The Necessity for Remembrance Day; to Remind Us that God Desires us to Live in Peace!

Romans 14:19.        Let us therefore follow after things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify (build up) another.

HAPPY REMEMBRANCE DAY!

And as is expected, after Monday comes Tuesday, and thankfully the snow has stopped falling, there’s more sunshine than cloud and it’s warm enough for the snow to begin melting. And all God’s people said a loud and grateful ‘Amen!’ Yes, winter came in like a lion over the weekend and most of us were not prepared for it, but I’m sure we will be prepared for the next snowfall. (smile) Anyway, today is also a special day in the annals of Western History, it’s the day we celebrate Remembrance Day. And what’s that about? 

This commentary explains: ‘Remembrance Day is a day of remembrance in the Western Hemisphere, celebrated on November 11 to commemorate the end of World War I and to honor all those who have served and sacrificed in the armed forces. At 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918, the armistice was signed. It is a day for us  to pause in a moment of silence, wear a poppy, and remember those who have fought in times of war, conflict, and peace. The day is also a time to reflect on the cost of war and to promote peace.

 It was originally called Armistice Day to mark the armistice agreement that ended World War I on November 11, 1918. However, in 1931, the Canadian Parliament officially designated the day as Remembrance Day, to be observed on November 11, and separated it from the Thanksgiving holiday.’ And so it is friends, that today we are able to live in relative peace and freedom, although many are trying to push us back into the dark ages, but we will not allow it to happen, even if it’s only on behalf of those who gave their lives and services to stop it a century ago. 

And on this day, we also stand strong in the words of a special poem written by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian poet, physician, author, artist and soldier during World War I. The poem’s titled ‘In Flanders Fields.’ So please read it with me: ‘In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, LOVED and were LOVED, and now we lie, In Flanders fields.’ 

How can we ever go back to those barbaric and inhumane times, especially when so many of our young people sacrificed their lives for us to be free? No! It would be a huge blemish on our honour and character, especially after we also fought World War II to keep the fires of freedom and humanity brightly burning. But as always, mankind is never satisfied with the status quo, and there are always some who want to rule the roost so badly that they will stop at nothing, stoop to any means to do it. 

That’s why, right now there are numerous areas of serious strife in our world, as if within the last hundred years we’ve not fought two major wars, and several smaller ones, killing millions of innocent people, all in the supposed name of peace and freedom. But mankind’s warmongering ways and blatant inhumanity to his fellow man continues undiminished. It’s obvious that mankind does not hold these words of Bruh David from Psalm 34 sacred. ‘Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace and pursue it.’ (Ps. 34:14) But that’s what we followers of Christ ought to be doing, because one of the many awesome names of our Leader is the Prince of Peace! 

And I like how this commentary from the website bibletolife.com/resources explains it. ‘God wants peace for His people and His creation. It’s at the core of why Christ came to the world—to redeem people from their sin and set creation on a trajectory of peace. As a result, Christians are called to be people of peace and unity, so that many may come to know the peace and LOVE we find in Jesus. What does the Bible say about peace?’ And there are ever so many scriptures pleading with us to do just that. Let’s take a look at a few of them nuh, to sort of awaken our peace motivation and kill our warlike desires. 

It begins as early as Leviticus, where the Lord promises the Israelites: ‘And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid (eliminate) evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.’ (Lev. 6:26) Now tell me how many lands are there like that to day? Not many! And only a few psalms later, Psalm 37, Bruh David again advises us: ‘Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. (Ps. 37:37) Meanwhile, Cousin Sol reminds us: ‘My son, forget not my law, but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.’ (Prov. 3:1-2) 

And what sweeter words of peace can we get than these from the prophet Isaiah: ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on (sustained by) thee.’ (Is. 26:3) Now listen to this other gem on peace from Isaiah. ‘How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings (good news), that publisheth (proclaims) peace; that bringeth good tidings (good news) of good (things), that publisheth (proclaims) salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth.’ (Is. 52:7)

Then there’s Jesus own proclamation in the Beatitudes: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.’ (Matt. 5:9) Followed by this exhortation from Bruh Paul in Romans: ‘If it be possible, as much as lieth in (depends on) you, live peaceably with all men.’ (Rom. 12:18) And since time and space have run out on us, we’ll end with this other inducement from Bruh Paul to the Romans. ‘Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat (food) and drink; but righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ, is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify (build up) another.’ (Rom. 14:16-19) 

Oh my people, we could not get any better advice than that on this Remembrance Day where we remember all those who fought on our behalf. So lets’ go home now declaring (chuh man!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’ 

And having made that declaration (yesss!!!) we are now duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!

…Peace I leave with you…my peace I give unto you…not as the world giveth give I unto you…let not your heart be troubled…neither let it be afraid… (John 14:27)

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Today’s Scrip-Bit   26 May 2022 Isaiah 52:7a.

Isaiah 52:7a.      How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings (good news),

And we’ll open Today’s Bit with the all-important question that the lady in the song is asking: ‘If Jesus comes tomorrow, or if Jesus comes this afternoon, will you be ready?’ Now that should make us all stop and ponder our personal situations for a few moments. And if the answer is yes, then we can continue along the same basic path. 

However, if the answer is no, then we’d better hurry up and get ready because Jesus said it Himself, that He‘ll be coming like a thief in the night, when no one expects Him. And after He comes, there’ll be only one option available: hellfire and damnation with Satan. So, if we want to go with Jesus whenever He comes, we must get ready asap, else we’ll be left behind to face the Tribulation and whatever else the darkness of the enemy hides. 

And as I was just thumbing through the Good Book for a scripture to use, I came upon this marvellous verse from the prophet Isaiah, where he speaks on the Lord’s behalf. ‘How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings (good news), that publisheth (proclaims) peace; that bringeth good tidings (good news) of good (things), that publisheth (proclaims) salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!’ (Is. 52:7) And there’s absolutely no doubt that our great God reigns supreme my fellow believers! 

Listen to the psalmist tell it from Psalm 93 nuh. ‘The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is established, that it cannot be moved (shaken). Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.’ (Ps. 93:1-2) And that’s the indisputable truth! Our God has been around from the beginning of time, and possibly even before. (smile) He created the world and all therein, and still runs it as He pleases. It’s his fiefdom and no one can say Him nay! 

And only when we have those basic facts fully entrenched in our hearts, minds, bodies and souls, can we appreciate the true majesty and wonder of our God, and believe and behave like the prophet Isaiah continues. ‘Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together they shall sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again (back) Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord hath made bare his holy arm (revealed his awesome power) in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.’ (Is. 52: 8-10) 

And if that isn’t the gospel truth, then I don’t know what is! For the Lord has indeed redeemed, comforted and brought salvation to His people, in fact to all the nations of the earth, through the sacrificial death, resurrection and ascension of His wonderful Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!  And that’s something to be indeed glad of and to shout about with indescribable joy! 

Oh friends, by now we all ought to know that our God doesn’t make idle promises, and He faithfully keeps them all. And the first coming of Christ got the ball rolling in God’s promise of good news, redemption, comfort and salvation. And like the prophet says, beautiful are the feet of those who bring good tidings of good things, especially good news of good things like peace, and salvation. Oh yes, we are always ready to meet and greet those who come bearing glad tidings, good news. 

And that’s what Jesus came bearing. So why are so many of us adamantly refusing to accept Him eh? Because we are foolish, and our inherent sinful nature is getting the better of us. We prefer to live in the darkness of Satan, where our evil deeds can be hidden, because we know all too well that once we accept Jesus, who is the light, our evil deeds will be most certainly exposed, and our shame will there for all the world to see.  And if we accept Jesus, then we’ll have to give up those awful sins. 

But some of us just can’t bear to give them, because they are so deeply entrenched in us, and we find them so wonderful. So, foolishly, unwisely, we stick with the enemy, enjoying the perishable things of the world, instead of turning to the imperishable things of heaven that come with the acceptance of Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour. 

But be that as it may, those of us who believe have the duty to go about spreading that good news, bringing those good tidings of salvation and eternal life to all who will listen. Jesus was very decisive when He gave what we call the Great Commission to the disciples, and subsequently to us. ‘Go ye therefore, and teach (make disciples of) all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ (Matt. 28:19-20) 

Now we could not require a more direct directive than that to let us know that we must be amongst the beautiful feet on the mountains that carry the good news of Christ’s salvation to ALL the world. And, can we sincerely say that we’re doing as Jesus commanded? I do hope so. Because we have no good excuse not to do as he requires. We can’t even complain that Jesus didn’t give us the tools to do His earthly will, because He’s certainly bestowed blessings on us that we do not deserve, but are there to help us do His work. We call them our Thursday Blessings, but we need to activate them by declaring (steups!!!) them out loud. 

So, as one strong and confident voice, let’s do that right now. ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’ 

And having activated those marvellous blessings, we now need to go out and action them, use and share them with others, just as generously and unselfishly as Jesus shared them with us. Much LOVE!

…it’s time for Christians to get our beautiful feet moving…so that we can spread the good news of Christ…that the world so badly needs to hear… 

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