Unlimited: Hope Through Their Example
Nov 7, 2023 416
so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope (Romans 15:4b).
The apostle has just told us that,
everything that was written in the past was written to teach us…
Now, notice what Paul tells us was the central purpose of the stories of the Old Testament.
Some people see in them an impossible example for us to follow, or a divine attempt to terrify us into submission to God. However, the main purpose of the stories of the Old Testament is a positive one: to encourage us to endure, and to give us hope.
The hope that the Scriptures teaches us is a firm and present hope in Jesus our Saviour.
The opposite of what Paul is teaching us here is give up and to say,
“I’ve had enough. I can’t go on. I can’t take it anymore!”
When we learn the lessons of the Old Testament Scriptures we understand that God permits the trials to come upon us that will perfectly fit his design for our growth and maturity. When we are facing trials, we should see them as an opportunity to see God’s presence and work in our lives. Instead of thinking of what we can’t do, we should think more of what Christ did, and of what he can do in our lives.
The hope that the Scriptures teaches us is neither an abstract nor intellectual hope, but instead a firm and present hope in Jesus our Saviour.
Spiritual Application
What story from the Old Testament do you find the most encouraging? Why? How you apply it to your life?
Ketchakah
Nov 7, 2023
Hello, Christians put way too much emphasis into the OT. But this does not mean there is not wisdom to be gained from it. The stories of the OT are pretty much examples of what NOT to do in life and how these things can affect us. However, even if we are not kings and rulers, we all share these same tendencies of what the people went through in the OT days. To gain insight from these stories and make them more then just unrelated ramblings of a culture that we are not a part of, we have to learn the underlying meaning and purpose of these lessons and how they can directly relate to us. Like the people written of in the OT, we share many of these same traits, and this is the point. The big lesson that we gain from the OT is that God still loves us despite our failings. Knowing that, what we need to do now, is not focus on the stories of the OT and the people they speak of, but focus on how these stories relate to OUR lives and circumstances. We are not David or Moses, but the things that these people had to deal with, many of us deal with as well. It is the converting the stories that are about others into stories about us and how God loves us regardless that is the lesson of the OT. We must not focus on the direct context of the OT stories, but convert them into relevance for our lives. It has to be personal or there is no meaning at all. How do we do this ? We put ourselves into the story. Every story in the OT will not relate to us, but many can. Sometimes details can be adjusted so they fit our circumstances. For example, I am not a king, but perhaps I am the general manager of a chain of stores. In a way that makes me the king of this store "Kingdom". The stores become towns that I am a king of, the workers, my people. How do I run my kingdom in a wise and fair way. Where did other kings fail ? How can I do better ? Maybe my kingdom is my own household, the purpose is still there. This is the value of the OT. Sure we will fail, but the ultimate lesson is that no matter, God still loves us.
Okurut Martin
Nov 12, 2023
Thanks so much for teaching us the word of God. Am blessed to grasp it from real source.