“You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” (Deuteronomy 11:19 NKJV)

When I was young, my grandmother lived with us. In our small house, my sister and I shared a bedroom with her. She was a wonderful woman with a godly influence in our lives. One of my fondest memories was hearing her pray every night. The sound of her talking to the Lord was comforting, and I’ll never forget those moments.

Paul reminds Timothy of the godly influence of his grandmother and mother:

“When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.” (2 Timothy 1:5 –  NKJV)

What a wonderful heritage for us to live out before our children and grandchildren, just as my grandmother did for me and my sister!

Sometimes, it is the small things that make an impression on those around us: thanking God for our meal, reading our Bible, or praying for others. These are simple things that are God-honouring and God-glorifying as we go through our day. What we do can be more meaningful than what we say.

Even though my grandmother was a wonderful witness to me, I still had to respond to God’s call in my life and accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. I finally understood that Jesus had already done everything for me, and all that I had to do was to pray, “Lord Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross for me. Forgive me of my sins, come into my heart, and be my Lord and Saviour.” The gospel is simple, but it takes time for the Holy Spirit to prepare our hearts to receive Jesus and for us to surrender to His wooing. Once we have received the gift of salvation, the challenge is to share it with others!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of salvation through Your Son, Jesus Christ, and for the desire to invite Him to be our Saviour and Lord. Give us strength and wisdom in sharing our faith, and help us to be prepared always to do so. Amen.

Glenda Shouse
Kernersville, North Carolina, USA


Reprinted from the PresbyCan Daily Devotional with the author’s permission