Scripture for Today: Romans 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide, we might have hope.”

My husband and I were to have a rendez-vous at a particular cafe near our home in France. We arranged to meet there after doing our shopping. As planned, I arrived at the appointed hour. I then waited close to two hours for my husband, not knowing whether to be angry or worried! As this was before cell phones, I had no choice but to wait. Randy, on the other hand, was having much the same experience in a cafe down the road! We laugh about it now, but a missed rendez-vous is no fun at all!

In today’s verse we are reminded that the Scriptures are written for our learning. Through reading His Word, we are encouraged to persevere and to have hope. God is the source of endurance and the One who supplies that hope. One of the Bible studies I led was called, “Rendez-Vous Avec La Bible.” Normally in French, a “rendez-vous” is a term used only with meeting people. But in a sense, when studying God’s Word, one meets with its Author! Unlike any other book in the world, there is a meeting or rendez-vous with the One who spoke through the writers. 

There are many ways God encourages me to persevere and to hope. He uses the testimonies of others. He uses a beautiful hymn. He uses the prayers of others. But the biggest source of hope and encouragement is God’s Word. It is through His Word that I am taught to look to Him for hope. It is in meeting with Him that I am encouraged to persevere. That is one rendez-vous I do not want to miss!

Thank you Lord, for the encouragement You give me.