Every Promise in the Book is Mine!

Context teaches us what God said. Faith teaches us to trust the God who said it.

Can we talk about something?

I saw a post last night that said, "Just because a promise is in the Bible doesn't mean God made that promise to YOU." ( and alot more was said that had me reeling) And I have been arguing it in my head since.

   Now before somebody comes at me with context, YES! Context matters! We absolutely need to understand who God was speaking to, why He was speaking, and what was happening at the time.( I get it...I yell context alot. Especially as a woman preacher that gets certain scriptures thrown at me all the time. CONTEXT MATTERS)

      But here's where I struggled with this.....

   When did understanding Scripture become a reason to discourage people from believing God? Im going somewhere with this..Stick with me.

Let's talk about Hannah.

    Hannah was barren, meaning she couldn't have children. But she so very desperately wanted a child. She cried out to God, and He answered her prayer. Now, does that mean every woman who struggles with infertility is guaranteed a baby because Hannah got one?

No it doesn't. But can that woman read Hannah's story, find hope, fall on her knees, and believe that the same God who heard Hannah hears her too? ABSOLUTELY!

    But the person who made the original statement argued that we shouldn't trust God for that promise because it wasn't originally made to us and it would cause heartbreak when it's not fulfilled. And I get that but Even if God doesn't answer the way we prayed, we can STILL trust Him. And he may answer that prayer of faith with a baby or he may fulfill it in a different way but trusting him for it was not in vain.

   Remember those three Hebrew boys standing in front of the fiery furnace? They knew God COULD deliver them. But they also said that even if He didn't, they weren't bowing. THAT is faith! Not demanding God do something because we found a verse. Not treating the Bible like a book of coupons we can cash in whenever we want something. But knowing who God is, what He is capable of, and trusting His goodness regardless of the outcome.

    Romans 15:4 tells us that the Scriptures written long ago were written to teach us and give us hope and encouragement. So yes, that promise to Abraham was made to Abraham. That promise to Joshua was made to Joshua.

But the God who made those promises is MY God too!

   I can learn from His faithfulness. I can find courage in His Word. I can believe He is able to move in my circumstances without insisting He repeat somebody else's story.

We need to be really careful here.

   Because while we're busy correcting people's theology, we can end up making people afraid to believe God at all. We don't have to choose between sound doctrine and bold faith. WE NEED BOTH! Read your Bible. Study it. Understand the context. Don't twist Scripture to make it say something it doesn't.

   But PLEASE don't stop believing that the God you read about is still the God you serve today.

He hasn't changed. And neither has His goodness.

    Context teaches us what God said. Faith teaches us to trust the God who said it.

And even if He doesn't answer the way I hoped?

I'll still trust Him.

   But I refuse to stop Believing just because he might not!

“Every promise in the Book is mine, every chapter, every verse, every line!”

#FaithAndContext #BibleStudy #BoldFaith #GodIsFaithful #TrustGod #ArkOfHopeMinistry #MorningMomentsWithPastorMandy