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It Makes You Think “ by
Rev David Randall They have been called “the numbers of
hope” - not because they may be lucky numbers or anything of that kind, but
because they give the Scriptural reference to some words of enormous hope and
good news. It might be contrasted with the
simple phrase “ The original text of the Bible was
not divided into chapters and verses;
these were added later to provide ease of reference - and when we look
at the third chapter of John’s gospel and verse 16 there, we find these great
words of hope. It says: “God so loved the world that he gave his
one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have
eternal life”. Its word about perishing reminds us
that this life will come to an end. Whatever
the achievements of this life, the poet’s word is true - “The paths of glory
lead but to the grave”. But here in
John There is also a wonderful love. It speaks of the love of God for this world
and for the people of this world.
This world is such a mixture - a mixture of good and evil, of love and
hate, of light and darkness. And the
Bible speaks of a God who loves the world even in all its confusion, need and
sin. It is this love of God that is
behind the whole message of the Bible as God’s rescue plan for a world gone
wrong. For it speaks not only of a wonderful
hope and a wonderful love but also of a wonderful remedy -
the way of faith, faith in Jesus Christ, God’s Son and the Saviour of
all who will receive his gift of salvation. Another book of the Bible (2 Timothy),
in its And my other The whole of that text is: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms,
hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God”. It’s going on week after week in
Christian gatherings here and throughout the world as people joyfully take in
God’s word. The answer to “ |
