SCRIP-BITS

Proverbs 1:7.    The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 
 
Well hello there all you fine, frolicking, fun-LOVING, faithful Friends in Christ Jesus! (smile) It’s a new day, and Christ is starting it off with new mercies, blessings, forgiveness etc. So let’s also start it off on a new footing nuh. Let’s wipe the slate clean of all and any worries, concerns, fears or anxieties that plagued us yesterday. And the best way to do that is by beginning our day with God. You’d be surprised how far a little praise and worship on your rising goes towards helping us have good, productive days. And I want to help us start today afresh with some truthful and encouraging words from Dr. Samuel Shoemaker, a prominent American churchman. I discovered them a few days ago in my Hour of Power Devotional by Robert H Schuller. What’s strange and interesting about the upcoming quote and the one I recently shared, ‘God Needs Us,’ is that I’ve been reading this devotional for several years now, but this is the first time I can ever remember seeing either of them. Hn! I guess the Lord just made me aware of them so I can share them. Anyway, here is the encouraging and uplifting exhortation of Dr. Shoemaker. ‘Religion can never be the answer to human problems. All of the religions of the world are inadequate. Christ alone is the answer. Christ alone understands. Christ alone forgives. Christ alone eliminates your guilt. Christ alone saves and then assures you that you are God’s child and the most wonderful person possible! Christ alone fills the human heart with LOVE – joy – peace – self-confidence. No wonder a genuine Christian really LOVES himself.’ And that’s all the gospel truth my people! Remember we ought to first LOVE our God, then our neighbours as ourselves. So it logically follows, that to fulfill the last part, we have to also LOVE ourselves, otherwise we’d not be in a position to LOVE our neighbours, and believing and trusting in Jesus gives us the ability to do it all. How wonderful is our Lord and Saviour eh! He is without comparison! And all God’s people let rise a joyful shout to heaven: ‘Oh bless you Lord Jesus! We LOVE You and praise Your Holy Name! Amen!’ Yes mih Friends, Jesus is our be all and end all! That brings us to our Bit, one of the most important verses in the entire Bible. ‘The fear (reverential awe) of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.’ Wow! True Words of Wisdom my brethren! That’s where it all begins; everything in a believer’s life starts with a reverential fear of our omnipotent God. Now let’s hear some views on that from the scholars: ‘The fear of the Lord means submission to the Lord and His revelation. When one is afraid of something, he either runs from it or submits to it. The latter idea is in view here. It is a healthy fear, like the fear of electricity or the fear of one’s parents, which causes one to act in an appropriate manner. The beginning does not mean that the fear of the Lord is left behind in the course of acquiring wisdom, but that it is the controlling principle of wisdom.’ So Friends, it’s not like we’re scared of God and thus need to run away from Him. But on the contrary, we’re scared in the sense that He’s all powerful and can save us from anything that comes against us, including ourselves. So instead we run to Him to gain all the good stuff He has set aside for those who truly LOVE, trust, believe and surrender their hearts, souls, minds and bodies to His wise, all-knowing, merciful, forgiving and ever-LOVING will. What can be better than that eh Friends? Absolutely NOTHING! Therefore, in light of that wise and glorious statement, for us to show true wisdom, we ought to bring our weak and sinful human selves under God’s protective umbrella, which will enable us to live godly, prosperous lives, both here on earth and in heaven above. It’s true that we’re supposed to learn from our mistakes, but my people, shunning the Lord God Jehovah is one mistake we can’t afford to make, because He can call us home or return in glory anytime, and if we’re not right with Him, then crapaud smoke we pipe. We’ll end up lost in Hades forever with Lucifer; eternally separated from Jesus. And my brethren, let me tell you, that’s the worst fate that can ever befall a human being! So let’s get smart nuh and turn to Jesus, dedicate our lives to Him, so that he can imbue us with His knowledge, understanding and LOVE, that will enable us to truly LOVE our God, LIVE our FAITH and SPREAD His wonderful Word as we ought to! More on this tomorrow, if we don’t read our names in the obits. So get right with Jesus today, just in case you read your name in the obits tomorrow. It’s very possible. Much LOVE!…we can’t ever say it too often…to know, know know Him…is to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Him…just to know He cares…makes it all worthwhile…to know, know, know Him…is to truly LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Him…