Robin Lee Hatcher's Write Thinking

the three-sixteens

Back in the late 1970's, as I read through the New Testament several times, I noticed how often certain verses that spoke to me were numbered 3:16. So in the front pages of my Bible, I made a list of them and the point that spoke to me. Here they are:

John 3:16 - God's love for us in Jesus Christ
Luke 3:16 - the baptism in the Holy Spirit
2 Tim 3:16 - the validity of the Bible
Matt 3:16 - the Trinity of God revealed
1 Cor 3:16 - we are the temple of the Holy Spirit
1 John 3:16 - we know Love
1 Tim 3:16 - the mystery of godliness revealed

Are there other 3:16's that have spoken to you?

-rlh-

I am valuable

Last Sunday, when Pastor Tri issued the 90 Day Bible reading challenge to the congregation, he held an old Bible (New American Standard) in his hands. It was the Bible his wife gave to him after he accepted Christ back in the late 1970's. The cover had fallen apart sometime in the past, and he'd made a new cover for it. It looked pretty battered and well-used.

I don't know what happened to my first Bible (1976 - 1980). I lost a lot of my Christian library during a move back in the mid-1980's, and I assume that first Bible was among the books lost. However, I still have the NASB that I started using in May 1980. I've owned many other Bibles since then, but this was the Bible I used during what I would call some of the formative years of my faith. I thought it might be fun/interesting to start a new category of posts that look at notes in the margins and on blank pages from this old Bible.

So here's what I chose for my first post in this category:

Five Reasons Why I'm Valuable

1. Because I was created in the image of God.
2. Because I am loved by my Creator God.
3. Because of the price of my redemption.
4. Because I have a great mission in life.
5. Because of my destiny.

Wow! I don't know about you, but I need that reminder every now and then: I AM VALUABLE. God says I am, and it is impossible for God to lie. I cannot do anything to make Him love me more or to make myself more valuable to Him. From the very start, I was created in His image. He has a purpose for my life. I was born for such a time as this.

Here are the scriptures that support the above: 1 John 3:1-2; Gen 1:26-27; Eph 2:4-5; 1 John 4:16-17; 1 Cor 6:2-3; 1 Peter 2:9-10; John 3:16; 1 Cor 6:20; Jude 14-15; Heb 2:11; Rom 5:8; 1 Cor 7:23; Rev 20:4

Next time you're down on yourself, take a look at these reasons why you are valuable.

In the grip of His grace,
Robin