INTRODUCTION
Does God promise us good health? Fame and fortune? Some in this world would suggest that God does promise us these things. Others would suggest that God doesn't promise us anything and, rather, stands distantly from the circumstances of our lives. Last week, we learned that faith is believing that God will do what he promised. If that's true, if faith is attached to a promise, if walking by faith is living as if God will do what he promised, then we need to ask the question, "What has God really promised us?"
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What are some things that God has not promised . . . that you wished he had?
- You may hear someone say, "God has promised me this or that." How can you determine if something is an authentic promise of God?
- Read Hebrews 4:14-16. God promises us mercy. How does Jesus' experience help us approach God with confidence?
- Hebrews 4:14-16 also tells us that God promises grace. What does it look like to receive grace from God in the midst of difficult circumstances?
- Are mercy and grace tangible promises to be received? How have you experienced God?s mercy and grace?
- How do these promises affect our ability to trust God during difficult times? Does it change the way we approach tough situations?
THINK ABOUT IT
God has not promised to deliver us from our circumstances; he has promised to deliver us through them. Jesus, himself, asked for the circumstances of his death to be changed, but ultimately yielded control to God's plan. A day will come when God will directly intervene to rid the world of sin, sorrow, and death. But in the meantime, how should we balance our prayers of, "God, please do this," and "God, I trust you"?
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
This week, ask God to change your circumstances, but trust him for the grace to endure in the meantime.
CHANGING YOUR MIND
Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16