I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11
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 encouraged Timothy to step into leadership, he demonstrated confidence in this young man (1 Timothy 4:11–16). Paul acknowledged that Timothy was rooted in Scripture from infancy (2 Timothy 3:15). 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” (vv. 16–17).
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.
Read: 2 Timothy 3:10-17 (NIV)
A Final Charge to Timothy
10 You, however, know all about my teaching,y my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,
11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch,z
Iconiuma and Lystra,b the persecutions I endured.c Yet the Lord rescuedd me from all of them.e
12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,f
13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse,g deceiving and being deceived.h
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of,
because you know those from whom you learned it,i
15 and how from infancyj you have known the Holy Scriptures,k
which are able to make you wisel for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is God-breathedm and is useful for teaching,n
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,o
17 so that the servant of Goda p may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.q
INSIGHT
- How do you hide Scripture in your heart and mind?
- How has God’s wisdom helped you share His truth with others?
Timothy was Paul’s “true son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2). We first see him in Acts 16:1–3, where we learn his “mother [Eunice] was Jewish and a believer.” Later we read that his grandmother Lois was also a believer (2 Timothy 1:5). Timothy lived in Lystra, and the believers there and in Iconium (about twenty miles north) spoke well of him (Acts 16:2). And so when Paul visited there during his second missionary journey, he took Timothy with him. But first, Paul circumcised him because of the local Jews who knew his father was a Greek or gentile (v. 3). Paul didn’t want to hinder the spread of the gospel to the Jews. Timothy became a loved companion and vital member of Paul’s missionary team and is mentioned throughout Paul’s letters. Today’s passage (2 Timothy 3:10–17), includes some of Paul’s final words to Timothy.
PRAYER
Father, saturate my heart with Your wisdom so I can share You with others naturally and courageously. In Jesus holy and precious name, I pray. Amen!!
Read: 2 Timothy 3:10-17 (NIV) | Bible in a Year: Ezekiel 20-21; James 5
