Taught!

Taught!

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. Romans 15:4 NIV

Context and Charge:

What are the benefits of repetition? Why do we have written records of accounts and history? Why do we seek the wealth embedded in the years of experience of the men that have worked and walked before us? We depend on these resources for earthly life, and indeed, a lot of the world's achievements, as well as detriments, are directly attributable to the actions and inactions of the people who came before us. We do have a choice to repeat the mistakes made in the past and of course, re-live the results of those mistakes, or we can seek out the benefits and blessings of the past and re-shape the present and the future. As always, the power of choice remains within the exclusive preserve of human beings. 

For us who have the privilege of access to the words and actions of people from the bible times, what are we doing with the information? What lessons are we learning as we read and listen to these words and see their lives on display? What changes are we seeking to bring about as a result of the lessons we are learning from these people? God does not waste resources and experiences, and whatever He allows has a purpose and an end in view. That which is in the past holds great lessons for the present and the future, only if we are prepared to listen attentively, and be committed to obedience. What steps do I need to take today to personalise the lessons from the stories of these men and women God used in the past?

Conviction and Conclusion:

As is also seen in today's extract, that which is in the present is also built to teach me patience and endurance. The Bible is an account of various lessons and experiences tailored to teach life lessons, and if I can submit to the process and procedure, I will learn all that God intends and become all that God intends. After all, what is my life worth if God cannot impact it by His Word? What value would my life add to the world if God's word cannot birth and sustain hope in me? No matter what has happened in the past or what lies ahead, the hope that God is in charge of the world, its people, circumstances and events puts my heart at rest that nothing happens without his consent or approval. That is power. 

Now, we have read the past, and it is currently impacting our present. What do we, in this generation, plan to leave as a legacy for the coming generation? What personal lessons from walking with and working for God are we able to document and personalize for those coming after us? Do we just have plenty of words and no action, no lessons to pass on, no eternal value to lay out? God will never leave us to our own devices, and we must not rest until we make God known in this generation. Events around us keep making it clear that we need to go back to the lessons of the bible. The present and the future will be grateful that we played our part. God's time of favour is here.