Lent Day 29

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”2 Timothy 2:15

“How many of you know John 3:16,” asked the leader of the small women’s gathering. 
Nearly all the woman raised their hands, as they began saying, “For God so loved the world, that He sent his only Son begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The leader replied, “Good. Now, who can tell me what John 3:17 says?”

The ladies looked around at each other, then one lone voice spoke, “I do.” The leader said, “Okay, Go Ahead.” The woman recited, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

“That is correct,” stated the leader, “May I ask why you know John 3:17?”

The woman responded, “Everyone always seems to know what John 3:16 says. I wanted to know what John 3:17 said.” 

This small group leader, admitted to me later, of being surprised someone knew the verse. She had prepared for no one to know John 3:17. That leader is my friend, accountability partner, and former boss. She led a bible study each morning at the Christian bookstore where we worked, where she told us the significance of knowing all of God’s Word; of knowing the verses before and after the scriptures on the items we sold daily. 

My family were the only people I spent more time with than this lady. She and I worked together full-time at the bookstore, attended the same church, and prepared women’s retreats. I participated in the bible studies she taught and drove her to speaking engagements. My being able to know and recite John 3:17 on that day, is a reflection of watching this lady live each day what she taught. Her teachings always pointed us to Christ and God’s Word. However, it had to be my decision to walk daily with Jesus and value all of God’s Word. Yes, it required my teacher, friend, and boss, on that particular day, to adjust her lesson during a women’s small group gathering… but I don’t think she minded. In fact, she most likely was giving God all the praise that someone knew the verse.

Lord, I thank You for those You put in our lives to teach us. May we have a hunger to know the whole of Your Word and walk in it each day. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Written by Dawn Whitmore

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