SCRIP-BITS

Psalm 71:12.     O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.
 
Oh Friends, before we do anything else this Tuesday morning, let’s gratefully acknowledge the Lord’s goodness to us, the very undeserving children of men, by singing this old, but very true ditty: ‘Great is thy faithfulness O Lord. Morning by morning, new mercies I see. All that I needed, thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness Lord, unto me.’ And if that isn’t another gospel truth my people, then I don’t know what is! And talking about gospel truths, there are so many in our articles of faith, that we should never be without at least one, and often several, to hold on to, when our personal faith begins to weaken. In other words, with all the available truths from the Good Book and our own experiences to find strength from, there should never be any real cause for our faith to weaken when we’ve reached a certain level of maturity in Christ Jesus. However, with the crazy downward spiral of our currently confused and troubled world, that’s often easier said than done. But my Friends, today I’m advocating, reassuring, pleading with us to stand strong, to use all the tools of truth that our most excellent God has given or made available to us, so that we can remain steadfast in faith and do the job to which He’s called each and every one of His beautiful and much LOVED children, just like He called His first Son Jesus to sacrifice His sinless life for us. And just as Jesus was obedient to His calling, even unto death, I pray that we all will also be obedient to whatever we are called to do. Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name I pray this. And all God’s wonderful children said a loud and grateful, ‘Amen!’ Yeh mih people, this evil, ungodly world is indeed making it more difficult every day for us to truly embrace and live out our faith with joy and positive assurance. For as John Milton (1608-1671) the renowned English Poet is said to have declared: ‘To know that which lies before us in daily life, is the prime wisdom.’ Now that’s perfectly true, since we can only live one day at a time, and knowing where we’re headed each day is of the utmost importance, if we hope to lead a successful life. But by the same token friends, we can only do that successfully with the help of our heavenly Father. That’s exactly why we often need to do as the psalmist says in our Bit, cry out: ‘O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.’ Yes my fellow believers, be not ashamed, no, never be ashamed or afraid to cry out to our most LOVING, generous and omnipotent God when the pressures of life and this godless world seem to be wearing us down, for that’s what the Father wants and expects from us. Like the psalmist continues, let’s boldly and confidently, but with obvious reverence, entreat the Lord: ‘Let them be confounded (ashamed) and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.’ (Ps.71:13) Now it’s all well and good to cry out for help, but we must also play the part allotted to us. Again, as the psalmist declares: ‘But I will hope continually and will yet praise thee more and more. My mouth shall show forth (proclaim) thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers (limits) thereof. I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.’ (Ps.71:14-16) Ah mih breddren, it’s not easy in this life, and it’s daily getting harder too, but as believers in Christ Jesus, we have the optimum assurance possible that He will never leave or forsake us. He will always bring us through whatever trials He allows to come upon us, often stronger and better off than before. No weapon formed against us will ever prosper or cut us down, because we are true conquerors, especially when wearing His powerful spiritual armour, and wielding the mighty sword of His Word. Our God also promises to be our anchor in the time of storm. Though our ship be battered, our sails torn, our way blinded by darkness, He will be our helmsman and guide us to safety. And when we’re weary and tired of trudging through this life, like the compassionate Father that He is, the Lord will lift us on to His powerful, never weary, never tired shoulders and take us safely home. Oh my brethren, with all those faithful promises of our most wonderful God going for us, how can we not LOVE and worship Him with all our hearts, minds, bodies and spirits eh? And we haven’t even mentioned the two greatest promises; that of salvation and eternal life! So Friends, with such a barrage of promises and weapons available, it’s therefore unthinkable that a true believer should be ever defeated by this earthly life. And today I’m urging us to seriously ponder on all those wonderful promises our awesome God has made us, also on His faithfulness to keep them, and then bring them to work favourably in our lives, as He desires. In Jesus’ name we pray. And all God’s reverent children declared a loud, grateful and joyful, ‘Praise the Lord! Amen!’ Let’s stand strong for Jesus today my fellow believers! Much LOVE!…truly accepting God’s promises…means truly defeating doubt, fear and the anxieties of this world…