In teaching a child, educators are told to rephrase, rephrase, and rephrase. If a child doesn’t get it the first time we say it, find a different way to get the message across.
Repeating the same message the child didn’t get the first time doesn’t help the struggling learner absorb it the next six times.
We are the children God wants to teach. He wants us to learn his lessons so much that he takes the time to tell us over and over what he wants us to know.
Here are seven words from the mouth of God:
Romans 5:8 tells us:
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
In yet different words, we read in John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Revelation 21:4 shares the same riveting message:
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
1 John 4:8 restates God’s position:
“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
Titus 1:2 hopes we finally understand:
“In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began…”
1 Corinthians 6:9 is yet another way God makes his point:
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers…”
Romans 3:23 nudges us one more time to the truth:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”
All of these tell us the same thing in seven different ways. God loves us; he sent his Son to die for us; and he wants us to live a blameless life for him. All he needs us to do is listen and follow his plan. He’s written it down. We call it the Word of God.
God loves us, and he will continue to encourage us to come to him until we take the time to stop and listen.
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