David Sheppard, Before He Entered The Ministry ...

David Sheppard, before he entered the ministry and became a much-loved bishop, was a famous cricketer, who played for England. He was once stumped twice in the same Test Match. Once he was stumped by yards, and once by a few inches. He pointed out that in the newspapers next day, it didn’t say “stumped, but only just”. He was out, whether it was by a mile or by an inch. He comments, “Some people miss the kingdom of God by miles. Some miss it by inches. But if you’re out, you’re out.” Paul is saying that we all stand condemned but much loved by God. That’s all our own work. But thankfully, God hasn’t left us in our predicament.

It’s God’s love in all circumstances. The Rev Sandy Millar, Rector of Holy Trinity, Brompton, tells of how he visited a young woman in Holloway Prison. There was only one card pinned up in her cell. He noticed the words: "Happy Birthday” was the printed message and underneath was written, "We wish things could have worked out differently but all our love. Mum and Dad." Sandy Millar comments, "God could have written that about our world.”