Happy Faces.
There used to be one that I liked. Happy Faces. It was also known by several other names. Compare. Pair-A-Pair. Match-Up. Basically there was two of every type of card picture. There could be as little as twelve cards or as many as forty cards used in the game. All the cards were laid face down and we had to turn them over two at a time. If the cards didn’t match we laid them down again. But if we got two that matched then we “won” them to add to our score. The winner was the person who had won the most amounts of matched pairs.
It was a very good game for children to play as it helped to develop memory skills and the game has now made its way onto television in the form of game shows, etc.
But the game got me thinking about matching up Bible passages that worked together. And when I started to look for matching passages a lot of the bible started to come together. It was difficult at the start because I didn’t know the Bible very well but once I got into the habit of writing side-notes and cross references onto my Bible it became whole lot easier. The Old Testament accounts started to become more revealing when the New Testament message was applied to them. And vice versa.
There’s a word for this. Synoptic. It is loosely derived from the Greek words SYN and OPTIC. “Synoptic” from synchronise (together) and optic (to look). The Books of the Bible, and the Gospels of Jesus should be read “synoptically”, ie all together.
Romans ch15 (4)For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
2nd Timothy ch3 (16)All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (17)that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Romans ch 1 (1)separated to the gospel of God (2)which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, (3)concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
Each Bible passage has its corresponding part is other parts of the Bible. Ie, Psalm 23 – John 10 v1-14 both speak of Jesus being the Good Shepherd. And the Old and New Testaments should be read together also, with one backing the other up.
Hebrews ch1 (1)God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, (2)has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
The church I attended as a small child had its usual mainstream format that you could set your watch by. Start exactly on the hour, a hymn, a prayer, a bible reading, the announcements, another hymn, etc, etc. It was exactly the same every week. However I was too young to realise the when that minister was reading the two bible portions, one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament, that they were always linked together to form the subject of his sermon. I never paid much attention then, but I wish I had a list of them now.
So, when you read your bible, always try and remember those other bits that you have read before. Get into the habit of making little Bible notes and cross references in your margins. Eventually, as time goes by, you will start to see some patterns emerge that are personal to you. They become like a little paper trail of your “Journey with Jesus”.
Standing on the promises of Christ, my King,
Through eternal ages let his praises ring;
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of Christ, my Saviour;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.
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