40 Days of Encouragement
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of Encouragement
Day 17 | SCRIPTURAL ENCOURAGEMENT
40 Days of Encouragement
Day 17 | SCRIPTURAL ENCOURAGEMENT
SCRIPTURAL ENCOURAGEMENT
Romans 15:4
“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.” (AMP)
As Christians, we live under the New Testament Covenant and not under the law of the old. Nevertheless, the Old Testament was "inspired by God and is profitable" to us today too.
In it, we learn of saints of old who endured difficulties we can hardly imagine, yet the Lord encouraged them and gave them HOPE and CONFIDENCE through His promises.
As I ponder that, I wonder how many reading this devotional in the 21st century are in need of hope, encouragement, and confidence.
The Word of God is fantastic! Written thousands of years ago, it is still relevant and valuable to us today. And that is, of course, because people are still people and problems are still problems whether in Moses' day or today.
The Bible teaches that "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness." (2 Tim 3:16). This verse in Romans furthers that proclamation by teaching that Scripture can give us endurance, encouragement, hope and overflowing confidence BECAUSE of God's promises!
Did your parents ever let you down? Did they promise something and then not do it?
If you're like most people, the answer would be “YES,” because no parent is perfect, yet we – as children – seldom forget a missed promise.
And therein is the problem. We often – without realizing it – dismiss God's promises to us in His Word so as "not get our hopes up." We figure that – eventually – God will let us down as our parents occasionally did.
Don't make that mistake. God is not a man that He should lie. You can bet on it!
Prayer: LORD, I admit I need the encouragement, hope, and confidence that You offer. Help me not ever to doubt You and to read my Bible as a personal letter from You to me and to depend on Your Holy Spirit to teach me the sections I need to learn. Amen.
Romans 15:4
“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.” (AMP)
As Christians, we live under the New Testament Covenant and not under the law of the old. Nevertheless, the Old Testament was "inspired by God and is profitable" to us today too.
In it, we learn of saints of old who endured difficulties we can hardly imagine, yet the Lord encouraged them and gave them HOPE and CONFIDENCE through His promises.
As I ponder that, I wonder how many reading this devotional in the 21st century are in need of hope, encouragement, and confidence.
The Word of God is fantastic! Written thousands of years ago, it is still relevant and valuable to us today. And that is, of course, because people are still people and problems are still problems whether in Moses' day or today.
The Bible teaches that "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness." (2 Tim 3:16). This verse in Romans furthers that proclamation by teaching that Scripture can give us endurance, encouragement, hope and overflowing confidence BECAUSE of God's promises!
Did your parents ever let you down? Did they promise something and then not do it?
If you're like most people, the answer would be “YES,” because no parent is perfect, yet we – as children – seldom forget a missed promise.
And therein is the problem. We often – without realizing it – dismiss God's promises to us in His Word so as "not get our hopes up." We figure that – eventually – God will let us down as our parents occasionally did.
Don't make that mistake. God is not a man that He should lie. You can bet on it!
Prayer: LORD, I admit I need the encouragement, hope, and confidence that You offer. Help me not ever to doubt You and to read my Bible as a personal letter from You to me and to depend on Your Holy Spirit to teach me the sections I need to learn. Amen.