DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
March 12, 2026
READ: 2 Timothy 1(Focus vs. 6-14)
MEMORY VERSE
“The Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7
BACKGROUND
A group of twenty-two Christian leaders traveled half a day to secretly meet and learn from a pastor who came from another country. If caught, the pastor would be deported, and the others would spend three years in prison. Eighteen of the twenty-two had already been imprisoned for their faith in Jesus.
After the pastor handed out fifteen Bibles he’d brought with him, one woman gave hers to someone else. Like many others, she’d memorized chapters of Scripture so she would have its wisdom secured in her heart if she were to go to prison.
She later asked the pastor to pray that their church would be free to gather just like his. Instead, marveling at how they sacrificed, suffered persecution, and risked imprisonment, he prayed that his church would be just like theirs.
Believers around the world are persecuted for their faith in Christ, some more severely than others. And all believers can be tempted to cower when the stakes of living for Christ are raised. But the Holy Spirit enables us to use our God-given gifts with “power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).
God will help us share the gospel with boldness and compassion, wherever He leads. Because of all He did for us (vv. 9-10), we can embrace the sacrificial cost of commitment to Christ and preserve “sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus” (v. 13).
Xochitl Dixon
INSIGHT
Imprisonment in the first century was filled with shame. Paul spent a great deal of time in Roman incarceration (see Acts 16; 21; 25-28). As a result, some churches struggled to see him as someone they could claim as their founding apostle (see 2 Corinthians 6:3-12).
From that full knowledge of the shame associated with his chains, the apostle writes to Timothy, challenging him to endure all things out of love for God and in the grace that’s been offered through Jesus.
No suffering is too shameful in light of everything that God has accomplished on our behalf through Christ.
Jed Ostoich
APPLICATION
How have you sacrificed to seek and share Jesus? Who will you share the
gospel with today?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
“…believers can be tempted to cower when the stakes of living for Christ are raised… No suffering is too shameful in light of everything that God has accomplished on our behalf through Christ.”
PR’s TAKE
“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.” Romans 1:16 nlt
PRAYER
“Mighty God, please deepen my commitment to know You and boldly share You with others.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“I AM NOT ASHAMED” Heritage Singers
… We’re an anchor for those who are hurting
We’re a harbor for those who are lost
Sometimes it’s not always easy bearing Calvary’s cross
We’ve been ridiculed by those who don’t know Him
And mocked by those who don’t believe
Still I love standing up for my Jesus
‘Cause of all that He’s done for me
… That’s why I am not ashamed of the Gospel
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
No, I am not afraid to be counted
And I’m willing to give my life
See I’m ready to be all He wants me to be
Give up the wrong for the right
No, I am not ashamed of the Gospel
No, I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
… For every moment His hand has held mercy
For all the love that He’s shown all my life
A simple thanks doesn’t say how I’m feeling
I get tears in my eyes
So as for me, I’m gonna keep on believin’
In the One whose been so faithful to me
I’m not out to please this whole world around me
I’ve got my mind on eternity
… That’s why I am not ashamed of the Gospel
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
No, I am not afraid to be counted
And I’m willing to give my life
See I’m ready to be all He wants me to be
Give up the wrong for the right
No, I am not ashamed of the Gospel
No, I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
… I’ve got too much behind me
To let this world bind me
To some He’s a name
But to me, He’s my everything
… I am not ashamed of the Gospel
No, I am not ashamed of the Gospel
… I’ve got too much behind me to let this world bind me
To some He’s a name but to me He’s my everything
I am not ashamed of the Gospel
No, I am not ashamed of the Gospel
No, I am not ashamed of the Gospel
Of Jesus Christ
