Affirmation of God: The Scriptures give me hope.

Sometimes we just don’t act very nice do we? I don’t, just ask my wife and children. I certainly do not walk the talk at times. Guess what, no one does. I know, I know I can not speak for everyone. All I can tell you is about me. I have enjoyed Romans15 today because I have felt like Paul was clearly relating to us mere humans. 

We are to be careful at how we act in front of others but we also need to be real. I am going to steal a line that I recently saw in a comment thread from an online acquaintance named Eric who has a blog at http://journeyintogod.wordpress.com who was commenting at another online friend Donald’s thread at http://projectmathetes.wordpress.com. Sorry folks that I am not savvy enough to make clean links but hopefully you will go to these two blogs and see some amazing dialogue. 

Eric made a statement that hit me hard and I have seen it play over and over again with other conversations since then. In a dialogue about today’s church, Eric made the point that it should be about the LOVE of Jesus and not about being RIGHT. We as humans have the tendency to have to be right. I know I like to be right. But is there a chance I am wrong? Sure there is, I prove it over and over again. However I have experienced that there are people afraid to be real and afraid to be honest because they have to prove they are right. 

I have been saved but I am still human. I used to wonder, uh o God this didn’t take. What is wrong with me? I have found now that what was wrong with me was just how I went about seeking God and deepening that relationship. In searching to know God and studying His word, I have fallen in love with the Scriptures. 

Don’t take me wrong, I had read the Scriptures before but I think I did it out of duty or did it to check off some kind of to do list. This time around I did it to know Jesus. I needed Him. I needed to know Him and He did not disappoint. Actually, He has made the scriptures come alive. What does that have to do with me not acting very nice and about church people having to be “right”? 

I have found hope in the scriptures from the characters I have found there. A humanness that wasn’t afraid to be honest. Like Paul says in Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. (NKJ) These scriptures in the Holy Bible were written for our learning and in them we can learn, patience, comfort and hope. I do find hope in them, do you? Today’s Affirmation was found: The Scriptures give me hope. 

I find hope in knowing that the characters in the bible struggled with thorns in the flesh just as I do. They sometimes weren’t very nice, sometimes afraid, and sometimes confused, just like me. Yet, they were empowered by the King of kings and Lord of lords to do His will. Through it all we find a hope. We are shown through the encouragement and examples of others how we are supposed to act. The ways we should conduct ourselves yet, above all told to show love. 

Jesus said and showed that love trumped law. Show the love by loving your neighbor as yourself. Here in Romans 15:8.I love Paul’s statement: For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— (NKJ)

No, I will not dare speak of things Christ has not accomplished through me. He has NOT made be perfect, yet he has given me love. I do dare to speak with you about that. Because He first loved me I can love those around me. 

I will accept others as Christ accepted me as Paul stated in Hebrews 15:7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. (NKJ) Christ received me with I wasn’t easy to receive. He loved me when I wasn’t loveable.  But you know what? He did just like the scriptures promised here in Romans 15: Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, (NASB). He is the God who gives us perseverance and encouragement. We can find this encouragement and this hope in the scriptures. I am thankful that all I have to share is what I know. I know I will continue to find scriptures that help me share with others that God expects us to love and not be right. What great treasures we find in scriptures. I hope you find hope there too! Do you have any thoughts? 

Tom Raines

Christian Affirmations 4 Life