Proverbs 1:7. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Well Friends, it’s Friday… ‘Thank God for that yes!’ the uplifted hands and voices solemnly declare. ‘Thank God is Friday, so I can get a li’l break from this drudgery!’ Ah mih people, unfortunately most of us toil at jobs we don’t like, but that’s how it is in an imperfect, fallen world. We should sincerely give thanks for our blessings though, because the job at least keeps a roof over our heads and bread on the table. A large portion of our world has neither. In any case, if you’re a true believer, you just have to go out and do the job to the best of your ability with as little complaining as possible, plus a smile on your face and a song in your heart as Jesus desires us to do. (smile) I know it’s not always as easy as it sounds, but that’s the reality of Jesus’ plan. Now to get us some right perspective for the upcoming weekend, let’s chant our Friday Chant with some godly verve and enthusiasm. In one loud, cohesive voice: ‘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.’ Hope that eases your anxious minds and gets you back on track, so that you can enjoy the weekend with your friends, family, fellow believers and Jesus. For as our Bit so wisely declares: ‘The fear (reverential awe) of the Lord is the (principal) beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.’ Oh Friends, that statement is one we should never forget; one we should always keep within easy reach of our hearts and minds, so that when Beelzebub comes a calling, we can call it up to help us chase him away. Note, he’s very persistent, so we have to be even stronger and more steadfast in our faith to be able to resist him, and knowing how and where wisdom comes from will certainly assist us in giving the boot to the evil Lucifer. However, let’s continue looking at scriptures that corroborate our Bit. And the first one today comes from Proverbs: ‘the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy (One) is understanding.’ (Prov.9:10) Some of the words are different to our Bit, but the content and intent are the same; only by knowing, reverencing and respecting Jehovah God, can one get true wisdom and understanding. Cousin Sol repeats it in Proverbs 15, but with another twist: ‘The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom: and before honour is humility.’ (Prov.15:33) That’s oh so right Friends! In God’s kingdom, before we can acquire wisdom we must be respectful, and before we can receive honour, we must come to Him with a humble heart, because foolish pride which we display when we try to be independent only makes Him angry. And we certainly don’t want the Lord’s wrath raining down on us. Then Micah, during the Lord’s contention with Israel, spells out the Lord’s requirements to them. He’s not interested in burnt offerings and sacrifices, just like Samuel told Saul (1 Sam.15:22) ‘He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to LOVE mercy (LOVING-kindness), and to walk humbly with thy God?’ (Mic.6:8) Yes my brethren, true wisdom is doing exactly what the Lord requires. And since neither He nor His Word changes, then that declaration also applies to us today. We can’t get away from it by saying that’s Old Testament stuff which doesn’t apply to us in this modern age. On the contrary Friends, everything in the Old Testament, possibly besides the sacrifice system and the Jewish devotions, still pertain today. Note how both Jesus and Bruh Paul use the Old Testament to prove and boost the New. So please don’t be fooled by anyone who says that the Old Testament is passé. Are the Ten Commandments passé? ABSOLUTELY NOT! That brings us to the next scripture where Moses warns the Israelites about obeying the Lord when they enter the Promised Land. ‘That thou mightest fear (stand in awe of) the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.’ (Deut.6:2) Ah mih people, that is one warning that we, like the Israelites, have totally ignored. We definitely have not taught the Lord’s Word to our children, otherwise they would not be as depraved and godless as they are. That is one big failing our generation will have to answer for. Could that be part of the reason why so many of our children are dying so young from things like suicide, drugs, alcoholism, immorality, gang violence, etc. etc? If they had been more versed in the scriptures would they have stood a better chance? Who knows? And we’ll end with an appropriate scripture from the Preacher: ‘Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.’ (Eccl.12:13-14) And that’s the gospel truth Friends! So please take it to heart and put it into action TODAY, so that your wisdom can be known and your duty done! Much LOVE!…they only are wise and understanding…who follow the dictates of the ONE TRUE GOD…He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob…
SCRIP-BITS 