Job 34:21. For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
Ah Friends, I don’t have a soul-stirring intro for you this morning, (smile) but I do have some wonderful news: Jesus is alive and kicking! Kicking very strongly too! Not no mickey-mouse business. What can be better than that eh? Nothing really, for that means His followers, which we are, will also be alive and kicking strongly, since as He goes, so do we. And all Jesus’ followers proclaimed a powerful proclamation: ‘Jesus is alive! He is alive today and forever! Blessed be the name of Jesus! Amen.’ But Friends, if we’re His followers, then we have to get up off our fat fannies and actually do some strong kicking, do our job to help the LOVE Revolution that Jesus began to make some serious progress, cause it won’t be done for us. Jesus has already done His part, it’s now time for us to do ours. We can’t ride on Jesus coattails and hopefully get by either, because as our Bit reminds us: ‘For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.’ Yes mih people, Jesus’ eyes are forever on us, and He’s also constantly monitoring the motives of our hearts, so it’s even worse than being on Candid Camera. We can’t get away with anything; neither external nor internal. But in spite of that, many of us still try to pull the wool over Jesus’ eyes. What a joke friends! And we not only make ourselves look foolish when we do that, but we also reveal the low level of our faith, and our lack of true understanding of Jesus. But don’t despair my brethren, for it doesn’t mean that Jesus will push you aside and leave you to flounder aimlessly, because it’s the lost, the sick, the lonely, oppressed and misunderstood that He came to save, as He so poignantly declares in Matthew 18. ‘For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.’ (Matt.18:11) Ah mih breddren, what a wonderful person is our Jesus! Words certainly can’t describe Him adequately. What do we call Him? Wonderful Counsellor, Prince of Peace, Heavenly Advocate, Sacrificial Lamb, etc. etc! Wow! No one entity can play as many roles as He did, and still does. Please praise Him for His glorious service and sacrifice to the children of undeserving men! But as our Bit explains, there’s one drawback for us to Jesus all embracing powers; He sees all that we do, all the time. And in these evil, ungodly times, we definitely need to buckle down and start behaving like true followers, not like the hypocrite Pharisees of old. For remember that Jesus experienced the same problems and emotions that we do, when He sojourned here on earth. That means when we don’t do as we should, He will experience great disappointment. It’s just like how we’re disappointed when those close to us do wrong. And I believe that disappointing Jesus is one of the worse things we can ever do. After all He’s done, the sacrifices He’s made on our behalf, the least we can do is try to please Him, since we can never repay the LOVING-kindness that He’s shown us. But getting back to our Bit, I want to share some scriptures that also declare that the eyes of our Creator are constantly on us. Now there are so many that most likely I won’t be able to share them all today. Anyway, let’s begin with the time that Asa, king of Judah, was rebuked by the seer Hanani, for relying on the king of Syria for help in war, rather than on the God of his fathers. ‘For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward (loyal, at peace with) him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore henceforth thou shalt have wars.’ (2 Chr.16:9) But instead of turning to the Lord and repenting, Asa got angry, threw Hanani in jail, and oppressed some of his people at the same time. Now listen to Asa’s end: ‘And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign, was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not the Lord, but to the physicians.’ (1 Chr.16:12) Oh Friends, when we are rebuked by the Lord, please let’s not get angry and do foolish things that we’ll live to later regret. For our God only rebukes us because He LOVES us. It’s always for our own good. Just like when we rebuke our children for wrongdoing, it’s not so much to punish them, but to make them see the error of their ways, because we care for them, and want them to stay on the straight and narrow path that leads to salvation and eternal life. That’s the same thing our God wants for us. As Job says, in speaking of his integrity. ‘Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? If I have walked with vanity (falsehood), or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; Let me be weighed (let Him weigh me) in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.’ (Job 31″4-6) Ah Friends, living in this fallen, ungodly world is difficult at the best of times, and we will make mistakes, but overall the motives of our hearts should be right with God. Integrity is one of the pillars on which Jesus built His church, but unfortunately, today we’re seeing that pillar of integrity slowly crumble as we either turn away from Jesus, or pay mere lip service to His challenges. How can we expect others to believe in Jesus when we don’t follow through on our promises eh mih people? When we say one thing and do another? When we fight amongst each other over petty stuff, then go out and preach Peace and LOVE? It just doesn’t work like that my brethren. And we’ll end with some wise words from Cousin Sol. ‘For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth (observes, weighs) all his goings.’ (Prov.5:21) Oh Friends, please, let’s do like the Lord today nuh and ponder our goings, and make sure that they are on the straight and narrow path, for that’s wisdom at its zenith. Much LOVE!…to those who know right…but do wrong…the price of justice rises even higher…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 5 February 2013 Job 34:21
05 Feb 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: Candid Camera, disappointment, eternal life, falsehood, fat fannies, glorious service, God sees all, hypocrites, integrity, Jesus is alive, Jesus' words, LOVE Revolution, loving kindness, loyalty to God, Peace and Love, ponder our goings, price of justice, prince of peace, pull the wool, rebuked by God, Sacrifical Lamb, sacrifice, salvation, straight and narrow path, The eyes of the Lord, ways of man, Wonderful Counsellor
Today’s Scrip-Bit 18 September 2012 3 John 4
18 Sep 2012 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: compassion, disappointment, discouragement, eternal life, faith, forgiveness, glory, good news, gospel, honour, justice, LOVE, mercy, peace, power, salvation, steadfastness, thick skin, truth, understanding, winning, wisdom
3 John 4. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
And a blessed good morning to all you beautiful people out there in Scrip-Bit Land! It’s supposed to be cool and rainy in my neck of the woods today, (it’s already raining) but that’s of no importance. Why, you ask? Because just like neither sleet nor snow stops the mail delivery, so nothing stops the followers of Jesus on their earthly mission to spread the good news of the gospel to all and sundry. And what’s the good news? The peace, LOVE, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, truth, justice, wisdom, understanding, salvation and eternal life that’s found in Jesus and His humble but ever so powerful way! And all God’s people shouted a joyous: ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ But the truth of the matter my Friends is that it’s not always easy to follow in Jesus’ path, for Lucifer and his evil minions have made believers the number one target of their wicked and ungodly fiery darts. Today though, I have a few words to share from the Hour of Power Devotional by Robert H. Schuller which will help us in repelling Lucifer and his evil works. The words are: ‘If you will learn how to be disappointed without being discouraged, you need never be defeated.’ What an awesome truth Friends! And when I read them today, a flashlight just went off in my brain, and I knew I had to share them. It’s a simple but powerful strategy, for what’s the first thing or thought we embrace when we experience disappointment? It’s discouragement, oftimes laced with a strong desire to just give up, to let it all go to waste. But my people, that’s the wrong attitude to adopt, for disappointment doesn’t always mean failure or defeat, and if we truly learn to endure disappointment without it making us want to throw away all our hard work, then we’re winning. Believers need to have what the old people called ‘a thick skin.’ That means not letting unimportant things get us down or all worked up. I’m learning that with writing this Scrip-Bit, because not everybody agrees with or like what I write. And believe you me, supposed believers can be the nastiest critics when they’re ready. However, please remember that giving up on Jesus is NOT an option in a believer’s playbook! Those words don’t exist in Jesus’ vocabulary, which means we have to stand strong and steadfast regardless of what or who comes against us. That’s why John so happily declared in our Bit: ‘I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.’ He was exceedingly happy to hear that his buddy Gaius was standing strong and true in the faith. And he also expresses that joy in his second epistle, where he begins thus: ‘The elder unto the elect (chosen) lady and her children; whom I LOVE in the truth; and not I only, but also they that have known the truth. For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth (abides) in us, and shall be with us for ever.’ (2 John 1-2) Now the ‘elder’ there is John himself, and according to the scholars, the ‘elect (chosen) lady’ could either mean a personal friend and her family or a local church. Now, re the truth John speaks of, it will be helpful to have some explanation from the scholars. They declare that: ‘To LOVE in the truth means (1) truly, really to LOVE, and (2) to LOVE in a fashion consonant with the Christian meaning of that word. The truth which John and others have known is a combination of factual knowledge regarding the Word of God and personal knowledge of Jesus Christ.’ Also, ‘John LOVES his readers for the truth’s sake or “because of the truth,” which likely has reference to the personal presence of Christ (John 14:6) The cardinal fruit of the Spirit of Christ is LOVE (Gal..5:22)’ Then a couple verses later, John states: ‘I rejoiced greatly that I found (some) of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.’ (2 John 4) Listen to the scholars here again: ‘Walking is a Jewish idiom for “living.” John is saying that we should “live by the truth,” or in accordance with God’s revealed word and will.’ That’s gospel my brethren! How else can we live for God if we don’t live by His Word and His Will eh? It’s just like living in any group, be it two or more; certain rules and regulations must be laid down and followed, if there is to be harmony and not anarchy in the group. Likewise if there’s to be harmony amongst the followers of Jesus, then we all need to live in close agreement and joyful practice of His dictates. And not to be outdone, when Bruh Paul couldn’t go to visit the Thessalonians, he also told them of his happiness at their steadfastness in the faith. ‘For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.’ (1 Thess.2:19-20) Yes my brethren, all believers should be filled with unspeakable joy when they hear of others walking steadfastly in the LIGHT and LOVE of Jesus, for that’s what this life is all about. And what better way to end than with the words of Jesus. When Pilate asked Him if He was a king, Jesus answered: ‘Thou sayest (rightly) that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth, heareth my voice.’ (John 18:37) End of story Friends! So now, if we have indeed heard Jesus’ voice, then let’s go out and sincerely and energetically live that truth nuh! Much LOVE!…to truly LOVE Jesus…we must walk steadfastly in His way…just like He walked steadfastly in His Father’s…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 12 August 2012 Proverbs 15:13
12 Aug 2012 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: cheerful countenance, compassion, depression, disappointment, forgiveness, good words, laughter, LOVE, mercy, merry heart, motives, smile, tribulation
Proverbs 15:13. A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
‘Oh my my, who are those beautiful people over there?’ the elderly lady asks of her young female guide as they walk through the restaurant’s parking lot, pointing to a group of men, women and children laughing, talking, hugging and kissing beside a bus they had just exited. ‘Oh, they are Christians, followers of Jesus,’ the guide replies. ‘Can’t you see their rosy smiles and feel the LOVE, mercy, forgiveness and compassion of Jesus just flowing from them?’ Oh, I’m a bit short-sighted my dear,’ the lady replies. Then taking a few steps closer towards the group, she gleefully exclaims: ‘Oh yes, I can see it now! The joy of Jesus is just radiating out of them! I must go and tell them that. Followers of Jesus are such wonderful people! I only wish I had known Him much earlier in my own life. Then I would have had so much more joy!’ and she totters forward on her spindly legs, ably supported by her cane, to break the good news to the group. Wow! What a heart-warming story Friends! If it only truly happened like that eh? But unfortunately a lot of the time we believers are more looked upon like self-centred egotists because of our overly serious and often sour outward appearance. However, there’s no reason why a scene like that described above couldn’t or shouldn’t happen since we all have the capacity for the attributes of Jesus already planted in us, from the day we first believed. It’s just for us to allow the Holy Spirit to grow those seeds of beautiful emotions and attributes within us. And my people, that outer look of joy and peace has to first start, to come from within us, as our Bit so rightly declares: ‘A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.’ Yes Friends, when our hearts are happy, then it reflects positively on our faces and our outward actions. Likewise when our hearts are sorrowful, we get a negative reflection on our faces and in our actions. In fact my people, the state of our hearts is probably the most important aspect of our faith walk, for remember that’s where the Lord looks when He wants to detect our true motives. And if He finds that our outward actions or words are just a cover or facade for inappropriate motives, He will simply ignore whatever we’re trying to accomplish. But when He sees that our actions and motives are truly synced to His will, then He puts the angels to work on our behalf. And it’s not like we all don’t know, or haven’t experienced both sides of the coin; first where our hearts are happy and we just keep chugging merrily along without a care in the world. And on the flip side, when our hearts are sorrowful over some real or perceived disappointment, then we just become depressed, listless and uninterested in what’s happening around us. The problem though Friends is to try and place ourselves in the first position more often than in the latter. And sadly that’s becoming harder with each passing day in our troubled and strife torn world. But remember Jesus told us that though we would have tribulation here on earth, especially if we spoke His name, we should not worry or be afraid of the world, but instead to have peace and good cheer, for He had already overcome it. (John 16:33) I know that’s easier said than done, but we can do it if we seriously try our best and also invoke Jesus’ help. Anyway, enough of my rambling, (smile) there are some pertinent scriptures I want to share. And we’ll start with the second verse after our Bit: ‘All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.’ (Prov.15:15) It seems that Cousin Sol knew this principle quite well, for earlier on he states: ‘Heaviness (anxiety) in the heart of man maketh it stoop (causes depression): but a good word maketh it glad. (Prov.12:25) And that’s a fact Friends, a good or kind word spoken to us surely cheers our hearts. Now hear Cousin Sol philosophize again: (smile) ‘A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.’ (Prov.17:22) And isn’t that the gospel truth my brethren! Sometimes when we’re sad and depressed we also feel physically sick, but once even a little chuckle creeps into our spirit, we begin to feel physically better. That brings to mind the saying that laughter is the best remedy for many our ailments. It’s also the cheapest and easiest because it uses fewer facial muscles than frowns. And you know a whole lot of believers would feel a whole lot better if they would laugh a little more, lighten up, cultivate a merry heart, rather than the sourpuss look and attitude that so many of us possess. Now let’s end with some wise words from Isaiah, re the suffering of the Lord’s servant: ‘The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.’ (Isa.50:4) Oh Friends, that’s a very important scripture, because it reminds us that it’s part of our godly duty to speak a kind, encouraging or cheerful word to our fellow believers, or anyone who needs their spirit uplifted. The Lord’s put that spirit of wisdom, of learning in us, so that we can exhort and build up each other, when necessary. And that’s never been as necessary as it is in these trying times Friends! So please, let’s all decide to work on having cheerful hearts most of the time nuh, so that Jesus’ spirit can flow out of us, and also to talk to each other with uplifting words and ideas. It’s the only way to keep a happy and cheerful groove in Christ’s church. Much LOVE!…each one, teach one…so that each one will uplift the other…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 5 May 2012 Psalm 41:9
05 May 2012 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: Advocate, beautiful day, betrayal, christ jesus, disappointment, don't give up, faith, fulfill the scripture, human sensibilities, stand steadfast, trust, wait on God.
Psalm 41:9. Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
Well hello there mih LOVELIES! How goes it on this bright, beautiful, bounteous day, so LOVINGLY created for our enjoyment by our heavenly Father? I sure hope it goes well with all of us believers in Christ Jesus. But just in case all’s not going too well, I want to remind us not to fall apart, not to give up, because we have an Advocate with the Father, namely Jesus, to plead our case. So whatever’s wrong, let’s stand strong in faith, do our best, while looking to Him for guidance and help. Remember He either personally experienced or saw the stuff we’re going through, during His sojourn here on earth in human form. So He knows and understands the human problems and frailties from both sides now; as God, as well as man. That brings us to our Bit: ‘Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against (has betrayed) me. ‘ And amongst those human problems that Jesus faced and experienced was the most hurtful one of betrayal by a close friend. In fact several people close to Him betrayed Him. So although He was the Son of God, He wasn’t immune to human disappointment. And though He knew beforehand what the script called for, since He had a hand in writing it, those betrayals still inflicted hurt, pain and disappointment on His human sensibilities, like it does on ours. Over the last couple days we’ve discussed the betrayals of Bruh David, Job and Jeremiah, today we’ll look at some Jesus suffered. Now we said that Jesus knew the betrayals would come and after washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus told them about it. ‘I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.’ (John 13:18-19) Jesus quoted our Bit there, knowing that many who had been with Him during the good times would desert Him, when things got rough, but it had to happen to fulfill the scripture. After that ‘he was troubled in sprit, and testified and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.’ (John 13:21) Obviously all the disciples wanted to know who it was. Then Simon Peter looked at John, who was leaning back against Jesus, and motioned him to ask about the betrayer. ‘Jesus answered, He it is to whom I shall give a sop (piece of bread), when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.’ (John 13:26-27) The scholars state that during Jesus’ time, a host would often distinguish an honoured guest by giving him a choice morsel dipped in the sauce and placing it on his tongue. And according to the rest of that passage, (John 13:28-30) it seems only John and Judas heard or understood Jesus last words to Judas. Then Judas went out and plotted with the chief priests to betray Him for thirty pieces of silver. (Matt.26:14-16) And that night in Gethsemane, Judas showed up with soldiers of the chief priests and a lynching mob, just as Jesus was telling the three who had gone apart to pray with Him: ‘Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.’ (Matt.26:46) And Judas was so boldfaced, that after telling the soldiers; ‘Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he, hold him fast (seize him) (Matt.26:48) he approached Jesus and said: ‘Hail, master; and kissed him.’ (Matt.26:49) That possibly began the since oft used scheme of betrayal with a kiss. But notice Jesus’ cool and somewhat sarcastic response: ‘Friend, wherefore art thou come?’ (Matt.26:50) Yes people, though Jesus was well aware of the betrayal, He still called Judas ‘friend.’ What a wonderful man Jesus was! And still is! And will always be wonderful! Oh Friends, we don’t have time to talk about how most of the disciples forsook Jesus and fled, when He was arrested (Matt.26:56) or when Peter betrayed Jesus by denying three times that he knew Him. (John 18:15-27) But no doubt those things hurt Jesus a lot, even though he knew beforehand that they’d happen, for betrayals always hurt regardless of how or when we know of them. Anyway, we’ll end with some very wise words of Micah when he spoke of the moral sin of Israel, which, compared to ours today, is like a small lake to the ocean, so terrible is the immorality in our society. ‘Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide (companion): keep (guard) the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.’ (Mic.7:5-6) And far too often that is the gospel truth my people! Let us try to undo that nuh, cause if we don’t, we’ll just continue on the downward slide to destruction, to Hades and Lucifer, a rather unpleasant thought. Much LOVE!…therefore I will look unto the Lord…I will wait for the God of my salvation…my God will hear me… (Mic.7:7)
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