Endurance and Encouragement

Romans 15:4

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us,

 so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide

 we might have hope.

Yesterday, we talked about having hope in Christ and how that hope is a guarantee because of Gods faithfulness. Today’s scripture gives us further explanation and understanding of His guarantee.   Paul says that everything written in the past, referring to the Old Testament, was written to teach us.  It was written with purpose for the time it was written, but also with purpose for us now.  He wrote this so we would understand that it is through scripture, we learn God is faithful, trustworthy, merciful, gracious and unlimited in His goodness.  Scripture provides us with encouragement and through example and encouragement, we find hope. 

Endurance comes from the Greek work Hypomone and is associated with hope.  It means perseverance, patience and one’s ability to endure trials without succumbing to its circumstances. Through scripture we learn from those that came before us.  We learn from their mistakes like King Saul not to turn away from God.  We learn from the example of so many like David, Joseph and Mary to keep focused on God, and remain patient to endure life’s circumstances, to have hope (confidence) in what God has promised them.  

But hope is not always an easy route when life gets hard.  These are the times that scripture becomes even more important.  Through scripture we gain comfort.  Encouragement through scripture gives us strength and establishes us in His faith.  The more we know about God, how He has worked in the past, the more we will trust and allow Him to work in our lives today. Our trust is built by faithful example, not through overnight worry.  As we grow in knowledge through scripture, we are encouraged that God is perfect through His guidance in our lives and faithful in execution of His plan.  The more trust we have, the greater our faith will grow, and the greater our hope will be in His promise. 

Hope in Christ is what sustains us through the worst of what this earthly life will through at us.  The more we know of God the more we will endure with peace, patience, comfort, joy and hope.  He has so much to offer us.  He is just waiting for us to look into the gift He has given us through His word.  The more we know and understand of Him, the more we rely on His hope and the more He will give us.  

Grace and Peace,

LeAnn Jones