SCRIP-BITS

1 John 4:7.  Beloved, let us LOVE one another: for LOVE is of God; and every one that LOVETH is born of God, and knoweth God.
 
Oh Friends, please use that spirit of forgiveness that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has put in your souls to forgive the ole fella for sending this Bit a tad late. (smile) Yuh see the ole fella went partying last night and didn’t get home till after one this morning. And since He’s no longer a young pup, he had to get some rest before attempting to write the Bit.
 
And yes, the partying was decent! It was the second annual Boat Cruise held by my church out on the Toronto waterfront. This year though, unlike last year’s day timer, it was a night-time jaunt, from 7.30 p.m to midnight. And I never tire of seeing Toronto’s coastline at night, lit up like a necklace of sparkling jewels, although it’s daily morphing more and more into a true concrete jungle.
 
But Friends, when that big, beautiful, golden night light of God’s, the full moon, rose over the surrounding hills, it certainly overwhelmed the man-made lights, showing just how powerful and majestic are the things of God.
 
This year’s attendance on the cruise was better than last year’s, possibly because we held it in conjunction with another organization. However, I think I enjoyed myself better last year, possibly because my left knee was acting up, so I couldn’t party as heartily as I wanted to. Had to show a modicum of circumspection and respect to the ole knee joint. Hn, hn!
 
In any case, my days for prancing and dancing like a leggo-beast, seem to be over. That must please the duchess and some family members a whole lot, since I won’t embarrass them anymore with my over-exuberant behaviour. (smile) But yuh know, the duchess partied heartier than me last night, so she has nothing to complain about.
 
My one other complaint is that the D.J, though he played some decent enough music, he stuck with the fast and furious young people stuff too much. Don’t get me wrong, the party, once it got going, never lacked for exuberance, but you can’t play music for four hours and not even play one slow, locks-down, rent-a-tile music.
 
No way José! That is just not apropos, especially with the number of older folks that were there. Although I was made to understand that in the world of today’s youth, holding on to dance is no longer the norm.
 
Ah Lord eh! How foolish can our young people get eh? There’s no better feeling than wrapping your arms around another human, or being wrapped in someone’s arms, and just slowly floating and drifting along the dance floor, eyes closed, mind quiet and worry free, while some slow, sweet, soulful music caresses your soul!
 
Ah Friends, that’s the experience from which LOVE springs eternal. (smile)
 
And talking about LOVE, it’s time to introduce our Bit: ‘Beloved, let us LOVE one another: for LOVE is of God; and every one that LOVETH is born of God, and knoweth God.’
 
Now before we get into any scriptures, let’s hear from the scholars on that verse. ‘John returns to the theme of mutual LOVE. Perhaps the false teaching he felt compelled to combat had contributed suspicion and contention in the fellowship.
 
In context, John is not saying that everyone who LOVES is somehow a Christian, whether they trust in Christ or not. He makes it clear elsewhere that true knowledge of God entails right belief about Christ, as well as right response to God, including LOVE of others.
 
Mere human LOVE apart from Christ’s redeeming presence and motivation falls short of LOVE in its fullest dimension as a human response to God’s perfect and infinite compassion. (cf. 1 Cor. 13)’
 
Yes Friends, we’re not talking about the wishy-washy, erroneous emotions of lust, desire and passion that nowadays pass for LOVE. Instead we’re referring to the true, heartfelt feeling of care and consideration for others that fill our souls, as a result of our trust, faith and close, personal interaction with Almighty God. 
 
And earlier on in chapter 3, John explains his reasoning. ‘Whosoever is born of God doth not commit (practice) sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.’ (1 John 3:9)
 
Now that deserves some explanation, which the scholars provide. ‘John is not teaching sinless perfection (see 1:8,10; 2:2). He speaks here of habitual practice of known sinful acts. The true believer’s actions will conform to the character of his true father, either God or Satan. The person born of God will reflect this in his behaviour.’
 
Yes my people, we all sin from time to time, but it’s the habitual wrongdoing, especially when we know better, that marks us as children of Lucifer.
 
But enough for today, time and space have run out. However we’ll continue this message tomorrow, if our great and LOVING God so desires. Till then, please ponder the topic, and may the Lord bless and keep us safe from all harm, give us His awesome peace that passes all human understanding, and help us to LOVE Him and each other with deeper conviction. That is wisdom for all the ages! Much LOVE!
 
…to truly know God…is to LOVE Him…with all our heart, mind, body and soul…