Thursday, June 3, 2021
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8).
A True Source of Hope For Believers by Sam Nobles
So many Christians are guilty of approaching the Bible like they would an encyclopedia; believing it to be an exhaustive list of human problems and divine remedies.
The truth is, you might not find anything referenced if you go to the Scriptures looking for specific difficulties like a midlife crisis, the dangers of social media, life on Mars, or a global pandemic.
Sadly, when this is the case, many choose to turn to other sources for guidance, and only opt to use the Bible when it speaks plainly about certain issues.
On the other end of the spectrum, believers also make the mistake of bending and twisting verses and passages of Scripture to try and make the Bible say something it doesn't.
Both of these mistakes fail to understand what the Bible is and how it works in the life of believers. The Bible is an astonishing story of redemption with divine theological foundations that influences every human life.
Both of these mistakes fail to understand what the Bible is and how it works in the life of believers. The Bible is an astonishing story of redemption with divine theological foundations that influences every human life.
Therefore, the Bible may not explicitly address every experience you will encounter during your lifetime, but it will provide meaning and offer significance to the most critical issues you face.
The Bible reveals to its readers a real world, full of real people, who all have shared the same problem for thousands of years - sin.
The Bible reveals to its readers a real world, full of real people, who all have shared the same problem for thousands of years - sin.
The pages of Scripture invites us into the lives of actual people where we can evaluate their ideas, desires, and decisions. It is in these corridors of evaluation that God confronts and exposes us for our own sinfulness.
The Bible reveals to its readers a real God, who provides real hope, to real people through Jesus Christ.
The revelation of God, found in Scripture, is the only place to find true hope for absolutely every aspect of life.
Government, education, philosophy, sociology, and psychology all claim to be able to bring about redemption, but they all fall short.
The death of Jesus would have not been needed if any of these systems had been able to deal with the far-reaching and destructive consequences of sin.
The Bible draws me to the hope that only a Redeemer can provide. There really is no way for me to deal with the world around me if there is no hope for the sin that dwells within me.
Scripture to Claim:
“ Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2).
