The Necessity for Christians to Retain Strong Faith in Christ, while Persisting in Prayer, and NOT Losing Heart even in the Face of Injustice or Delay!

Luke 18:8b.        ‘Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?’

So we’ve come to the first Sunday after Easter… And what now? Well, we keep on being passionate about Jesus; His death, resurrection and the promise of salvation and eternal life those two events made possible! It’s time to be very concerned about our world and the great amount of negative stuff that’s overtaken it. If we truly LOVE and appreciate all that He’s done for us, then it’s our bounden duty to try and reduce the negativity; the evil and ungodliness in our world.

And to help us do that, we’re going to sing a most appropriate song titled, ‘Today I’m Gonna Try And Change The World.’ It’s a song released in 2010 by Canadian Country Music Artist, Johnny Reid, one that all believers’ ought to take to heart right now and staunchly put into action, for that’s the only way we’re going to turn things around. So, without further ado, let’s offer our sweet sacrifices of praise in a soulful, sincere and heartfelt mid-tempo version of the song. 

And we’ll begin with the ‘(Chorus: Today I’m gonna try and change the world Gonna take it one day at a time I’ve made my resolution I’ve opened up my eyes Today I’m gonna try and change the world.) I’m gonna say hello to my neighbor Gonna greet him with a smile Shake the hand of a stranger Sit and talk for a while Gonna tell someone I love them From the bottom of my heart Today I’m gonna try and change the world.

(Chorus) Gonna make sure my children Know there’s a right and wrong I’ll never turn my back On those of us who need someone Always gonna try to see myself Through another’s eyes Today I’m gonna try and change the world. (Chorus: Today I’m gonna try and change the world Gonna take it one day at a time I’ve made my resolution I’ve opened up my eyes Today I’m gonna try and change the world…Yes,  I’ve made my resolution, I’ve opened up my eyes Today I’m gonna try and change the world Not for me, but for those I’ll leave behind I’ve made my resolution Gonna change it one day at time Today I’m gonna try and change the world. Yes, Today I’m gonna try and change the world…one day at a time.’ 

Oh friends, let’s hope we were not simply paying lip service as we sang that wonderful song, because I’m sure it would break Jesus’ heart, since His great desire is for us to indeed change this evil and ungodly world as much as we can! And my fellow believers, He is depending on us to keep faith very much alive on the earth until He returns, as He asks this question at the end of the parable on the persistent widow. ‘Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?’ (Luke 18:8b)

And as this commentary explains: ‘It is a rhetorical inquiry, suggesting that true, enduring faith will be rare or under severe strain during the end times, encouraging believers to remain faithful and prayerful. The question implies that a large part of humanity may have lost faith, rather than an abundance of it being present. Jesus is encouraging a specific type of faith—one that persists in prayer and does not lose heart, even in the face of injustice or delay. It highlights the necessity of trusting in God’s LOVE and justice, even when it seems absent or delayed. The verse is a warning and a motivation for believers to maintain their faith until His return.’ 

Oh my people, what more can I add to that eh? Not much. Except to say that from the way we’ve allowed the evil one to perpetrate his ungodly machinations without much pressure, with very little resistance or push back on our part, we’re definitely not shaping up to be the kind of followers Jesus truly desires and desperately needs. However, let’s not forget what the author of Hebrews tells us, as he recounts our former days, when our faith was much stronger than it currently is.

‘Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience (endurance), that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry (delay). Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition (destruction): but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.’ (Heb. 10:35-39)

Now there’s a very inspiring scripture passage! And it’s calling us to be faithful followers of Christ, to be patient, to endure to the end. That was quoted from the prophet Habakkuk, as the Lord told him. ‘Write the vision and make it plain upon tables (tablets), that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted (proud) is not upright in him: but the just shall live by faith.’ (Hab. 2:2-4)

So my people, whatever the Lord has promised, will eventually come to pass, but in the Lord’s timing, not ours. Our part is to wait faithfully and patiently until it comes true. But while we’re waiting, we must also put up a serious fight against the enemy, not let him make any further inroads into the culture and power structure of our world. And I know that only a handful of us are in positions to make big changes to our world, but all of us can make small ones, and as the Jamaicans say, ‘one one cocoa full basket.’ Yes, many small changes eventually become big ones.

And how do we do that? Simply by doing what the song we sang today says. Open up our eyes and see the many problems that we face. Then make a strong resolution to change them, one day at a time, by doing things like saying hello to our neighbours, greeting them with a big, genuine smile; shaking the hand of a stranger as you sit and talk to him for a while. And what about telling someone you LOVE them from the bottom of your heart? Now that alone would make a great difference in so many relationships. 

Obviously, we’re also going to teach our children the difference between right and wrong, while never turning our backs on anyone who needs our help, and seeing ourselves through the eyes of others, thinking of their situation rather than ours. And one big reason we should try and change our world one day at a time is not for us, but for those we leave behind, so that they will have a better world than we have.

So please my fellow believers, on this first Sunday after Easter in this year of 2026, it’s imperative that we take time to ponder the situations of both our world and ourselves, and as obedient disciples of Christ, make the resolution to implement whatever changes we can, in whatever time we have left to us, for that’s the godly thing to do! Much LOVE!

…all Christians need to do…is to put the major commandments into action…LOVE the Lord…and your neighbour as yourself… 

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Today’s Scrip-Bit   11 May 2022 Psalm 125:2.

Psalm 125:2.      As the mountains are round about (surround) Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. 

Well, lovely days seem to be here again friends! Glory Hallelujah! But unfortunately, the dandelions, who don’t miss a trick, (smile) are also pushing their weedy yellow heads up through the new green spring grass, causing much dissatisfaction to lawn owners. But although they are considered weeds, I like them, like the bright yellow colour they provide to the fresh spring atmosphere. 

But best of all, with these warmer days arriving, I will now be able to sit on my porch in the afternoons and watch the world go by, as well as sit there in the quiet of the early morning hours and commune with my wonderful Maker. And it’s an interesting communication, because we don’t talk much, we just let the silence wash over us, and the beauty of nature fill our souls with a peaceful joy. 

That’s one thing I miss a lot during the many cold and dreary winter months. And why shouldn’t we just sit in quiet and peaceful companionship eh, when as the song says, ‘All my hope is in Jesus. Thank God my yesterday’s gone, All my sins are forgiven, And I’ve been washed by the blood.’ 

Mama Mia! Life couldn’t get any better than that my people! And that’s what we all get when we accept Christ as Lord and Saviour; forgiven sins and a soul washed and cleansed in His Holy blood. We also receive His awesome peace and joy, and the promise of salvation and eternal life with Him in heaven or wherever He chooses to reside (smile). 

So why do so many of us refuse to accept His invitation to come to Him and lay all our burdens and heavy loads at His feet and receive the rest for both our bodies and souls that He alone can provide? The overwhelming refusal of His Great Invitation just boggles my imagination, for the enemy has nothing to compare with what Jesus’ offers. ‘For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ Satan’s yoke and burden are exactly the opposite of Jesus’ – hard and heavy. So why are so many of us still fighting ourselves and each other to live under Satan’s hard yoke and heavy burden eh? I wish I knew, then I might be able to convince us of the folly of that decision. 

Remember, whatever Satan enables us to have down here, like earthly wealth and power, we cannot take when we depart this life, and we’ll just end up in the fiery halls of hell with him. But the things that we get from Jesus, like peace, joy, LOVE and salvation, we carry them into eternal life with us, to dwell with Him right down through eternity. There’s nothing to compare with that friends! But I guess that our sinful nature is so strong within us that we like to dabble in it, enjoy its fleshly lusts, it’s pride and greed, it’s strife and resentment, as the evil one feeds our minds with his iniquitous thoughts and schemes. 

And yes, we all know that it’s not easy to live a righteous life in this sinful world, constantly bombarded by the enemy’s devious and evil machinations, but if we sincerely turn to Jesus, He will surely help us with those problems. That’s His faithful promise. Bruh Paul wrote it thus to the church at Corinth. ‘There hath no temptation taken (overtaken) you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear (endure) it.’ (1 Cor. 10:13) 

Yes my fellow believers, in simple terms, we all fall under the burden of temptation, but our caring and compassionate God will not allow us to bear more temptation than we can handle. He will either find a way for us to escape it, or give us the necessary tools to endure it. In any case, no temptation will overwhelm us if we put our faith and trust in Jesus. He will give us the wherewithal to handle them all. And these words of encouragement from Psalm 125 – God surrounds his people – just add to our faith and strength in Christ Jesus. 

Please read with me. ‘’They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed (moved), but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about (surround) Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. For the rod of the wicked (the sceptre of wickedness) shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous (the land allotted to the righteous); lest the righteous put forth (reach out) their hands unto iniquity.’ (Ps. 125:1-3) 

That’s gospel truth my people! And please remember what Cousin Sol says about iniquity workers. ‘He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity (trouble): and the rod (sceptre) of his wrath (anger) shall fail.’ (Prov. 22:8) It’s for certain sure that the iniquity workers will eventually be destroyed when the Lord thinks it’s time. So mih bredin, how much more do we need before we believe eh, before we surrender completely to Jesus, our Maker, our God, Creator, Provider, Saviour and Friend? He even went so far as to come to earth as a man and selflessly sacrificed His sinless life so that we could be forgiven, made righteous, be reconciled to the Father and have the option of salvation. 

And we’ll let this awesome truth He spoke linger in our hearts as we wind down today. ‘Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ (John 15:13) And He called us friends before He went to His death on the cross on our behalf.  I don’t know what else to say to convince us that Jesus is real and His promises are ever-faithful. As Jesus also said: ‘He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.’ (Matt. 11:15) Words of eternal wisdom from our Saviour. 

Now for those of us who believe and are sincerely trying to live for Jesus, let’s go home declaring (yeahhh!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one strong and confident voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

Now don’t forget that if we endure with Jesus to the end, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine. So please, please, let’s endure nuh mih people! Much LOVE!

…God has faithfully promised…never to leave nor forsake us…and He keeps all of His promises… 

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