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1 Corinthians 12:27. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular (individually).

Welcome, welcome one and all to this glorious summer’s day! Yes friends, it’s now officially summer in the northern climes, as of last Monday evening! Glory be!

The strange part though is that we’ve been experiencing some rather strong winds for the past couple of days, along with some reassuring summer temps. But who knows what our omnipotent and ever-wise God is up to and about eh? Nobody!

Anyway, we do know that He’s working all things out for our good, for those who LOVE Him and are called to participate in His wonderful world, and that’s enough for true believers like us. We’re in much, much better hands than All State! (smile)

And to prove that we sincerely believe that, let’s declare our Wednesday Wail with great gusto and superior faith. Altogether now: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday!

I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’

Ah mih people, how glorious that future with Jesus will be! And yuh know what, though life can be somewhat rough sometimes, I’m still grateful to be alive, because as far as I’m concerned my best days are still ahead of me. I haven’t done anything as yet to leave my mark on the world, which means that better days are still to come.

Consequently, I can’t afford to look to the past, else it will only muddy up the present and disrupt the great plans God has for me in the future.

Oh friends, we have to believe that God has great plans for our lives, otherwise life won’t be worth living! Christians won’t created to lead, mediocre, hodge-podge lives, but strong, vibrant, meaningful, god-like and purposeful ones!

But we won’t be able to do that until we sincerely accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour and genuinely work with Him to bring to pass His good plans for our earthly days.

And all God’s people declared a loud, proud and grateful; ‘Hallelujah! All praise and glory to Jesus, our ever-faithful and ever-LOVING Lord and King!’

And that brings us to our current Bit: ‘Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular (individually).’

Yes my people, we are supposed to be one body in Christ, composed of different parts, as members, and that consequently means there is a certain kind of behaviour and attitude that’s expected of us. Unfortunately though, we are not coming up to scratch, which means that Christ’s organization is also not coming up to scratch, since we are its purveyors.

Now let’s hear what Bruh Paul said to the Corinthians a long time ago, because it also pertains to us in these trying and desperate times. ‘And God hath set some in the church (appointed these), first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities (varieties) of tongues.

Are all apostles? are all prophets? Are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?’ (1 Cor.12:28-30)

And the obvious answer to all of that my friends is a big NO!

So what? Bruh Paul provides the answer. ‘But covet (desire) earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.’ (1 Cor.12:31)

And here the scholars give us a lengthy explanation of what Bruh Paul means. ’12:31. But covet earnestly the best gifts: This expressions explains why the apostle has arranged the list in verse 28 in order of priority. He wants his readers to be clear in their own minds as to which gifts are the best.

Obviously, his intent is to steer them away from the more spectacular gifts such as tongues. Covet here is not to be construed negatively but means “earnestly desire.”

A more excellent way: The import of this statement is to be seen in Chapter 13. Paul will show that a better way is not through contentious striving but through LOVING.

Many feel that Paul is here showing how the gifts are to be administered, that is, in LOVE. However, the use of way (Gr. hodos) in the sense of “a path” instead of the way (Gr. tropos) in the sense of “manner,” and the statement of 14:1, indicates that Paul was pointing out a path of life superior to a life spent seeking and displaying spiritual gifts.

Paul’s interest here is not to instruct his readers in how they may best use their gifts, but how to have their priorities straight. They should strive for LOVE, not spiritual gifts.’

Ah friends, I hope we understand what the scholars are saying: that though spiritual gifts are important, our priority should not be striving to get and display them, but our priority should be walking in LOVE.

For as he says in the opening of Chapter 13 – The way of LOVE – ‘Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (LOVE), I am become as a sounding brass or a tinkling (clanging) cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (LOVE), I am nothing.’ ( 1 Cor.13:1-2)

So you see friends, regardless of what spiritual gifts we have, if we don’t have the overwhelming gift and attitude of LOVE, we are nothing, of no importance!

And the scholars share some important and interesting info re verse 1. ’13:1. Tongues of men and of angels: Such was the association of tongues speaking in pagan worship at Corinth. When a priest or devotee spoke in tongues, it was considered that he spoke in the language of the gods.’

And for all you know, some of us still hold that belief today. However my people, please, please, let’s stop seeking the spiritual gifts to magnify ourselves, and instead, simply walk in the way Jesus did nuh – the way of LOVE! For that’s our priority as Christians! Much LOVE!

…and now abideth faith, hope and charity (LOVE)…these three…but the greatest of these is charity (LOVE)… (1 Cor,13:13)

P.S. Please excuse the lateness of the Bit. It was just one of those late mornings. I was outside on my porch at 3.am communing with my Creator, enjoying the peace and quiet, while listening to the rain fall softly on the earth. Sometimes we just have to do these things. (smile) Much LOVE!

Today’s Scrip-Bit 12 April 2012 Psalm 41:1

Psalm 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.

Ah Friends, like spring has finally sprung; all the trees are now budding, and the winds are blowing strong and cold. But one essential element is still missing; rain. Rain had been forecasted for the last couple days, but the only indication of that life giving substance has been a few dark clouds in the sky, eerily reminiscent of Elijah praying for rain. (1 Kin.18:44) (smile) Who knows why the rain isn’t falling, be it our interference with the weather system, or God’s judgement? But we do need the heavenly blessing to fall soon because the earth is dry and thirsty, parched from the lack of moisture. If there’s not enough rain the crops will suffer and the harvest won’t be plentiful. That’s the same way it is with us Friends; if there’s no spiritual rain, no God-sent moisture in our lives, our souls will become parched and dry up. If the Word of God doesn’t dwell richly in us, then our spirit dries up and looks more like a desert than the oasis it should resemble. And when our spirits lack the Word, then we become lustful, flesh followers, turning to the worldly activities and things associated with Lucifer. We become even more selfish, greedy, resentful and self-centred than we already are, and stop doing the things of Christ, like helping those in need, having mercy and compassion on the sick and hurting, ignoring the poor, homeless and hungry. And that’s certainly not the role Jesus called us to play on this earth! At times like those, reading, contemplating and inwardly digesting our Bit helps us to return to the path that Jesus identified for His followers. ‘Blessed is he that considereth the poor (helpless, powerless): the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.’ Oh my people, that verse alone should galvanize us to help the suffering and hurting, because it’s a promise of God, and we know that He keeps all His promises. But even without that promise of compensation, our hearts ought to go out to those that are needy. Please remember where many of us came from. We weren’t all born to the prosperity we have today, and many of us were needy and suffering and helped by others to raise our level of living. So please don’t forget your roots like so many of us tend to do. And the unfortunate fact is that so many people are suffering today, in a time of supposed peace and plenty. So many are homeless; so many are forced to turn to food banks, a war time measure that’s been resurrected in these perilous times, and this in some of the world’s richest countries. Even the food banks are now running out of food because of their steadily increasing clientele. Why is that eh? Basically because of the inequality of the distribution of wealth. And it’s only going to get worse before it gets better, with the governments crying about deficits, laying off staff and cutting back expenditure in areas that only affect the lower classes and those already bearing the brunt of serious affliction. Man’s inhumanity to man has certainly not disappeared. In fact it seems to be getting worse, for if the rich and powerful have their way, we’d all go back to feudal times. There are calls, even from some rich, for the wealthy to pay more taxes. It’s a crying shame when a billionaire’s secretary pays more taxes than he does! But hey, which government has the parts to raise taxes on the rich eh? It ‘d be like biting the hand that feeds you, for they are all supported by the lobbyists of the rich and greedy who unleash them on the government to seek their best interests. But take heart mih people, this Easter Season of 2012 is a turning point in our fortunes. The passion and zeal which Christ’s death and resurrection have renewed and/or ignited in us, will definitely carry us forth, from strength, to strength, and finally to victory! Remember the Lord’s promised that the wicked will get their comeuppance eventually – death, damnation and eternal separation. Like wise, the righteous will be rewarded, but with salvation and eternal life. So as Bruh Paul encouraged the Galatians with the following words, so let us be also encouraged by them: ‘And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not (do not lose heart). As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.’ (Gal.6:9-10) Yes my brethren, although our resources may not be plentiful, we all have some that we can sacrifice and share with the less fortunate. Remember when you reach out to help someone else, particularly in a sacrificial manner, that’s the Spirit of Jesus working in you, for sacrifice is the backbone of His ministry and helping others is the whole purpose behind our faith. And as Bruh David continues after our Bit: ‘The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing (his sick-bed): thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness (restore him in his sick-bed).’ (Ps.41:2-3) Now that’s the living truth Friends! Jesus came to save the lost and helpless, and as His followers, that’s also our earthly purpose. So in these dire times, let’s not be overwhelmed by the world and all its selfish nonsense, but rather, let the true Spirit of Christ shine forth in us, by helping the less fortunate, for in due time we will be richly rewarded. ‘And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.’ (Col.3:23-24) Now that’s the gospel truth! Let us therefore go out and do it nuh! Much LOVE!…our world’s in a state of extreme ‘sufferation’…which will only be reduced by the sincere, Christ-like efforts…of sincere Christ-like believers…

SCRIP-BITS

Today’s Scrip-Bit 22 June 2016 1 Corinthians 12: 27‏

Today’s Scrip-Bit 12 April 2012 Psalm 41:1

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