For Me? Really?!

by Marsha Loftis

This Week’s Verse: 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.”(NIV)

Devotion
Have you ever been so surprised and grateful to receive a gift that you could barely utter those words, “For me?! Really?!” That’s what I feel like most of the time when I read Scripture. MOST of the time… There are those times, however, that my mind and my heart disconnect. I know in my head that what I read is for me, but my heart isn’t always so sure.

It’s hard for me to read in Jeremiah and feel that God is doing all things "to prosper me and not to harm me." He’s not really talking to me. He was talking to Jeremiah.

But then I read a different version of this week’s verse in The Message. Eugene Peterson puts it this way: “Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it's written for us.” Hmm…. “Really? For me?”

Yes! You know why?! Because Jeremiah’s God and my God are the same God! He is the same now and forever, and THEN! He hasn’t changed. The world has. I have. You have. Every one of us goes through an innumerable amount of changes in our lifetime, but God doesn’t.

As a matter of fact, Peterson goes on to say, “The Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.” His promise will be fulfilled because God cannot lie. Through scripture, He even tells us that we are to use The Word for hope and encouragement…. And patience.

Lord, help me to not only know in my head, but feel in my heart that your truth and your promises are for me. Help me to be patient while I wait in You. Not on you, Lord. I want to wait where you abide, where you live, in YOU.

Application
Think of all the promises, made to all the people in the Bible. Then try and wrap your mind and heart around the fact that those promises are a gift given to you, through God and His Word. Read some of those promises, and think, “For me?! Really?!” Then listen as your Father tells your heart, “Yes.”

Power Verses
Romans 15:4, “For whatever was thus written in former days was written for our instruction, that by [our steadfast and patient] endurance and the encouragement [drawn] from the Scriptures we might hold fast to and cherish hope.” (AMP)
Isaiah 59:21, “My Spirit will not leave them, and neither will these words I have given you. They will be on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children’s children forever. I, the Lord, have spoken!" (NLT)
Hebrews 6:17, “Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.” (NIV)
Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."(NLT)