For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4 – In previous times of reading this verse, I must have simply read this assuming I knew what the point of this passage was. I took it as this blanket statement of scripture that everything that was written before us, which includes all the pages of the Old Testament and even now the pages of the New Testament, were penned down and given to us to help us in the future live better for the Lord. Now is that statement true? Absolutely, but I also believe it misses the more exact message of the passage. This verse is sandwiched between verses speaking about living at peace with one another. Verses about how Christ set the example of not making life about pleasing Himself and how we ought to live in harmony with one another. Verse 4 then when taken in context is revealing a massive reason why we have the entirety of scripture written and given to us…it’s so that we’d learn to love another. That we’d see the written instructions and that we’d see the healthy and unhealthy examples and the attached consequences to both in the church family. Christ set the example for us on how to love each other and that example has been made plain for us to be enamored with through scripture. We’ve been given the models, we’ve been given the instructions, now our role is to give the obedience. Why? Like verse 6 says, so that we’d have a united voice lifting praise and glory to God rather than lifting up the sounds of bickering children who don’t get their way. God’s heart is love between His children and the testimony of scripture is evidence to that truth. Let’s be about giving God what He desires. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3438
Question To Ponder: Why does God care so much if we show love to one another?
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