Above Only Daily Devotional http://cgmglobal.org/aboveonly Monday, JULY 9 Receiving Hope from God's Word Romans 15:4 (GNB & NIV), John 5:39 (NLT)

Above Only Daily Devotional
http://cgmglobal.org/aboveonly

Monday, JULY 9

Receiving Hope from God's Word

Romans 15:4 (GNB & NIV), John 5:39 (NLT)
Everything written in the Scriptures was written to teach us, in order that we might have hope through the patience and encouragement which the Scriptures give us. *For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. *“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!”

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you realize that the scriptures Apostle Paul was referring to in our first text above are scriptures of the Old Testament? When Jesus indicated, in our last text above, that the scriptures point to Him, He too was referring to the scriptures of the Old Testament. So many believers avoid reading the Old Testament, but the reason God graciously made the scriptures of both the Old and New Testament available to us is so that we will have hope and be taught and encouraged to be patient and trust in Him. When we don't understand God's nature and intentions, it is easy to become discouraged when we study some scriptures in the Old Testament. But when we see and understand God's heart of love and plan of redemption, our hearts will be filled with hope.

The law and things of the Old Testament were a shadow of good things to come, Heb.10:1. That reality is in Christ, Col. 2:17. Don't jump into negative conclusions when studying the scriptures. Be patient and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal God's real nature and intentions to you. Cast a wide net as you study the scriptures and allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate how they point to Christ and God's plan for our redemption. Our memories have a way of affecting our countenance, Lam.3:19-26. Instead of remembering negative experiences in your past, remember how God showed His grace and mercy to people in the Old Testament and acknowledge that because of Christ, God will show you a greater dimension of such grace and mercy.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, by Your Spirit, please show me Your true nature and intentions and fill my heart with hope as I read the scriptures.

BIBLE IN A YEAR READING PLAN: JOB 38-40; ACTS 16:1-21

Empowered to Succeed...