Endurance

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Romans 15:4 (NIV)

I don't know about you, but during this time of pandemic quarantine, I am missing a lot more than Clorox wipes, flour, and hand sanitizer. After the first week of shelter at home, I quickly realized that I miss our church community, kisses from my granddaughters, and the normal rhythm of my sometimes all-too-busy life. Early on in our quarantine Bruce and I began praying  that we would steward this season of imposed isolation well. The first week of the initial two week quarantine, I was cleaning like a Tasmanian devil and cooking like Martha Stewart! By the second week, I was tired of  both and looking for something else to fill the sameness of our days. That was one aspect of Covid 19 that I wasn't prepared for-- the sameness of each day.

During week 2 and 3 of Covid 19 quarantine, I developed a new respect for two very different biblical characters: the recently liberated Israelites who wandered in the wilderness grumbling and complaining over God's daily provision of heavenly manna and the Apostle Paul.  Up until now, each time I read through the Bible and came to the "grumbling in the wilderness" passages, I'd smugly think to myself, "How could they grumble like that against God? They sure have a short memory of what God has done for them. I would never do that!" Truthfully, I'm not sure I made it three days before I began grumbling about all of my pandemic losses. I counted each loss: live church instead of video streaming church: FaceTime with my grandchildren instead of hugs and kisses; the loss of freedom to congregate with more than 10 people; the ability to host friends for a meal; shortages at Costco and Publix, the cancellation of long anticipated weddings, and the downsizing of family funerals. Suddenly I identified with the ungrateful Israelites in more ways than I cared to count.

But Week 2 of the pandemic quarantine also became a turning point in another way. Our church leadership asked all of our adult Sunday School teachers to record each week's lesson so that the audio would be available on its web site. I'm teaching an adult women's class this quarter and we're studying Romans 1-8, The Gospel and the Doctrines of Grace. Normally I use power point slides and handouts to teach each week's lesson. Teaching and recording to an empty room and a black computer screen proved very difficult for that first recording. I quickly decided that I needed to write and record a script for each week's Romans lesson. That process, of course, requires a lot more thought and time, but it has turned out to be a great personal blessing. By the time our quarantine is ended, I may just have a Bible study book as the fruit of this labor.

In the process of writing my weekly Romans scripts, it suddenly dawned on me that the Apostle Paul had a much longer confinement than my six weeks quarantine. Acts 28:28 records Paul's two year Roman house arrest with these words, "For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ."  But Paul didn't just preach the gospel to those who came to see him. Paul wrote letters to strengthen, equip, and encourage churches scattered throughout the Romans Empire (Philippians and Colossians). He also wrote letters to encourage, equip, and strengthen young pastors (Timothy and Titus). Instead of grumbling, Paul wrote, "Do all things without complaining or arguing." (Philippians 2:14) Instead of "churning and burning" over his circumstances, Paul rejoiced in the Lord (Philippians 4:4). And instead of counting his losses as losses,  He counted even his gains as losses in view of the "surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." (Philippians 3:7-8) Paul's words and his example both challeng me to do the same.

Long before he penned those words from a Roman prison, Paul had learned two valuable lessons about endurance and encouragement.  Endurance is the ability to keep doing something difficult, unpleasant, or painful for a long time. Encouragement gives someone support, confidence or hope.  The Apostle Paul needed both endurance and encouragement as he defended the gospel; faced hostility and opposition; suffered multiple beatings, imprisonment, and shipwrecks; and ultimately died for his faith. The source for Paul's endurance and encouragement is the same as ours today: God's Word and God himself. 

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 15:4-6)

Read Paul's words carefully and you'll discover that endurance and encouragement are God given gifts designed to bring us hope and God glory. Biblical hope is not a wishful thinking as in "I hope the quarantine will be over soon." Biblical hope is a confident expectation that God is able to do what He says He will do. It is a faith that looks forward in the midst of adversity and suffering and says confidently with Paul, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Most, if not all of us, could use a good dose of endurance and encouragement today as we quarantine, homeschool, work from home, watch the news, count the cumulative losses of our freedoms and 401Ks, and face our worst fears. God gives us endurance and encouragement as we open our Bibles, read His word, and seek to, with the help of the Holy Spirit, apply it to our lives. Look closely at the Romans 15:4-5 passage and you'll see that Paul's words in verse 5 are actually a prayer. Paul's prayer for the Romans is my prayer for each of us today.

May God give us endurance and encouragement today for such a time as this.