SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, it’s Friday! And I hear all the tired and weary sighs of ‘Thank God.’ Yes my people, a beautiful weekend is in store for us. But before we get to that, I’m a little worried about all these beautiful sunny summer days we’ve been getting recently, sans rain. I sure hope we’re not going back to the drought situation we had a short while back. My grass though is green and beautiful, as it should be, with the constant watering it’s been getting. Almost every morning at 4.a.m. I hear this swishing noise, and it takes me a few seconds to realize that it’s the grass been watered. It’s out there swishing now. Since we’ve put in this automatic, in-ground watering system, we’ve used approximately a quarter more litres than we’ve ever used. And the Water Bill certainly wasn’t wallet friendly! (smile) But wonder of wonders, I never got angry and made a fuss about it. I just mentioned that it was unacceptable. Wow! I must be getting old, or more mature in the faith! Let’s hope it’s the latter yes. (smile) Anyway let’s hope and pray that we don’t regress to that drought like situation we had earlier, cause it took a serious toll on everything; from grass to flowers to fruits to the negative emotions of many. And to help assuage all our doubts and fears this Friday morning, let’s chant our Friday Morning Chant with glowing enthusiasm and sincerity. As one voice now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely 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 glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’ And now that we’ve set the right pattern for the weekend, let’s turn to our Bit: ‘If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.’ My Friends, that’s just a simple, logical, though powerful truth. If we have a new life with Christ, then shouldn’t we be concerned with the things of Christ? And if Christ is sitting at the right hand of God in heaven, then that means the things of Christ are in heaven, therefore those are the things we should be mostly concerned with, not the disposable things of the earth. And Bruh Paul clearly states that to them in the next verse. ‘Set your affections (mind) on things above, not on things on the earth.’ (Col.3:2) Now let’s get some deeper insight into our Bit from the scholars. ‘If ye then be risen (or, therefore since you were raised): The word therefore infers a corollary truth from 2:20 (“you died with Christ”) – not only have the Colossian believers been freed from sin, they have also turned to a new life, leaving behind old ways, habits, values, vices, interest and sins. Seek those things which are above: These “things” include deeper knowledge of Christ, closer fellowship with Him, experience of His resurrection power, victory over sin (vv.5-11); the development of godly virtues (vv.12-17); the fulfillment of domestic and social responsibilities (3:18-4:1); an effective prayer life (4:2); fruitfulness in witnessing (4:3-6)  – in a word, the attainment of Christian maturity, and all the spiritual benefits God has for His people during their days on earth. To have been raised with Christ and not to seek these blessings would be a contradiction.’ A great contradiction indeed Friends, like the way we still say one thing and do another. Oh my people, I implore us to turn to Colossians, preferably right now, while reading this, so that you can follow along with the scholar’s statements, and thus get a fuller understanding of those things above that we’re supposed to pay close attention to. And I’m chuckling here because I’m going to end with some more info from the scholars, which some of us are definitely not going to like. This time they are detailing some of the things of the earth from verse 2, with which we should not be overly concerned. ‘Set your affection on things above: The Greek word literally says, “Set your mind on things above.” The readers are not to be preoccupied with things on the earth, such as current heretical philosophies (2:8), legalistic practices (2:16, 21-23), and vices (v5); nor are they to dwell on things that are not wrong in themselves (houses, jobs, careers, ambitions, etc.), but can be wrong should they become priorities above Christ.’ That least part is of vital importance my brethren, since many of us place those earthly things before Christ. We turn the acquisition of these material things, like cars, houses, jobs etc. into idols because we make them the be all and end all of our lives. We chase them with such a burning desire and passion, that if we only used a small portion of that drive we have for earthly things, in pursuit of Christ, we’d be so much further ahead. Remember Christ’s admonition on this topic: ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt.6:33)  True Words of Wisdom! Anyway Friends, that’s enough for us to think about today. And please, let’s seriously think on them nuh, and check the verses the scholars quoted against those in your Bible. That’s the only way we’ll ever improve our Biblical knowledge and mature our faith walk. Much LOVE!…wherever your heart and mind are…there shall your treasure be…