As we look forward once again to the turning of the calendar, many of us have come to the threshold of 2010 carrying heavy concerns either for ourselves– or for others.
So it might be worth thinking together about a statement that the Apostle Paul wrote in the middle of his own problems and concerns for others. The words I’m thinking of occur toward the end of his letter to the Romans. No stranger to trouble or conflict, he wrote,
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope (Rom 15:4).
A few statements later he again expresses that desire for his readers when he writes,
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit” (v 13).
Have been thinking about how the Scriptures (v4) and Spirit (v 13) Paul is referring to are a basis of personal patience, comfort, and hope– that is “supernatural”…
How do the Scriptures give us perspective? How do they put us in touch with the Comforter we need? How does this inspire the courage that is necessary to patiently endure our fears?
As we move to the end of the year, would be interested in hearing from those who have begun to get even a small glimpse of how– through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures— and the “Comforter” Jesus promised— to find hope.
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