by Karen Bailey
Whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction so that we could have hope through endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures. Romans 15:4
Devotion
As a former teacher and principal, I love learning. Nothing energizes me more than discovering something new. When I retired, I committed to starting each day with Bible study. The free YouVersion Bible App has made that choice easy and enjoyable. It offers thousands of studies on many topics. What a blessing it is to have God’s Word so accessible.
Romans 15:4 made me stop and reflect. When I think about the purpose of Scripture, many things come to mind: helping us know God, deepening our relationship with our Savior, guiding how we live with others, and preparing us for eternity. But I must admit that giving us hope was not at the top of my list.
The Good Book Club recently finished Father Gregory Boyle’s book Cherished Belonging. In it, he says that gang violence is rooted in “a lethal absence of hope.” Through Homeboy Industries, a gang intervention program, former gang members are offered hope through unconditional love and guidance that help them find employment and build successful lives outside prison.
Teachers, whether in Hanwa or elsewhere, nurture hope by teaching children to love learning, how to learn, and how to use resources like the Bible to live successful lives on higher ground.
Prayer
Father, thank You for Your Word, written for our learning and for giving us hope. Give us strength to never grow weary of seeking You and doing good. With the help of the Holy Spirit and our earthly teachers, may we live and walk on higher ground.
