Hope in a Bottle

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

─ Romans 15:4

Gretchen picked up the spray bottle on the counter between the living room and kitchen and gave it a few sprays. Since it was a new scent, she sniffed it to see if she liked it. Nice! she thought, turning the bottle around in her hand to see the label on the front. It read: Hope. She laughed a little to herself and thought, How nice it would be if we really could put hope in a bottle and spray it into the atmosphere for everyone to breathe, just like this smell-good spray.

She looked across the room to the couch where her Bible lay open. She had been distracted that morning by a phone call from a friend. She plopped back down on the couch and placed her Bible in her lap to continue reading.

Suddenly it occurred to her – the Bible is hope in a book. “Similar to my little bottle of Hope, the Word of God sprinkles eternal and lasting hope into my heart,” she said aloud to a seemingly empty room. Then she remembered she was not alone. God was with her, and as she read His Word, she felt Him pour His hope into her heart.

Today’s One Thing

Take a few extra minutes this morning to linger in God’s Word and experience His hope. If you don’t have a regular Bible study time, make a commitment to yourself and to God, that you will set aside time to read His words of hope.

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