TODAY IN THE WORD
According to Parade magazine, Marilyn vos Savant is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records Hall of Fame for having the “highest I.Q.” If that honor were bestowed in around A.D. 400, it would have been given to Jerome. This early church leader was born in 331, in what was then northeast Italy, to a wealthy family. Early on, he was sent to Rome to study grammar and philosophy. Jerome passionately loved Greek and Roman classics. In fact, Jerome loved this literature so much, especially the works of the Roman statesman Cicero, that he later wrote about a dream that he had in which the Lord said to him, “You are a follower of Cicero, not of Christ.”

Because of this dream, Jerome set aside the study of classics, and devoted himself to studying God’s Word. He once wrote, “Make knowledge of Scripture your life.” In this regard, he was like the psalmist who wrote, “His delight is in the law of the Lord” (Ps. 1:2). Like the psalmist, Jerome meditated on God’s Word day and night. And the Lord watched over him in a remarkable way (v. 6).

---

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you know the stories behind the names Ignatius, Origen, and Jerome? With all the pressures of daily living, it’s hard to find time to read about the exciting lives of the early followers of Jesus. Yet reading about the faith and devotion of these believers is very encouraging. If you don’t already have a good one-volume book on church history, this month might be a good time to obtain one. One such volume is Great Leaders of the Christian Church, published by Moody Press and available at Christian bookstores.

< Previous Day

Next Day >