Welcome to today's encouragement from our daily bread.

Our reading titled Legacy of Faith was written by Lisa M. Samra.

In 2019, research exploring the spiritual heritage of believers in Jesus in the United States revealed that mothers

and grandmothers have a significant influence on spiritual development. Nearly two-thirds of people

who claim a legacy of faith credited their mother, and one-third acknowledged that a grandparent,

usually a grandmother, also played a significant role.

The report's editor remarked, over and over, this study speaks to the enduring impact of

mothers in spiritual development. It's an impact we also discover in scripture. In Paul's

letter to his protege, Timothy, he acknowledged that Timothy's

faith was modeled to him by his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. It's a delightful

personal detail highlighting the impact of two women on one of the leaders of the early church.

Their influence can also be seen in Paul's encouragement to Timothy in 2nd

Timothy 3. Continue in what you have learned because from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures.

A strong spiritual heritage is a precious gift, but even if our upbringing lacked the kind of

positive influences that helped

form Timothy's faith, there are likely others in our life who've had a profound impact

in helping to shape our spiritual development. Most important, we all have the opportunity

to model sincere faith to those around us and leave a lasting legacy.

Today's Our Daily Bread Devotional Scripture reading is from 2 Timothy chapter 1,

verses 3 through 5.

I thank God, whom I serve as my ancestors did with a clear conscience as night and day i

constantly remember you in my prayers recalling your tears i long to see you so that i may be filled with joy

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