It seems like it’s only been a few weeks since Christmas, but already we’re rapidly approaching Easter. It wasn’t like that in the first century, of course. After the excitement of the virgin birth, the shepherds, and the wise men, there was a 30-year lull, where it must have seemed as though the heightened expectations might come to nothing.
The Christian life can sometimes be like that. One of God’s attributes is patience, and he seems to love developing that in his people. We often find ourselves waiting, and waiting, and waiting, then suddenly — perhaps when we’ve almost given up — God bursts onto the scene and answers our prayers above and beyond our expectations.
In this issue of the magazine, we’ve several examples of that. Jonny Raine begins by reminding us of the simple but life-changing truth that Jesus is alive! Paul Levy follows that with an equally glorious truth — that those who believe in Christ are truly alive, having been born again by the Holy Spirit.
We’ve biblical exposition, too. Nigel Faithfull guides us through what is perhaps the most well-known chapter of the Bible — Psalm 23. We also look at one of the least promising chapters of the Bible — Numbers 2 — and ask: where is Christ in this?
As always, there’s plenty more, such as our regular column from Geoff Thomas, and our continuing series on ‘respectable’ sins. There’s also something of an international flavour, as we take a look at what God is doing in various places around the world. We also mark the three-hundredth anniversary of the death of William Williams (Pantycelyn).
So read on, and as you read, ask God to speak to you and remind you all that he has done.