SCRIP-BITS

Well Friends, once again we’ve come around to Sunday; the first day of the week, the Lord’s Day, the day of rest and fellowship, the Sabbath Day?And what does the Good Book say about it: ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. (Ex.20:8) And that’s otherwise known as the 4^th commandment. And what did the Lord do to it? ‘The Lord blessed the Sabbath and hallowed it.’ (Ex,2011b)

Yes my people, the Lord blessed the Sabbath and made it holy, which makes it a special day, one in which we should show bountiful respect and reverence to Almighty God, our Creator and Strong Provider!

And we usually do that by resting, by spending time with our families, as well as congregating to worship and fellowship with other believers in the Lord’s sanctuary, or wherever it’s safe and appropriate. That’s where we get our spiritual batteries recharged and replenished, and our faith, courage and confidence strengthened, so that we can handle another week of work and whatever else comes our way.

And strangely enough, possibly through God’s mysterious workings, I was just reading an article on the Sabbath, and the author was saying that a lot of stuff, of illness that we’re diagnosed with is technically inaccurate, for our basic problem is rest. We don’t rest enough, neither do we observe the Sabbath day as much as the Lord would like us to, that’s why we’re so stressed out, impatient and angry.

And he does have a point, for before almost everything was running 24/7, and we wanted everything now for now, we had time to rest, to fellowship with other believers and to spend fruitful time with our families. We won’t that stressed or impatient – in fact stress wasn’t even a high subject on our radar screens as it is now – because our souls, bodies and spirits had adequate time to rest and be renewed.

I remember when I first came to Canada, some forty odd years ago, nothing much opened on a Sunday and sports events began sometime in the afternoon, so that everybody had a chance to go to church and possibly have family time together.

Unfortunately though, a generation later, all of that has changed. Almost everything now is opened 24/7 and thus we’re too busy or tired to go to church, or even communicate with our immediate families, unless it’s by one of the many new forms of social media.

What a sad state of affairs my brethren! Nowadays, families, or rather households seldom eat or gather together like families. We’ve forgotten the old adage that families that eat and play together, stay together.

Oh Friends, I don’t know how we can successfully get back to reuniting the smallest and most important group of our society, the family. But I do know that if we don’t try and revive it, as well as rest and rejuvenate ourselves properly every week, our society is just going to keep going to hell in a hand basket, as it currently is.

So for all our sakes, I implore us to start getting back to the old meaning of family nuh. Well there really is only one true meaning of family – a LOVING, caring, responsible, energizing, encouraging, tightknit unit of society.

It’s obvious we can’t shut down most of the stuff that’s now open seven days a week, but we can certainly put forward greater efforts to make time to be together, both as blood families and church families, especially on the Sabbath day, so that we can at least keep one of the Lord’s commandments in this evil and ungodly world.

And the good, or rather great thing about it all, is if we do that, then the Lord will teach us what he wants us to learn, as our Bit declares: ‘What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.’ Gospel truth that, Friends! For the Lord will gladly teach His ways to anyone who truly revers and respects Him. Why wouldn’t He eh?

And Bruh David continues after our Bit: ‘His soul shall dwell at ease (in goodness); and his seed (descendants) shall inherit the earth. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear (reverence) him; and he will show (cause them to know) his covenant.’ (Ps,25:13-14)

That’s simple logic my brethren, for we all behave like that with earthly organizations and earthly leadership, by gladly teaching our ways to those who desire to follow us. And we’ll close with these beautiful sentiments on the subject from Psalm 31, where Bruh David declares his trust in the Lord.

‘Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence (the secret place) from the pride (plots) of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion (shelter) from the strife of tongues. Blessed be the Lord: for he hath showed me his marvelous kindness in a strong city.’ (Ps.31:19-21)

Yes Friends, that’s the kind of awesome protection and help we have to look forward to when we place our faith and trust in Almighty God!

So please let’s show some wisdom by returning to His fold if we have left it, or by simply strengthening our belief in His power, faithfulness and unconditional LOVE for us, so that we can step out in faith and do a better job for Him than we’re currently doing.  That’s truly wisdom from heaven. Much LOVE!

…trust and faith in Jesus don’t come easily…but when they do come…the rewards are wonderful…