Interesting that you should bring that up…

Jesus had a habit of answering questions with his own rather challenging questions.

But then God has given us a lot of clues about how to live our lives in relationship with him – and in community.

In the Bible, starting with Genesis, where we find the Ten Commandments we find a good starting point…

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.

2. You shall make no idols.

3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

4. Keep the Sabbath day holy.

5. Honor your father and your mother.

6. You shall not murder.

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10. You shall not covet.

And then throughout the rest of the Bible!

Which is why Wycliffe Bible Translators exists: to enable all peoples to engage with the Bible in a language which speaks to their heart. It’s how God shows us humans how to live in his creation.

So when the young man got up from his bench, saying goodbye to Jesus… I wonder what he did next?

 

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How much is a footballer worth?

What about this for a conversation starter over the weekend?

If Gareth Bale’s services are worth €100 million to Real Madrid, let them pay it.No amount of cash will ever have as much value as a human being has to Jesus. So why do we react so negatively when the skills of a footballer, a human being, are valued so highly in cash? I can’t bring myself to join the clamour that says that Bale is not worth that amount.

Shocked as some may be, I say this because that is not even a smidgen of his real worth to Jesus. It is infinitely less than the valuation placed upon him by the Saviour who values him at the price of his own life.

So writes Colin Green, the author of How to Run a Football Club, in EA’s Friday Night Theology

Colin also says…

Anyone reading this is likewise personally worth more than €100 million.

and…

So if I am never worthless to Jesus, and I am worth the price he paid for me – his own life – then I care a lot less how much I am worth to other people. But I hope they see that I am worth the life of my Saviour. Give Jesus credit for that.

and again…

However, I fancy you could bail (excuse the pun) out the national debt of a small country with the fee and wages now attributable to Gareth Bale.

Or I might suggest… go a good way to financing the translation of the Bible for 1,967 languages without God’s Word.

 

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Bible translation serves the poorest and most disadvantaged

Few people think of Wycliffe Bible Translators as serving the poor and disadvantaged people groups in the world. Here is an article from our website

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ commanded his followers to share the good news with all nations.

Since Scripture is essential to knowing Jesus, it must be translated so that people everywhere can truly understand its message. As directed through the Great Commission, the Church carries the responsibility for Bible translation. Wycliffe serves the Church in this specialized ministry.

History documents the Bible’s profound impact on individuals and societies. Its impact is greatest when written in the “heart language” of a people. Barriers to understanding the gospel are reduced. People grow spiritually. Strong, healthy churches result. Strong churches reach out to their neighbours, which can ultimately transform whole communities.

Wycliffe members often focus on assisting language groups who speak previously unwritten languages. These groups and individuals are preliterate, at least in their mother tongues. Members of groups like these may live outside the mainstream of national life in the countries where they reside, separated by invisible barriers of language and culture.

Wycliffe is willing to serve these communities, including those that are small, seemingly insignificant, remote and difficult to access. As a result, Wycliffe is involved with serving some of the poorest and most disadvantaged people in the world. This is our privilege.

We look forward to seeing people from “every language, tribe and nation” praising Christ in heaven.

Want to help make this happen? Find out how here

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