Sharing Hope

Hello, I'm Xochitl Dixon. I explore the power of memorizing scripture in today's Our Daily Bread reading, Sharing Hope. As Emma shared how God helped her embrace her identity as his beloved child, she weaved scripture into our conversation. I could barely figure out where the high school student stopped speaking her words and began quoting the words of God. When I commended her for being like a walking Bible, her brow furrowed. She hadn't been intentionally reciting scripture verses. Through daily reading of the Bible, the wisdom found in it had become a part of Emma's everyday vocabulary.

She rejoiced in God's constant presence and enjoyed every opportunity he provided to share his truth with others. But Emma isn't the first young person God has used to inspire others to prayerfully read, memorize, and apply scripture. When the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy encouraged Timothy to step into leadership, he demonstrated confidence in this young man. Paul acknowledged that Timothy was rooted in scripture from infancy. Like Paul, Timothy faced doubters.

Still, both men lived as if they believed all scripture was God-breathed. They recognized scripture was useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. When we hide God's wisdom in our hearts, his truth and love can pour into our conversations naturally. We can be like walking Bibles, sharing God's eternal hope wherever we go.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from 2 Timothy chapter 3 verses 10 to 17. You however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings. What kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra? The persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. While evil doers and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of because you know those from who you learned it and how from infancy you have known the holy scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Let's pray. Loving Father, please saturate our hearts with your life-transforming wisdom so we can share you with others naturally, faithfully, and courageously. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.