By Matt Rodriguez

Reflect on words repeated!

Biblical authors use repeated terms or phrases like strategically placed signposts on a curved mountain road. They point us in the right direction. They warn us from dangers ahead. They remind us about which way we need to turn ahead.

But if you’re like me, you speed through reading your Bible verses for the day and often fail to recognize repeated terms and phrases. You overlook important signs the author posted to make his point. Whizzing by, you don’t identify these special markers and road signs in the biblical text.

Take Hebrews 11, how many times is the word faith mentioned? Twenty-five! You’d think the author was trying to grab our attention with all these references to faith.

Imagine driving on a highway and seeing twenty-five road signs for a rest stop a few miles down the road. Twenty-five of them. I’d bet you’d at least think, “What’s the big deal about this place?” And some of us might even exit the highway to see what’s so special about this rest stop. Perhaps they have a Dairy Queen or In N Out or something else fun.

So the next time you are having some Bible fun in the Scriptures, look for repeated words and phrases. These are like road signs along a highway. They point you in the direction the author wants you to go.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1 NET). May you, as readers of God’s Word, be encouraged in your faith as you reflect upon repeated words and phrases that you do see.

Scripture and/or notes quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://bible.org All rights reserved.