“For whatever was written before was written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)
Like many of us, we’ve had our share of TV shows we’ve followed. It’s easy to get caught up in a series especially today when you can binge a series without having to wait a week to find out the next chapter, not to mention the lovely fact that you don’t have to watch commercials. When you watch shows that way it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that they are only actors. You feel like you get to know them personally, as well as their story. But the reality is they are fictional stories with fictional characters that never happened. Or if it’s based on a true story you wonder how much they have taken liberty with the facts to make it more compelling.
Sometimes when we read the Bible, especially some of the Old Testament stories they can seem just like that – fictional characters who didn’t really exist. It’s hard to imagine they were living and breathing people. Sometimes when you read about them the writer covers years or even lifetimes in a sentence of two, however they were as real as us, had everyday problems as well. The fact they didn’t have our “modern” conveniences doesn’t mean they didn’t deal with the same human struggles that we deal with today – they were the same in different ways.
The New Testament is the same – real people with real issues. They weren’t super-characters who had an easier life with easier problems. When we read the Bible it’s important that we keep that in mind – these are not made up stories written to make a particular point. When a writer puts a novel together they can control what their characters say and do. While God can control events and circumstances that surrounded them and us, He has given us the free will to decide how to react and respond.
That is truly the test of our character – when the events and circumstances of life don’t go according to our plan, how do WE react and respond? It may very well be going according to His plan and perhaps our current difficulties are meant to test our character, strengthen us for future challenges, or even just be a witness to those around us how to respond well.
“In almost everything that touches our everyday life on earth, God is pleased when we’re pleased. He wills that we be as free as birds to soar and sing our maker’s praise without anxiety.” ~ A.W. Tozer
“Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our attitudes toward life. The longer I live the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it.” ~ Chuck Swindoll
“Where I was born and where and how I have lived is unimportant. It is what I have done with where I have been that should be of interest.” ~ D.L. Moody
Dead Man Walking 
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