Once more unto the breach dear friends, once more…! Yes mih people, we going to attack the supposedly impregnable ramparts of that concrete jungle called Toronto, one more time this Tuesday morning in early December! That’s why we here so early. (smile) But on a serious note though, I recently read that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find living space down there that has sunlight splashed over and around it.
Chuh! That’s because of all the tall buildings that have gone up, and are still going up, which block out the sunlight from the lower ones. And I’ve noticed it over the summer. You can walk down one of those canyons, they are no longer streets, and the only light is what comes from directly above you, because of all the tall buildings on both sides.
But that’s what we call progress nuh; the more concrete we pour, the more we feel we’re progressing. Like the Joni Mitchell song, ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ so appropriately declares: ‘You tear down a paradise to put up a parking lot.’ But yuh know what friends? We believers don’t need to worry our pretty li’l heads (smile) over that situation too much, because our great God is still on the throne, still controlling the universe He created.
And here is what Bruh David, God’s friend and man after His own heart said many moons ago: ‘But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest (protecteth, covereth) them: let them also that LOVE thy name be joyful in thee.’ Yes my fellow believers, it couldn’t get any clearer than that! If you trust in the Lord God Jehovah, then you ought to rejoice and be glad every day you awake and see the light.
As believers in Christ we ought to shout for joy, because the Lord defends, protects us each and every day of our earthly lives! How many of us are doing that eh friends? Certainly not enough! There are too many supposed Christians walking around like ‘poor me ones’ believing that to be a believer means you must walk around like yuh suffering.
Not at all my people! If you LOVE the Lord, you’re supposed to walk around with your head held high, a li’l swagger in your step, more confidence than arrogance, because you know where your bread is buttered! As Bruh David continues in the psalm: ‘For thou Lord wilt bless the righteous: with favour wilt thou compass (surround) him as with a shield.’ (Ps.5:12)
As true and mature Christians, we ought to have those words written indelibly in our hearts, so we can go around and proclaim them in our everyday lives. And I guess what the Lord LOVED about Bruh David, is that despite his human failings, he never gave up on Him, was always calling out to Him, acknowledging Him as Lord and Protector.
Hear this passage from Psalm 18 – Thanksgiving for Deliverance. Bruh David solemnly opens it by proclaiming: ‘I will LOVE thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength (my rock), in whom I will trust; my buckler (shield), and the horn (strength) of my salvation, and my high tower (stronghold). I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.’ (Ps.18:1-2)
Oh mih people, if we’re true believers, then we ought to be saying all those things too, because the Lord God is in fact all those things to a true believer! But please notice that word ‘believer,’ remember it implies belief. And that’s what is wrong with too many of us supposed believers; we might believe in our heads, but not truly in our hearts.
But that’s where the belief is really supposed to be my brethren, so that it can take effect in our lives. Remember what Jesus said, it’s from the heart that we live, either good or bad things come out of it, but the heart is the driver of our lives. (Matt.15:17-20)
And Bruh David solidifies his argument later on in Psalm 18, when he declares: ‘As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried (proven): he is a buckler (shield) to all those that trust in him. For who is God save (except) the Lord (Yahweh)? Or who is a rock save our God?’ (Ps.18:30-31) Those are certainly excellent questions my friends!
And Bruh David answers them thus: ‘It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds feet (the feet of the deer – nimble and strong), and setteth me upon my high places.’ (Ps.18:32-33) And that He most definitely does my faithful brethren! And that brings us full circle: if you LOVE the Lord and trust in Him, then you ought to be joyful and proactive, not sad and miserable and reactive. End of story!
Now for those of us who truly LOVE the Lord and put our utmost faith and trust in Him, let’s go home telling the world, in no uncertain terms, who and whose we are, by declaring our Tuesday Mantra in strong voice with sincere hearts!
Altogether now: ‘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 the world. Amen!’
And if we truly believe that, then let’s go out and sincerely share the LOVE of our wonderful friend Jesus with the oh so needy world nuh! Much LOVE!
…the three watchwords for Christians…belief…belief…belief…
SCRIP-BITS 