Romans 15:4-6 for Deployment

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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

Would you agree that during the challenges of wartime deployment we need hope?  “. . . those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31). Hope is going to keep us going. It’s the fuel in our tanks that we must not allow to go empty. But what is our hope in?

John MacArthur teaches about this in a great sermon called “A Theology of Hope”: “Now the Bible says a lot about hope. And I want to give you a little hopeology here, if I can. . . Our hope comes from God and that’s where we want to start. . . . It is not in men, it is in God. It is in the unchanging God, the God who is never ever subject to alteration, the God who has spoken and has spoken the truth and cannot speak anything other than the truth. Our hope is in God. And that’s why Psalm 43:5 says this, ‘Why are you in despair, O my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God.’ Things aren’t what they should be. Things aren’t what you’d like them to be. Things aren’t the way you would plan them if you were in charge. And so you become despairing and you become disturbed and the psalmist says, ‘Stop that and hope in God.’ Remember that God is your help. He is your help, He says, and your God. Our hope then comes from God. It is because God has made promises of care and concern and protection and guidance and direction and sustenance that we can trust Him for a better tomorrow.” (http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/62-21)

So if we need hope, and our hope comes from God—then how do we make that connection? In Romans 15:4 Paul says that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we find hope. Personally, most days my endurance comes from the encouragement of the Scriptures, so for this devotion we’re going to concentrate on what Scriptural encouragement looks like during deployment. I have some real-life examples for you.

1. Choose a Bible verse as your target verse for the deployment:

Angus and Denise McColl, in their inspiring book Footsteps of the Faithful, wrote that it was helpful for the family to have a deployment project centered around a deployment verse. During one deployment, when Angus was underway, he chose “Let Your Light Shine” as the project. He gave each of their five daughters a penlight flashlight before he left and admonished each to “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) When Angus came home, they debriefed their project as a family so that each member was able to share the ways in which God guided them individually. The result of that intentional exercise to demonstrate His guidance—hope!

One of the young boys from our church recently decided to use the time when his father was gone to memorize an entire psalm. When his father returned, he recited that psalm in front of the whole church as a gift to his father. The result of that demonstration of discipline in memorization of Scripture—hope!

If you need to be reminded of the presence of God, consider using Psalm 139:7-10 as your deployment verse. If you struggle with fear, consider Psalm 34. If you need to read of God’s strength in battle, go to Psalm 91, “The Warrior’s Psalm.”  Look into Psalm 101 and the book of Nehemiah for leadership principles in your home or in your unit.  If you need help in locating a verse which will encourage you, find a Bible Promise book at a local bookstore and look up whatever it is that you need help with—then memorize His promise to you. Put helpful verses on sticky notes; write them on index cards to carry with you—whatever it takes to keep those verses close at hand for encouragement. The result of remembering His instruction and His sustenance—hope!

2. Choose a Bible verse for your target verse for life:

Most people would refer to this as a “life verse,” and it is a wonderful way in which we can encourage ourselves, and others! I have a dear friend named Debbie whose life verse(s) is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Her life radiates those truths—and we can encourage her by saying, “Debbie—your joy, your prayers, your thanksgiving all speak of how much you love the Lord. Thank you for living in His will.” The result of that recognition of her countenance—hope!

We had a dear old saint in our church who was dying. His life verse was Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” We could encourage Harry in his final days by telling him how he demonstrated his trust in the Lord by telling us how faithful He was. The result of that affirmation of his life and how God cared for him—hope!

It is not unusual these days for a company to come up with a mission statement. What is your mission statement? My husband and I can point to Acts 20:24 as our mission statement: “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” The result of that direction—hope!

3. Choose to encourage others with a verse:

We know an Air Force pilot who proposed to his sweetheart by giving her a rose for each demonstration of the fruit of the Spirit. He attached a tag on each stem stating how he saw that trait portrayed in her life. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22,23) The result of that proposal—she said “yes”!

When we would face assignment choices, we would remind ourselves of Proverbs 19:21, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” The result was that we knew God was in control and was concerned about our future—and that gave us hope!

Isaiah 43:2,3 are wonderful verses to encourage someone during deployment—reminding them of God’s presence in their life, no matter what: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God. . .” The result of knowing God’s protection—hope!

No doubt you can think of many other verses, many other Psalms, many other Bible stories, many other chapters from which we can receive comfort, direction, and encouragement—and give the same to others. And there are different kinds of hope—including the one that removes the fear of death because of the resurrection of Christ. But it is all from God. And He wants us to use His word to glorify Him . . . . and be unified in our families and fellowship as we together glorify Him.

If you continue reading past Romans 15:4 to verses 5 and 6 you will find this additional message of 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.” And the result of together glorifying God—hope!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. — Romans 15:13

Work cited:

McColl, Denise, Footsteps of the Faithful, (Orlando: Campus Crusade for Christ, 1994)

Questions to Share:

1. What verse would encourage you during this deployment? Share it with your spouse.

2. What verse would encourage you in life? Share it with your spouse.