Romans 15:4–13
4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs 9 so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing hymns to your name.”
10 Again, it says,
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and sing praises to him, all you peoples.”
12 And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
the Gentiles will hope in him.”13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Endurance and encouragement. Two things that this passage reminds us God gives us through the Scriptures and His Spirit.
Of the two,encouragement seems to get more air time within the Christian subculture. But the last few years have been ones where I’ve needed just as much endurance as encouragement.
I was recently taking in a teaching of someone who was addressing the challenge of moving through suffering as a Christian. They noted that sometimes we are simply called to endure our suffering. Not figure out the “why” behind our hardship. Not pray it away. Sometimes simply enduring suffering with grace and hope glorifies God in ways that getting out of our suffering (or explaining it away) cannot.
God gives both endurance and encouragement. During this advent season, which are you most in need of? Go to Him and boldly ask for what you need, because God is eager to provide so that you can live in hope.
