remember that…SIN 101 plays evil drivel…while RIGHTEOUSNESS 100 blossoms with heavenly hope…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 27 September 2010 Luke 16:15
27 Sep 2010 Leave a comment
Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Oh my beautiful Friends in Christ, unfortunately it’s Monday Morning; time to gear up for battle! But before we jump into the fray, let’s loudly and proudly voice our Monday Battle Hymn! ‘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 your powerful, protective aura hovers over us. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that your 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 Friends, now that we’re empowered, let’s go out there and give Beelzebub and his buddies’ heck! (smile) I’ve reworked our battle Hymn. Though it was nice and flowery, it was just too long for our purposes. Now let’s continue with our Bit, strong, true words of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus: ‘…Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.’ Oh my people, we’ve all been guilty of that at some time in our lives. It’s like the pompous lawyer who tries to test Jesus by asking how he can inherit eternal life. Jesus in return asks him what the law says, and he immediately spouts it out to Jesus’ satisfaction. (Luke 10:25-28) ‘But he (the pompous lawyer) willing (wanting) to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?’ (Luke 10:29) This led Jesus to tell the parable of the Good Samaritan. (Luke 10:30-37) Now the lawyer very well knew the answer, for at the end of the parable, when Jesus asks who he considers the neighbour, he answers correctly: ‘He that showed mercy on him.’ (Luke 10:37) However, in foolish arrogance, he tries to make Jesus look bad, which we all know is impossible, as Jesus’ answer testifies: ‘Go, and do thou likewise.’ (Luke 10:37) But don’t we all react in that foppish, foolish, self-important manner at times my Friends? Certainly! Especially in front of those we consider our betters, so that we can look and sound impressive and hopefully advance our cause; also to those we consider lesser mortals, trying to impress them with our superior intellect. It’s a natural human trait, made even more popular by the fawning, sycophantic way our world now operates. But my brethren it’s wrong to justify ourselves before mortal men, as we saw yesterday, when Jesus castigated the Pharisees for fasting, praying and doing charitable deeds in public just to look good and righteous. That’s definitely not our Saviour’s style; neither should it be ours, because it doesn’t cut any dash with God since He only looks at the true story that’s hidden deep within the recesses of our heart, not our hypocritical outward behaviour. Now the best way to get the message of a true and righteous heart indelibly written in our souls and minds is to look at some scripture that deals with the subject. And we’ll begin with one of the best bits of advice a father ever gave a son. Listen to Bruh David when he encouraged Cousin Sol to build the temple to the Lord: ‘And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong and do it.’ (1 Chr.28:9-10) Oh Friends, there’s no better direction we can give to our children, or to any other human, than to serve the Lord God Jehovah with a perfect heart and willing mind because that’s where the crux of the matter lies! It’s straight to inner recesses of our hearts that the Lord’s x-ray vision delves. Our hearts are like the bull’s eye on a target, which the Lord always aims for and always hits; dead centre! So the sooner we realize the futility of hiding anything at all from Him, the better off we’ll be. Now hear Cousin Sol from his prayer of dedication re the temple: ‘Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:) That they may fear thee (hold thee in reverential awe), to walk in thy ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.’ (2 Chr.6:30-31) Wow! Definitely more words of truth and wisdom my people! And it’s all been applicable from the day God created us, and will be till the end of time; if there’s ever such a thing. Oh Friends, we can never over emphasize the importance of a righteous heart, because that’s where all our doings, good, bad and indifferent, begin and end, and the Lord judges us on its state of rightness. I therefore implore us to diligently try and maintain a right heart in the Lord’s sight. We obviously will do wrong at times, for that’s our nature, but please let’s try and keep our motives as pure and unadulterated as possible. That’s the best way to please our God. More tomorrow on this topic, God willing. Till then, please go in peace, LOVE and safety. Much LOVE!…the heart…the heart…the heart…it’s all about the rightness of our hearts…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 26 September 2010 Luke 16:15
26 Sep 2010 Leave a comment
Oh Friends, one more day has waned and passed into eternity, while another is on the rise for us to experience. Let’s be thankful that we’re alive to enjoy it, through God’s enduring mercy. ‘Thank you Lord for allowing us to be a part of another one of your marvellous and miraculous days on planet earth. It’s a rough go down here, but though coming home to you brings everlasting peace and comfort, many of us still want to spend more time in this ungodly and evil world. Anyway, you’ve left us here for a purpose; to transform our lives, and help others transform theirs into the image of your Son Jesus. Please help us to do a good job today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.’ And my Friends we can’t do that unless we have a right heart; not the kind Jesus said the covetous, idolatrous, men-pleasing Pharisees possessed. ‘Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.’ Jesus laid that accusation after telling the parable of the dishonest steward, (Luke 16:1-13) and the money-hungry Pharisees laughed and turned up their noses at him. But my people that statement contains awesome truths that are still very applicable today, perhaps more so, simply because the boundaries of our world are wider and there are so many more things now to entice us. And do they ever entice us! And do we ever succumb to the enticement! Yes Friends, too often we sell ourselves and our souls short to obtain some glitzy, fanciful thing we think we need, using some unethical, nefarious means, or by fawning and trying to please whoever has what we desire; be it power, fame, influence, social position, money or other worldly possessions. And the sad part is that some of the stuff may indeed be useful, but the means we use to get them are not justified. Oh Friends, whatever we do in this life should be able to withstand God’s careful scrutiny, and if it can’t, then things bad with us. We ought not to justify ourselves to men, but to God. However seeking and holding the approval of men has become increasingly prevalent, especially in rough times like we’re currently experiencing. To make ends meet now, many of us are liable to do stuff that we wouldn’t dream of doing when times are good. And if we’re not trying to get something, then we’re trying to impress someone so that they will think more highly of us. Now believers ought always to do good things, but when those things are done first and foremost to look good in men’s sight, to please men and not God, then we’re in trouble with the Father. As Jesus noted when He preached on almsgiving, prayer and fasting: ‘Take heed that ye do not your alms (charitable deeds) before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of (from) your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have the glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth. That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites (pretenders) are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, (inner room, private place), and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly….Moreover when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.’ (Mat.6:1-6, 16-18) Now praying, fasting and doing charitable deeds are all good and worthwhile endeavours, but my people, when we do it publicly, just to get men’s attention, so that we’ll look righteous and make a good impression, then according to Jesus’ principles, we’re only wasting time and fooling ourselves and those around us. It actually displeases and turns off the most important person, the one we should always try to please, the Father. That’s because He reads our hearts and knows the true reasons for our public display, finds them disgusting and won’t reward us. Note, Jesus isn’t saying that we have to hide to do good or pray or fast, because sometimes that’s just not possible, but we must not make them a public display or spectacle for self aggrandisement in whatever form. Unfortunately though my brethren, in this supposed modern day and age, self-aggrandisement, ‘showoffness’, boasting, holding ourselves up as great righteous and moral beings is so prevalent that it’s become second nature to many of us. Our world has become such a den of vipers and nest of hypocrites that we often don’t know what or who to believe, for everybody is just intent on pushing their own private agendas, regardless of the cost to others. All our deeds ought to come from a pure and righteous heart, and though we can fool others with our outward show, we can’t fool God, for as He says through Jeremiah: ‘I the Lord search the heart, I try (test) the reins (mind, secret parts), even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings (deeds).’ (Jer.17:10) And sadly mih breddren, is not like we don’t know the fallacy involved in public posing or haven’t experienced its disastrous repercussions, but yet we continue to live the keep up with the Jones and cult of celebrity lifestyles which are in direct opposition to God’s wishes. Many of us are in a serious slump now; economically, mentally and spiritually, because we refused to adhere to Jesus’ directives and instead ran headlong into the foolishness that the world’s promoting. Oh Friends, I don’t know what it’s going to take for us to stop, but I certainly hope we do before it’s too late to reverse the process, else a whole lot of us will be busted and end up in God’s doghouse. And believe you me, that’s not a very nice place to be. So for our sakes, and those around us, let’s stop pandering to men and their evil ways nuh, and instead pay more attention to what Jesus says. That way, we can never go wrong. We’ll continue this tomorrow, God willing. Till then, walk safely with the Lord mih people. Much LOVE!…to obey…is better than to sacrifice…
SCRIP-BITS 