Through The Endurance Taught In The Scriptures And The Encouragement They Provide, We Have Hope

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.
”‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:4‬ ‭NKJV‬
‬https://www.bible.com/114/rom.15.4.nkj

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God’s Word is living and powerful, and knowledge of it has affect on our attitude toward the present and the future.
The more we know about God and what He has done in the past, the greater confidence we shall have about what He will do in future, and that knowledge gives us hope.
Furthermore, taking in God’s Word changes the way one thinks, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
God’s Word reveals who we are and how we think, and actively works within to bring positive change in our character that over time we become more and more Christ like in our thinking and decisions.
Study is just one part of becoming closer to God and receiving His peace; if we are to expect change in our daily lives, we must be willing to change, to turn away from the lust of the flesh toward God.
We must die to our old sinful ways and be born again into God’s family. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.””
‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
My brethren, we must be right with God by our good deeds and actions; we must cooperate with God by following His leading and accepting His discipline, and making every effort to regularly take in His Word; it cannot be active within us if we haven’t taken it in, chewed it over, and digested it by meditating on it (PSALM 1:2-3).
Furthermore, whilst we can gain unlimited knowledge by study, understanding of God’s Word can only come from Him. Ask, and it will be given.
Jesus is ready to make a way for you, saying, ““Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
My beloved, we really must make time for daily study, for “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
To grow in Christ, we must make time for Him, to pray in private and get to know Him and build relationship with Him.
Relationship is built on quality time together in private. Furthermore, it is through relationship that we come to trust and appreciate exactly who Jesus is and what He done for us; we gain understanding of the love He has for us, and are able to love ourselves and others because He loved us first (1 JOHN 4:19).
It is knowing Him that gives us the desire to worship and praise Him, and join His body of people the church to serve Him and become totally dependent on Him. Knowing Christ is life changing and eternal and brings peace of mind; that is God’s peace that surpasses all understanding and guards our hearts and minds through Christ (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7).
Having said all that, neither good works, nor holiness can save us from the wrath of God, it is by faith alone that we are saved. In deed, we cannot please God without faith (HEBREWS 11:6).
My beloved, it is impossible to be saved by works or any other source except Jesus, because we have already sinned, and Jesus Christ is the One who paid our debt.
When a person breaks the speed limit and the camera catches him, he has to pay the fine, but if someone else pays the fine, then we are freed from the punishment.
That is how it is in this world. We have all broken the law and the camera has caught every single one of us, and the fine is our blood.
But Christ died on a cross, spilling His own blood to pay your’s and my fine.
Furthermore, He went down into hades (man’s grave), preaching to the dead, and then on the third day was risen, not only paying the debt, but also defeating death once and for all time, that all who believe on Him shall be saved (1 CORINTHIANS 15:3-4).
“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.”
‭‭I Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Since Christ died to pay the debt of sin, surely we cannot continue in it.
Furthermore, since Christ died for all people (2 PETER 3:9), surly, we should share that Good News at every opportunity, giving up the things of this world to live for Him who saved us.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.