“For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬ ‭CSB‬‬

I wonder if Paul knew what would become of his words, his letters to his friends in the churches he planted. I doubt that he expected them to become part of the very Scriptures he refers to in this verse. I doubt that even Moses understood how enduring his words would be when he wrote the Torah (the first five books of our Bible.) Paul said the endurance of the scriptures should give me hope. It does. Why? Because it is such a miracle! Here I am in the year 2023, in the United States, sitting on my couch reading Paul’s words on a tiny electronic screen, in English. The unlikely turn of events that brought Paul’s message, and the rest of the Bible, to me today tells me about the power God has to accomplish His will. (They are really His words after all.) And it also tells me about His love for me because His words have so much encouragement in them, and wisdom and power. It is so easy to see God, to see His character clearly, when reading and studying all the Scriptures. God’s message is timeless and miraculous and right here in my hands.

Dear God,

Thank you for the amazing miracles that brought your Word to me here and now. Thank you for revealing yourself to me through the words that some guy wrote thousands of years ago because he knew you and loved you and obeyed you. Remind me of the miracle I have available to me every day in this Bible so I never take it, or your love, for granted.