Well here we are once again friends, coming in from Joburg, South Africa, the Cradle of Civilization, Mother Africa! Yeh, the supposedly dark continent, that’s where it all began! And if the continent was so dark, how come people like the Egyptians had such superior scientific, technical and medical knowledge long before human life even existed on the supposed bright continents eh? Just more brainwashing in the evil and greedy process of having certain people think that they are less than they truly are. But that’s another story for another time! (smile)
Meanwhile, on the travel scene, last night I had dinner at an African restaurant in some part of Joburg, had some African fare, don’t ask me exactly what. (smile) Then today I’ve just returned from a tour of the suburbs of Joburg and Soweto…and the latter is as bad as claimed. Well there’s a rich section with beautiful, expensive houses, then a middle classish section with so so houses, then the tin shacks.
And when we say tin, we mean galvanize all round, from top to bottom, so that it hot as hell in the summer, and cold as ever in the winter! And it has some five to six thousand families living there…Steups! I don’t even want to get into it nuh, because it hurt mih heart to see such beautiful children living in such deplorable conditions – dire poverty. Ah, but what to do eh, it’s the reality of the situation? Not a whole lot, besides make a small donation that won’t go very far.
Anyway, today is Friday, so let’s hear what the ordinary workingman has to say for himself. And as always, he’s ebullient and optimistic: ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday yes! The week finally done, and the weekend starting! Nothing could be nicer! And it don’t matter even if today is Friday the 13th, because that is only a ole wives tale! Not a blooming thing going to happen if yuh walk under a ladder, or a black cat cross yuh path! They just want to frighten people!
But they not frightening this man nuh. I doing what I want, when I want, regardless of it is Friday the 13th, or Monday the 13th! Setta foolish people and them! Look, all yuh doh vex me here today with that nonsense nuh, when I just planning how I going to enjoy my Friday evening, and the rest of my weekend! Thank God for Fridays and weekends yes, regardless of the date!’
Hurray for the workingman! At least he has enough sense to discard those ole wives tales about Friday the 13th! But unfortunately, some believers pay serious attention to them, although they claim to believe so staunchly in Christ. However, be all that as it may, let’s sing our weekend song, our Friday Chant. As one strong voice, with a sincere and true sense of purpose…let’s chant!
‘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!’
Oh my faithful brethren, our glorious Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ has promised never to leave nor forsake us (Heb.13:5; Deut.31:6,8; Josh.1:5) so there is no need to worry about what others might do to us. Consequently, it is in our best interest to do as the author of Hebrews so wisely advises: ‘Let us hold fast the profession (confession) of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)’
Ah mih people, there’s nothing better or more important for us believers to do, than to stand strong and steadfast in our faith, because our God and Saviour have promised to look after all those who surrender to and trust them, and they NEVER break their promises! And Bruh Paul in his infinite wisdom has also encouraged several churches re the faithfulness of God. Let’s look at a couple of those scriptures nuh.
This one from his first letter to the church at Corinth. ‘God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (1 Cor.1:9) And why would God put Himself out of the way, break His own heart for us by sacrificing His One Son, then renege on His promises eh? No reason whatsoever my people! What the Lord begins, He finishes! ‘Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform (complete) it until the day of Jesus.’ (Phil.1:6) And yuh know what friends, our God has begun a good work in each and every believer, so we know that He’s always in our corner! Glory be!
And Bruh Paul said, without the faintest doubt, to the Thessalonians: ‘Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.’ (1 Thess.5:24) What a wonderful God we serve and worship precious saints of Christ! No leaving nor forsaking; steadfast and faithful right down to the wire! With all of that in mind then, our best step after sincerely believing that God is faithful is to do as the author of Hebrews continues after our Bit: ‘And let us consider one another to provoke unto (stir up) LOVE and to good works.’ (Heb.10:24)
Yes friends, encouraging others to show LOVE and do good works is being Christ-like, because those are the things Christ did for and with us when He lived here on earth, and we ought to follow His wise and worthwhile example. For as the scholars tell us: ‘It is easy to stir up hatred and godless deeds; it takes much more to stir up another to LOVE and good works.’ And all of God’s children said a loud and proud ‘Amen!’
So why don’t we go out and put it into action today nuh, it will make Christ so proud of us! Much LOVE!
…the best remedy for complacency…to stir up each other…to LOVE and good works…
SCRIP-BITS 