Hi Blogger,
It still amazes me that the Bible - that originated in a culture without libraries or even a developed literary culture - keeps the same central storyline over a period of more that 3500 years. What astonishes me even more is the fact that this same storyline is preserved even though the Bible was written by more that 40 writers (organised into 66 books).
That storyline is developed in many different ways but it is essentially this: try hard to do God's law, fail, try again. Try hard, fail, try again. And just as you can't take this rhythm of failure anymore the New Testament comes along and tells us of Jesus Christ that doesn't fail and doesn't need to try again. And then, almost as if without interruption the deadly cycle carries on.
So, how does the Bible change people then if the same cycle just carries on?
2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is God‑breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
The difference in a Christian's life is marked firstly by a deep awareness of our inability to do 'good works'. But far from leaving us in despair, the Bible secondly tries to tell us to look elsewhere for salvation. And it is in looking away from ourselves and trusting in Christ that we begin to change and lead different lives.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to discover in each Biblical story, poem, song or prophecy my own need for a 'good life'. Help me to look away from myself and find it in Christ, the one the whole Bible is ultimately pointing to. Amen
Rev. Kruger de Kock
London
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It still amazes me that the Bible - that originated in a culture without libraries or even a developed literary culture - keeps the same central storyline over a period of more that 3500 years. What astonishes me even more is the fact that this same storyline is preserved even though the Bible was written by more that 40 writers (organised into 66 books).
That storyline is developed in many different ways but it is essentially this: try hard to do God's law, fail, try again. Try hard, fail, try again. And just as you can't take this rhythm of failure anymore the New Testament comes along and tells us of Jesus Christ that doesn't fail and doesn't need to try again. And then, almost as if without interruption the deadly cycle carries on.
So, how does the Bible change people then if the same cycle just carries on?
2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is God‑breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
The difference in a Christian's life is marked firstly by a deep awareness of our inability to do 'good works'. But far from leaving us in despair, the Bible secondly tries to tell us to look elsewhere for salvation. And it is in looking away from ourselves and trusting in Christ that we begin to change and lead different lives.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to discover in each Biblical story, poem, song or prophecy my own need for a 'good life'. Help me to look away from myself and find it in Christ, the one the whole Bible is ultimately pointing to. Amen
Rev. Kruger de Kock
London
You are receiving these emails because you have visited or supported Canada Water Church or Surrey Docks Church, London.
Feel free to respond to this address and ask any questions you like.
Please forward these emails to others, and if you would like to add someone to the mailing list - just reply with their email address.
If you do not want to receive these messages anymore, just reply with 'unsubscribe please' in the subject line.
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