ENCOURAGEMENT-05 (Romans 15:4)

ENCOURAGEMENT AND HOPE ARE VITAL TO EVERY PERSON

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“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.”
(Romans 15:4)

MEDITATION:
The scriptures are God’s Words to mankind. Through the reading
of the Bible, we learn about the fall of mankind and how God created
a plan to lift mankind up again. We read about how His Son went to
the cross as part of His plan to provide mankind a salvation path to
eternal life with Him. Contained within its pages is the clear and
unmistakable message upon which all true Christianity is based.

We can see how God, used the unusable, forgave the unforgivable,
healed the ‘unhealable’, gave hope to the hopeless, encouraged the
discouraged, gave victory to the defeated, was a friend to the lonely,
helped the repressed to overcome, blessed people far beyond what
they deserved, heard the prayers of the people, etc.
Yes, “everything that was written in the past was to teach us”.

But we will miss out on being taught if we fail to spend time reading
what God says to us. The more we read, the more we can experience
the byproducts of time spent in His Word. Romans 15:4 lists three
valuable benefits of reading, learning, and being teachable.

First of all we learn to have stamina and patience to deal with life’s
problems. No longer do we have to be discouraged by the negative
things that happen in our lives, because God teaches us how to cope
with them, and assures us there is a light at the end of tunnel.

Secondly, when we are discouraged, the scriptures are there to encourage
us. All of us need encouragement, but unfortunately we live in a selfish
world where people tend to be self-centered, and encouraging others is
forgotten. Many times it is not that they don’t want to encourage, they
just forget. However, through His Word, we are encouraged so that we
can become encouragers.

Lastly, we are taught by God’s Word that when we develop stamina
and patience, and when we receive encouragement, we are filled with
a new hope that sustains us.

“Hope” is defined as,
    “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen”.
This is why reading the Bible is so important to everyone. Without
spending time in God’s Word, how will we know what to expect, or
how can develop a desire for it to happen?

ACTION:
God communicates to every individual through His Word…for our benefit.
This shows how much He cares about us, loves us, and wants what’s best for
us. Patience, stamina, encouragement, and hope are vital to every individual.
Without hope, what is there to look forward to? When we consume His Word,
we can enjoy a new view of life, and a new perspective of those around us.

Think of the times you have encouraged someone, and remember how they
reacted. Didn’t it lift your own spirit when you discovered you could have a
positive impact on another person? Did it create in you a desire to encourage
others? Did it shift your thoughts from wanting to receive, to becoming a
giver?

Did it create a more positive attitude in you and eliminate many of the
negative thoughts in your mind? God created us to love and encourage
others, rather than looking for their faults and discouraging them through
our words and actions. Think about the things you can do or say which will
cause others to smile.

We know that there are others who will fail to encourage us, but worse than
that, they will sometimes do things that cause us to be discouraged. They can
say things and do things that result in our discouragement. Sometimes they
can discourage us by simply ignoring us (which communicates to us that we
are not important to them).

However, when we are discouraged by others, we have a Father who
loves us, and can fill the gap of love and encouragement that others
have ignored for whatever reason. As followers of Jesus, God expects
us to love and encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ.

But if we ignore one of His top two commands, He will call on someone
else with an obedient mindset to do what He commanded us to do. God
is going to accomplish His purpose, but we will miss out on the blessings
we could have received by answering His call.

Jesus made our responsibilities for obedience very clear:
    One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
    “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
    Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart
    and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first
    and greatest commandment. And the second is like it:
    ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
    (Matthew 22:35-39)

We can make all the excuses we want for not obeying these two
commands, but the long and short of our actions is disobedience.
In addition, if we expect to be loved and encouraged ourselves,
then we need to be sensitive to the needs of others, and make a
conscious effort to love and encourage them. When others see
us obeying His commands, we are glorifying God in Heaven.
    In the same way, let your light shine before others,
    that they may see your good deeds and glorify your
    Father in heaven.
    (Matthew 5:16)

God didn’t give us commands so we would read them and say,
    “That’s a nice thought”
He gave them to us because He expects us to obey them. If we
are, or have ever been, a member of a team in sports, our coach
would give us things he expected us to do. Why would he do that?

It was for our benefit and to contribute to the value of the team,
right? Similarly, God gives us commands for our benefit and for
us to contribute to the value of our team of brothers and sisters
in Christ. If we fail to obey His commands to love and encourage
others, then we will have a negative impact on other Christians.

It’s a choice we make and what we choose will be judged, not by
mankind, but by God Himself. As followers of Jesus, we have a
responsibility to obey God’s commands. Since we know His top
two commands (per Jesus), we need to focus on obeying them as
a starting point. And when we do, we will have a natural desire
to obey His other commands as well.
    For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,
    so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things
    done while in the body, whether good or bad.
    (2 Corinthians 5:10)

    A good man brings good things out of the good stored up
    in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil
    stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to
    give account on the day of judgment for every empty word
    they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted,
    and by your words you will be condemned.”
    (Matthew 12:35-37)

    And let us consider how we may spur one
    another on toward love and good deeds,
    (Hebrews 10;24)

    What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone
    claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith
    save them?
    (James 2:14)

    Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them
    show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility
    that comes from wisdom.
    (James 3:13)

    But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart,
    you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s
    wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God “will
    repay each person according to what they have done.” To those
    who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality,
    he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who
    reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
    (Romans 2:5-7)

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, forgive me for not spending enough time
reading Your Words. Help me to dedicate more time to reading
the Bible, so You can teach me, encourage me, give me stamina
and patience, and instill an expectant hope in me that will sustain
me going forward. Convict me of my selfishness and teach me the
importance of obeying Your commands to love You, and to love
others. Show me how to become less self-centered and to become
a loving, caring, encourager to others. Teach me to encourage and
love others in the same way You encourage and love me. I want to
be obedient so I can receive Your blessings and not Your wrath,
which is for those who choose not to obey You. Make me aware
of how Satan will tempt me to ignore others and cause them to
be discouraged. Remind me of my responsibility to be a loving
and caring encourager to everyone, and not just those in my
inner circle.”

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