Encouragement and Endurance

God Gives Us Unity

'So those of us who have a strong faith must be patient with the weaknesses of those whose faith is not so strong. We must not think only of ourselves. We should all be concerned about our neighbor and the good things that will build his faith. Christ did not think only of himself. Rather, as Scripture says, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”

Everything written long ago was written to teach us so that we would have confidence through the endurance and encouragement which the Scriptures give us. May God, who gives you this endurance and encouragement, allow you to live in harmony with each other by following the example of Christ Jesus. Then, having the same goal, you will praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, accept each other in the same way that Christ accepted you. He did this to bring glory to God.' Romans 15:1-7 (GW)

Paul is revealing a simple hidden truth in this passage he was writing to the believers in Rome 2000 years ago. He was telling them that just as God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, the Scriptures that was written for the benefit of the Jewish people many generations ago, was also for the Gentile believers in the First Century, it is also for us 21st Century believers as it will also be for the benefit of believers in generations to come. The enemy is well aware of this, and that is why he and his legions work hard to stop people from reading it and even in getting their hands on one.

Studying Scriptures is the way for us to mature in our faith walk and to endure and be encouraged in our daily life. And it is also the way for God to make us united in Him and with one another. Without it we just cannot grow and love each another -- in our own fallen humanity we just can't.

This is how the Message Version puts it, read this carefully: "Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we’ll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus! So reach out and welcome one another to God’s glory. Jesus did it; now you do it!"

Yup, even Nike copied their slogan from the bible. So let's just do it! God already has the answers to the many questions and concerns that we have, even before we ever need them, it's all in His Word. So, let us get up and praise Him, read His word and talk to Him daily, heart to heart.