become like christ | SCRIP-BITS

1 Peter 4:12. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.

Oh my fellow believers in Jesus Christ, this morning the ole fella is pleading for mercy and forgiveness in accordance with our Christian faith. (smile)

Ah friends, it seems like I’ve forgotten that I’m no longer a youngster, and after being out and about a fair amount yesterday, I also had a pretty late night… or morning. Thus, I was unable to get out of bed at a decent enough hour to write the Bit.

And to make matters even worse, the arthritic bones are crying out some this Wednesday morning…. Oh for the warmth, the sunshine, salt water and LOVE of sweet Tobago! (smile)

But not to worry, between some man-made medication and the cross of Christ, we shall overcome all our difficulties.

And all God’s people said a loud and appreciative, ‘Praise the Lord for his goodness to the children of men!’

And now that I’ve gratefully received your mercy and forgiveness so graciously offered, (smile) here is something from our One Year Book of Bible Promises, with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin, which I think is very appropriate for many of us in these trying times.

It’s titled ‘Fiery Trials.’ And it says: ‘God is teaching me incredible lessons regarding growth. I see with undeniable evidence that growth means pruning, and pruning means pain. I confess, I’m actually a coward about pain.

I certainly never pray for it. I don’t anticipate or look for it. I do only one thing. I ask God to steady me, since the Bible so clearly states that trials are a part of our lifewalk with Him. In all honesty I would prefer to escape the testing.

I don’t like the pain of emotional trauma, which can be so overwhelming and baffling. I don’t like the deep cutting pain that goes on and on without relief. The pain of loneliness frightens me, the pain of losing someone dear to me grieves me.

Nevertheless, I am praying for an open heart. I can’t begin to contemplate what fiery ordeals God may choose for my testing and growth, but I do long for my yieldedness to prove my willingness to be conformed to the image of His dear Son.’

Oh my precious people in Christ, I am sure that each one of us have thought and prayed something like that on numerous occasions when we’ve been put through our paces by Almighty God!

No, the testing is never ever very nice, but as believers in Christ, we do need to keep an open heart and try our best to yield willingly to the trials and tribulations that come against us. We obviously don’t know the Lord’s plans for our testing, but we must also remember that He’s promised to see us successfully through each and every one.

Please remember these great and promising words of Bruh Paul to the church at Rome. ‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that LOVE God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.’ (Rom.8:28)

So friends, if you are one of those called by God, and you LOVE Him, then please believe that eventually He will work everything out for your good as He has promised.

And the promise for today’s ‘Fiery Trials’ writing is also our Bit, a scripture that we all know but DON’T LOVE! (smile)

‘Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.’

And a lot of us ask if Peter is mad or what! How can we not think it strange when those trials and tribulations suddenly come upon us, usually without any warning?

But here is Peter’s logic as he continues after our Bit. ‘But rejoice, inasmuch as (to the extent that) ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

If ye be reproached (insulted) for the name of Christ, happy (blessed) are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of (blasphemed), but on your part he is glorified.’ (1 Peter 4:13-14)

Yeh mih breddren, it is hard to accept trials, moreover to rejoice in them is extremely difficult. But please remember they are come upon us for testing, we’re being put thought fiery furnace so that we may become like Christ.

That’s the main reason, and it follows that if we suffer in His name, then we will also be glorified when He is glorified. So please hang in there and don’t be afraid to ask the Lord for help.

If Christ could plead for help in the Garden of Gethsemane before undergoing His fiery trial of crucifixion, so can we. But the important thing to realize is that God’s Will must always come first.

It’s not easy, but like Jesus did it through hungry hope and strong faith in His Father, so can we with God’s ever-present help. Now let’s go home on a more positive and joyful note, as we wail our Wednesday Wail.

Wailing… as one: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday!

I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’

Yes friends, instead of focusing on our trials and tribulations, let’s joyfully focus instead on the wonderful future we have to look forward to with Christ! That makes much more sense. Much LOVE!

…through the fiery furnace we go…but more Christ-like we come out…

P.S. It’s late, but great! (smile) Please keep on praying for our bubba Scotty. Much LOVE!

Psalm 40:3. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

And then it was Saturday Friends. Consequently, I wonder what kind of weather will manifest itself in my area today? On Monday, it was cold; on Tuesday springtime appeared; then Wednesday that dreadful snowstorm descended upon us; Thursday was deathly cold, and Friday was somewhat spring-like again.

Oh the vagaries of the weather eh, just like that of a ……….! And I’ll leave that space blank for each of you to fill in your own comparison, because if I put mine, I’ll probably have to go into hiding in fear for my life. (smile)

Anyway my people, it’s time for us to wake up and recognize that for whatever reason, there doesn’t seem to be anymore consistency in the weather pattern these days. But unfortunately too many of us are burying our heads in the sand, refusing to see what our eyes and senses are showing us. I guess it’s because mankind and his filthy, disgusting, evil habits are being blamed for the inconsistency – whether it’s industrial pollution, or rebellion against Almighty God – and no one wants to take the blame.

But my brethren, we’re all guilty on both counts; polluting the world’s limited resources and atmosphere, as well as sinful rebellion. So it’s high time to wake up and accept the blame and do something positive about it. Now I can’t talk much about how to fix the pollution problem, but I surely can address the rebellious and disobedient aspects as they pertain to Jehovah God.

Ah mih people, there’s only one solution for that problem, and it’s prayer; prayer filled with genuine repentance. And it will be very instructive to hear how Bruh David begins Psalm 40, praise for answered prayer. ‘I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings (steps).’ (Ps.40:1-2)

Oh fellow believers, as individuals, and as a society we are certainly mired in a horrible pit, and unfortunately, not one of clay, but one of sinking sand, of quicksand, because of our current state of sinful excesses. And if we continue in that direction, we’ll surely keep sinking further down until we disappear completely. And the only thing able to raise us up from that pit of quicksand is a return to a godly society.

Oh mih breddren, that’s exactly what our untenable situation is crying out for. The Lord God Jehovah heard Bruh David’s sincere, heartfelt prayer and eventually raised him up out of his misery. So much so that Bruh David joyfully declares in our Bit. ‘And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.’

Yes my people, when we sincerely turn to our Creator, He lifts us up out of our misery, both as individuals and as a society, and also puts a new song in our hearts and mouth, with plenty praise and thanks pouring forth. Now that’s very important because others will see our new behaviour and also come to reverence and trust in the Lord God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth and all therein.

As Bruh Paul told the Corinthians: ‘Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.’ (2 Cor.5:17)

So once we turn to Christ, we become a new creation, a new model of human being, where we sing God’s praises, obey His dictates and try to become like Christ – at least as much as is humanly possible. Now this new behaviour certainly won’t go unnoticed, for others will see the sincere LOVE and joy emanating from our souls and want to be like us- new creations in Christ.

Nothing speaks better than examples my Friends – as the novel, I believe it’s titled Joseph Andrews says, ‘examples work more forcibly on the mind than precepts.’

Wow! And that’s gospel truth! And would you believe that it’s almost fifty years ago in High School, I read that book. Just goes to show the power of the brain, God’s greatest invention.

Now listen to Bruh David from Psalm 33, praise to the Lord for his creation. ‘Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely (beautiful) for the upright. Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise (shout of joy). For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. He LOVETH righteousness and judgement (justice); the earth is full of the goodness (LOVING-kindness) of the Lord.’ (Ps.33:1-5)

And that is the undisputed truth my brethren! Most excellent and wonderful reasons to serve and worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!

So please let’s get serious about the life we’re currently living, and contract with ourselves and the Lord to improve it nuh. For it’s only through a wholesale revival of God-centeredness in our sinful societies that we will be saved from a disastrous and calamitous downfall, like the many other overly sinful societies that have gone before us.

Let’s attend unto wisdom today nuh Friends, by embracing Christ and all the good things He has in store for us. That’s surely wisdom at its very highest – godly wisdom. Much LOVE!

…he who has ears to hear…let him hear…or else he will feel God’s wrath…and that’s a faithful promise.

SCRIP-BITS

Today’s Scrip-Bit 30 November 2016 1 Peter 4:12.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 15 March 2014 Psalm 40:3

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