Do you remember in school when you were taking Algebra or another subject that you thought was pointless? Do you remember what you would say to the teacher, or at least to yourself? We would always say, “why am I learning this, I will never need it.” Of course, as we go through life, we find out that we needed that information a lot more than we ever thought we would. At times, it made me wish I would have listened to my teachers a little more. Paul in Romans 15 encourages the Romans to learn from the examples of the Old Testament saints and from him. He wanted them to learn from them for a specific reason. Romans 15:4 says, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”
There are many reasons that God made sure to have people record His Word, and through His power He has preserved it even to our generation. One of those reasons is so that we could learn from the examples of the people in the Bible, whether they were good examples or bad examples. One thing that I think is really important for us to understand is that everything in the Bible is important. God didn’t just put frivolous details in there. Every story reveals something about Him. We can learn from every story, because we are just like those who lived those stories. We are prone to fear, pride, forgetfulness, idolatry, love, faithfulness, and we all need God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Above all, we need to be redeemed by God. Paul was telling the Romans to learn from what they read in what we call the Old Testament. By doing so, they could learn how to live through adversity, but also see how to live in the hope that comes from God. Reading the Scriptures can encourage us to keep going when the road gets tough. I see a few lessons for us in this text.
- Read the Bible. If you want to know God, you have to read the Bible. Only the Bible reveals the person, character, will, and work of God. Be intentional about reading the Bible each day. It’s not about how much you read, it is about the fact that you do read it, and you ask God to speak to you through it and to grow your faith. I recommend smaller portions of Scripture, because it is easier to meditate on them, and apply them in smaller portions instead of trying to read three to four chapters a day.
- Write down your story. One thing that I think that has been lost in our present technological generation is the art of journaling. You don’t have to do it with pen and paper, but you really should write down what you read, and what God is saying to you. How is He calling you to respond to Him? One feature that I like on Facebook is the memories feature. From time to time a memory from years gone by will pop up. When I see the picture or read what was written, it reminds me of what God was doing in my life at that time. We all like to believe that we won’t forget, but we forget. I am so thankful for Replicate Ministries and their Replicate journal. It truly is a great way for me to write down what God is saying, and how I am feeling led to respond. Then, I can go back and see if I am obeying what God is speaking to me about or if I need to confess of my sin of disobedience.
- Share your story. If you have been saved, you have a story. People need to hear it! If God has brought you through a particularly difficult time, people need to hear that as well. They need to hear about God’s faithfulness, especially when we felt weak and maybe a little hopeless. I’m always amazed at who God puts in my path to talk with. It is generally people who are going through something that God has already brought me through. When I am willing to share what god has done, it allows Him to use me to point others to Him. A great benefit of journaling through your reading is that your journals are something you can pass down to your kids or other people. Then, they will be able to read what God was doing in your life, and you might be surprised at how God uses that to draw their hearts to Him or help them through whatever they are experiencing. Just remember, what you are going through right now isn’t just for you, it is for someone else as well. You may not be able to share it right now, but one day God will give you that opportunity, and it just might change someone’s life.
By His grace and for His glory,
Pastor Justin