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

What does a pastor offer to his people when their land is under attack, bombs are falling and destruction threatens everything they hold dear?

Pastor Sergey holds up his Bible.  “We have a saying,” he shares, “‘When sorrow comes, you’ll find out who your true friends are,’ I can tell you that this is definitely true of the Word of God!  In these times of sorrow, the Word is really like a faithful friend who will not leave you or abandon you!”

As he travels around his city, through the rubble and into bomb shelters, Pastor Sergey speaks to soldiers, cares for families and helps the displaced and the elderly.  With a glowing face, he shares what has become a powerful reality to him: “The Word of God is alive.  It’s not just words on a page. It is something that you can know and experience for yourself.”[1]

But you and I don’t have to wait until crisis hits to discover this Book that is different than any other. About itself, the Bible says, it is truth (John 17:17).  It is “living and active” and is an instrument in His hand, able to speak to you intimately (Hebrews 4:12). Its words are “more to be desired than gold” and “sweeter than honeycomb” (Psalm 19:10).  The Bible accomplishes in the hearts of men what God wants it to (Isaiah 55:11) and is comfort in troubles (Psalm 119:50) and all of it, is to give you hope (Romans 15:4).

In fear, in pain and in grief, only the Bible has the power to change its reader. Because, as Augustine of Hippo put it, “The Holy Scriptures are our letters from home.”

 

Resource reading: Joshua 1:8-10

[1] FEBC Eurasia. Facebook, 27 March 2022, 5:51 am, https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=febc%20eurasia/. Accessed 17 April 2022.