2 minute read
Instructions for Life
DEVOTIONAL 1
About nine years ago, on a road trip to California with a bus full of other musicians, I discovered I enjoy listening to a good story. It was not too long after this discovery that I came across a CBC radio program called “The Vinyl Café” by the late Stuart McLean. On my frequently long drives alone or with family, I would tune into “The Vinyl Café” for another captivating story that always arrested my attention right up until the very last word. These stories were so interesting and funny, making listening to them such a joy. However, these stories were just entertainment for the most part; very rarely did I learn anything new by listening to them.
As a musician, I enjoy listening to music while I drive, but there are just those moments when I’d much rather listen to a good story — one that will seize my attention and not only entertain; a story that will teach me something new; a narrative that will lead my mind into the thought of journeying, not just to my temporal destination, but more so to my eternal destination; an account that will encourage hope in a world where there seems to be little hope. I have found no story does this as adeptly as do the stories found in the most widely read book of all time: the Bible.
In Romans 15:4, the apostle Paul said, “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” (ESV). Our world needs encouragement that will lead to hope, yet many seek hope outside the biblical narrative, only to find a greater sense of hopelessness. Let us ensure our lives are reflective of the fact that these instructions for life are taken to heart and used to bring hope to a seemingly hopeless world. Without this story, there is a hopeless end, but this story communicates endless hope. Let us share it with the world.
By David Benjamin Pastor Peace River/ Fairview/Morning Star
