REFLECTIONS
Think about such things - Philippians 4: 8-9
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Think about such things - Philippians 4: 8-9
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FAITH, HOPE and LOVE
Some thoughts by Bob Spratt - adapted from Nov 2008 Prayer & Newsetter. In 1 Corinthians 13: 13 we are told “…now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love “ This is wonderful news, but sadly as we look at so much brokenness in society today there seem to be lots of people who do not know this. So many times – both inside prison and outside – we find ourselves in conversation with people who say they have no faith. "Nil" is an increasingly popular response from prisoners when they are asked to state their religion or faith group. There may be many reasons for this from just never having given the matter any thought - far too busy doing things that don't seem to need faith - through to imagining a little god they can then write off or laugh about as just a myth. Then there are those who say they have no hope. This can appear quite widespread amongst those who find themselves in prison and is much more likely to be an expression of their experience rather than a glib response to a question. Being unable to see any light at the end of the tunnel can also seem worse at certain times of the year such as Christmas, New Year, birthdays etc. Even those looking forward to release, if they have nowhere to live, no job prospects, loads of debt, etc., can feel totally out of their depth. This sense of hopelessness is sometimes a contributing factor in re-offending as those who are experiencing it try desperately to keep their heads above water. In these circumstances, a bit of love would appear to be needed but even here there is disappointment as instant satisfaction is sometimes mistaken for love and takes the place of long term commitment. So we come back to 1 Corinthians 13. Here we read something about what love really is! It is described as being patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered and also that it keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love, we are told, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres – in fact “love never fails”. Please pray that those who claim to be faithless and/or to feel completely without hope may come into the real experience of a living faith, bringing with it a sure hope and that through their contact with Christian believers they may see some reflection of the love of the Lord Jesus. Through the loving prayer, work and words of all of God’s people may they be drawn to the One who loves them so much that He gave His all so that they can be fully and freely forgiven and start a brand new life complete with faith, hope and love. |
In case you don't have a Bible handy and would like to read the whole of the chapter we have copied it here for you from the New International Version - the one the Gideons present to people, place in hotels etc.
_____________________________________________ 1. If I speak with the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging symbol. 2. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, andif I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5. It is not rude, it is not sel-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9. For we know in part and we prophecy in part, 10. but when perfections comes, the imperfect disappears. 11. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child, When I became a man, I put childish things behind me. 12. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13 (NIV)
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IS CHANGE POSSIBLE?
In circumstances where prisons are fuller than ever and money to run them is hard to come by, the special needs of individuals can be lost sight of. Instead, real people can become mere numbers more>>>
In circumstances where prisons are fuller than ever and money to run them is hard to come by, the special needs of individuals can be lost sight of. Instead, real people can become mere numbers more>>>