Today’s Scrip-Bit 26 January 2018 Galatians 5:16.

Galatians 5:16.   This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Well friends, at last it’s Friday!  Glory be! Now what it is about that work that we dislike so much eh, even when we have so many modern amenities that makes it so much easier? (smile)  Our forefathers couldn’t even imagine or dream about the stuff we have now, and they willingly went to work. 

That’s possibly because they knew for sure that if they didn’t work, they wouldn’t eat. But nowadays we have so many layabouts who eat and live well without even raising a finger. Could it be that’s the fault of our over indulgent society? Well that’s something to ponder on later. (smile) 

But right now the ordinary but ever so proud workingman is singing his Friday song. ‘TGIF! Thank God it is Friday and labouring finish for another week. And yuh know, I thought hard work was done with long time now. But apparently I was wrong, for all that missing from slavery time is the whip and the dogs, they still have the guns and them! 

Everything else is still the same. Deh trying to enslave we mind now though, rather than we body with iron shackles. But tell them for me, that that won’t work either. The same way we escape from the physical shackles, we going to escape from the mental chains. And we going to start doing that right now, by enjoying the weekend as if there was no tomorrow! 

Brother, come what may, we going to party and carouse, and carry on fuh so. And if we too sick and tired to go to work on Monday, then let massa fire we nuh. He still ain’t going to get he slave work done! Thank God for Fridays and weekends yes! Because if the massa had he way, we’d work seven days straight every week without a break!’ 

Ah mih people, it’s always sad to realize that a lot of what the ordinary workingman says is so true. Our modern day economies are going backwards rather than forwards in terms of employee satisfaction, employees are not being treated as well as they should be. 

The problem though is that the ordinary workingman is taking the wrong road in trying to solve the problem. Instead of carousing and catering to his carnal will, he ought to turn to Jesus and do His will, like we try to do. It’s all about purpose and the right way my brethren. 

So let’s chant our Friday Chant, which shows a marked difference from the workingman’s song. In sincerity and truth now: ‘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!’ 

Yeh friends, the big difference is that we don’t go overboard in our carnality, and thus lose control of our senses. Instead, we turn to Jesus to rejuvenate us, so we can continue doing good work in His name, for that’s what this life is all about. 

Ah mih people, it’s good to enjoy some aspects of fleshly living, that’s why God gave them to us, but we have to know where and when to draw the line, so that we don’t allow the enemy to encroach on Jesus’ territory in our hearts and souls. That’s why Bruh Paul admonished the Galatians so strongly, when he said in our Bit. ‘This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.’ 

And what does that mean? Hear the scholars: ‘5:16. Walk in the Spirit (i.e.; “live by the Spirit”): Christians are to live with the Spirit’s help. How does one “live by the Spirit”? (1) The Christian must believe that the Spirit is with him, having been sent by God into his heart (4:6). (2) In every spiritual confrontation the believer must yield to the Spirit, that is, submit his own desires to those of the Spirit.

(3) One must depend on the Spirit for help, enabling him to live a God-pleasing life (v.5). (4) The believer should anticipate the effects of the Spirit’s help in his daily life. The believer who “lives by the Spirit” will not fulfill (accomplish, carry out) the lust (strong desires) of the flesh (sinful nature).’ 

There you have it friends, a general explanation of how to walk in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit that dwells within us is supposed to lead and guide us in ALL of our activities. That’s why the Lord gave Him to us. As Bruh Paul says earlier on: ‘And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.’ (Gal. 4:6-7) 

Yeh mih people, as soon as God adopts us, He sends the Holy Spirit into our hearts, to give us an awareness of Himself. And having been granted such a wonderful station in life, sons of God, heir of God, through Christ, it now behooves us to behave in a son-like and heir-like manner. 

So please let’s take a minute today and ponder if we are indeed behaving son-like, heir-like and Christ-like, as we should, then ask the Lord to help us improve in whatever area(s) we need improvement. He will NEVER turn down such a request. Much LOVE!

…walking in the Spirit…is like walking in the Garden of Eden…just demanding more attention…

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 15 August 2017 Psalm 16:11.

Psalm 16:11.   Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

‘Listen to the riddim of the falling rain…pita pata, pita pata…Listen to the riddim of the falling rain…Telling me just how good life has been…’ 

Oh friends that’s exactly what I was doing a couple of hours ago. I had gone to bed early, by my standards, (smile) and had gotten up early, feeling refreshed and full of energy. 

But then I heard the rain falling outside my open window, falling so seductively, that I decided to lie back down and listen to it. Next thing yuh know, it lulled me back to sleep. 

Then I got up an hour and a half later, this time though I woke up feeling tired and groggy, with my back aching. What a bam bam eh! 

But it sure feels good to lie awake in bed and listen to the heavenly blessings cleanse and water the earth. There’s nothing better than just lying there and letting the sounds of the falling rain just wash over you, not only cleansing the land, but also your soul. 

Too many of us have gotten so hard and cynical, worrying over worldly things, that we no longer appreciate the peace and joy that simple act brings. 

Now here is a li’l something to brighten our day and help us along the way. It’s titled, ‘Daily Menu.’ I don’t know where I got it from, but I recently found it amongst the many pieces of paper on my desk and thought it would be good to share it again. 

It says: ‘Give thanks. Fill a vase with fresh flowers. Set a beautiful table. Use fresh, simple ingredients. Use your best china and silverware. Prepare every meal with LOVE. Use fresh herbs. Invite someone. Practice good manners. Wash your hands. Use cloth napkins. Chew slowly. Savour every morsel. Have great conversation. Eat desert. Wash your own dishes.’ 

Ah mih people, what a stress free life we’d have if we only incorporated a few of those things into our everyday life. But we’re too busy to set a beautiful table…even to set a table, so we eat in front of the tube. 

And the best china…Hn! That will probably be used at our wake. And don’t talk about preparing a meal with LOVE, for the words preparing a meal these days usually means nuking some already prepared frozen food. 

And what great conversation can we have when we’re totally tuned in to the foolishness on the tube eh? Wash your hands… Hn! Many of us have never heard of that directive. Use cloth napkins…No way Jose! That’ll mean having to wash them…even though there’s a clothes washer and dryer. 

Chew slowly…Whoa! In this modern age, that’s something most of us have never been taught.  That reminds me of the Elementary School Teacher I had, who chewed every mouthful of food 32 times. 

And enjoy the food. Hn! How can you enjoy the tasteless fare served up as nutritious food these days eh? 

Yeh friends, it amazes me that with so many modern amenities to help us in our daily chores, our lives have gotten busier and we seem to have less time for ourselves… and also for others. The mainstay of the society, the family unit is slowly crumbling, or rather, has crumbled. 

What irony! The things that were supposed to help us forge closer ties, have driven us further apart. That’s where living the Christian life ought to help us. 

This is what Bruh David declares of our God in today’s Bit. ‘Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.’ 

Oh my fellow believers, where else can we find such an awesome situation eh? Definitely not in this wicked and ungodly world! Only with our heavenly Father are those things truly possible. 

And Jesus said it quite plainly. ‘Enter ye in at the strait (narrow) gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait (how narrow) is the gate and narrow (difficult or confined) is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.’ (Matt.7:13-14) 

Yes friends, the proper life to live here on earth is a disciplined, self-controlled one based on Christian principles. It also has the added advantage of securing you eternal life with Jesus. NO OTHER kind of life has that amazing benefit! 

There are only two choices my people, the broad path that leaders to destruction, or the narrow one that leads to Jesus! 

The scholars offer these explanations. ‘7:13-14. Enter ye in at the strait gate (narrow) means that one must come through the narrow gate in order to reach the path that leads to eternal life. 

Though many are on the broad…way, that leadeth to destruction (eternal separation from God) the gate that leads to life is so narrow that few there be that find it. Christ Himself is both the gate and the way (cf. John 14:6), and God enables men to find that gate (c.f. John 6:44).’ 

There you have it my brethren: the Christian life is the best, but it’s not easy, and you have to seek it diligently and stay steadfast along that narrow way that leads to Jesus and eternal life. 

And since we all have already made that wise and awesome decision to seek and stay on the narrow path, we can now go home declaring our true identity in our Tuesday Mantra. 

So let’s shout it out loudly, proudly, and sincerely: ‘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!’ 

What a wonderful group of people we are my faithful brethren! (smile) Now let’s go out and share that wonderful LOVE of our friend Jesus with the world! Much LOVE!

…I am the way, the truth, and the life…no man cometh unto the Father…but by ME… (John 14:6)