SCRIP-BITS

 Matthew 18:11. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

Oh Friends, it’s March 1st! Wow! That means spring will be here in another three weeks, and the cold weather will be minimized. Thank the Lord! Hn! But don’t bet on that nuh, because we haven’t had what you’d call a real winter this year. It’s been up and down; cold temps with some snow for a couple days, then warmer temps with rain for a few more days. Oh Friends, there’s no doubt that for whatever reason, and through whosever’s doings, the earth’s climate is changing, for while North America has been fairly snow free, Europe and Asia have been bitten by severe cold spells and tons of snow, conditions that haven’t been experienced in ages. Even the mighty Danube river has been frozen solidly in several places, causing untold damage and hardship. But Friends, I have the answer for all our earthly problems: His name is Jesus! Now listen to this synopsis of His persona and powers from Anne Graham Lotz’s book, ‘My Jesus is…Everything.’ ‘No means of measure can define His limitless LOVE… No far-seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply… No barrier can hinder Him from pouring out His blessings… He forgives and He forgets. He creates and He cleanses. He restores and He rebuilds. He heals and He helps. He reconciles and He redeems. He Comforts and He carries. He lifts and He LOVES. He is the God of the second chance, the fat chance, the slim chance, the no chance. My Jesus is…Everything!’ Please note Friends, that it’s the same title, but a different poem from the one I shared last week. There are several like that in the book and I will try to share one each week. And if you believe the stuff above about Jesus, then you’ll surely understand when He declares in our Bit: ‘For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.’ And all God’s people declared a loud and grateful, ‘Thank you Lord Jesus!’ That’s because there are so many lost souls still on planet earth. And if you’ll look back at the poem above, you’ll notice that it does dovetail nicely with our Bit, for everything it says points to the lost and hopeless, like we once were. Yes my brethren, salvation and eternal life were not meant as a privilege for a select few, but for all the inhabitants of earth. Note too how Jesus rebuked His disciples after a particular Samaritan village was inhospitable to their party, because they saw that Jesus was intent on eventually going to Jerusalem. ‘And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did? (see 2 Kin.1:10,12) But he turned and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.’ (Luke 9:54-56) Yes my Friends, unlike Lucifer, who is a resolute destroyer, our Jesus is a builder and Saviour! He’s genuinely concerned about the lost, the sick, the suffering, the hurting, the fearful and the oppressed; all those writhing under unfavourable circumstances and conditions. And since we’re His followers, it means that we should also be concerned about the same things and people. Now I wasn’t planning to include this piece from the My Jesus is…Everything book, but I read it just before I began writing the Bit and it seems so appropriate concerning what we just said. Hear the author asking of herself: ‘I wonder how many opportunities to meet the needs of others God has given me when I was: too self-absorbed, too self-centred, too self-conscious, too self-defensive, too self-pitying, too self-protecting, to notice. Who would be helped, who would have his or her needs met, if we just opened our eyes and really saw those around us?’ Ah my people, fellow believers in Christ, that poem provides us with an excellent opportunity to sit and contemplate and evaluate our Christ-like acts! Are we truly mirroring Jesus, or are we simply mouthing words and not paying serious attention to the lost and needy, as we ought to, with acts of LOVE? That’s our ‘ponderation’ for today Friends. And I’m being very serious, because everyday of our lives brings opportunities for us to behave like Jesus, but sadly, too many times we either don’t see them, or like the priest and the Levite, we pass by on the other side, which is totally unacceptable from followers of Christ. So please let’s evaluate ourselves and make the necessary changes, so that we can bring glory to God and further His righteous kingdom. Much LOVE!…if you’re not doing the deeds of a Good Samaritan…then you’re not truly following Jesus…