A few days ago my wife and I decided to reinstitute a summer ritual for us—the weekly hike. We drove to Rocky Mountain National park early in the morning and set out on the trail. I started up the mountain with energy and bounce, but after the first uphill pull, my legs elected a rhythm of slower, steadier steps.

This particular trail borders a river, so the sounds of water and promises of cascades pulled us along. Multiple stream crossings encouraged us to go higher. At the payoff, Ouzel Falls, we rested in the mist and enjoyed our PB&J sandwiches.

In Paul’s closing remarks to the Roman church, he reminds us of the value of the Scriptures. 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.

Paul reveals three brilliant gemstones gained from the Scriptures—endurance, encouragement, and hope.

I need endurance to stay true to the path. Eugene Peterson wrote an exceptional book on this topic that I recommend, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society. Like hiking to the falls, my life in the Christian faith requires commitment to step the same direction, day after day, year after year.

At one point I turned a corner on the trail and laid eyes on the summits of snow-capped Long’s Peak and Mount Meeker, glorious in the blue sky above. They encouraged me to keep going, mirroring another valuable life lesson—just keep going.

Encouragement and endurance cultivate hope, that most blessed gift from the Lord. Like wildflowers along the trail, hope emerges despite less than ideal conditions, often when I least expect it, yet arriving when most needed.

Endurance, encouragement, hope—aspects of a good hike, and even better, qualities of a fulfilling life available though the Scriptures.

Romans 15 in week twenty-four of reading the Bible cover to cover